Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Mathew
Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Food Scene

Best coffee roasters in town. They also have a downtown coffee place, but actual roasting warehouse is here in Seabright, and they also serve coffee here too. Check out the latest coffee trend here.
220 lokalaca preporučuje
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
220 lokalaca preporučuje
Best coffee roasters in town. They also have a downtown coffee place, but actual roasting warehouse is here in Seabright, and they also serve coffee here too. Check out the latest coffee trend here.
Best Restaurant in town, Northern Italian oriented, good for special occasions.
62 lokalaca preporučuje
La Posta
538 Seabright Ave
62 lokalaca preporučuje
Best Restaurant in town, Northern Italian oriented, good for special occasions.
Pizza and Pasta - Very good food, reasonable prices. Great salads, pasta, soup, and handmade pizza's. Friendly staff!
38 lokalaca preporučuje
Tramonti
528 Seabright Ave
38 lokalaca preporučuje
Pizza and Pasta - Very good food, reasonable prices. Great salads, pasta, soup, and handmade pizza's. Friendly staff!
Great views and great bar. Watch the sailboats go in and out of the harbor. Very cool bar on 2nd floor, views.
276 lokalaca preporučuje
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 lokalaca preporučuje
Great views and great bar. Watch the sailboats go in and out of the harbor. Very cool bar on 2nd floor, views.
Best cafe' in town, best desserts and cakes. Also, good for breakfasts and sandwiches.
133 lokalaca preporučuje
The Buttery
702 Soquel Ave
133 lokalaca preporučuje
Best cafe' in town, best desserts and cakes. Also, good for breakfasts and sandwiches.
Best seafood in town
57 lokalaca preporučuje
Johnny's Harborside
493 Lake Ave
57 lokalaca preporučuje
Best seafood in town
Best Sushi in town - located Downtown Santa Cruz
20 lokalaca preporučuje
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
1123 Pacific Ave
20 lokalaca preporučuje
Best Sushi in town - located Downtown Santa Cruz
Best international wine and tapas menu in town. Located downtown.
55 lokalaca preporučuje
Soif
105 Walnut Ave
55 lokalaca preporučuje
Best international wine and tapas menu in town. Located downtown.
An institution in the area - cakes, desserts, coffee, eat-in or take-out. Specializes in "Blue Plate Specials" - comfort food that does well for take-out.
155 lokalaca preporučuje
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay Ave
155 lokalaca preporučuje
An institution in the area - cakes, desserts, coffee, eat-in or take-out. Specializes in "Blue Plate Specials" - comfort food that does well for take-out.
Great for patio lunch, lots of shops and wineries nearby.
98 lokalaca preporučuje
Kelly's French Bakery
402 Ingalls St
98 lokalaca preporučuje
Great for patio lunch, lots of shops and wineries nearby.
Best Ice Cream in town.
38 lokalaca preporučuje
Marianne's Ice Cream
1020 Ocean St
38 lokalaca preporučuje
Best Ice Cream in town.
Nice views, good food. Seafood. Bar.
22 lokalaca preporučuje
Aquarius
175 W Cliff Dr
22 lokalaca preporučuje
Nice views, good food. Seafood. Bar.
Family friendly seafood on the wharf.
25 lokalaca preporučuje
Stagnaro Bros.
59 Municipal Wharf
25 lokalaca preporučuje
Family friendly seafood on the wharf.
Nice menu, reasonable prices, family friendly.
6 lokalaca preporučuje
Hoffman's Downtown
1102 Pacific Ave
6 lokalaca preporučuje
Nice menu, reasonable prices, family friendly.
Sunday brunch atop hill. Buffet brunch.
30 lokalaca preporučuje
The Spa at Chaminade
1 Chaminade Ln
30 lokalaca preporučuje
Sunday brunch atop hill. Buffet brunch.
Best Pizza in Town. Iconic atmosphere.
141 lokalaca preporučuje
Pizza My Heart
209 Esplanade
141 lokalaca preporučuje
Best Pizza in Town. Iconic atmosphere.
Gourmet Italian. Cozy.
22 lokalaca preporučuje
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff Dr
22 lokalaca preporučuje
Gourmet Italian. Cozy.
Seafood, oysters, beach, bar.
48 lokalaca preporučuje
Café Rio Aptos
131 Esplanade
48 lokalaca preporučuje
Seafood, oysters, beach, bar.
Nice menu, a little slanted to comfort food.
70 lokalaca preporučuje
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel Ave
70 lokalaca preporučuje
Nice menu, a little slanted to comfort food.
Cute, good food, romantic.
31 lokalaca preporučuje
Gabriella Café
910 Cedar St
31 lokalaca preporučuje
Cute, good food, romantic.
Large menu selection, fun decorations inside, pho'a noodle soups, pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, family and budget friendly.
8 lokalaca preporučuje
Santa Cruz Antique Fair
8 lokalaca preporučuje
Large menu selection, fun decorations inside, pho'a noodle soups, pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, family and budget friendly.
Best Burgers in town!
65 lokalaca preporučuje
Betty Burgers
505 Seabright Ave
65 lokalaca preporučuje
Best Burgers in town!
Most romantic restaurant around, anniversaries and joyful get-togethers. Park at the top of the bluff and take cable car down to restaurant, or walk down hillside with gardens and waterfalls. Great bar room too.
205 lokalaca preporučuje
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Rd
205 lokalaca preporučuje
Most romantic restaurant around, anniversaries and joyful get-togethers. Park at the top of the bluff and take cable car down to restaurant, or walk down hillside with gardens and waterfalls. Great bar room too.
Great breakfasts! Not very big, and a line can form especially on weekends, but they serve coffee outside for people waiting.
67 lokalaca preporučuje
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright Ave
67 lokalaca preporučuje
Great breakfasts! Not very big, and a line can form especially on weekends, but they serve coffee outside for people waiting.
Innovative sushi restaurant nearby.
7 lokalaca preporučuje
I Love Sushi
516 Front St
7 lokalaca preporučuje
Innovative sushi restaurant nearby.
Probably my 3rd choice sushi, I would favor Shogun and I Love Sushi, but this is on the east side of town and sometimes easier to just drop in here.
54 lokalaca preporučuje
Akira Sushi
1222 Soquel Ave
54 lokalaca preporučuje
Probably my 3rd choice sushi, I would favor Shogun and I Love Sushi, but this is on the east side of town and sometimes easier to just drop in here.
Best Thai food in town. We've been going to their Soquel restaurant for years, and they opened up in the old Casablanca hotel right near the Boardwalk recently. Would recommend to all Thai food lovers.
13 lokalaca preporučuje
Sawasdee By The Sea
101 Main St
13 lokalaca preporučuje
Best Thai food in town. We've been going to their Soquel restaurant for years, and they opened up in the old Casablanca hotel right near the Boardwalk recently. Would recommend to all Thai food lovers.
Right on the beach, good Mexican food and drinks. Watch beach volleyball during the day. Family friendly - kids can run onto the beach and still be seen from restaurant. Nice bar too.
35 lokalaca preporučuje
Cafe El Palomar
2222 E Cliff Dr
35 lokalaca preporučuje
Right on the beach, good Mexican food and drinks. Watch beach volleyball during the day. Family friendly - kids can run onto the beach and still be seen from restaurant. Nice bar too.
It's right on the beach, and 10am on Saturday mornings, people gather to play their Ukuleles.
8 lokalaca preporučuje
Kind Grind
2222 East Cliff Drive
8 lokalaca preporučuje
It's right on the beach, and 10am on Saturday mornings, people gather to play their Ukuleles.
Asian street food, very casual, very delicious! Good take-out choice or eat-in. Open until 11pm.
80 lokalaca preporučuje
Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel Ave
80 lokalaca preporučuje
Asian street food, very casual, very delicious! Good take-out choice or eat-in. Open until 11pm.
The only Mongolian restaurant in the 'extended' SF Bay Area. Nice people and nice food for the more adventurous diners.
12 lokalaca preporučuje
Oyunaa's Mongolian Cuisine
1209 Soquel Ave
12 lokalaca preporučuje
The only Mongolian restaurant in the 'extended' SF Bay Area. Nice people and nice food for the more adventurous diners.
Very unusual - they take crepes to the next level; they put anything in them you can imagine and they taste great! Try the Greek crepe (artichokes, olives, feta) or the Jambalaya crepe (Andouille sausage, shrimp, etc). Good for any meal of the day, outdoor patio dining in the back in the garden. Creative Santa Cruz, relaxed style. Good for late breakfasts/brunch, casual. Evening live music, full bar, and open late.
109 lokalaca preporučuje
The Crêpe Place
1134 Soquel Ave
109 lokalaca preporučuje
Very unusual - they take crepes to the next level; they put anything in them you can imagine and they taste great! Try the Greek crepe (artichokes, olives, feta) or the Jambalaya crepe (Andouille sausage, shrimp, etc). Good for any meal of the day, outdoor patio dining in the back in the garden. Creative Santa Cruz, relaxed style. Good for late breakfasts/brunch, casual. Evening live music, full bar, and open late.
A hole-in-the-wall that doesn't look like much, but they have the best burritos in town - sometimes the line goes out the door. Cash only. Try the Green Chili Beef (Chili Verde). They have a location in Capitola as well that's a little larger. Satisfying mexican food.
28 lokalaca preporučuje
Tacos Moreno
1053 Water St
28 lokalaca preporučuje
A hole-in-the-wall that doesn't look like much, but they have the best burritos in town - sometimes the line goes out the door. Cash only. Try the Green Chili Beef (Chili Verde). They have a location in Capitola as well that's a little larger. Satisfying mexican food.

Parks & Nature

Closest park with giant redwoods.
335 lokalaca preporučuje
Хенри Ковел Редвудс Државни парк
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 lokalaca preporučuje
Closest park with giant redwoods.
Best beach. It's big and sandy, clean, and across the street. Listing cover photograph taken on this beach.
59 lokalaca preporučuje
Државна плажа Сибрајт
59 lokalaca preporučuje
Best beach. It's big and sandy, clean, and across the street. Listing cover photograph taken on this beach.
Beautiful beach.
261 lokalaca preporučuje
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 lokalaca preporučuje
Beautiful beach.
Hiking above cliffs, wildlife, hiking, biking.
219 lokalaca preporučuje
Државни парк Вајлдер Ранч
1401 Coast Rd
219 lokalaca preporučuje
Hiking above cliffs, wildlife, hiking, biking.
Huge beach, walk for miles.
63 lokalaca preporučuje
Рио дел Мар државна плажа
63 lokalaca preporučuje
Huge beach, walk for miles.
Beautiful, small beach town. Parking can be a challenge.
167 lokalaca preporučuje
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey Ave
167 lokalaca preporučuje
Beautiful, small beach town. Parking can be a challenge.
Iconic surfing, year around.
81 lokalaca preporučuje
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff Dr
81 lokalaca preporučuje
Iconic surfing, year around.
Nice beach across yacht harbor from Seabright Beach. Beautiful sunset views.
65 lokalaca preporučuje
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenue
65 lokalaca preporučuje
Nice beach across yacht harbor from Seabright Beach. Beautiful sunset views.

Getting Around

They can pickup.
6 lokalaca preporučuje
Hertz
2724 Soquel Avenue
6 lokalaca preporučuje
They can pickup.
Sometimes you need Avis.
Avis Car Rental
630 Ocean St
Sometimes you need Avis.

Arts & Culture

Jazz performances, world music.
52 lokalaca preporučuje
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar St
52 lokalaca preporučuje
Jazz performances, world music.
Learn history of city/location.
133 lokalaca preporučuje
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front St
133 lokalaca preporučuje
Learn history of city/location.
A little neighborhood nature museum only 2 minute walk away. Kids climb on the outdoor full-scale gray whale in the yard for fun and photos. Be sure to see the creek nearby with native plants gardens (both sides of East Cliff Dr) built and maintained by neighborhood volunteers.
50 lokalaca preporučuje
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 E Cliff Dr
50 lokalaca preporučuje
A little neighborhood nature museum only 2 minute walk away. Kids climb on the outdoor full-scale gray whale in the yard for fun and photos. Be sure to see the creek nearby with native plants gardens (both sides of East Cliff Dr) built and maintained by neighborhood volunteers.

Essentials

Best Grocery and Butcher shop in town. Huge variety in a medium/small space, largest wine selection, quick checkout.
76 lokalaca preporučuje
Shopper's Corner
622 Soquel Ave
76 lokalaca preporučuje
Best Grocery and Butcher shop in town. Huge variety in a medium/small space, largest wine selection, quick checkout.
Great groceries and deli-made sandwiches. Aka Whole Paycheck.
157 lokalaca preporučuje
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel Ave
157 lokalaca preporučuje
Great groceries and deli-made sandwiches. Aka Whole Paycheck.
Good, basic grocery store. Has wide variety of cereals/sodas, household goods at low prices.
15 lokalaca preporučuje
Safeway
117 Morrissey Blvd
15 lokalaca preporučuje
Good, basic grocery store. Has wide variety of cereals/sodas, household goods at low prices.
Shockingly low prices, hit-and-miss quality. The Santa Maria Tri-tip is a winner for grilling!
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
120 Morrissey Blvd
Shockingly low prices, hit-and-miss quality. The Santa Maria Tri-tip is a winner for grilling!
Another Drug Store and more nearby.
8 lokalaca preporučuje
Walgreens
1718 Soquel Ave
8 lokalaca preporučuje
Another Drug Store and more nearby.
Drug Store and more.
20 lokalaca preporučuje
CVS
1700 Mission St
20 lokalaca preporučuje
Drug Store and more.
Very basic conveniences near beach, 2 blocks away - Firewood, liquor/beer, bread, ice cream.
Day's Market Liquors & Deli
526 Seabright Ave
Very basic conveniences near beach, 2 blocks away - Firewood, liquor/beer, bread, ice cream.

Entertainment & Activities

Iconic amusement park
745 lokalaca preporučuje
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 lokalaca preporučuje
Iconic amusement park
Independent Films
51 lokalaca preporučuje
Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific Ave
51 lokalaca preporučuje
Independent Films
Art House movies.
63 lokalaca preporučuje
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln St
63 lokalaca preporučuje
Art House movies.

Sightseeing

Beautiful views, surfers, houses.
193 lokalaca preporučuje
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Drive
193 lokalaca preporučuje
Beautiful views, surfers, houses.
Sailing cruises - 2 hours usually. 70 foot long boat, serve snacks and beverages.
45 lokalaca preporučuje
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
790 Mariner Park Way
45 lokalaca preporučuje
Sailing cruises - 2 hours usually. 70 foot long boat, serve snacks and beverages.
Beautiful Campus.
67 lokalaca preporučuje
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum Road
67 lokalaca preporučuje
Beautiful Campus.
Humpback and Gray Whales abound ! Dolphins, others....
21 lokalaca preporučuje
Santa Cruz Whale Watching
1718 Brommer St
21 lokalaca preporučuje
Humpback and Gray Whales abound ! Dolphins, others....