Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Great for breakfast and lunch. The closest restaurant to our cottage, and a family favorite for 30 years. Go early, or you'll be waiting for 30-45 minutes. Still worth it.
67 locals recommend
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveGreat for breakfast and lunch. The closest restaurant to our cottage, and a family favorite for 30 years. Go early, or you'll be waiting for 30-45 minutes. Still worth it.
Good local brew pub with a pub menu. Outdoor dining in the summer.
74 locals recommend
Seabright Social
519 Seabright AveGood local brew pub with a pub menu. Outdoor dining in the summer.
Extremely popular, and for a good reason. Excellent food, outdoor drinks and dining in good weather, and great view of the harbor and ocean.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrExtremely popular, and for a good reason. Excellent food, outdoor drinks and dining in good weather, and great view of the harbor and ocean.
Closest fine dining to our home. Extensive wine list and Italian food selection. My wife's favorite place.
62 locals recommend
La Posta
538 Seabright AveClosest fine dining to our home. Extensive wine list and Italian food selection. My wife's favorite place.
Fish restaurant with a commanding view of the yacht harbor. Sandwiches and fresh fish, cooked several ways. Full bar.
57 locals recommend
Johnny's Harborside
493 Lake AveFish restaurant with a commanding view of the yacht harbor. Sandwiches and fresh fish, cooked several ways. Full bar.
Organic Asian food that is delicious and very reasonably priced. A favorite of students and those who love healthy food.
80 locals recommend
Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel AveOrganic Asian food that is delicious and very reasonably priced. A favorite of students and those who love healthy food.
A very nice, mature place to have a cocktail or a tasty select of unique dishes. We like the bar menu, but a complete menu is available. Quiet, convenient, with nearby parking. Limited but delicious menu.
70 locals recommend
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel AveA very nice, mature place to have a cocktail or a tasty select of unique dishes. We like the bar menu, but a complete menu is available. Quiet, convenient, with nearby parking. Limited but delicious menu.
Fun sushi restaurant with some Santa Cruz-themed rolls. Large convenient parking lot shared with Trader Joe's.
28 locals recommend
Mobo Sushi
105 River St SFun sushi restaurant with some Santa Cruz-themed rolls. Large convenient parking lot shared with Trader Joe's.
One of the three great bakeries in Santa Cruz. Wonderful breads, desserts, and custom sandwiches. Across from Shopper's Corner, another Santa Cruz institution.
133 locals recommend
The Buttery
702 Soquel AveOne of the three great bakeries in Santa Cruz. Wonderful breads, desserts, and custom sandwiches. Across from Shopper's Corner, another Santa Cruz institution.
Great view of the city and Monterey Bay, about a dozen restaurants, fresh seafood, relatively inexpensive parking on the wharf.
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal WharfGreat view of the city and Monterey Bay, about a dozen restaurants, fresh seafood, relatively inexpensive parking on the wharf.
Nice, family-owned restaurant with excellent food and some reasonably priced wine. A family favorite, and also a UCSC hangout.
29 locals recommend
Sabieng
1218 Mission StNice, family-owned restaurant with excellent food and some reasonably priced wine. A family favorite, and also a UCSC hangout.
This is the closest Starbucks, and there are a variety of other local coffee shops as well. Also one at Portola and 17th, which is walkable if you want a stroll.
29 locals recommend
Starbucks
21620 E Cliff DrThis is the closest Starbucks, and there are a variety of other local coffee shops as well. Also one at Portola and 17th, which is walkable if you want a stroll.
Our own local coffee roasting company, VERVE is about two blocks away. Very strong, locally roasted coffee and pastries. You can smell the coffee roasting in the morning.
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveOur own local coffee roasting company, VERVE is about two blocks away. Very strong, locally roasted coffee and pastries. You can smell the coffee roasting in the morning.
Nice Italian restaurant with good service and reasonable prices. About 7 minutes away by car.
22 locals recommend
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff DrNice Italian restaurant with good service and reasonable prices. About 7 minutes away by car.
Intimate Italian restaurant with good service, traditional food, and a homey feel.
11 locals recommend
Star Bene
East Cliff DriveIntimate Italian restaurant with good service, traditional food, and a homey feel.
Very good Mexican restaurant downtown with full bar. Broad menu including seafood. Also check out the Taco Bar, just outside of the bar, with excellent tacos and burritos, freshly made. M-Th low $$.
37 locals recommend
El Palomar Restaurant
1336 Pacific AveVery good Mexican restaurant downtown with full bar. Broad menu including seafood. Also check out the Taco Bar, just outside of the bar, with excellent tacos and burritos, freshly made. M-Th low $$.
We tend to forget this waterfront restaurant, but it has reasonably good food and it's right on the Twin Lakes Beach. Watch the surf and volleyball, and enjoy a broad menu of breakfast and lunch/dinner entrees.
35 locals recommend
Cafe El Palomar
2222 E Cliff DrWe tend to forget this waterfront restaurant, but it has reasonably good food and it's right on the Twin Lakes Beach. Watch the surf and volleyball, and enjoy a broad menu of breakfast and lunch/dinner entrees.
(Currently closed for renovation.) Right ON the harbor, with views of the channel and passing boats. Smaller inside dining for inclement weather. Breakfast menu, sandwiches, fresh fish, and burgers. Dog friendly. Bring a hat.
56 locals recommend
Aldo's Harbor Restaurant
790 Mariner Park Way(Currently closed for renovation.) Right ON the harbor, with views of the channel and passing boats. Smaller inside dining for inclement weather. Breakfast menu, sandwiches, fresh fish, and burgers. Dog friendly. Bring a hat.
Our favorite, hands down. Excellent food and drinks, comfortable, and not at all a "chain" restaurant. Call for reservations most nights. Snapper Special on Friday is muy bien! 688-4848
91 locals recommend
Manuel's Mexican Restaurant
261 Center AveOur favorite, hands down. Excellent food and drinks, comfortable, and not at all a "chain" restaurant. Call for reservations most nights. Snapper Special on Friday is muy bien! 688-4848
Youngish scene, full bar, and good menu. Burgers, tacos, fish. A little loud for intimate conversations, but a favorite among our adult children. Easy parking off Portola.
59 locals recommend
Süda
3910 Portola DrYoungish scene, full bar, and good menu. Burgers, tacos, fish. A little loud for intimate conversations, but a favorite among our adult children. Easy parking off Portola.
Breakfast-lunch place that is a harbor favorite. Big breakfasts, including three egg omelets that will keep you reaching for your statins. Nice servers, extensive menu.
102 locals recommend
Harbor Café
535 7th AveBreakfast-lunch place that is a harbor favorite. Big breakfasts, including three egg omelets that will keep you reaching for your statins. Nice servers, extensive menu.
Entertainment & Activities
Last of the Pacific seaside resorts with fun rides, free access, and a wide safe beach. Great for people watching, thrilling rides, and junk food. If it isn't fried, you won't find it at the Boardwalk. Great beach, too.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StLast of the Pacific seaside resorts with fun rides, free access, and a wide safe beach. Great for people watching, thrilling rides, and junk food. If it isn't fried, you won't find it at the Boardwalk. Great beach, too.
Our local renowned climbing gym is only two blocks away! 50' walls, friendly service, and a fun atmosphere. Yoga is also available there.
16 locals recommend
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym
104 Bronson StOur local renowned climbing gym is only two blocks away! 50' walls, friendly service, and a fun atmosphere. Yoga is also available there.
Nearby park is dog-friendly, and has nice climbing structures for kids. Gateway to the upper yacht harbor.
12 locals recommend
Frederick Street Park & Dog Park
168 Frederick StNearby park is dog-friendly, and has nice climbing structures for kids. Gateway to the upper yacht harbor.
Cute park, also nearby, which looks over the river and Boardwalk. Good for picnics, and a walking path leads to the river.
18 locals recommend
Ocean View Park
102 Ocean View AveCute park, also nearby, which looks over the river and Boardwalk. Good for picnics, and a walking path leads to the river.
World famous for a good reason: it totally rocks for kids, adults, anyone! Gorgeous facility on the bay with the most amazing exhibits. Allow three hours.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowWorld famous for a good reason: it totally rocks for kids, adults, anyone! Gorgeous facility on the bay with the most amazing exhibits. Allow three hours.
Everything Else
Nice hiking area north of the harbor. Enter by Santa Cruz Bible Church bridge, at the end of Broadway. Great 3-mile loop from our home.
13 locals recommend
Arana Gulch Park
101 Mentel AveNice hiking area north of the harbor. Enter by Santa Cruz Bible Church bridge, at the end of Broadway. Great 3-mile loop from our home.
Hey, just another Costco, but I love Costco and this is our local location. They also have a gas station a block away.
16 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
220 Sylvania AveHey, just another Costco, but I love Costco and this is our local location. They also have a gas station a block away.
Large city park with golf, hiking, little league, biking, and picnics.
17 locals recommend
Delaveaga Park
855 Branciforte DriveLarge city park with golf, hiking, little league, biking, and picnics.
One of the premier surf spots in California. Bring your camera and telephoto lens. You are perched 25' on a cliff with a panoramic view of the waves and surfers. Surving Museum is adjacent. Excellent.
81 locals recommend
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrOne of the premier surf spots in California. Bring your camera and telephoto lens. You are perched 25' on a cliff with a panoramic view of the waves and surfers. Surving Museum is adjacent. Excellent.
Ashtanga Yoga Institute at Pacific Cultural Center
1307 Seabright AveClosest yoga studio.
Essentials
Yes, we have a Whole Foods. Great produce and other organic products. Bring your checkbook...
157 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel AveYes, we have a Whole Foods. Great produce and other organic products. Bring your checkbook...
OK, just in case, here's the nearest ER and other hospital services. Susan has worked there for over 30 years. Great place to have a baby.
12 locals recommend
Dominican Hospital
1555 Soquel DrOK, just in case, here's the nearest ER and other hospital services. Susan has worked there for over 30 years. Great place to have a baby.
Shopping
One of Santa Cruz's oldest health food markets with a wonderful selection of fresh foods, including a hot select to take home. Loved by the community.
69 locals recommend
Staff of Life
1266 Soquel AveOne of Santa Cruz's oldest health food markets with a wonderful selection of fresh foods, including a hot select to take home. Loved by the community.
Well-respected boutique grocery store that's been there for 80 years. Extensive wine and cheese selection, with full butcher shop, excellent produce. Friendly service and good parking.
76 locals recommend
Shopper's Corner
622 Soquel AveWell-respected boutique grocery store that's been there for 80 years. Extensive wine and cheese selection, with full butcher shop, excellent produce. Friendly service and good parking.
Parks & Nature
Our local beach, between the harbor and rivermouth. Broad sand beach with gentle surf, mostly, and fire pits if you want to cook out. Dogs on leashes! Bring your kite and skimboard.
59 locals recommend
Seabright State Beach
Our local beach, between the harbor and rivermouth. Broad sand beach with gentle surf, mostly, and fire pits if you want to cook out. Dogs on leashes! Bring your kite and skimboard.
Well, not actually the park, but the entire area around the lighthouse is special. Walk along the cliff on West Cliff Dr and you'll see why so many people love Santa Cruz.
49 locals recommend
Lighthouse Field State Beach
Well, not actually the park, but the entire area around the lighthouse is special. Walk along the cliff on West Cliff Dr and you'll see why so many people love Santa Cruz.
Arts & Culture
Very highly acclaimed community college which has recently had a major facelift. Frequent dramatic and musical presentations. Nursing school has graduated many excellent nurses!
15 locals recommend
Student Activities Center
6500 Soquel DrVery highly acclaimed community college which has recently had a major facelift. Frequent dramatic and musical presentations. Nursing school has graduated many excellent nurses!
Major university in one of the prettiest settings every. Great views of Monterey Bay.
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum RoadMajor university in one of the prettiest settings every. Great views of Monterey Bay.