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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
220 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
La Posta
538 Seabright Ave
62 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Tramonti
528 Seabright Ave
38 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Buttery
702 Soquel Ave
133 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Best cafe' in town, best desserts and cakes. Also, good for breakfasts and sandwiches.
Best seafood in town
57 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Johnny's Harborside
493 Lake Ave
57 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Best seafood in town
Best Sushi in town - located Downtown Santa Cruz
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
1123 Pacific Ave
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Best Sushi in town - located Downtown Santa Cruz
Best international wine and tapas menu in town. Located downtown.
55 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Soif
105 Walnut Ave
55 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay Ave
155 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Kelly's French Bakery
402 Ingalls St
98 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Great for patio lunch, lots of shops and wineries nearby.
Best Ice Cream in town.
38 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Marianne's Ice Cream
1020 Ocean St
38 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Best Ice Cream in town.
Nice views, good food. Seafood. Bar.
22 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Aquarius
175 W Cliff Dr
22 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Nice views, good food. Seafood. Bar.
Family friendly seafood on the wharf.
25 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Stagnaro Bros.
59 Municipal Wharf
25 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Family friendly seafood on the wharf.
Nice menu, reasonable prices, family friendly.
6 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Hoffman's Downtown
1102 Pacific Ave
6 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Nice menu, reasonable prices, family friendly.
Sunday brunch atop hill. Buffet brunch.
30 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Spa at Chaminade
1 Chaminade Ln
30 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Sunday brunch atop hill. Buffet brunch.
Best Pizza in Town. Iconic atmosphere.
141 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Pizza My Heart
209 Esplanade
141 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Best Pizza in Town. Iconic atmosphere.
Gourmet Italian. Cozy.
22 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff Dr
22 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Gourmet Italian. Cozy.
Seafood, oysters, beach, bar.
48 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Café Rio Aptos
131 Esplanade
48 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Seafood, oysters, beach, bar.
Nice menu, a little slanted to comfort food.
70 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel Ave
70 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Nice menu, a little slanted to comfort food.
Cute, good food, romantic.
31 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Gabriella Café
910 Cedar St
31 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Cute, good food, romantic.
Large menu selection, fun decorations inside, pho'a noodle soups, pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, family and budget friendly.
8 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Santa Cruz Antique Fair
8 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Large menu selection, fun decorations inside, pho'a noodle soups, pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, family and budget friendly.
Best Burgers in town!
65 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Betty Burgers
505 Seabright Ave
65 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Rd
205 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright Ave
67 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
I Love Sushi
516 Front St
7 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Akira Sushi
1222 Soquel Ave
54 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Sawasdee By The Sea
101 Main St
13 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Cafe El Palomar
2222 E Cliff Dr
35 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Kind Grind
2222 East Cliff Drive
8 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel Ave
80 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Oyunaa's Mongolian Cuisine
1209 Soquel Ave
12 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Crêpe Place
1134 Soquel Ave
109 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Tacos Moreno
1053 Water St
28 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Seabright State Beach
59 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Best beach. It's big and sandy, clean, and across the street. Listing cover photograph taken on this beach.
Beautiful beach.
261 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Beautiful beach.
Hiking above cliffs, wildlife, hiking, biking.
219 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast Rd
219 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Hiking above cliffs, wildlife, hiking, biking.
Huge beach, walk for miles.
63 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Rio Del Mar State Beach
63 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Huge beach, walk for miles.
Beautiful, small beach town. Parking can be a challenge.
167 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey Ave
167 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Beautiful, small beach town. Parking can be a challenge.
Iconic surfing, year around.
81 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff Dr
81 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Iconic surfing, year around.
Nice beach across yacht harbor from Seabright Beach. Beautiful sunset views.
65 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenue
65 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Nice beach across yacht harbor from Seabright Beach. Beautiful sunset views.

Getting Around

They can pickup.
6 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Hertz
2724 Soquel Avenue
6 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
They can pickup.
Sometimes you need Avis.
Avis Car Rental
630 Ocean St
Sometimes you need Avis.

Arts & Culture

Jazz performances, world music.
52 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar St
52 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Jazz performances, world music.
Learn history of city/location.
133 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front St
133 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 E Cliff Dr
50 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Shopper's Corner
622 Soquel Ave
76 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel Ave
157 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Safeway
117 Morrissey Blvd
15 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Walgreens
1718 Soquel Ave
8 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Another Drug Store and more nearby.
Drug Store and more.
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
CVS
1700 Mission St
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
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 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Iconic amusement park
Independent Films
51 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific Ave
51 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Independent Films
Art House movies.
63 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln St
63 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Art House movies.

Sightseeing

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