Local West-Side Recommendations
Food Scene
This is our neighborhood restaurant, just a block down the street. It also happens to luckily be our FAVORITE restaurant. We highly recommend it for delicious food, and a fun ambiance. Kid friendly.
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Bantam
1010 Fair AveThis is our neighborhood restaurant, just a block down the street. It also happens to luckily be our FAVORITE restaurant. We highly recommend it for delicious food, and a fun ambiance. Kid friendly.
A very lively spot for a fantastic breakfast. PS. There's parking in the back, but it gets full, so remember it's just about a ten minute walk down the bike path, turn left at Bay Street and you're there.
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Cafe Brasil
1410 Mission StA very lively spot for a fantastic breakfast. PS. There's parking in the back, but it gets full, so remember it's just about a ten minute walk down the bike path, turn left at Bay Street and you're there.
OK, I know it's just mexican food, but I've eaten here more than anywhere else in SC. It's a fun place in a landmark building. Highly recommended. Also kid friendly.
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El Palomar Restaurant
1336 Pacific AveOK, I know it's just mexican food, but I've eaten here more than anywhere else in SC. It's a fun place in a landmark building. Highly recommended. Also kid friendly.
This is where I go for my birthday dinner. Enough said. Terrific northern italian cuisine.
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La Posta
538 Seabright AveThis is where I go for my birthday dinner. Enough said. Terrific northern italian cuisine.
Ok-We love to go to the wharf, but beware: bad tourist food abounds. What to do? Have a cocktail, upstairs at this old-time restaurant. You can't buy a better view. Watch the sun set over Steamer Lane
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Stagnaro Bros.
59 Municipal WharfOk-We love to go to the wharf, but beware: bad tourist food abounds. What to do? Have a cocktail, upstairs at this old-time restaurant. You can't buy a better view. Watch the sun set over Steamer Lane
Now this is a tourist place, but locals go here too. It's smack on the beach at the harbor mouth. The bar is jumping. Especially fun on Wednesday nights, when you can watch the yacht races. If you can grab one of the patio tables upstairs, you'll have the best view in town.
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Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrNow this is a tourist place, but locals go here too. It's smack on the beach at the harbor mouth. The bar is jumping. Especially fun on Wednesday nights, when you can watch the yacht races. If you can grab one of the patio tables upstairs, you'll have the best view in town.
This is a great breakfast, lunch or early (very, they close at six)
dinner spot right across from the lighthouse at Steamer Lane. The food is great. Seating is outside with a view of one of the best surf breaks in California. It's about a mile walk, or you could grab the bikes and head down there on two wheels. Highly recommended.
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Steamer Lane Supply
644-670 W Cliff DrThis is a great breakfast, lunch or early (very, they close at six)
dinner spot right across from the lighthouse at Steamer Lane. The food is great. Seating is outside with a view of one of the best surf breaks in California. It's about a mile walk, or you could grab the bikes and head down there on two wheels. Highly recommended.
This is a fun addition to our neighborhood. Great cocktails, good food and a lively atmosphere. They started out as a distillery, so be sure to sample their wares. They specialize in gin and vodka.
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Venus Spirits
200 High RdThis is a fun addition to our neighborhood. Great cocktails, good food and a lively atmosphere. They started out as a distillery, so be sure to sample their wares. They specialize in gin and vodka.
Another excellent dining establishment-just down the street. They have great food, a full bar and out-side dining as well.
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West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StAnother excellent dining establishment-just down the street. They have great food, a full bar and out-side dining as well.
Stop in for a little wine tasting. Or you can put your name in across the street at Bantam, if it's busy and then enjoy a glass of wine at Stockwell Cellars while you're waiting. That's a plan!
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Stockwell Cellars
1100 Fair AveStop in for a little wine tasting. Or you can put your name in across the street at Bantam, if it's busy and then enjoy a glass of wine at Stockwell Cellars while you're waiting. That's a plan!
Barceloneta
1541 Pacific AveThis is a terrific Tapas restaurant downtown on Pacific Avenue. Highly recommended.
Everything Else
This is our local organic foods store. Again, it's just down the street and a wonderful place to shop for provisions and ready-made edibles.
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New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveThis is our local organic foods store. Again, it's just down the street and a wonderful place to shop for provisions and ready-made edibles.
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
334 Ingalls StA great Brew Pub in walking distance.
Another excellent choice for breakfast or baked goods.
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Companion Bakeshop Westside Santa Cruz
2341 Mission StAnother excellent choice for breakfast or baked goods.
Not only is this a lovely beach, close by- but in the winter, you can view the migrating monarch butterflies hanging like grapes from the eucalyptus trees.
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Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrNot only is this a lovely beach, close by- but in the winter, you can view the migrating monarch butterflies hanging like grapes from the eucalyptus trees.
Hop on one of the bikes and head out to watch some world-class surfing. When the surf's up, there's nothing more fun to watch.
It's ten minutes down the west-cliff bike path.
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Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrHop on one of the bikes and head out to watch some world-class surfing. When the surf's up, there's nothing more fun to watch.
It's ten minutes down the west-cliff bike path.
You can head out on the bikes just a couple miles north of town, to immerse yourself in a slice of 19th century Santa Cruz. Victorian farm buildings, miles of hiking and riding trails.
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Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdYou can head out on the bikes just a couple miles north of town, to immerse yourself in a slice of 19th century Santa Cruz. Victorian farm buildings, miles of hiking and riding trails.
Santa Cruz Yoga
402 Ingalls StThe favorite of many.
This is a classic old movie house. There's no place better to hunker down with a box of REAL popcorn with REAL butter, and escape your cares and woes.
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Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific AveThis is a classic old movie house. There's no place better to hunker down with a box of REAL popcorn with REAL butter, and escape your cares and woes.
This is a wonderful local resource. There's lots of great hiking in Santa Cruz, but this is quite close. Drive to the end of Spring Street and you'll find a trail that will take you through the redwoods. This is an easy hike, but very beautiful. It's a 5 minute drive to the trailhead.
Pogonip Historic Limekiln
Lime Kiln TrailThis is a wonderful local resource. There's lots of great hiking in Santa Cruz, but this is quite close. Drive to the end of Spring Street and you'll find a trail that will take you through the redwoods. This is an easy hike, but very beautiful. It's a 5 minute drive to the trailhead.
This park is a short drive up scenic Hwy 9. If you've never walked in the redwoods, I'd highly recommend it. Awe inspiring.
Big Tree Grove
This park is a short drive up scenic Hwy 9. If you've never walked in the redwoods, I'd highly recommend it. Awe inspiring.
Drinks & Nightlife
Yet another great brew pub within walking distance.
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West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StYet another great brew pub within walking distance.
The Parish Publick House
841 Almar AveAnother popular brew pub within a block's radius.
Shopping
My husband hates the Boardwalk, I love it. If you are ambivalent, at least take a hair-raising ride on the Giant Dipper. It's the last remaining beach-side roller coaster on the west coast.
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Giant Dipper
400 Beach StMy husband hates the Boardwalk, I love it. If you are ambivalent, at least take a hair-raising ride on the Giant Dipper. It's the last remaining beach-side roller coaster on the west coast.