By: Norafiqin Hairoman for The Dirt
Davis has always been a City that cares—about people, the planet, and now, the ocean. Nestled in the heart of downtown, Cloud Forest Cafe has just made history by becoming not only the City’s first Ocean Friendly Restaurant but also the first in the entire Greater Sacramento region to earn this certification.
What does that mean for your daily coffee run? Essentially, every sip of your latte and every bite of your pastry now comes with a side of eco-consciousness. Certification comes from the Surfrider Foundation and recognizes restaurants that go above and beyond to reduce plastic waste, embrace sustainable practices, and help protect our oceans—even from miles away.
While Surfrider is best known for its beach cleanups and ocean conservation efforts, its Ocean Friendly Restaurants program has grown to include more than 540 restaurants across 28 states and Puerto Rico, helping eliminate millions of plastic items from circulation each year. And now, Cloud Forest Cafe is part of that movement.
For Tzannhour Fang, the cafe’s owner, this isn’t just about earning a title—it’s about making a meaningful impact.
“I’m happy and honored to be the first one in Greater Sacramento—but more importantly, it’s about what we can do for the community,” Fang told The Dirt.
That mindset has always been at the core of Cloud Forest Cafe, which has been a beloved spot in Davis since 2008. Known for its fresh, in-house roasted coffee, juice and espresso bar, and sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients, the cafe has long been a go-to for students, professionals, and coffee lovers looking for a cozy, welcoming space.
Cloud Forest Cafe has built a reputation for offering quality food and drink with a focus on sustainability. From ditching plastic bags and single-use utensils to offering discounts for reusable cups, the cafe is leading the charge toward a greener, cleaner community.
What Makes Cloud Forest Cafe “Ocean Friendly”?
To earn the Ocean Friendly Restaurant badge, Cloud Forest Cafe had to check off seven major sustainability moves—and they delivered:
✅ Dine-in? Real plates, real cups, real utensils. No more single-use waste for sit-down customers.
✅ No plastic straws—period. If you really need one, they’ve got paper straws, but only if you ask.
✅ Styrofoam? Not here. That squeaky, non-recyclable stuff is gone for good.
✅ Plastic bags are history. Takeout orders come in eco-friendly alternatives.
✅ Single-use extras? Only if you need them. Forks, condiments, and napkins aren’t handed out automatically, reducing unnecessary waste.
✅ No plastic beverage bottles. They made the switch to glass, including those fancy San Pellegrino waters.
✅ Recycling done right. Everything that can be recycled actually gets recycled.
But they didn’t stop there. Cloud Forest Cafe went above and beyond, checking off extra eco-friendly boxes like offering discounts for customers who bring their own reusable cups, serving up vegan and vegetarian options daily, and composting food waste like a pro.
These small but significant steps align with Surfrider’s broader mission of reducing plastic waste in the food industry. Across all certified restaurants, these efforts are preventing millions of single-use plastics from reaching landfills and, ultimately, the ocean.
Cloud Forest Cafe isn’t just embracing sustainability—it’s setting the standard. Fang hopes that this certification will inspire other local restaurants and cafes to evaluate their own environmental impact and make changes.
“I think each business and each person should assess themselves to see what they can do to improve in a way that benefits the whole community,” Fang adds.
Want to learn more about the Ocean Friendly Restaurant program?
>>Visit the Surfrider Foundation to see how small changes at restaurants across the country are leading to a big impact.
