Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
A personal favorite, the Spur served large, American style breakfast and lunch. A locals favorite spot, great staff, nice people. They are closed on Sundays.
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Silver Spur
2650 Soquel DrA personal favorite, the Spur served large, American style breakfast and lunch. A locals favorite spot, great staff, nice people. They are closed on Sundays.
Perched above the harbor Johnny's has a full bar and excellent fresh seafood menu.
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Johnny's Harborside
493 Lake AvePerched above the harbor Johnny's has a full bar and excellent fresh seafood menu.
Right around the corner from Chez Poulet, this Mexican restaurant has great ambiance, outdoor seating and a full bar.
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El Jardin Restaurant
655 Capitola RdRight around the corner from Chez Poulet, this Mexican restaurant has great ambiance, outdoor seating and a full bar.
The cheapest and best breakfast in town, in a surf shack. Paula's has been around for many years, a locals place.
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Paula's
3500 Portola DrThe cheapest and best breakfast in town, in a surf shack. Paula's has been around for many years, a locals place.
Special occasion? This iconic restaurant has been a fixture in Santa Cruz for over 60 years. Built on a hillside you can take the gondola down from the street or descend the meadering stairs through gardens and waterfalls to get to the restaurant. Pricey but worth a visit, try happy hour at the bar where they serve wood fired pizza and other food.
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Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf RdSpecial occasion? This iconic restaurant has been a fixture in Santa Cruz for over 60 years. Built on a hillside you can take the gondola down from the street or descend the meadering stairs through gardens and waterfalls to get to the restaurant. Pricey but worth a visit, try happy hour at the bar where they serve wood fired pizza and other food.
Hungry in a hurry? This tiny noodle shop offers delicious, Asian style rice and noodle bowls to go or eat on their patio. Choose your base starch, sauce and toppings. Always busy, this is a locals favorite.
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Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel AveHungry in a hurry? This tiny noodle shop offers delicious, Asian style rice and noodle bowls to go or eat on their patio. Choose your base starch, sauce and toppings. Always busy, this is a locals favorite.
Little known Jamacian cuisine, we're always impressed by the food here. This place is a well kept secret.
The Jerk House
2525 Soquel DrLittle known Jamacian cuisine, we're always impressed by the food here. This place is a well kept secret.
This elegant interior space serves delicious Middle Eastern food downtown SC. Try it for lunch and sit outside in the lush courtyard.
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Laili
101 Cooper StThis elegant interior space serves delicious Middle Eastern food downtown SC. Try it for lunch and sit outside in the lush courtyard.
People love Lillian's Italian restaurant. Be prepared to eat alot or bring home leftovers.
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Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel AvePeople love Lillian's Italian restaurant. Be prepared to eat alot or bring home leftovers.
Our favorite place for Thai food which is delicious, service is excellent. Zone out while you watch the wall of tropical fish. They are also good for take out.
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Star of Siam Thai Cuisine - Soquel Village
3005 Porter StOur favorite place for Thai food which is delicious, service is excellent. Zone out while you watch the wall of tropical fish. They are also good for take out.
Dharma's is the goto place for vegans and vegetarians. Fabulous large salads and delicious vegetarian and vegan entrees and desserts.
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Dharma's Restaurant
4250 Capitola RdDharma's is the goto place for vegans and vegetarians. Fabulous large salads and delicious vegetarian and vegan entrees and desserts.
The BEST sushi in Santa Cruz. Lovely interior, always packed. If you like Japanese food this is your place.
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Shogun Japanese Restaurant
1123 Pacific AveThe BEST sushi in Santa Cruz. Lovely interior, always packed. If you like Japanese food this is your place.
The best bakery in town and a fantastic deli as well. Gayles is the place for delicious breads and pastries of all kinds. The deli side has rotisserie chicken, prepared foods and salads. Love the spinach gorgonzola pasta! Great to drop in and grab a meal to take home. Make sure you take a number to get in line, Gayles is very popular.
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Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveThe best bakery in town and a fantastic deli as well. Gayles is the place for delicious breads and pastries of all kinds. The deli side has rotisserie chicken, prepared foods and salads. Love the spinach gorgonzola pasta! Great to drop in and grab a meal to take home. Make sure you take a number to get in line, Gayles is very popular.
Drinks & Nightlife
By our lights, the best bar in town. The iconic Crepe place has been in business since the 1970s. They specialize in savory and sweet crepes, have a lovely garden seating area in the back and feature local bands with a cover charge some evenings.
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The Crêpe Place
1134 Soquel AveBy our lights, the best bar in town. The iconic Crepe place has been in business since the 1970s. They specialize in savory and sweet crepes, have a lovely garden seating area in the back and feature local bands with a cover charge some evenings.
I love the Redroom on a rainy afternoon with friends on a couch in front of the fireplace. The red flocked walls and dark wood decor is a holdover from it's days as the original Santa Cruz Hotel back in the 20s. The also have a nice menu if you're hungry.
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The Redroom
1003 Cedar StI love the Redroom on a rainy afternoon with friends on a couch in front of the fireplace. The red flocked walls and dark wood decor is a holdover from it's days as the original Santa Cruz Hotel back in the 20s. The also have a nice menu if you're hungry.
How nice to set above the wharf, watch sparkling ocean and sip an excellent wine recommended by the knowledgeable proprietor. Come at sunset!
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Vino Prima Wine Bar
55 Municipal WharfHow nice to set above the wharf, watch sparkling ocean and sip an excellent wine recommended by the knowledgeable proprietor. Come at sunset!
There are too many microbreweries to list in Santa Cruz but you can try them all at Beer Thirty. Be prepared to sit outside on picnic benches with locals and their dogs. I recommend trying a flight.
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Beer 30
2504 S Main StThere are too many microbreweries to list in Santa Cruz but you can try them all at Beer Thirty. Be prepared to sit outside on picnic benches with locals and their dogs. I recommend trying a flight.
Intimate venue to see some of the world's best jazz artists.
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Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar StIntimate venue to see some of the world's best jazz artists.
Almost walking distance from Chez Poulet, check their music lineup of rock blues and soul artists for dancing and listening.
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Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayAlmost walking distance from Chez Poulet, check their music lineup of rock blues and soul artists for dancing and listening.
Parks & Nature
Lovely park for a long hike or mountain bike ride in the redwoods. Prepare for cool shade even on a hot day.
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I-State Park ye-Nisene Marks
Aptos Creek RoadLovely park for a long hike or mountain bike ride in the redwoods. Prepare for cool shade even on a hot day.
Miles of hiking and biking trails, children will enjoy the historical park with original farm house and barns.
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Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdMiles of hiking and biking trails, children will enjoy the historical park with original farm house and barns.
Lovely beach access, tide pooling and from October to March this is a famous overwintering spot for Monarch butterflies!
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Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrLovely beach access, tide pooling and from October to March this is a famous overwintering spot for Monarch butterflies!
Research center with public access and educational program. Great for kids and adults
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Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory
115 McAllister WayResearch center with public access and educational program. Great for kids and adults
Sightseeing
Where else can you go to a museum dedicated to surfing? Tiny museum near the lighthouse on Westcliff drive is a fine place to start before walking along the cliff.
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Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
701 W Cliff DrWhere else can you go to a museum dedicated to surfing? Tiny museum near the lighthouse on Westcliff drive is a fine place to start before walking along the cliff.
Arts & Culture
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 E Cliff DrSanta Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StEssentials
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel AveNew Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveDel Pueblo Market
2118 Soquel AveWalking distance Mexican market.
Staff of Life
1266 Soquel AveEntertainment & Activities
Don't miss the oldest roller coaster on the west coast, the giant dipper. I personally am a sucker for miniature golf.
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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StDon't miss the oldest roller coaster on the west coast, the giant dipper. I personally am a sucker for miniature golf.