Amanda Hooper

A long time favorite in my old hood. I remember working here as a teenager and the food is just as good now as it was then. My son very much enjoyed the chicken wings and I had a delicious twice baked potato. For dessert we brought home some Christmas cookies and a slice of the gluten free snowflake cake which was amazing. Will be back.

Calm Echo

I visited Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria and had an amazing experience. The bakery offers fresh, flavorful pastries, breads, and savory dishes. Everything is made with care, and the cozy, welcoming atmosphere makes it a perfect spot to enjoy a delicious meal or snack.

+1

Claire

Stumbled across this place, and so glad we did! ⭐️A HUGE selection of pastries, sandwiches, breakfast, sweet treats and more! I got an Italian sandwich, a shrimp artichoke salad (delishhhh!), and a lovely mini pumpkin cheesecake. ⭐️ We are definitely going back here this trip! Parking is somewhat difficult to find, would recommend parking around the block.

Hayley

The best bakery in the Santa Cruz area! It’s been a family favorite and tradition since I was a baby, and have been continuing to go as an adult when visiting friends and family. Food options and quality, service, and quaint ambience/atmosphere is outstanding. Wide variety of fresh, real, and organic options! They have a covered patio area with additional seating as well. Favorite bakery items- kouign-amann, fruit tarts, and the swedish princess cake. The latter was made for one of my birthdays, but I used to order them more frequently than I probably should’ve haha! They are the best!

+5

Avantika Naik

Gayle’s bakery is the perfect little place to stop by after enjoying the Santa Cruz boardwalk. The parking lot is a little cramped for the size of the place, which is huge inside. When you enter, make sure to get a ticket near the entrance. Keep an eye out for your number to be called, since the place can get overwhelming. The cases have lots of repeated goodies so you can find a place along the cases and keep looking from there. I really enjoyed the Java Freeze from the coffee bar. I also liked the ham croissant, the marionberry turnover was pretty solid, and the ham and cheese croissant was also good. There is plenty of seating and also a hot food section, which I didnt try this time. I will be back another time for sure!

Muthu Kumar

This Capitola bakery is a real gem! They offer an impressive array of pastries and cakes and a great drink selection too. I'm particularly fond of their light-as-air cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting and their scrumptious almond croissant. With so many delicious options, it's hard to pinpoint a single standout – they're spoiled for choice! Overall, I highly recommend this spot.

Marwan

Absolutely delighted with every visit to Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria! From the moment you step inside, the aroma of fresh-baked bread and roasted meats sets the mood for a fantastic meal. Their breads are crusty and flavorful, pastries buttery perfection, and the rotisserie chicken juicy and perfectly seasoned. The staff are always friendly and efficient, even when the place is bustling. Speaking of busy—Gayle’s is an amazing spot for Sunday brunch, though be prepared for a crowd; it’s clearly a local favorite for good reason! Even with the wait, everything is fresh and the experience is worth it. Five stars—deservedly so!

Christopher Redada

Beautiful Lunch and Bakery! A unique gem of Capitola. Come for their delicious lunch/ deli food and also try their cakes and pastries. Service is efficient and outstanding. They can help you with all their food choices. Good variety of salads, sandwiches, hot food, and more. They also have a cafe for more choices. Nice dinning area on a beautiful day. Come back to try many of their other dishes and sweets. Parking can be challenging. If you want a healthy fresh lunch, don't miss this place.

+4

Loveee this place!! The sweet treats we got were so yummy. I like how they have specialty pastries/ desserts for each holiday.

Loveee this place!! The sweet treats we got were so yummy. I like how they have specialty pastries/ desserts for each holiday.

I have lived in the Bay Area for 33 years and just discovered Gayles by accident three weeks ago. HOW DID I NOT KNOW. And we frequently visit Capitola and Santa Cruz.\n\nWe tried two breads, some pas…

This is one of my MUST GO places when I'm in capitola!! I love it so much!! \nI have the worst time picking what I want because truly I want it all. I have NEVER had anything that wasn't amazing!!!! …

food was over the top! Plenty of selections whether it was sweet or savory, or togo or eat in. The service was dead on and the staff was very helpful. There's an outdoor covered patio with heat lam…

Food was over the top! Plenty of selections whether it was sweet or savory, or togo or eat in. The service was dead on and the staff was very helpful. There's an outdoor covered patio with heat l…

staff are friendly and helpful, be prepared for a busy shop! \n\nWe ordered slices of Princess and carrot (no nuts) cake, as well as an eclair, a Toll House chocolate chip cookie and croissant. We …

Staff are friendly and helpful, be prepared for a busy shop! \n\nWe ordered slices of Princess and carrot (no nuts) cake, as well as an eclair, a Toll House chocolate chip cookie and croissant. We …

Amazing first time experience! I asked the lady to recommend a popular item so she sent me home with a slice of princess cake--wow, so good and I did feel like princess lol. \n\nI also had the chic…

I love this bakery so much!! It had efficient, quick and excellent service. They have a ticketing system where you get a number and they call your number to take your order. That way you can browse…

Love love love Gayle's! This is a Capitola staple. Whenever we are in town we have to stop by here multiple times. This time around we came a couple times for breakfast. The bacon egg sandwich seem…

Gayle's is a locals favorite and a tourists must stop! breakfast lunch or dinner is available from the delicious choices in their hot deli area. Wonderful huge sandwiches, quiche, beet salad, roast…

Came here Sunday morning around 10:30am. Make sure to grab a number when you arrive! I recommend taking pictures of what you want while you wait so when they call your number, you can order quickly…

Everything about Gayle's is wonderful. Their bakery goods are many and divine. Their hot dishes are savory and their coffee and other beverages are great as well.

Love Gail's bakery their strawberry cookies are so good. They are my favorite. They remind me of a scone only better and their food is awesome. A little expensive but it's worth it. You need to exp…

Wow! My first time here and I was overwhelmed! Pastries, coffee, sandwiches, meals to go! Old fashioned, wonderful little gem!

The beautiful flowers outside was a preview of the pleasure and temptation I experienced here. The four pastries I bought were as delicious as they looked. They also had lots of salads and a great as…

This place is so unique! Lots of choices! Tons of yummy pastries and coffees! Lots of seating and room. We will be back for sure!

This is a fantastic bakery/cafe. The food is so good and the staff are efficient. Operations felt like a well-oiled machine, but with friendly people! We wish there was a Gayle’s around our town. W…

This is a fantastic bakery/cafe. The food is so good and the staff are efficient. Operations felt like a well-oiled machine, but with friendly people! We wish there was a Gayle’s around our town. W…

This place is amazing! I got breakfast sandwiches and desserts to takeout., on several occasions. You have to take a number and sometimes the wait can be a bit long, so don’t be in a hurry. Do…

This place is amazing! I got breakfast sandwiches and desserts to takeout., on several occasions. You have to take a number and sometimes the wait can be a bit long, so don’t be in a hurry. Don’…

Their old fashioned chocolate cake is the stuff dreams are made of. So incredible. My office also picked up their food for an in-office meal, which was good. Extremely fresh and high quality (…

Gayle’s has great fresh food and endless choices for everyone. Efficient and nice place to sit inside. The staff is always eager to help and the line moves quickly

Gayle’s has both an extensive bakery with many delicious treats, but also foods for lunch or dinner. I had a pasta dish, good veggies and bread. The Napoleon dessert was to die for!

Bakery with breads and pastries, cakes and cookies and sandwiches and hot entrees and salads …. It’s a must if you are going to Capitola to stop here. We go every few months , enter the store and t…

Bakery with breads and pastries, cakes and cookies and sandwiches and hot entrees and salads …. It’s a must if you are going to Capitola to stop here. We go every few months , enter the store and t…

Walking along the display cases, peering into rows of sweet desserts and pastries, savory bread stuff, and beautifully decorated cakes and cookies, I made an immediate selection when I saw the apri…

Walking along the display cases, peering into rows of sweet desserts and pastries, savory bread stuff, and beautifully decorated cakes and cookies, I made an immediate selection when I saw the apri…

Loads of deli sandwiches+ soup+ pasties. You take number when you come in and they wait on you in order. Also saw a salmon dish and cookies. I had soup and cookie and was very pleased. This is a gr…

Recommended by a friend who lives in Santa Cruz. Went for breakfast and enjoyed shopping for danishes. Well run ! Attractive store front! Had breakfast - breakfast sandwich in a crescent of cou…

Food is fabulous, place is always packed so take a number and prepare to wait a bit. Totally worth it, stop Everytime we're nearby. Service is reliable but sometimes they can't be super friendly since it's a mad house. They do have seating and take and go food but the hot bar is the best! I always end up buying to much because I can't decide.

David B. Karpf, MD

Is Gayles a GREAT bakery? Yes! But is it a great place to go for dinner? Not so much....a very inefficient system for ordering, a limited choice of cold counter dishes to be warmed up. Go there for deviled eggs, or fir baked goods, but not for a sit-down dinner...

GIGI GRIFFIN

No matter when you go, it always seems busy but we got a parking spot and they got to our order quickly. We had the brie sandwich which was tasty but pretty small for the price. The Buche de Noel was lovely and light.

Erin Joo

i heard the princess cake here is great, so i came here in the evening. this feels like a half-delihalf-bakery. the deli side had a good selection of hot & cold foods but i didn’t get anything. the bakery side also has a good selection, with seasonal items. i got a cake from the deli fridge & ordered a green tea. i didn’t realise that i would receive a paper cup to get hot water & put a teabag in. the drink was a good conplement for the cake i got but i wouldn’t pay again to have a cup of tea i could make at home. then again i’m not familiar with rosticcerias & i was instead expecting a cafe style presentation- maybe this is the norm? the princess cake was yummy, each component of the slice made for a balanced and not too sweet bite. it(& pretty much everything here) is much more expensive than what i usually buy though, so if you’re trying to budget like me then save this spot for a special treat. overall i wasn’t disappointed & i would come back to explore the deli side & more of the baked goods.

+2

Thanh HOANG

Not extremely good as expected, very pricey, each cake/croissant starts at $5.75 (Nov2025). Good to give a try, not the best I've had so far.

+4

Janusz Ostrycharz

Epic scale in a deceptively small space. Easy to plot out a five-course meal just wandering up & down the service counter — hot food, cold food, & bakery sections with almost everything on display (and fresh bread behind it all on high shelves). BUT also a "grab'n'go" wall fridge full of salads, sandwiches, treats. If you want to dine in with a group, (1) definitely claim table space before you take a number, (2) be ready to order by the time your number is called. We came in for lunch on Veterans' Day and it was SWARMING with customers, but there were something like 7 folks running the counter and who knows how many in the kitchen! Whoever calls your number will gather your order on a tray at first — but be clear if you want to dine in or it will all get wrapped/boxed/bagged before final sale — also determines whether they give you metal or disposable cutlery. Water is from a filtered self-serve station between the two table areas. During a lunch rush they *might* run out of clean cups — which means either wait, or grab a paper one from the coffee bar behind you. If you want to be quick about it, better study the online menu before your arrival— which they tweak about once a month (and the soup even more often). There is no single menu in hard copy — one for salads & sandwiches, one for cakes, none for the pastries because those have the most seasonal rotations, and just a display menu for hot/warm items (e.g. reubens, pasta entrees, parmigiana). Oh, and there is an online ordering option! We'll probably take advantage of that next time... The ficelle sandwiches look tiny but are long and packed with flavor! I went with soup-salad-sandwich and took home a slice of mousse cake. Everything was fabulous, except the one thing I found a bit weird was that the ginger beet salad involves fruitcake-gauge candied ginger bits (rather than fresh or pickled ginger). Really like the look of the chocolate fruitcake, though — might grab one on the way out of town!

Dloppil

This is a larger bakery with lots of options to choose from. As a matter of fact it's more than a bakery, it's an experience. We stopped in after reading all the great reviews. A local favorite is their Brookie, a brownie / chocolate chip cookie. However, we loved the strawberry shortcake cookie (which is a lot like a scone). They are truly wonderful. It can get a little crazy, so keep that in mind if you're in a rush. They have tried to figure out a way to help everyone with their number system, but the success depends on us the customers. Have patience and enjoy the experience.

I enjoyed the food at Gayle's Bakery but I thought the price for the items was too much. I spent $28 for an Italian baguette, two breakfast pastries and a cup of coffee. I was hoping to grab a …

I enjoyed the food at Gayle's Bakery but I thought the price for the items was too much. I spent $28 for an Italian baguette, two breakfast pastries and a cup of coffee. I was hoping to grab a scon…

I enjoyed the food at Gayle's Bakery but I thought the price for the items was too much. I spent $28 for an Italian baguette, two breakfast pastries and a cup of coffee. I was hoping to grab a scon…

I enjoyed the food at Gayle's Bakery but I thought the price for the items was too much. I spent $28 for an Italian baguette, two breakfast pastries and a cup of coffee. I was hoping to grab a scon…

Gayles has an amazing selection of gourmet foods. They also have a bakery. You get a ticket, wait to be called and order food at the deli. In a great neighborhood in Capitola CA. Fun, trendy and fu…

No matter when you go, it always seems busy but we got a parking spot and they got to our order quickly. We had the brie sandwich which was tasty but pretty small for the price. The Buche de Noel w…

Lovely and busy bakery! Baked goods are freshly made and the cakes are delicious. Friendly staff, and also seating is available in a separate room for dine in. Try their key lime pie!

I visited today, on recommendations. I’m glad I did. My sandwich was delicious and the fresh fruit was lovely. I also enjoyed a delicious latte.

I visited today, on recommendations. I’m glad I did. My sandwich was delicious and the fresh fruit was lovely. I also enjoyed a delicious latte.

I visited today, on recommendations. I’m glad I did. My sandwich was delicious and the fresh fruit was lovely. I also enjoyed a delicious latte.

Stopped by Gayles on a recommendation and was delighted we did. Great atmosphere when we got there. Saturday midday - So it was busy. Queuing system - pick a ticket and wait your turn. There is pl…

Stopped by Gayles on a recommendation and was delighted we did. Great atmosphere when we got there. Saturday midday - So it was busy. Queuing system - pick a ticket and wait your turn. There is pl…

The food is yummy and well made. The place itself is so cute and is a quaint place to hang. I have never felt comfortable at Gayle's though, because of the service. It's not necessarily bad. Nobody's rude or mean. But it's just so awkward. It's the type of place where the disposition of the wait staff makes you feel like you're supposed to apologize for being a patron. It's pretty difficult to get anybody's help, even when it's not busy. Usually the folks behind the counter avoid eye contact and continue conversating with their co-workers. Every time I go there I feel as though they think that anything would be better than helping me order food. I also want to clarify that all of the above has never been true for the folks down at the coffee bar. They are always very welcoming and friendly.

BLUF: there's a beef and gorgonzola sandwich that is 100% worth the short wait and inevitable annoying traffic in the parking lot. \n\nThe yays: Gayle's has a great system. Grab a ticket at the m…

We've been patronizing Gayles for 40+ yrs and have enjoyed excellent service even under trying conditions. The sad thing is that this bakery/rosticceria has been a victim of what has happened with …