Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveGreat spot if you love coffee and coffee culture!
Amazing ice-cream spot with interesting flavors!
45 locals recommend
The Penny Ice Creamery Pleasure Point
820 41st AveAmazing ice-cream spot with interesting flavors!
Pleasure Pizza East Side Eatery
800 41st AveOne of Santa Cruz hot spots for pizza
Portola Drive
Portola Driveamazing food and cocktails. Also has a bar and outdoor seating.
Café Cruz
2621 41st AveA little gem. Great food, drinks and garden seating.
Quirky dining rooms & views of Soquel Creek. Huge restaurant with tram.
205 locals recommend
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf RdQuirky dining rooms & views of Soquel Creek. Huge restaurant with tram.
Great place for fish, eating by the creek and ocean views. Also located in the charming little Capitola Village.
50 locals recommend
Paradise Beach Grille
215 EsplanadeGreat place for fish, eating by the creek and ocean views. Also located in the charming little Capitola Village.
Cole's Bar-B-Q
2590 Portola DrIf you love yummy BBQ food go there! Outdoor seating.
On the other side of Santa Cruz just 15 minute drive away. Amazing Brazilian brunch food. Worth the short drive!
79 locals recommend
Cafe Brasil
1410 Mission StOn the other side of Santa Cruz just 15 minute drive away. Amazing Brazilian brunch food. Worth the short drive!
This coffee shop has more of a laid back locals vibe. It's laid back and they make delicious homemade tuna salad on a bagel.
44 locals recommend
Coffeetopia
3701 Portola DrThis coffee shop has more of a laid back locals vibe. It's laid back and they make delicious homemade tuna salad on a bagel.
If you love fish this is a nice spot to go. It's right on the harbor.
56 locals recommend
Aldo's Harbor Restaurant
790 Mariner Park WayIf you love fish this is a nice spot to go. It's right on the harbor.
KAITO
For sushi and asian noodle soup lovers!
Breakfast at its best! Vegetarian and carnivores will be pleased with their selection of omelets and tofu scrambles. Seat about 12 people and only open until 2pm
26 locals recommend
Cliff Cafe
815 41st AveBreakfast at its best! Vegetarian and carnivores will be pleased with their selection of omelets and tofu scrambles. Seat about 12 people and only open until 2pm
Chill Out Cafe is a breakfast and lunch cafe with 22 different breakfast burritos, sandwiches, soups, salads and a full coffee bar. There is indoor and backyard patio seating.
24 locals recommend
Chill Out Cafe
860 41st AveChill Out Cafe is a breakfast and lunch cafe with 22 different breakfast burritos, sandwiches, soups, salads and a full coffee bar. There is indoor and backyard patio seating.
One of the most popular spots to go for brunch. Homemade style with lots of varieties. A bit of a long wait but worth it. Can get coffee from the nearby Verve Roasters in the meantime while waiting.
67 locals recommend
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveOne of the most popular spots to go for brunch. Homemade style with lots of varieties. A bit of a long wait but worth it. Can get coffee from the nearby Verve Roasters in the meantime while waiting.
Gabriella Café
910 Cedar StCozy twist with Italian flare
Pono Hawaiian Grill
120 Union StreetHawaiian food with live music, bar and outdoor seating
Caffe Pergolesi
418 Cedar StCoffeeshop in a Victorian house. Lots of locals go there.
Eatery with rustic-industrial looks offers a gastropub menu with Californian leanings & craft beer.
125 locals recommend
West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StEatery with rustic-industrial looks offers a gastropub menu with Californian leanings & craft beer.
Airy space featuring wood-fired pizza with seasonal toppings & organic Mediterranean dishes.
94 locals recommend
Bantam
1010 Fair AveAiry space featuring wood-fired pizza with seasonal toppings & organic Mediterranean dishes.
Drinks & Nightlife
New Brewery. Lofty, industrial-chic brewery & taproom for European-style beers, plus cheese & charcuterie snacks.
42 locals recommend
New Bohemia Brewing Co.
1030 41st AveNew Brewery. Lofty, industrial-chic brewery & taproom for European-style beers, plus cheese & charcuterie snacks.
Over the Hill Gang Saloon
3530 Portola DrLocals bar with a cowboy's vibe
Castaways
3623 Portola DrA more secluded locals bar
Everything Else
Pleasure Point Yoga
3707 Portola DrGreat yoga studio offering classes daily
Watch surfers from here and hang out on the steps for some great views. Surfer's hot spot.
17 locals recommend
Pleasure Point County Park
East Cliff DriveWatch surfers from here and hang out on the steps for some great views. Surfer's hot spot.
Amazon Juices
1066 41st AvenueIf you love fresh pressed juices and acai bowls go here!
Samba Rock Acai Cafe
291 Water StFavorite spot to have different varieties of fresh acai bowls
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific AveFavorite bookshop in Santa Cruz
This microbrewery makes organic beers & serves them in a dog-friendly taproom with eats & a garden.
94 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
334 Ingalls StThis microbrewery makes organic beers & serves them in a dog-friendly taproom with eats & a garden.
Arts & Culture
Amusement park offering a variety of games & rides right on a mile-long stretch of sandy beach.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StAmusement park offering a variety of games & rides right on a mile-long stretch of sandy beach.
CineLux Capitola Cafe and Lounge
1475 41st AveClosest local Movie Theatre
Great spot to eat by the harbor. Also offers Stand up comedy Sunday nights at 8pm. Lots of fun!
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrGreat spot to eat by the harbor. Also offers Stand up comedy Sunday nights at 8pm. Lots of fun!
This is such an amazing spot for delicious crepes. Savory and sweet. Also has some great live music a bar and outdoor garden for seating.
109 locals recommend
The Crêpe Place
1134 Soquel AveThis is such an amazing spot for delicious crepes. Savory and sweet. Also has some great live music a bar and outdoor garden for seating.
We love this movie theatre because each seat reclines back as if one were in first class on a plane!
32 locals recommend
Regal Santa Cruz 9
1405 Pacific AveWe love this movie theatre because each seat reclines back as if one were in first class on a plane!
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StArt museum sometimes has some great shows
Essentials
Amazing community supermarket offering locally grown food and organic produce.
248 locals recommend
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveAmazing community supermarket offering locally grown food and organic produce.
Small convenience store serving breakfast and mexican food by the cliff. Great spot to get snack and quick coffee by the water.
38 locals recommend
The Point Market
23040 E Cliff DrSmall convenience store serving breakfast and mexican food by the cliff. Great spot to get snack and quick coffee by the water.
Sightseeing
Go for a nice walk through the tall trees, by the lake and to the beach. Great spot to go lay down on the beach and have incredible views.
23 locals recommend
Moran Lake County Park
22775 E Cliff DrGo for a nice walk through the tall trees, by the lake and to the beach. Great spot to go lay down on the beach and have incredible views.
The park features a natural bridge across a section of the beach. It is also well known as a hotspot to see monarch butterfly migrations.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrThe park features a natural bridge across a section of the beach. It is also well known as a hotspot to see monarch butterfly migrations.
Rotating exhibits on surfing culture & local history housed in a historic, preserved lighthouse
75 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
701 W Cliff DrRotating exhibits on surfing culture & local history housed in a historic, preserved lighthouse
Beach shops, seafood restaurants, sea lions & fishing draw crowds to this landmark bayside pier.
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal WharfBeach shops, seafood restaurants, sea lions & fishing draw crowds to this landmark bayside pier.
Shopping
If you love thrift shops and vintage clothes this is definitely a great place to checkout
All Shook Up Vintage Clothing
861 41st AveIf you love thrift shops and vintage clothes this is definitely a great place to checkout
Billabong
4105 Portola DrSurf Shop
O'Neill Surf Shop
110 Cooper StSurf Shop
Freeline Surf Shop
821 41st AveSurf Shop
Rip Curl - Santa Cruz
753 41st AveSurf Shop
Clearwater Bazaar Antiques
1226-A Mission StGreat place for thrift shop buyers and antique collectors