Gayle’s has been an institution in Capitola, California since it opened as a bakery in 1978. The bakery is in the same location but has expanded through the years into a 10,000 square feet food emporium serving as a deli, a bakery and an espresso bar. The food is delicious, it’s clean, well run and, although it’s been open for four decades, it still has a trendy feel.
Even though the town of Capitola has about 10,000 people, Gayle’s manages to ring up between 2,000 to 2,500 sales per day. It caters to locals and tourists and is especially popular for takeouts for beach picnics.
The bakery has been a real trendsetter in the restaurant business using natural ingredients and in season local produce way before most places.
I honestly can see why Gayle’s is a star in Capitola. Our lunches and desserts were fantastic and I can’t wait for my next visit to try more.
When I was a kid in the Bay Area, Capitola was a place we went from time to time for weekend outings. But that was long before Gayle’s, which looks like a fine place to take my granddaughters and see what else has happened to the town since those olden days.