Santa Cruz guidebook
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz has its own vibe. It’s friendly and vibrant
Nice walk from the Beach house. There's a pedestrian bridge over the San Lorenzo River by the train track trestle. Nice amusement park and boardwalk. The latest management keeps it clean.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StNice walk from the Beach house. There's a pedestrian bridge over the San Lorenzo River by the train track trestle. Nice amusement park and boardwalk. The latest management keeps it clean.
Food scene
There is every kind of option for the foodie or the casual eater
These guys make cappucino's the original way. One size only with creamy milk and latte art. This verve is downtown in a great people watching location. There's one at 104 Bronson; a short walk from the beach house. It's where they roast and it has an industrial feel as it's in an industrial location and there's only a few barstools inside to sit at. Most people hang out in the outdoor seating. There are some delicious Manresa Bakery pastries at the roasting location, but no cooked food like the downtown Verve.
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveThese guys make cappucino's the original way. One size only with creamy milk and latte art. This verve is downtown in a great people watching location. There's one at 104 Bronson; a short walk from the beach house. It's where they roast and it has an industrial feel as it's in an industrial location and there's only a few barstools inside to sit at. Most people hang out in the outdoor seating. There are some delicious Manresa Bakery pastries at the roasting location, but no cooked food like the downtown Verve.
Linda's is very popular on the weekends and most weekdays too. It's cash only so come prepared. They have the usual breakfast fair done with care. We sometimes order food to go and walk over and bring it back to the beach house.
67 locals recommend
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveLinda's is very popular on the weekends and most weekdays too. It's cash only so come prepared. They have the usual breakfast fair done with care. We sometimes order food to go and walk over and bring it back to the beach house.
Nice outdoor/indoor brew pub with a big outdoor patio. It’s a short walk from the beach house.
74 locals recommend
Seabright Social
519 Seabright AveNice outdoor/indoor brew pub with a big outdoor patio. It’s a short walk from the beach house.
We go here often as it’s close by and the owner is passionate about his sandwiches. The sandwiches cost more then some but they are worth it. We often split a sandwich
6 locals recommend
Seabright Deli
415 Seabright AveWe go here often as it’s close by and the owner is passionate about his sandwiches. The sandwiches cost more then some but they are worth it. We often split a sandwich
The fried calamari during happy hour makes me happy. You can skip the host just inside the front door and go upstairs for great views and often less wait if you go to the bar or outside.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrThe fried calamari during happy hour makes me happy. You can skip the host just inside the front door and go upstairs for great views and often less wait if you go to the bar or outside.
Always wins “best of” with the locals for good reason. Music on Sundays outside. Their bakery goods are wonderful as is their breakfasts and lunches
133 locals recommend
The Buttery
702 Soquel AveAlways wins “best of” with the locals for good reason. Music on Sundays outside. Their bakery goods are wonderful as is their breakfasts and lunches
If you go to Capitola go to Gayle’s Bakery. Amazing baked goods and meals too. It’s not down by the beach but worth the walk up or stopping on the drive in. If you are new and it’s crowded (which it usually is) look for the tickets first. You need to get a ticket first thing when you arrive if it’s crowded. They hide it on the wall opposite the counter.
155 locals recommend
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveIf you go to Capitola go to Gayle’s Bakery. Amazing baked goods and meals too. It’s not down by the beach but worth the walk up or stopping on the drive in. If you are new and it’s crowded (which it usually is) look for the tickets first. You need to get a ticket first thing when you arrive if it’s crowded. They hide it on the wall opposite the counter.
Best Italian in Santa Cruz. If you don’t make reservations you might not get in unless you sit at the bar. We often do last minute and get it to go. Everything is good.
125 locals recommend
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel AveBest Italian in Santa Cruz. If you don’t make reservations you might not get in unless you sit at the bar. We often do last minute and get it to go. Everything is good.
This place is great but Lillian’s edges them out. It’s real close to the beach house. A 5 minute walk.
38 locals recommend
Tramonti
528 Seabright AveThis place is great but Lillian’s edges them out. It’s real close to the beach house. A 5 minute walk.
Beautiful restaurant for an occasion. A good date night place with creative and well balanced dishes. 1295 reviews on yelp and they have 4.5 stars
104 locals recommend
Laili
101 Cooper StBeautiful restaurant for an occasion. A good date night place with creative and well balanced dishes. 1295 reviews on yelp and they have 4.5 stars
This is right in the pleasure point surfing scene. It’s a convenience store with a surprisingly good kitchen. We usually get a breakfast burrito with their sauce and eat outside at the tables or take a stroll along the walkway to watch the surfers.
38 locals recommend
The Point Market
23040 E Cliff DrThis is right in the pleasure point surfing scene. It’s a convenience store with a surprisingly good kitchen. We usually get a breakfast burrito with their sauce and eat outside at the tables or take a stroll along the walkway to watch the surfers.
Great appetizers, great main dishes. You pay for it but it’s worth it. Nice decor, nice staff, craft beers too.
125 locals recommend
West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StGreat appetizers, great main dishes. You pay for it but it’s worth it. Nice decor, nice staff, craft beers too.
Best taqueria in Santa Cruz. Love almost everything but usually get fish tacos
10 locals recommend
Taqueria Los Pericos
139 Water StBest taqueria in Santa Cruz. Love almost everything but usually get fish tacos
Been around forever, still going strong. My favorite for local seafood, right on the pier.
25 locals recommend
Stagnaro Bros.
59 Municipal WharfBeen around forever, still going strong. My favorite for local seafood, right on the pier.
Shrine Coffee
great atmosphere inside and out, with a contemplative garden
If you like you can park on the pier for a fair price. Nice view of the coast and the boardwalk. Stagnaros seafood restaurant is on the pier with other worthy restaurants
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal WharfIf you like you can park on the pier for a fair price. Nice view of the coast and the boardwalk. Stagnaros seafood restaurant is on the pier with other worthy restaurants
Duarte's has been there forever. A bit of a time warp. It's a long drive to the lazy town of Pescadero. I always go for the same thing. Bread and artichoke soup. I get the half and half which is half chile, half artichoke. The town has a great marketplace with local goods and half baked artichoke bread that you can take home and finish baking.
59 locals recommend
Duarte's Tavern
202 Stage RdDuarte's has been there forever. A bit of a time warp. It's a long drive to the lazy town of Pescadero. I always go for the same thing. Bread and artichoke soup. I get the half and half which is half chile, half artichoke. The town has a great marketplace with local goods and half baked artichoke bread that you can take home and finish baking.
I recommend this place for the pizza. They have bookies pizza.
They call it inauthentic Detroit style pizza. It's pricey for pizza but if you are a "foodie" you'll appreciate the creativity. If you like the brewery type setting with good beers they have that too.
15 locals recommend
Sante Adairius Santa Cruz Portal
1315 Water StI recommend this place for the pizza. They have bookies pizza.
They call it inauthentic Detroit style pizza. It's pricey for pizza but if you are a "foodie" you'll appreciate the creativity. If you like the brewery type setting with good beers they have that too.
If you are into breweries you have lots of choices. Santa Cruz mountain brewing is in a nice location with wineries and restaurants and a nice local market as well as a some nice specialty stores
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
If you are into breweries you have lots of choices. Santa Cruz mountain brewing is in a nice location with wineries and restaurants and a nice local market as well as a some nice specialty stores
David Kinch (famous chef) likes this place. Easy walk from the beach house. Warm and welcoming staff. Great food.
62 locals recommend
La Posta
538 Seabright AveDavid Kinch (famous chef) likes this place. Easy walk from the beach house. Warm and welcoming staff. Great food.
Museum
very small but interesting surf history and artifacts. It's also right where you can watch the surfers and cross the street to Shrine coffee behind the church. You wouldn't know they even had a coffee shop until you walk behind the church.
75 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
701 W Cliff Drvery small but interesting surf history and artifacts. It's also right where you can watch the surfers and cross the street to Shrine coffee behind the church. You wouldn't know they even had a coffee shop until you walk behind the church.
Sightseeing
Great hiking, beautiful trails, interesting history, plenty of shade
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadGreat hiking, beautiful trails, interesting history, plenty of shade
I always get the half baked artichoke bread for later. It's tempting to eat it on the way home but it's better to finish baking it in the oven once you get home
19 locals recommend
ARCANGELI GROCERY CO/NORMS MARKET
287 Stage RdI always get the half baked artichoke bread for later. It's tempting to eat it on the way home but it's better to finish baking it in the oven once you get home