Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
it is the closest restaurant right on the beach, only a 5 min. drive or a 15 min. scenic walk, authentic mexican cuisine
35 locals recommend
Cafe El Palomar
2222 E Cliff Drit is the closest restaurant right on the beach, only a 5 min. drive or a 15 min. scenic walk, authentic mexican cuisine
a santa cruz classic so expect to wait for a table on weekends, large portions, great home fries...
47 locals recommend
Zachary's Restaurant
819 Pacific Avea santa cruz classic so expect to wait for a table on weekends, large portions, great home fries...
very unique cuisine created by santa cruz iconic chef joseph schultz, gathered from his travels to india and indonesia, et al.
small, santa cruz funky, local artists on display, open kitchen, with joe himself often behind the wok
11 locals recommend
India Joze
418 Front Stvery unique cuisine created by santa cruz iconic chef joseph schultz, gathered from his travels to india and indonesia, et al.
small, santa cruz funky, local artists on display, open kitchen, with joe himself often behind the wok
within walking distance, closest burger 'n fries (and more) , family-run, economical, easy parking,
U.S. Meal
21505 E Cliff Drwithin walking distance, closest burger 'n fries (and more) , family-run, economical, easy parking,
run by a local italian family, quite elegant, cozy setting at upscale prices; within walking distance
11 locals recommend
Star Bene
East Cliff Driverun by a local italian family, quite elegant, cozy setting at upscale prices; within walking distance
one of the most upscale, nearby restaurants , cocktail lounges
12 locals recommend
The Point Chophouse
3326 Portola Drone of the most upscale, nearby restaurants , cocktail lounges
closest taqueria, long-established local eatery, authentic mexican menu
15 locals recommend
Taqueria Michoacan
21401 E Cliff Drclosest taqueria, long-established local eatery, authentic mexican menu
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff Drreasonably priced good food, walking distance
much more than coffee, healthy, light food, friendly, popular with previous JGO guests, walking distance
20 locals recommend
Windmill
21231 E Cliff Drmuch more than coffee, healthy, light food, friendly, popular with previous JGO guests, walking distance
tasty, close, economical, unique, on way walk to/from beach, occasional hawaiian music on patio
21 locals recommend
Aloha Island Grille
1700 Portola Drtasty, close, economical, unique, on way walk to/from beach, occasional hawaiian music on patio
great open-air location at the harbor mouth. italian family-run for decades. moderate prices, friendly service. awnings if you prefer shade to sun.
56 locals recommend
Aldo's Harbor Restaurant
790 Mariner Park Waygreat open-air location at the harbor mouth. italian family-run for decades. moderate prices, friendly service. awnings if you prefer shade to sun.
Drinks & Nightlife
swing dancing on fridays, 530--730 and jazz jams on sunday afternoons. popular music at night. bocci ball at certain non-dance times.
The Cellar
140 Encinal Streetswing dancing on fridays, 530--730 and jazz jams on sunday afternoons. popular music at night. bocci ball at certain non-dance times.
many headliners stop by this intimate jazz club on weeknights between their weekend shows in SF and LA. not limited to the jazz genre. food and wine are served.
52 locals recommend
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar Stmany headliners stop by this intimate jazz club on weeknights between their weekend shows in SF and LA. not limited to the jazz genre. food and wine are served.
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Drclosest nightlife to our place. also a restaurant.
a little further than the michoacan and limited seating in a casual, cozy space but very tasty, authentic mexican cuisine
6 locals recommend
Salsas Taco Bar
1710 Brommer Sta little further than the michoacan and limited seating in a casual, cozy space but very tasty, authentic mexican cuisine
Sightseeing
see and hear the sea lions, restaurants and fish markets, bay excursions, occasional outdoor dancing and special events, pay parking
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal Wharfsee and hear the sea lions, restaurants and fish markets, bay excursions, occasional outdoor dancing and special events, pay parking
the campus is set in the redwoods. the drives departing the campus offer great views of the city and across monterey bay.
can be combined with hiking on the upper campus and/or
the pogo nip park below campus at the end of spring st.
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum Roadthe campus is set in the redwoods. the drives departing the campus offer great views of the city and across monterey bay.
can be combined with hiking on the upper campus and/or
the pogo nip park below campus at the end of spring st.
easy, scenic walk or bike past the 2-6 and pleasure point surfing areas
193 locals recommend
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Driveeasy, scenic walk or bike past the 2-6 and pleasure point surfing areas
walk, bike, jog, push stroller, skateboard (or drive if you have to) from the wharf to natural bridges state park along the edge of the cliffs that drop down to the bay, watching (or joining!) surfers at the famous steamer lane along the way.
193 locals recommend
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Drivewalk, bike, jog, push stroller, skateboard (or drive if you have to) from the wharf to natural bridges state park along the edge of the cliffs that drop down to the bay, watching (or joining!) surfers at the famous steamer lane along the way.
Parks & Nature
besides the beach, there are hikes in the woods and a opportunity see monarch butterflies on their seasonal migration. combine with a walk or drive along west cliff drive
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Drbesides the beach, there are hikes in the woods and a opportunity see monarch butterflies on their seasonal migration. combine with a walk or drive along west cliff drive
get deep into the amazing redwoods within a half hour of our oasis. easy, one-mile, self-guided trail through redwood grove plus many more strenuous trails.
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park Rdget deep into the amazing redwoods within a half hour of our oasis. easy, one-mile, self-guided trail through redwood grove plus many more strenuous trails.
5-10 min. walk, small but popular local beach, waves crashing on rocks at high tide, boogie-boarding surf, fee on weekends for very limited parking
33 locals recommend
Sunny Cove
5-10 min. walk, small but popular local beach, waves crashing on rocks at high tide, boogie-boarding surf, fee on weekends for very limited parking
popular local beach, seasonal lifeguards and small boat rental, walking distance to restaurants, campfires permitted until 10PM, walk from JGO or pay for parking on weekends
65 locals recommend
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenuepopular local beach, seasonal lifeguards and small boat rental, walking distance to restaurants, campfires permitted until 10PM, walk from JGO or pay for parking on weekends
Arts & Culture
near the seabright beach, local displays, bookshop, grassy park outside
50 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 E Cliff Drnear the seabright beach, local displays, bookshop, grassy park outside
user-friendly, almost new facility. wifi inside and out, computers and internet available, comfortable reading chairs, complete periodical room, views of lagoon and beach from patio.
Live Oak Branch Library
2380 Portola Druser-friendly, almost new facility. wifi inside and out, computers and internet available, comfortable reading chairs, complete periodical room, views of lagoon and beach from patio.
Shopping
many unique products grown/made by trainees striving to grow out of homelessness, plus many other gifts made by local artists on consignment. open friday through sunday plus all day thanksgiving to christmas.
Homeless Garden Project Store
1338 Pacific Avemany unique products grown/made by trainees striving to grow out of homelessness, plus many other gifts made by local artists on consignment. open friday through sunday plus all day thanksgiving to christmas.
Essentials
Live Oak Supermarket
1668 Capitola Rdat 17th av. not a typical supermarket but the closest.