Our Santa Cruz Guide
Restaurants
Best taqueria in easy walking distance from the house. Always a long line.
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Taqueria Los Pericos
139 Water StBest taqueria in easy walking distance from the house. Always a long line.
Best pizza in Santa Cruz (Mentone in Aptos is the best in the county)! Take that from someone who owns a pizza oven. Nice salads, good job with fish too.
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Bantam
1010 Fair AveBest pizza in Santa Cruz (Mentone in Aptos is the best in the county)! Take that from someone who owns a pizza oven. Nice salads, good job with fish too.
Tacos Moreno
1053 Water StBest taqueria in town in our opinion. Try the chili verde.
Decent food at fair prices but really you go for the tiki drinks.
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Hula's Island Grill
221 Cathcart StDecent food at fair prices but really you go for the tiki drinks.
Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel AveGood cocktails, lasagna, and steak.
Santa Cruz's mini food hall. Often live music on weekend nights. Indoor and outdoor seating.
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Abbot square market
725 Front StSanta Cruz's mini food hall. Often live music on weekend nights. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Can't say the food is special but if you want straight ahead seafood on the Wharf, this is the place.
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Riva Fish House
31 Municipal WharfCan't say the food is special but if you want straight ahead seafood on the Wharf, this is the place.
Only outdoor seating and often slow but delicious. You can browse at the Patagonia outlet while you wait. Recently bought by a guy specializing in mo mos (Tibetan dumplings). I haven’t tried it yet.
River Cafe
415 River StOnly outdoor seating and often slow but delicious. You can browse at the Patagonia outlet while you wait. Recently bought by a guy specializing in mo mos (Tibetan dumplings). I haven’t tried it yet.
Only outdoor seating and just drip coffee but you can't beat the location
18 lokale anbefaler
Steamer Lane Supply
644-670 W Cliff DrOnly outdoor seating and just drip coffee but you can't beat the location
Solid tapas & pretty good paella. Don't miss the vanilla soft serve ice cream with olive oil and sea salt.
Barceloneta
1541 Pacific AveSolid tapas & pretty good paella. Don't miss the vanilla soft serve ice cream with olive oil and sea salt.
There is an ice cream battle in Santa Cruz - Marianne, old school, versus the Penny Ice Creamery, new school. We're definitely a Marianne's family.
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Marianne's Ice Cream
1020 Ocean StThere is an ice cream battle in Santa Cruz - Marianne, old school, versus the Penny Ice Creamery, new school. We're definitely a Marianne's family.
Fast casual done right. Great ingredients, well-prepared, good prices. All vegetarian but you'll hardly notice that.
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Pretty Good Advice
3070 Porter StFast casual done right. Great ingredients, well-prepared, good prices. All vegetarian but you'll hardly notice that.
Latest restaurant from 3 star chef David Kinch. Food of the riviera between Nice and Genoa - think pasta, pizza, and seafood. Great cocktails and gelato.
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Mentone
174 Aptos Vlg WyLatest restaurant from 3 star chef David Kinch. Food of the riviera between Nice and Genoa - think pasta, pizza, and seafood. Great cocktails and gelato.
Some people are Zachary's or Cafe Brazil diehards but we like Walnut Avenue's chiliquiles.
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The Walnut Avenue Cafe
106 Walnut AveSome people are Zachary's or Cafe Brazil diehards but we like Walnut Avenue's chiliquiles.
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveGreat classic breakfast. Prepare to wait on weekend.
Very similar menu to Morenos - they must be somehow related - but a little scaled back. More tables though.
De la Hacienda
354 Washington StVery similar menu to Morenos - they must be somehow related - but a little scaled back. More tables though.
Bagelry
1636 Seabright AveGo for the bagels, not the coffee.
Decent bbq but great, very loud but good live music on Friday nights.
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Mission St. BBQ
1618 Mission StDecent bbq but great, very loud but good live music on Friday nights.
Not sure why you'd be heading to Watsonville for dinner but if you are, this is the place to go. Family, hole in the wall, yummy.
La Perla Del Pacifico
458 Main StNot sure why you'd be heading to Watsonville for dinner but if you are, this is the place to go. Family, hole in the wall, yummy.
The Parish Publick House
841 Almar AveSolid pub food done well.
Not everything is great but we enjoy the mole negro and the mexcal list.
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Copal Restaurant
1203 Mission StreetNot everything is great but we enjoy the mole negro and the mexcal list.
Trestles Restaurant
316 Capitola AvenueBest meal in Capitola Village
"Inauthentic Detroit-style" pizza and more by a former 3 star Michelin chef. Located inside Sante Adarius but family-friendly.
Bookie’s Pizza
1315 Water Street"Inauthentic Detroit-style" pizza and more by a former 3 star Michelin chef. Located inside Sante Adarius but family-friendly.
Thai food in a rare bookstore? Yep. Very limited menu, higher end than your average Thai restaurant.
BAD ANIMAL
1011 Cedar StThai food in a rare bookstore? Yep. Very limited menu, higher end than your average Thai restaurant.
This is the place we go most often in town. Authentic, not Americanized, Chinese food. It's all about the dumplings.
Special Noodle
This is the place we go most often in town. Authentic, not Americanized, Chinese food. It's all about the dumplings.
Hiking
Pogonip Creek Nature Loop
Pogonip Creek Nature LoopRight in town, just a 5 minute drive, and you can be in the redwoods.
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdJust north of the city limits, amazing ocean vistas.
Part of Henry Cowell state park but you don't have to pay the entrance fee here.
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Fall Creek Unit Trailhead
Felton Empire RoadPart of Henry Cowell state park but you don't have to pay the entrance fee here.
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff DriveMore of a stroll than a hike but a must see in Santa Cruz
Not "hiking" but the best dog park in town (according to Oliver the maltipoo)
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Frederick Street Park & Dog Park
168 Frederick StNot "hiking" but the best dog park in town (according to Oliver the maltipoo)
Coffee
11th Hour Coffee
1001 Center StVerve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveCafe Delmarette
1126 Pacific AveLimited hours but best baristas in town.
Farmers' Markets
Farmer’s Market West Side
Saturday morning farmers' market
Santa Cruz Community Farmers' Market
700-798 Cedar StWednesday afternoon farmers' market
Bars
Humble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift StWednesday night yakitori pop ups!
Birichino Winery Tasting Room
204 Church StVenus Spirits
200 High RdLupulo Craft Beer House
233 Cathcart StThey now have a full food menu
Truly world class brewery - really, they win awards.
Now with great food. Former sous chef from Manresa doing sandwiches, salads, and more.
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Sante Adairius Santa Cruz Portal
1315 Water StTruly world class brewery - really, they win awards.
Now with great food. Former sous chef from Manresa doing sandwiches, salads, and more.
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayDivey music venue. Fun place to see a show!
Super cute natural wine bar. Very Parisian. Mostly outside seating. Check out they’re Instagram to see if they’ve got a Saturday yakitori pop up and don’t miss it if they do.
Apéro Club
402 Ingalls StreetSuper cute natural wine bar. Very Parisian. Mostly outside seating. Check out they’re Instagram to see if they’ve got a Saturday yakitori pop up and don’t miss it if they do.
Shops
Furniture, housewares, gifts, jewelry - worth it just to see their displays
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Stripe Design Group LLC
107 Walnut AveFurniture, housewares, gifts, jewelry - worth it just to see their displays
Pacific Wave
1502 Pacific AveWhere to buy the requisite Santa Cruz Skateboards sweatshirt
Pacific Trading Co.
1224 Pacific AveWomen's clothing
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific AveTruly excellent independent bookstore