Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Cat & Cloud Coffee
3600 Portola DrGreat local spot!
The very best breakfast burritos around!!! Order a barrel breakfast burrito like a local!!!
38 locals recommend
The Point Market
23040 E Cliff DrThe very best breakfast burritos around!!! Order a barrel breakfast burrito like a local!!!
A locals favorite spot for breakfast! Some of the very best biscuits and gravy! They close when the surf is up!
30 locals recommend
Paula's
3500 Portola DrA locals favorite spot for breakfast! Some of the very best biscuits and gravy! They close when the surf is up!
Süda
3910 Portola DrGreat mixology!!!! A locals favorite hangout.
The Penny Ice Creamery Pleasure Point
820 41st AveThe best locally sourced ice cream!
Great place to take the kiddos for a bite. The patio is also dog friendly.
51 locals recommend
Pleasure Pizza East Side Eatery
800 41st AveGreat place to take the kiddos for a bite. The patio is also dog friendly.
Zameen At The Point
851 41st AveGreat place to have a bite!
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner! The Chophouse takes care of all of it!
12 locals recommend
The Point Chophouse
3326 Portola DrBreakfast, lunch, or dinner! The Chophouse takes care of all of it!
Fantastic coffee! They have pastries and avo toast that is not to be missed.
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveFantastic coffee! They have pastries and avo toast that is not to be missed.
For a nice dinner make a reservation and enjoy this California cuisine. Great burger and salads for lunch.
88 locals recommend
Café Cruz
2621 41st AveFor a nice dinner make a reservation and enjoy this California cuisine. Great burger and salads for lunch.
This is a great dinner spot. Make a reservation for the classic car to pick you up and arrive in style. This is a tourist and local spot alike. If you don’t want to put on the nice clothes, the bar is a really cool spot to get drinks and appetizers. This restaurant has the very cool trolly to take you down.
205 locals recommend
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf RdThis is a great dinner spot. Make a reservation for the classic car to pick you up and arrive in style. This is a tourist and local spot alike. If you don’t want to put on the nice clothes, the bar is a really cool spot to get drinks and appetizers. This restaurant has the very cool trolly to take you down.
Grab one of the cruisers and head to the village to grab a slice. Great pizza!!!! Pizza and slice for $5, 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
141 locals recommend
Pizza My Heart
209 EsplanadeGrab one of the cruisers and head to the village to grab a slice. Great pizza!!!! Pizza and slice for $5, 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
Sushi Garden
820 Bay AveAkira Sushi
1222 Soquel AveGreat sushi!
This is a great place to take the whole family. Great kiddo menu!
51 locals recommend
Pleasure Pizza East Side Eatery
800 41st AveThis is a great place to take the whole family. Great kiddo menu!
Aloha Island Grille
1700 Portola DrUpstairs is a great bar style menu and a great place to watch the sunset. Kid friendly.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrUpstairs is a great bar style menu and a great place to watch the sunset. Kid friendly.
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveAmazing pastries and food.
Farm Bakery & Cafe
6790 Soquel DrBest fruit tarts in town!
Venus offers local made Gin, whiskey, tequila. Great mixology and great food. Try the corn bread!!!!
32 locals recommend
Venus Spirits
200 High RdVenus offers local made Gin, whiskey, tequila. Great mixology and great food. Try the corn bread!!!!
Monday-Friday Happy Hour is not to be missed. Great food, great drinks!!! It’s a locals favorite.
57 locals recommend
Johnny's Harborside
493 Lake AveMonday-Friday Happy Hour is not to be missed. Great food, great drinks!!! It’s a locals favorite.
Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap
Great Hawaiian food at a reasonable rate.
Paradise Beach Grille
215 EsplanadeBeautiful spot right on the water.
Tiny spot with superb authentic Italian food. You won’t be sorry you ate here!
Sugo Italian Pasta Bar
1116 Soquel AveTiny spot with superb authentic Italian food. You won’t be sorry you ate here!
Souvenir Shop
Zen is a great place to find beachy and ocean focused clothes and souvenirs.
9 locals recommend
Zen Island
126 San Jose AveZen is a great place to find beachy and ocean focused clothes and souvenirs.
This is the original Santa Cruz Skateboards shop. Cruise in and get a skateboard or a red dot tee!
9 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Boardroom
825 41st AveThis is the original Santa Cruz Skateboards shop. Cruise in and get a skateboard or a red dot tee!
Buell Surfs hop is a local wetsuit company. Started by local surfers who wanted to make the best wetsuits around.
Buell Surf Shop
912 41st AveBuell Surfs hop is a local wetsuit company. Started by local surfers who wanted to make the best wetsuits around.
Family Cycling Center
914 41st AveBest bike shop in town!!!
This is a great spot to rent a surfboard board or some new flips. This shop is owned by the world famous big wave surfer Peter Mel.
13 locals recommend
Freeline Surf Shop
821 41st AveThis is a great spot to rent a surfboard board or some new flips. This shop is owned by the world famous big wave surfer Peter Mel.
O'Neill Surf Shop
110 Cooper StSightseeing
Rockview Drive County Park
One of the best places to watch the sunset!
Super stable boat to venture out on. Great for families or people that coups get sea sick. You will not regret an hour on the O’Neill boat!
20 locals recommend
O'Neill Yacht Charters
275 Lake AveSuper stable boat to venture out on. Great for families or people that coups get sea sick. You will not regret an hour on the O’Neill boat!
This is a great way to see the bay. Check out a sunset sail! Super fun and worth the time.
45 locals recommend
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
790 Mariner Park WayThis is a great way to see the bay. Check out a sunset sail! Super fun and worth the time.
Breweries
Its a little up the road, but worth the trek. Great beers and interesting food.
55 locals recommend
Discretion Brewing
2703 41st AveIts a little up the road, but worth the trek. Great beers and interesting food.
Beer 30
2504 S Main StHumble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift StGood food and beer! On the west side but worth the trek!
Sante Adairius Santa Cruz Portal
1315 Water StGilman Brewing Santa Cruz Taproom Brewpub Gastropub Restaurant
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Activities
Here are some fun things to do while you are in town:
Pleasure Point County Park
East Cliff DriveGreat place to walk, ride, and surf!
You can take a trip around the redwoods. There is also a trip into town from the redwoods. A great trip for the kiddos!!!
150 locals recommend
Roaring Camp
5401 Graham Hill RdYou can take a trip around the redwoods. There is also a trip into town from the redwoods. A great trip for the kiddos!!!
Neptune's Kingdom
400 Beach StBoardwalk Bowl
115 Cliff StThis place has it all! Good food, souvenir shops, barking harbor seals! Really can’t be missed.
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal WharfThis place has it all! Good food, souvenir shops, barking harbor seals! Really can’t be missed.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StThe Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadHenry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park RdThe Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot RdQuirky and fun!
Redwood Canopy Tour
17 Conference DrGiggles-N-Wiggles
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayNeighborhoods
Fun place to spend the day. It’s a great beach with good food options and a fun place to walk around. It’s a half hour walk from the house, but a 10 minute bike ride.
151 locals recommend
Capitola
Fun place to spend the day. It’s a great beach with good food options and a fun place to walk around. It’s a half hour walk from the house, but a 10 minute bike ride.
Beach
Lots of beaches to choose from!
Moran Lake County Park
22775 E Cliff DrGrab the backpack chairs and walk to the beach!!!
38th Ave. Beach
23801 E Cliff DrSeabright Beach
Great beach where you can also have a fire on the beach!!!
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey AveThis is the closest beach where you can have a bonfire. Great place to watch the sun go down!
65 locals recommend
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak AvenueThis is the closest beach where you can have a bonfire. Great place to watch the sun go down!