Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Best coffee roasters in town. They also have a downtown coffee place, but actual roasting warehouse is here in Seabright, and they also serve coffee here too. Check out the latest coffee trend here.
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Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveBest coffee roasters in town. They also have a downtown coffee place, but actual roasting warehouse is here in Seabright, and they also serve coffee here too. Check out the latest coffee trend here.
Best Restaurant in town, Northern Italian oriented, good for special occasions.
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La Posta
538 Seabright AveBest Restaurant in town, Northern Italian oriented, good for special occasions.
Pizza and Pasta - Very good food, reasonable prices. Great salads, pasta, soup, and handmade pizza's. Friendly staff!
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Tramonti
528 Seabright AvePizza and Pasta - Very good food, reasonable prices. Great salads, pasta, soup, and handmade pizza's. Friendly staff!
Great views and great bar. Watch the sailboats go in and out of the harbor. Very cool bar on 2nd floor, views.
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Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrGreat views and great bar. Watch the sailboats go in and out of the harbor. Very cool bar on 2nd floor, views.
Best cafe' in town, best desserts and cakes. Also, good for breakfasts and sandwiches.
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The Buttery
702 Soquel AveBest cafe' in town, best desserts and cakes. Also, good for breakfasts and sandwiches.
Johnny's Harborside
493 Lake AveBest seafood in town
Best Sushi in town - located Downtown Santa Cruz
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Shogun Japanese Restaurant
1123 Pacific AveBest Sushi in town - located Downtown Santa Cruz
Best international wine and tapas menu in town. Located downtown.
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Soif
105 Walnut AveBest international wine and tapas menu in town. Located downtown.
An institution in the area - cakes, desserts, coffee, eat-in or take-out. Specializes in "Blue Plate Specials" - comfort food that does well for take-out.
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Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveAn institution in the area - cakes, desserts, coffee, eat-in or take-out. Specializes in "Blue Plate Specials" - comfort food that does well for take-out.
Great for patio lunch, lots of shops and wineries nearby.
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Kelly's French Bakery
402 Ingalls StGreat for patio lunch, lots of shops and wineries nearby.
Marianne's Ice Cream
1020 Ocean StBest Ice Cream in town.
Aquarius
175 W Cliff DrNice views, good food. Seafood. Bar.
Stagnaro Bros.
59 Municipal WharfFamily friendly seafood on the wharf.
Hoffman's Downtown
1102 Pacific AveNice menu, reasonable prices, family friendly.
The Spa at Chaminade
1 Chaminade LnSunday brunch atop hill. Buffet brunch.
Pizza My Heart
209 EsplanadeBest Pizza in Town. Iconic atmosphere.
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff DrGourmet Italian. Cozy.
Café Rio Aptos
131 EsplanadeSeafood, oysters, beach, bar.
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel AveNice menu, a little slanted to comfort food.
Gabriella Café
910 Cedar StCute, good food, romantic.
Large menu selection, fun decorations inside, pho'a noodle soups, pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, family and budget friendly.
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Santa Cruz Antique Fair
Large menu selection, fun decorations inside, pho'a noodle soups, pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, family and budget friendly.
Betty Burgers
505 Seabright AveBest Burgers in town!
Most romantic restaurant around, anniversaries and joyful get-togethers. Park at the top of the bluff and take cable car down to restaurant, or walk down hillside with gardens and waterfalls. Great bar room too.
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Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf RdMost romantic restaurant around, anniversaries and joyful get-togethers. Park at the top of the bluff and take cable car down to restaurant, or walk down hillside with gardens and waterfalls. Great bar room too.
Great breakfasts! Not very big, and a line can form especially on weekends, but they serve coffee outside for people waiting.
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Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveGreat breakfasts! Not very big, and a line can form especially on weekends, but they serve coffee outside for people waiting.
I Love Sushi
516 Front StInnovative sushi restaurant nearby.
Probably my 3rd choice sushi, I would favor Shogun and I Love Sushi, but this is on the east side of town and sometimes easier to just drop in here.
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Akira Sushi
1222 Soquel AveProbably my 3rd choice sushi, I would favor Shogun and I Love Sushi, but this is on the east side of town and sometimes easier to just drop in here.
Best Thai food in town. We've been going to their Soquel restaurant for years, and they opened up in the old Casablanca hotel right near the Boardwalk recently. Would recommend to all Thai food lovers.
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Sawasdee By The Sea
101 Main StBest Thai food in town. We've been going to their Soquel restaurant for years, and they opened up in the old Casablanca hotel right near the Boardwalk recently. Would recommend to all Thai food lovers.
Right on the beach, good Mexican food and drinks. Watch beach volleyball during the day. Family friendly - kids can run onto the beach and still be seen from restaurant. Nice bar too.
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Cafe El Palomar
2222 E Cliff DrRight on the beach, good Mexican food and drinks. Watch beach volleyball during the day. Family friendly - kids can run onto the beach and still be seen from restaurant. Nice bar too.
It's right on the beach, and 10am on Saturday mornings, people gather to play their Ukuleles.
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Kind Grind
2222 East Cliff DriveIt's right on the beach, and 10am on Saturday mornings, people gather to play their Ukuleles.
Asian street food, very casual, very delicious! Good take-out choice or eat-in. Open until 11pm.
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Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel AveAsian street food, very casual, very delicious! Good take-out choice or eat-in. Open until 11pm.
The only Mongolian restaurant in the 'extended' SF Bay Area. Nice people and nice food for the more adventurous diners.
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Oyunaa's Mongolian Cuisine
1209 Soquel AveThe only Mongolian restaurant in the 'extended' SF Bay Area. Nice people and nice food for the more adventurous diners.
Very unusual - they take crepes to the next level; they put anything in them you can imagine and they taste great!
Try the Greek crepe (artichokes, olives, feta) or the Jambalaya crepe (Andouille sausage, shrimp, etc).
Good for any meal of the day, outdoor patio dining in the back in the garden. Creative Santa Cruz, relaxed style.
Good for late breakfasts/brunch, casual.
Evening live music, full bar, and open late.
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The Crêpe Place
1134 Soquel AveVery unusual - they take crepes to the next level; they put anything in them you can imagine and they taste great!
Try the Greek crepe (artichokes, olives, feta) or the Jambalaya crepe (Andouille sausage, shrimp, etc).
Good for any meal of the day, outdoor patio dining in the back in the garden. Creative Santa Cruz, relaxed style.
Good for late breakfasts/brunch, casual.
Evening live music, full bar, and open late.
A hole-in-the-wall that doesn't look like much, but they have the best burritos in town - sometimes the line goes out the door. Cash only. Try the Green Chili Beef (Chili Verde). They have a location in Capitola as well that's a little larger. Satisfying mexican food.
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Tacos Moreno
1053 Water StA hole-in-the-wall that doesn't look like much, but they have the best burritos in town - sometimes the line goes out the door. Cash only. Try the Green Chili Beef (Chili Verde). They have a location in Capitola as well that's a little larger. Satisfying mexican food.
Parks & Nature
Closest park with giant redwoods.
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Parco Statale Henry Cowell Redwoods
101 N Big Trees Park RdClosest park with giant redwoods.
Best beach. It's big and sandy, clean, and across the street. Listing cover photograph taken on this beach.
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Seabright State Beach
Best beach. It's big and sandy, clean, and across the street. Listing cover photograph taken on this beach.
Ponti naturali State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrBeautiful beach.
Hiking above cliffs, wildlife, hiking, biking.
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Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdHiking above cliffs, wildlife, hiking, biking.
Rio Del Mar State Beach
Huge beach, walk for miles.
Beautiful, small beach town. Parking can be a challenge.
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Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey AveBeautiful, small beach town. Parking can be a challenge.
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrIconic surfing, year around.
Nice beach across yacht harbor from Seabright Beach. Beautiful sunset views.
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Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak AvenueNice beach across yacht harbor from Seabright Beach. Beautiful sunset views.
Getting Around
Hertz
2724 Soquel AvenueThey can pickup.
Avis Car Rental
630 Ocean StSometimes you need Avis.
Arts & Culture
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar StJazz performances, world music.
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StLearn history of city/location.
A little neighborhood nature museum only 2 minute walk away. Kids climb on the outdoor full-scale gray whale in the yard for fun and photos. Be sure to see the creek nearby with native plants gardens (both sides of East Cliff Dr) built and maintained by neighborhood volunteers.
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Museo di storia naturale di Santa Cruz
1305 E Cliff DrA little neighborhood nature museum only 2 minute walk away. Kids climb on the outdoor full-scale gray whale in the yard for fun and photos. Be sure to see the creek nearby with native plants gardens (both sides of East Cliff Dr) built and maintained by neighborhood volunteers.
Essentials
Best Grocery and Butcher shop in town. Huge variety in a medium/small space, largest wine selection, quick checkout.
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Shopper's Corner
622 Soquel AveBest Grocery and Butcher shop in town. Huge variety in a medium/small space, largest wine selection, quick checkout.
Great groceries and deli-made sandwiches. Aka Whole Paycheck.
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Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel AveGreat groceries and deli-made sandwiches. Aka Whole Paycheck.
Good, basic grocery store. Has wide variety of cereals/sodas, household goods at low prices.
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Safeway
117 Morrissey BlvdGood, basic grocery store. Has wide variety of cereals/sodas, household goods at low prices.
Shockingly low prices, hit-and-miss quality. The Santa Maria Tri-tip is a winner for grilling!
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
120 Morrissey BlvdShockingly low prices, hit-and-miss quality. The Santa Maria Tri-tip is a winner for grilling!
Walgreens
1718 Soquel AveAnother Drug Store and more nearby.
CVS
1700 Mission StDrug Store and more.
Very basic conveniences near beach, 2 blocks away - Firewood, liquor/beer, bread, ice cream.
Day's Market Liquors & Deli
526 Seabright AveVery basic conveniences near beach, 2 blocks away - Firewood, liquor/beer, bread, ice cream.
Entertainment & Activities
Iconic amusement park
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Parco divertimenti di Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
400 Beach StIconic amusement park
Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific AveIndependent Films
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln StArt House movies.
Sightseeing
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff DriveBeautiful views, surfers, houses.
Sailing cruises - 2 hours usually. 70 foot long boat, serve snacks and beverages.
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Chardonnay Sailing Charters
790 Mariner Park WaySailing cruises - 2 hours usually. 70 foot long boat, serve snacks and beverages.
Università della California
Arboretum RoadBeautiful Campus.
Humpback and Gray Whales abound ! Dolphins, others....
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Santa Cruz Whale Watching
1718 Brommer StHumpback and Gray Whales abound ! Dolphins, others....