Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Essentials
Locally owned natural foods super market. Great produce, organic foods, deli, and flower shop. 5 minute drive.
248 locals recommend
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveLocally owned natural foods super market. Great produce, organic foods, deli, and flower shop. 5 minute drive.
Safeway
2203 Mission St5 minutes away.
Shopping
Very small health-food store that has been a Santa Cruz staple since the 1960s. Organic produce, dairy, breads, and other sundries. Overpriced but very convenient. Open until 11PM.
22 locals recommend
The Food Bin and The Herb Room
1130 Mission StVery small health-food store that has been a Santa Cruz staple since the 1960s. Organic produce, dairy, breads, and other sundries. Overpriced but very convenient. Open until 11PM.
Food Scene
Interesting hamburgers, hotdogs, and wood-fired pizzas. Good craft beer selection on tap as well as delicious milkshakes. Full bar. Kid-friendly.
57 locals recommend
burger. Aptos
7941 Soquel DrInteresting hamburgers, hotdogs, and wood-fired pizzas. Good craft beer selection on tap as well as delicious milkshakes. Full bar. Kid-friendly.
Arguably the best and most popular breakfast restaurant in Santa Cruz. With delicious Brazilian specialties such as Acai Bowls and feijoada as well as standard breakfast items.
79 locals recommend
Cafe Brasil
1410 Mission StArguably the best and most popular breakfast restaurant in Santa Cruz. With delicious Brazilian specialties such as Acai Bowls and feijoada as well as standard breakfast items.
Our favorite Thai restaurant in Santa Cruz. Delicious pad thai and green curry. 2 blocks away, turn left on Mission Street.
29 locals recommend
Sabieng
1218 Mission StOur favorite Thai restaurant in Santa Cruz. Delicious pad thai and green curry. 2 blocks away, turn left on Mission Street.
Cute, local coffee shop half a block away. Delicious coffee and a nice selection of pastries, bagels, and light breakfast fare.
15 locals recommend
Coffeetopia
Cute, local coffee shop half a block away. Delicious coffee and a nice selection of pastries, bagels, and light breakfast fare.
Kitchy burger joint. Yummy 1/3 or ½ lb. juicy burgers, salads, sandwiches, milk shakes, beers on tap, full bar.
14 locals recommend
Betty's Eat Inn
1222 Pacific AveKitchy burger joint. Yummy 1/3 or ½ lb. juicy burgers, salads, sandwiches, milk shakes, beers on tap, full bar.
Grab a snack here before going to the Boardwalk. They also have ice cream from the Penny Ice Creamery.
50 locals recommend
The Picnic Basket
125 Beach StGrab a snack here before going to the Boardwalk. They also have ice cream from the Penny Ice Creamery.
Rich and creamy small batch ice cream that comes in dozens of very unique flavors.
64 locals recommend
The Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar StRich and creamy small batch ice cream that comes in dozens of very unique flavors.
Our favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz for an outing or stay low key in the bar. Local and fresh ingredients. Excellent service, great wine list, full bar, and nice ambience.
70 locals recommend
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel AveOur favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz for an outing or stay low key in the bar. Local and fresh ingredients. Excellent service, great wine list, full bar, and nice ambience.
Gabriella Café
910 Cedar StCute and romantic bistro with delicious fresh and seasonal dishes.
Our favorite bakery in Santa Cruz. Great pastries, cakes, breakfasts, lunch, coffee. Outdoor seating and live music on the weekends.
133 locals recommend
The Buttery
702 Soquel AveOur favorite bakery in Santa Cruz. Great pastries, cakes, breakfasts, lunch, coffee. Outdoor seating and live music on the weekends.
Kelly's French Bakery
402 Ingalls StDelicious pastries and breads. Lovely outdoor patio.
If you’re in Capitola, this place is worth a stop. Amazing pastries, cakes, breads, sandwiches, deli and rotisserie
155 locals recommend
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveIf you’re in Capitola, this place is worth a stop. Amazing pastries, cakes, breads, sandwiches, deli and rotisserie
We are partial to Lúpulo because we own it! It's a fun and lively gathering place that focuses on excellent craft beer as well as seasonal tapas from local ingredients. Brunch on weekends.
34 locals recommend
Lupulo Craft Beer House
233 Cathcart StWe are partial to Lúpulo because we own it! It's a fun and lively gathering place that focuses on excellent craft beer as well as seasonal tapas from local ingredients. Brunch on weekends.
Local spot that specializes in a small but well-designed menu. Fun ambience, full bar. Often a wait. Make a reservation.
94 locals recommend
Bantam
1010 Fair AveLocal spot that specializes in a small but well-designed menu. Fun ambience, full bar. Often a wait. Make a reservation.
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveGreat Coffee. Hip vibe.
If you're looking for a place to eat while staring at the bay, this is the only spot as far as we're concerned, mainly because everywhere else along the wharf is a total tourist trap. It's pricey but the decor is beautiful, the service is good, the cocktails are good, the food is fresh and tasty and did we mention the view?!
22 locals recommend
Aquarius
175 W Cliff DrIf you're looking for a place to eat while staring at the bay, this is the only spot as far as we're concerned, mainly because everywhere else along the wharf is a total tourist trap. It's pricey but the decor is beautiful, the service is good, the cocktails are good, the food is fresh and tasty and did we mention the view?!
One block away. Nondescript storefront but consistently great thin crust pizza and wonderful nightly specials. Good wine list.
11 locals recommend
Pizzeria Avanti
1711 Mission StOne block away. Nondescript storefront but consistently great thin crust pizza and wonderful nightly specials. Good wine list.
Drinks & Nightlife
Tiki-themed restaurant with very good food. Fresh seafood, rice bowls, jerk plates, salads and more. Full bar with dangerously good tropical cocktails.
102 locals recommend
Hula's Island Grill
221 Cathcart StTiki-themed restaurant with very good food. Fresh seafood, rice bowls, jerk plates, salads and more. Full bar with dangerously good tropical cocktails.