Recommendations
Food
Grab a cup of coffee and walk to Pleasure Point.
I recommend you order it from your phone here just before you leave and it will be ready within a minute or two of your walk there or be prepared to wait.
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveGrab a cup of coffee and walk to Pleasure Point.
I recommend you order it from your phone here just before you leave and it will be ready within a minute or two of your walk there or be prepared to wait.
Morning mimosas on their patio or grab a pizza and take it to the promenade.
51 locals recommend
Pleasure Pizza East Side Eatery
800 41st AveMorning mimosas on their patio or grab a pizza and take it to the promenade.
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveHeaven. Thank me later.
GREAT ambiance for couples (and surprisingly affordable) recommend reservations and ask for a seat out front.
They also have a free car service to come collect you.
205 locals recommend
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf RdGREAT ambiance for couples (and surprisingly affordable) recommend reservations and ask for a seat out front.
They also have a free car service to come collect you.
Craft ice cream, flavors always changing but my favorite is their mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone and Teymur goes for anything chocolate.
64 locals recommend
The Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar StCraft ice cream, flavors always changing but my favorite is their mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone and Teymur goes for anything chocolate.
You don't go for the ambiance but the food is best Chinese food I've found in the area -- this is a favorite takeout spot of ours. Try the shrimp wontons!
8 locals recommend
Canton Restaurant
900 41st AveYou don't go for the ambiance but the food is best Chinese food I've found in the area -- this is a favorite takeout spot of ours. Try the shrimp wontons!
Taqueria Vallarta
893 41st AveShrimp burrito. You're welcome.
City/town information
Enjoy the pier, wine, food, art, shops, or surf.
Less than a mile walk or I recommend bicycles instead of driving because parking is a nightmare (especially on the weekend)
151 locals recommend
Capitola
Enjoy the pier, wine, food, art, shops, or surf.
Less than a mile walk or I recommend bicycles instead of driving because parking is a nightmare (especially on the weekend)
Enjoy the drive and stops along the way.
Our secret hideout is grabbing a beer at Big Sur River Inn & Restaurant and going out back to sit in the chairs in the river.
Don't give our secret away! :)
332 locals recommend
Big Sur
Enjoy the drive and stops along the way.
Our secret hideout is grabbing a beer at Big Sur River Inn & Restaurant and going out back to sit in the chairs in the river.
Don't give our secret away! :)
Sightseeing
Great for couples or a family if you're looking for a bit more excitement and noise.
The restaurants on the boardwalk are very good and there's a wine bar at the end we really enjoy.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StGreat for couples or a family if you're looking for a bit more excitement and noise.
The restaurants on the boardwalk are very good and there's a wine bar at the end we really enjoy.
Neighborhoods
Our favorite walk is early morning with our tea or a cup of Verve coffee or just before sunset with a cone of The Penny Icecreamery mint chocolate chip, but it's perfect all day.
116 locals recommend
Pleasure Point
Our favorite walk is early morning with our tea or a cup of Verve coffee or just before sunset with a cone of The Penny Icecreamery mint chocolate chip, but it's perfect all day.
Quaint village larger than Capitola Village with great food, art and wine. Make a trip in the early afternoon, stop by the beach, go to the village and do some shopping and have dinner. Dinner reservations highly recommended.
354 locals recommend
Carmel by the sea
San Antonio AvenueQuaint village larger than Capitola Village with great food, art and wine. Make a trip in the early afternoon, stop by the beach, go to the village and do some shopping and have dinner. Dinner reservations highly recommended.
Wellness
You don't go for the ambiance.. BUT the lady massage therapist there is AMAZING. I've tried a few spas and massage salons around here and there are many better places if ambiance is important to you, but she is by far the best massage therapist I've had for deep tissue and an hour is $80!
Golden Hand Massage
913 41st AveYou don't go for the ambiance.. BUT the lady massage therapist there is AMAZING. I've tried a few spas and massage salons around here and there are many better places if ambiance is important to you, but she is by far the best massage therapist I've had for deep tissue and an hour is $80!