Shannon’s guidebook
Food scene
Here are some of our favorite places to dine and enjoy the community.
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel AveGreat food and cocktails
Amazing happy hour with $1.50 oysters and cocktails. Higher end steak house with great ambience. This is one of our favorite happy hour places. Make reservations.
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Alderwood Santa Cruz
155 Walnut AveAmazing happy hour with $1.50 oysters and cocktails. Higher end steak house with great ambience. This is one of our favorite happy hour places. Make reservations.
Süda
3910 Portola DrGood food & cocktails.
Amazing breakfast - be prepared to wait or get there early.
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Harbor Café
535 7th AveAmazing breakfast - be prepared to wait or get there early.
Great local farmer's market every Sunday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The crepe's are amazing! You can walk from our house.
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Live Oak Farmer's Market
21400 E Cliff DrGreat local farmer's market every Sunday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The crepe's are amazing! You can walk from our house.
Amazing local bakery. They are also at the Live Oak Farmer's Market on Sundays, which you can walk to from the house.
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Companion Bakeshop Westside Santa Cruz
2341 Mission StAmazing local bakery. They are also at the Live Oak Farmer's Market on Sundays, which you can walk to from the house.
Bantam
1010 Fair AveGreat pizza and small bites.
Soif
105 Walnut AveGreat wine bar and food.
La Posta
538 Seabright AveGreat Italian food
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel AveGreat Italian food.
This is awesome little market just up the street from us. They have misc. beach supplies, food, some prepared foods, Marianne's ice cream, and shakes.
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Black Point Market
21400 E Cliff DrThis is awesome little market just up the street from us. They have misc. beach supplies, food, some prepared foods, Marianne's ice cream, and shakes.
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveGreat coffee shop!
Cat & Cloud Coffee
3600 Portola Dryet another great coffee shop!
Coffeetopia
3701 Portola DrAnd yet another great coffee shop close to our house!
Great casual Mediterranean food - walk up and order. This is our go to place to eat after a long day at the beach. Giros, hamburgers, kids menu. Great for the whole family.
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Zameen At The Point
851 41st AveGreat casual Mediterranean food - walk up and order. This is our go to place to eat after a long day at the beach. Giros, hamburgers, kids menu. Great for the whole family.
Amazingly crafted ice cream with unique flavors. Try the marshmello topping!
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The Penny Ice Creamery Pleasure Point
820 41st AveAmazingly crafted ice cream with unique flavors. Try the marshmello topping!
Yummy noodle house. A great go to place for warm noodle soup! The pork bone broth is amazing. They also have Sushi.
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KAITO
Yummy noodle house. A great go to place for warm noodle soup! The pork bone broth is amazing. They also have Sushi.
Great food, beer and wine. Great hamburgers, bao buns. The salads are amazing (and huge!).
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East End Gastropub
1501 41st AveGreat food, beer and wine. Great hamburgers, bao buns. The salads are amazing (and huge!).
West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StGreat ambiance, beer, pizzas and wine.
Ocean front restaurant next the Harbor. Great location. The upstairs is the bar with bar eats and the downstairs full dining.
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Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrOcean front restaurant next the Harbor. Great location. The upstairs is the bar with bar eats and the downstairs full dining.
Brady's Yacht Club
413 Seabright AveFun local bar.
Amazing indoor-outdoor market area with a variety of food and beverage vendors. Check website for entertainment schedule. Right next door to the MAH.
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Abbott Square
118 Cooper StAmazing indoor-outdoor market area with a variety of food and beverage vendors. Check website for entertainment schedule. Right next door to the MAH.
Amazing craft beer! Award winning. They have a cult following.
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Sante Adairius Santa Cruz Portal
1315 Water StAmazing craft beer! Award winning. They have a cult following.
Known as Nubo. Amazing beer - great for the whole family.
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New Bohemia Brewing Co.
1030 41st AveKnown as Nubo. Amazing beer - great for the whole family.
Aptos St. BBQ
8059 Aptos StOur favorite BBQ place. Amazing brisket!
Sightseeing & Activities
Parco Statale Henry Cowell Redwoods
101 N Big Trees Park RdHiking, visiting the redwoods
Great hiking along the river - beautiful Lime Kilns approx. 2 mile hike up.
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Fall Creek Unit Trailhead
Felton Empire RoadGreat hiking along the river - beautiful Lime Kilns approx. 2 mile hike up.
Great local museum. Check their calendar for events.
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Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StGreat local museum. Check their calendar for events.
Well Within Spa
417 Cedar StGreat hot tubs, massages and saunas.
Amazing entertainment for the whole family. Rides, concerts, food stands.
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Parco divertimenti di Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
400 Beach StAmazing entertainment for the whole family. Rides, concerts, food stands.
Downtown Santa Cruz Info Kiosk
1130 Pacific AveAcquario di Monterey Bay
886 Cannery RowGreat aquarium!
Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory
115 McAllister WayColligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center
1010 River StRio Theatre
1205 Soquel AveCarmel-by-the-Sea
San Antonio AvenueIl Mistero Spot
465 Mystery Spot RdWilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdBeaches
Great Beach for Boogie Boarding, local restaurants, and coffee shop.
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Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak AvenueGreat Beach for Boogie Boarding, local restaurants, and coffee shop.
This is the beach across the street from our house. Great for boogie boarding and sandy beach walks
Santa Maria Beach
This is the beach across the street from our house. Great for boogie boarding and sandy beach walks
Great beginning Surf spot, close to the Boardwalk and Wharf
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Spiaggia di Cowell
Front StGreat beginning Surf spot, close to the Boardwalk and Wharf
This is a beautiful little cove just a couple blocks away. On lower tides you can walk from our beach to Sunny Cove along the bluff. There are some great tide pools along the walk.
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Sunny Cove
This is a beautiful little cove just a couple blocks away. On lower tides you can walk from our beach to Sunny Cove along the bluff. There are some great tide pools along the walk.
Beautiful nearby beach that is great for boogie boarding and swimming.
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Blacks Beach
180 14th AveBeautiful nearby beach that is great for boogie boarding and swimming.
Ponti naturali State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrSteamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrWorld class surf spot
Essentials
Here are a few close by grocery stores and drug stores for the essentials. I've even included some liquor stores...
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveGrocery Store for the Health Minded.
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel AveGrocery Store
Rite Aid
80 Rancho Del MarIn case you need a drug store
CVS
1750 41st AveDrug store close by....
Safeway
2720 41st AveGroceries and essentials
This is a great local place to find excellent wines, beers, ciders, and alcohol.
Pleasure Point Wine & Spirits
3750 Portola DrThis is a great local place to find excellent wines, beers, ciders, and alcohol.
Shopping
Shoe Fetish
1360 Pacific AveAmazing shoes, belts and bags in downtown Santa Cruz.
Night Life
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayGreat place to see live music.
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific AveGreat spot for live music.
A place to see amazing musicians in a cozy venue.
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Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar StA place to see amazing musicians in a cozy venue.