"Visited Ugly Mug for live music performance. Chairs were lined up and the doors had opened 30 min before the show. The cafe offers great variety of coffee drinks, matcha, tea, siders and beer on tap, as well a good selection of cookies, coffee cakes and savory snacks. For live performances they also allow to bring own wine and pay corkage fee. Lovingly decorated and evidently a community favorite spot, the Ugly Mug has been repeatedly voted Best in Santa Cruz. There's a public parking behind the building and across the street."

"a snug & well-decorated cafe with wonderful staff, ideal for spending time with a friend or getting some work done. lots of student customers from what i saw. they have a fish tank in the back which i thought was super cool🐠🐠 i ordered a cortado & a slice of coffee cake- the cortado was good but the coffee cake was especially dry which was a little disappointing. it was tasty though."

"I am, my friends, a weary pilgrim, on a journey marked by both the sublime and the harrowing. It is a journey back to my youth of mercurial loves and self conscious awkwardness. Who was I then, and who am I today? It is a changing landscape of past and the present day that seems to quiver in the air like a mirage over hot asphalt. I come to visit my parents grave where they rest ashen and mixed in their love. I come to morn the loss of two older siblings, the curse of reaching a certain age. And I explore. I search out the ethos of the community, I look for the heart of this wildly different, yet essentially the same, season of my youth. And I wander into the Ugly Mug and it is full of people there for open mic. As I listen to the music, I am struck by a feeling of easy, friendly support. The performers are comfortable there, so much more like old easy friends than simple musicians standing on a stage. I can feel their solid love for the crowd and the place is packed. Every face is engaged and every person seems glad to be there. This such an interesting group, the sense of acceptance and support is palpable. It is idyllic in such a powerful and earth solid way. I am greeted by a barista so kind and open that I am a little confused. I find the menu a little daunting, a new language, a series of mysteries. I mumble, what I think I want is some kind of mocha, and without missing a beat she says, I can do that for you. It was such a simple kindness. And it made me feel suddenly welcome. The mocha was strong and good and unapologetic. When taking my cup back to the bussing tray, I meet the proprietor and we talk briefly. The man radiates kindness and goodwill like a beacon standing in the night. In a moment he made me feel as welcome as I have ever felt anywhere. He tells me I should come back sooner next time, and it makes my heart hurt with yearning for that simple eclectic, friendly establishment, on the corner of Soquel for all the world like the prow of a ship. I can see that he is a kind of vortex of kindness that is irresistible. This place embodies him. I don’t know that I have ever, in my long travels, wanted so much to come back to a place. If I lived here, I would come often, I would try to share what they share. I would let the fabric of the place absorb me like water into bone dry wood. It is the balm of Gilead, the spark of community, the oil upon the troubled waters. I could only believe that people have been coming here for years. That they have found a home that shines warm light into the cacophony of dark."

"This place is very comfy nice atmosphere I ordered and ate a very sweet rice Krispy treat. Partner got a freshly made iced earl grey"

"It’s a cute place and lovely atmosphere. Get the specials here for something extra. Loved the double shot white mocha drink."