Reviews (100)
I've lived in Santa Cruz for 32 years and I've been going to Lulu's Carpenters Coffee Shop inconsistently for as long as I can remember. I just ordered an espresso, it was around $4.25, I tipped the remainder and put the rest of my cash away - while also attending to a puppy. After they started making the espresso, I realize that they did not keep the sugar, honey or creamer out front, when I ask them for some honey and oat milk, they told me they would have to charge me extra. I told them I didn't want the coffee, I mentioned that I was only in there to support local businesses and walked out. How much honey or oatmeal do you think would suffice and expresso question? A teaspoon of each? A tablespoon of each? It probably wasn't even organic 🤦 For the rest of my life, I will never step foot in Lulu's Carpenter coffee shop again.
Horrible weak coffee with grounds sediment. Horrible service, acted like she was doing me a big favor. Wish I could remember the date I was in there. Maybe I got a rogue incimpetent. If the coffee on the name is bad, nothing else can be counted on. Sloppy,sloppy, sloppy. Get your coffee ANYWHERE else in Pacific Ave.
Burritos are really tasty, wish they were just kept in a warmer instead of microwaved far too long and stuck to the wax paper.
Best coffee! I miss their Scotts Valley location :(
Not as welcoming and nice as it used to be years ago. It used to be an awesome spot with a relaxing garden patio, delicious pie, and friendly staff. The patio is now closed, and most of the staff seem to be entitled zoomers. This at least is par for the course.
Good coffee, good place to hangout, good cakes, good location. Consistently good. Hope they open up the rear seating area again.
Five years ago, I gave this place a five star review (see below). Now, however, it is has become a disappointment as a cafe. Indoor seating is still closed, back patio is still closed, and, except for a couple of tables right out front, the only tables are on a busy street at a busy intersection. Part of a cafe is atmosphere, and this has gone from the top of my list to being a place I no longer bother with. --- Review from five years ago: Nice little coffee shop, good atmosphere, conveniently located with street parking available. I stopped off for a light breakfast and a latte on my way to a job interview. They don't serve from their breakfast menu until 8am, but they had the usual light breakfast foods: yoghurt, bagels, juice, etc.
I love this place! It was one of the first businesses that reopened after the '89 earthquake. I was a UCSC student then. 8 now live in downtown Santa Cruz and it's a regular stop for me a couple of times a week. Good brew, nice breakfasts, great atmosphere. I hope they are able to reopen their dining area sometime.
Cute little coffee shop on Pacific Ave downtown Santa Cruz. Good service and great coffee. Unfortunately I ordered the Macha and it was terrible. My friend was very happy with her order. Recommend
Barista was very friendly. Chai was waaaayyy too clovey.
The young man making our drinks was great! Super friendly even with all the weird stuff going on with the homeless guy there.
My fav coffee joint in SC. Make sure to sit outside in the back if you can
Covid business closures are over. So Why isn't the inside seating and the back patio open again? And since the inside seating is closed, there is no more live music. Also you serve food, but you don't have a restroom which your customers can use? The tea tends to be watered down, don't be so shiesty with the tea leaves 🙄. About one in four reviews on here are pretty scathing and the owner really hasn't done anything to reply or remedy the situation. That's sad, I'm really miss the way this coffee shop used to be. I will just take my business elsewhere.
They have whiskey latte! Bourbon is added but heated , no alcohol left only the taste! Pretty interesting drink and tastes amazing too. A must try for coffee people.
They have one of the best coffee stands in the county building as well and the employee that serves you is absolutely accurate ,personable and definitely well trained Barista. Also, I’d like to add that I recently Patronized the location downtown by Jamba Juice and Owen was working He was also on point keep doing what your doing Owen. Your making a difference
I really like this coffee house. And the food looks very good too although I haven’t really tried it. The coffee is good and the building is very nice. You can sit outside on a nice day and the inside is very roomy. This place is on the top of my list for a coffee houses in Santa Cruz. Update 2022. I hope they open the bathrooms up it’s too late in the game to still be blaming the Covid. We all know why they don’t want to open the bathrooms up.
Would've rated 5 🌟 stars if they hadn't closed the communal/sitting area inside. You can only sit outside since it's closed off inside where there were tables and a patio. And they removed the landscaped area of the patio. The only area you enjoy inside this place is where you choose and order. But no where to sit inside and enjoy the atmosphere; especially when it gets cold. They removed the life of this place by doing this. Still good beverages and the awesome bowl 🥣 of soul. Great employee that was helpful. But closing off the sitting area and removing the 🪴 plants from the now closed off patio has cast a sad shadow to one of my favorite places I used to love going to.
Usually my experience at Lulu's Carpenter is great, but today's experience was the worst. I don't know if the barista was in a bad mood, but she didn't even try to hide it. I ordered my drinks and food and instead of handing me card back, she threw it on the counter. Then, she tells me to wait outside. There was no one else in there and there's been other times when it's way fuller in there. Plus, it's funny how she didn't say it to the guy who came in after me, and not to mention, that she didn't say it politely. Secondly, I had asked for my cool cat with whip cream. when she was done, she didn't call out my order or say it was ready, but luckily i was paying attention. My drink did not have whip cream, so i nicely asked if I could have whipped cream. She ignored me and kept getting the teas. I asked again politely, "excuse me, can I have some whipped cream?" she turns around, looks at me without saying anything and turns back around. I waited for about 2 minutes and then just left without the whipped cream. If she doesn't want my business (and i am a regular), then i won't give her my business. There's plenty of other coffee shops in town. Time of order was on Monday at around 12:20 p.m. Aug. 2022- update- haven't been back there since..I go to verve now, which is much better. I was also disappointed that management/owner never reached out.
Very nice place for a morning latte ☕
Lulu Carpenter's is a lovely spot to grab breakfast or brunch. They have so many options both sweet and savory to choose from. If you haven't tried the bacon wrapped egg yet you really should. They serve all the classic cafe coffee and tea options, and from my experience they are made very well. The staff are mostly very friendly but not always. The inside dining is still closed but they have some tables and chairs out front for customers. I highly recommend stopping in next time you're in downtown Santa Cruz.