J & G's Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Jenna
J & G's Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Food Scene

Avanti is a 4 block walk from us and is our favorite neighborhood restaurant because of the food, the owners and Katie the bartender, sit with her if you can.
47 locals recommend
Avanti Restaurant
1917 Mission St
47 locals recommend
Avanti is a 4 block walk from us and is our favorite neighborhood restaurant because of the food, the owners and Katie the bartender, sit with her if you can.
AMAZING pastries and coffee...
64 locals recommend
Companion Bakeshop Westside Santa Cruz
2341 Mission St
64 locals recommend
AMAZING pastries and coffee...
Really great pizzas and small plates, SUPER fun scene.
94 locals recommend
Bantam
1010 Fair Ave
94 locals recommend
Really great pizzas and small plates, SUPER fun scene.
Enjoy the bar for great cocktails and bar menu.... Enjoy in the dining-room for a fine dinning experience.
70 locals recommend
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel Ave
70 locals recommend
Enjoy the bar for great cocktails and bar menu.... Enjoy in the dining-room for a fine dinning experience.
Amazing Italian food in the Seabright neighborhood, very romantic
62 locals recommend
La Posta
538 Seabright Ave
62 locals recommend
Amazing Italian food in the Seabright neighborhood, very romantic
Hipster scene, fun pub food and cocktails, walking distance from the apartment.
26 locals recommend
The Parish Publick House
841 Almar Ave
26 locals recommend
Hipster scene, fun pub food and cocktails, walking distance from the apartment.
A MUST! Sit in the bar, order Bloody Mary's, the cioppino, the artichoke soup and the AMAZING bread. This is a fantastic day trip....(Pescadero)
59 locals recommend
Duarte's Tavern
202 Stage Rd
59 locals recommend
A MUST! Sit in the bar, order Bloody Mary's, the cioppino, the artichoke soup and the AMAZING bread. This is a fantastic day trip....(Pescadero)
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
220 locals recommend
Awesome coffee, breakfast and lunch.... Across the street from Steamer Lane aka "The Lane" where you will observe world class surfing...
18 locals recommend
Steamer Lane Supply
644-670 W Cliff Dr
18 locals recommend
Awesome coffee, breakfast and lunch.... Across the street from Steamer Lane aka "The Lane" where you will observe world class surfing...
AMAZING breakfast/brunch!
102 locals recommend
Harbor Café
535 7th Ave
102 locals recommend
AMAZING breakfast/brunch!
High-end steak house with a killer happy hour, $10 for a burger and a beer!
11 locals recommend
Alderwood Santa Cruz
155 Walnut Ave
11 locals recommend
High-end steak house with a killer happy hour, $10 for a burger and a beer!
12 locals recommend
11th Hour Coffee
1001 Center St
12 locals recommend
SUPER fun place for wine tasting!
17 locals recommend
Stockwell Cellars
1100 Fair Ave
17 locals recommend
SUPER fun place for wine tasting!
Hip brew pub with fun food trucks.
50 locals recommend
Humble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift St
50 locals recommend
Hip brew pub with fun food trucks.
We like to go here for breakfast or as a stopping point whilst on a walk or bike ride for a refresher.
13 locals recommend
Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge
175 W Cliff Dr
13 locals recommend
We like to go here for breakfast or as a stopping point whilst on a walk or bike ride for a refresher.
Delicious food and cocktails. Fun spirits tasting room.
32 locals recommend
Venus Spirits
200 High Rd
32 locals recommend
Delicious food and cocktails. Fun spirits tasting room.
Romantic and delicious!
31 locals recommend
Gabriella Café
910 Cedar St
31 locals recommend
Romantic and delicious!
Great breakfast in a funky part of town.
47 locals recommend
Zachary's Restaurant
819 Pacific Ave
47 locals recommend
Great breakfast in a funky part of town.
Local's favorite for breakfast.
67 locals recommend
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright Ave
67 locals recommend
Local's favorite for breakfast.
James Beard awarded Chef David Kinch did it again! Awesome pizza, cocktails and small plates.
32 locals recommend
Mentone
174 Aptos Vlg Wy
32 locals recommend
James Beard awarded Chef David Kinch did it again! Awesome pizza, cocktails and small plates.
A unique and rare bookstore and Cafe.
BAD ANIMAL
1011 Cedar St
A unique and rare bookstore and Cafe.
64 locals recommend
The Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar St
64 locals recommend

Drinks & Nightlife

Great food an lively scene.
125 locals recommend
West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls St
125 locals recommend
Great food an lively scene.
Fun and on the beach, great live music and comedy on Sundays..
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 locals recommend
Fun and on the beach, great live music and comedy on Sundays..
There are MANY wineries in this area, check it out for sure!
11 locals recommend
Sones Cellars
334-B Ingalls St
11 locals recommend
There are MANY wineries in this area, check it out for sure!
Great music scene.
83 locals recommend
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial Way
83 locals recommend
Great music scene.
94 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
334 Ingalls St
94 locals recommend
50 locals recommend
Humble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift St
50 locals recommend
Supper yummy food and a fun scene..
34 locals recommend
Lupulo Craft Beer House
233 Cathcart St
34 locals recommend
Supper yummy food and a fun scene..
81 locals recommend
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave
81 locals recommend
SUPER fun, hip wine bar with unusual snacks.
Apéro Club
402 Ingalls Street
SUPER fun, hip wine bar with unusual snacks.
On the Municipal wharf. BEAUTIFUL views and lovely wine scene.
Vino by the Sea
55 Municipal Wharf
On the Municipal wharf. BEAUTIFUL views and lovely wine scene.
Walking distance from the apartment this is our local “dive bar“. The owners arm very nice and the bartenders are on/point.
Mission West
2405 Mission Street
Walking distance from the apartment this is our local “dive bar“. The owners arm very nice and the bartenders are on/point.

Essentials

Our local Organic Market
248 locals recommend
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair Ave
248 locals recommend
Our local Organic Market
For vitamins
Herb Room
1130 Mission St
For vitamins
If you want a fabulous haircut, color service or simply a blow dry and style with AMAZING customer care...
Kinship Hair Co.
114 Pearl Alley
If you want a fabulous haircut, color service or simply a blow dry and style with AMAZING customer care...
For massage and hot tub, really nice!
26 locals recommend
Well Within Spa
417 Cedar St
26 locals recommend
For massage and hot tub, really nice!
U Save Liquors
930 Almar Ave
LOTS of information!
28 locals recommend
Downtown Santa Cruz Info Kiosk
1130 Pacific Ave
28 locals recommend
LOTS of information!

Shopping

Our downtown outdoor mall with mostly small, local businesses...
88 locals recommend
Pacific Avenue
Pacific Avenue
88 locals recommend
Our downtown outdoor mall with mostly small, local businesses...
Really amazing clothing, accessories and home goods, a must see. Enjoy wine tasting at the many wineries in this area and lunch a Kelly's French Bakery while you are there.
11 locals recommend
Cameron Marks
402 Ingalls St
11 locals recommend
Really amazing clothing, accessories and home goods, a must see. Enjoy wine tasting at the many wineries in this area and lunch a Kelly's French Bakery while you are there.
Pacific Trading Co.
1224 Pacific Ave
Lovely apothecary around the corner from Cameron Marks.
Eothen Circle
402 Ingalls Street
Lovely apothecary around the corner from Cameron Marks.
Lots of lovely locally owned boutiques and cafés 
167 locals recommend
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey Ave
167 locals recommend
Lots of lovely locally owned boutiques and cafés 
Our local “Anthropologie“.
19 locals recommend
Stripe Design Group LLC
107 Walnut Ave
19 locals recommend
Our local “Anthropologie“.
Beautiful clothes and jewelry, some from local artisans 
Jade
117 Walnut Avenue
Beautiful clothes and jewelry, some from local artisans 
Amazing apothecary, jewelry, home goods and beautiful plants.
6 locals recommend
Botanic and Luxe
110 Front St
6 locals recommend
Amazing apothecary, jewelry, home goods and beautiful plants.
Two boutique stores next-door to each other with beautiful trendy clothing, hats, jewelry and shoes 
Wallflower Boutique
107 Locust St
Two boutique stores next-door to each other with beautiful trendy clothing, hats, jewelry and shoes 
Wonderful local book store ❤️& event space.
57 locals recommend
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific Ave
57 locals recommend
Wonderful local book store ❤️& event space.

Sightseeing

Start at Natural Bridges State Park and walk to the lighthouse to watch the surfing... Across from the lighthouse is a fun coffee/sandwich shop...
193 locals recommend
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Drive
193 locals recommend
Start at Natural Bridges State Park and walk to the lighthouse to watch the surfing... Across from the lighthouse is a fun coffee/sandwich shop...
Opal Cliff Drive
Opal Cliff Drive
45 locals recommend
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
790 Mariner Park Way
45 locals recommend
O'Neill Sea Odyssey
2222 East Cliff Drive

Arts & Culture

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front St
133 locals recommend
Fantastic art gallery
Radius Gallery
1050 River St
Fantastic art gallery
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center
1010 River St
Awesome concert hall...
52 locals recommend
Rio Theatre
1205 Soquel Ave
52 locals recommend
Awesome concert hall...
354 locals recommend
Carmel by the sea
San Antonio Avenue
354 locals recommend
This is a must if you love kitschy​, quirky mystery in the redwoods....
208 locals recommend
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rd
208 locals recommend
This is a must if you love kitschy​, quirky mystery in the redwoods....

Parks & Nature

BEAUTIFUL views and wonderful hiking trails.
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast Rd
219 locals recommend
BEAUTIFUL views and wonderful hiking trails.
AMAZING redwoods and hiking.
38 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
2591 Graham Hill Rd
38 locals recommend
AMAZING redwoods and hiking.
Fantastic amenities too...
65 locals recommend
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenue
65 locals recommend
Fantastic amenities too...
Awesome for watching the surfers... Go across the street to Steamer Lane Supply for coffee, breakfast or lunch...
81 locals recommend
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff Dr
81 locals recommend
Awesome for watching the surfers... Go across the street to Steamer Lane Supply for coffee, breakfast or lunch...
Our favorite hangout beach, a super mellow vibe with mostly locals as most tourists don’t know about it. It’ll behoove you to get there early. Blackpoint Market is a few blocks away and a great place to get everything you could possibly need for your beach experience. Their deli and beverage selection is on-point. We like this beach because it’s literally in a cove so the wind that comes from the north will be blocked to keep you nice and warm. This is a great hang out beach year around but parking is tricky.
33 locals recommend
Sunny Cove
33 locals recommend
Our favorite hangout beach, a super mellow vibe with mostly locals as most tourists don’t know about it. It’ll behoove you to get there early. Blackpoint Market is a few blocks away and a great place to get everything you could possibly need for your beach experience. Their deli and beverage selection is on-point. We like this beach because it’s literally in a cove so the wind that comes from the north will be blocked to keep you nice and warm. This is a great hang out beach year around but parking is tricky.
Lovely, small beach just north of Davenport, 10 mi north of Santa Cruz. Public restrooms available. No parking after 10:00 pm.
20 locals recommend
Davenport beach
446 CA-1
20 locals recommend
Lovely, small beach just north of Davenport, 10 mi north of Santa Cruz. Public restrooms available. No parking after 10:00 pm.
Although there remains only one ‘natural bridge’, this is a nice beach, at times a good surf spot and has restroom facilities. Seasonally, the monarch butterflies winter in the eucalyptus groves just beyond the sand. The visitor center and butterfly viewing path is free. Be sure to go north on the beech to the tide pools...
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 locals recommend
Although there remains only one ‘natural bridge’, this is a nice beach, at times a good surf spot and has restroom facilities. Seasonally, the monarch butterflies winter in the eucalyptus groves just beyond the sand. The visitor center and butterfly viewing path is free. Be sure to go north on the beech to the tide pools...
Multiple small beaches punctuate this beautiful pedestrian, bicycle path extending 3 miles from Natural Bridges to the Municipal wharf. Not to be missed, this treasure boasts the world famous Steamer Lane surf spot, the surfing museum and frequent opportunities to spot whales, otters, dolphins and seabirds. The people watching is pretty good too! This is a great place to take the bikes!
193 locals recommend
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Drive
193 locals recommend
Multiple small beaches punctuate this beautiful pedestrian, bicycle path extending 3 miles from Natural Bridges to the Municipal wharf. Not to be missed, this treasure boasts the world famous Steamer Lane surf spot, the surfing museum and frequent opportunities to spot whales, otters, dolphins and seabirds. The people watching is pretty good too! This is a great place to take the bikes!
A fabulous walking beach that goes on for miles, you could literally walk all the way to Monterey if you wanted to. Also there is a lovely deli near the parking lot to get provisions for your walk.
63 locals recommend
Rio Del Mar State Beach
63 locals recommend
A fabulous walking beach that goes on for miles, you could literally walk all the way to Monterey if you wanted to. Also there is a lovely deli near the parking lot to get provisions for your walk.
You are 1/4 mile from the entrance. UCSC is a beautiful place to walk, hike and meander.
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum Road
67 locals recommend
You are 1/4 mile from the entrance. UCSC is a beautiful place to walk, hike and meander.
BEAUTIFUL hiking through the redwoods.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek Road
272 locals recommend
BEAUTIFUL hiking through the redwoods.
Stunning hiking and mountain bike riding.
17 locals recommend
Soquel Demonstration State Forest
29400 Highland Way
17 locals recommend
Stunning hiking and mountain bike riding.
A VERY mini Monterey Bay Aquarium with beautiful walking paths along the bluffs.
10 locals recommend
Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory
115 McAllister Way
10 locals recommend
A VERY mini Monterey Bay Aquarium with beautiful walking paths along the bluffs.
SUPER fun tour of Monterey
Handcar Tours
SUPER fun tour of Monterey