Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
The best health-mex burritos in Santa Cruz. VERY reasonable prices and casual atmosphere.
6 locals recommend
Planet Fresh Gourmet Burritos
1003 Cedar StThe best health-mex burritos in Santa Cruz. VERY reasonable prices and casual atmosphere.
Wonderful home-style Italian... food and service consistently great... nice convivial atmosphere.
125 locals recommend
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel AveWonderful home-style Italian... food and service consistently great... nice convivial atmosphere.
Great atmosphere. Consistently good food. Great seasonal specials. Very noisy. Need reservations!
47 locals recommend
Avanti Restaurant
1917 Mission StGreat atmosphere. Consistently good food. Great seasonal specials. Very noisy. Need reservations!
Wonderful atmosphere… upscale but unpretentious. Unusual and delicious Italian fare. Bring your own wine if you'd like as corkage fee is very reasonable, but great wine selection too.
62 locals recommend
La Posta
538 Seabright AveWonderful atmosphere… upscale but unpretentious. Unusual and delicious Italian fare. Bring your own wine if you'd like as corkage fee is very reasonable, but great wine selection too.
Best traditional American breakfast in Santa Cruz! They have thin, irresistible sourdough pancakes that melt in your mouth! Arrive by 9:00am on a weekend/summer or you'll have a serious wait...
47 locals recommend
Zachary's Restaurant
819 Pacific AveBest traditional American breakfast in Santa Cruz! They have thin, irresistible sourdough pancakes that melt in your mouth! Arrive by 9:00am on a weekend/summer or you'll have a serious wait...
Great casual and funky downtown lunch spot. Wonderful salads, soups, sandwiches, fries and burgers. Make their own sourdough rolls every 20 minutes. Very reasonably priced. Service is outstanding!
9 locals recommend
Surfrider Cafe
429 Front StGreat casual and funky downtown lunch spot. Wonderful salads, soups, sandwiches, fries and burgers. Make their own sourdough rolls every 20 minutes. Very reasonably priced. Service is outstanding!
New, hip, spacious, specialty coffee shop with smart, snappy, friendly baristas. Award winning coffee and coffee drinks. Free WiFi.
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveNew, hip, spacious, specialty coffee shop with smart, snappy, friendly baristas. Award winning coffee and coffee drinks. Free WiFi.
A VERY casual quick stop for organic asian street cuisine. Good healthy food... cheap prices.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StA VERY casual quick stop for organic asian street cuisine. Good healthy food... cheap prices.
Gem of a pizzeria owned by Italian family. Seasonal ingredients, homemade pasta, generous portions... imported wood-burning oven cranks out best pizza outside Italy! Noisy, family-friendly. Vivace!
38 locals recommend
Tramonti
528 Seabright AveGem of a pizzeria owned by Italian family. Seasonal ingredients, homemade pasta, generous portions... imported wood-burning oven cranks out best pizza outside Italy! Noisy, family-friendly. Vivace!
Hip & Fun! They offer a changing menu of fresh ingredients, many of which are grilled/roasted in their pizza oven… great flat breads, burgers, wide variety of beer, and ultra-friendly service!
125 locals recommend
West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StHip & Fun! They offer a changing menu of fresh ingredients, many of which are grilled/roasted in their pizza oven… great flat breads, burgers, wide variety of beer, and ultra-friendly service!
Cozy atmosphere with great coffee drinks and nice selection of pastries and home-made counter food. This is a mellow alternative to Verve across the street.
19 locals recommend
Lulu Carpenter's
1545 Pacific AveCozy atmosphere with great coffee drinks and nice selection of pastries and home-made counter food. This is a mellow alternative to Verve across the street.
Sightseeing
A working marine laboratory. Exhibit halls, touch tanks, tours to marine research overlook. Hold a sea star — marvel at the world's biggest whale skeleton — touch a shark— think like a scientist!
80 locals recommend
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister WayA working marine laboratory. Exhibit halls, touch tanks, tours to marine research overlook. Hold a sea star — marvel at the world's biggest whale skeleton — touch a shark— think like a scientist!
This is a world renowned aquarium for the beauty of its placement on the bay, and its research and ocean conservation. Check out the website at:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowThis is a world renowned aquarium for the beauty of its placement on the bay, and its research and ocean conservation. Check out the website at:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Parks & Nature
The park features a natural bridge across a section of the beach. A great place to observe monarch butterfly migrations. It is home to up to 150,000 monarch butterflies Oct.-Feb.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrThe park features a natural bridge across a section of the beach. A great place to observe monarch butterfly migrations. It is home to up to 150,000 monarch butterflies Oct.-Feb.
This is a wonderful place to take kids out walking. There are large horses, antique farm equipment, and great vistas along ocean paths.
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdThis is a wonderful place to take kids out walking. There are large horses, antique farm equipment, and great vistas along ocean paths.
Entertainment & Activities
This is the world's best seaside amusement park. One of my favorite things to do is stroll the boardwalk just as it is opening for the day... minimal crowds and lovely views.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StThis is the world's best seaside amusement park. One of my favorite things to do is stroll the boardwalk just as it is opening for the day... minimal crowds and lovely views.
Arts & Culture
A great local museum in a wonderful downtown space. Check out their calendar online for the most current exhibits and events.
133 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StA great local museum in a wonderful downtown space. Check out their calendar online for the most current exhibits and events.
Drinks & Nightlife
An award winning, local, certified organic brewery. With seven flagship ales brewed on premise along with wildly innovative seasonal beers, hard ciders, draught root beer and Kombucha on tap.
94 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
334 Ingalls StAn award winning, local, certified organic brewery. With seven flagship ales brewed on premise along with wildly innovative seasonal beers, hard ciders, draught root beer and Kombucha on tap.