Your Guidebook to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Food Scene
Our county has become a hotspot for great food, breweries and distilleries. Enjoy our recommendations!
Classic Mexican food, wood grilled meats, good size portion. The Chili Verde is wonderful! Service is sweet.
11 locals recommend
Jalisco Restaurant
618 Main StClassic Mexican food, wood grilled meats, good size portion. The Chili Verde is wonderful! Service is sweet.
You can never order wrong here! Know for their rotisserie chicken but the Monterey Caesar salad (with calamari) is a must try!!!!
88 locals recommend
Café Cruz
2621 41st AveYou can never order wrong here! Know for their rotisserie chicken but the Monterey Caesar salad (with calamari) is a must try!!!!
Very traditional Mexican food in a home like setting. It's all MUCH BUENO! Breakfast all day. Try the Huevos Rancheros a must.
Olivia's Cafe
Very traditional Mexican food in a home like setting. It's all MUCH BUENO! Breakfast all day. Try the Huevos Rancheros a must.
Sometimes you just want REALLY good Italian food. No doughy breadsticks here or all you can eat pasta. A very classy spot with full of class host, chef and staff. You'll want to come back here!
22 locals recommend
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff DrSometimes you just want REALLY good Italian food. No doughy breadsticks here or all you can eat pasta. A very classy spot with full of class host, chef and staff. You'll want to come back here!
Everything Else
OK. You can't go wrong here for bread, pastries, coffee and a wonderful selection of prepared foods. Having a birthday? This is where you get the cake!
155 locals recommend
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveOK. You can't go wrong here for bread, pastries, coffee and a wonderful selection of prepared foods. Having a birthday? This is where you get the cake!
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey AveA classic CA beach town. Good food. Good shopping.
Out of town but worth it!
Yep. Need we say more. Good bar....although we prefer to make our own at home so we don't have to drive back.
40 locals recommend
Margaritaville
231 EsplanadeYep. Need we say more. Good bar....although we prefer to make our own at home so we don't have to drive back.
A local best kept secret. Traditional seafood diner house. Nothing fancy but just great classic foods: Artichokes, Calamari and just the BEST Sandabs in the world. Reservations a must.
22 locals recommend
Sandbar & Grill
Municipal Wharf 2A local best kept secret. Traditional seafood diner house. Nothing fancy but just great classic foods: Artichokes, Calamari and just the BEST Sandabs in the world. Reservations a must.
Celebrating a special occasion. Looking to be casual about this. They do great local California cuisine with no attitude about it.
22 locals recommend
Montrio Bistro
414 Calle PrincipalCelebrating a special occasion. Looking to be casual about this. They do great local California cuisine with no attitude about it.
Fishwife
1996 1/2 Sunset DrFancy. Wonderful sustainably caught seafood and an awesome wine list!
Haute Enchilada Café
7902 Moss Landing RdGood Mexican food. Fun decor. Nearby.
Arts & Culture
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StLet the kids go wild!
Sightseeing
If you haven't been...this is a must. Not only educational but beautifully educational. You'll leave inspired by the "underlying" beauty of our bay and oceans.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowIf you haven't been...this is a must. Not only educational but beautifully educational. You'll leave inspired by the "underlying" beauty of our bay and oceans.
Nice experience. Be prepared to row against the current at some point but you will love being in the water in this setting.
55 locals recommend
Kayak Connection
2370 CA-1Nice experience. Be prepared to row against the current at some point but you will love being in the water in this setting.
Fun and Fast
A great community “plaza” with superb collection of food, drinks and music. The “essence of Santa Cruz” all in one place.
There’s something for everyone. Weekend live bands on the square.
32 locals recommend
Abbott Square
118 Cooper StA great community “plaza” with superb collection of food, drinks and music. The “essence of Santa Cruz” all in one place.
There’s something for everyone. Weekend live bands on the square.
OK. This is just one good burger joint! A big selection of choices beyond the basics.
There are three in the country but this one is closest to Pajaro Dunes.
Betty Burgers
OK. This is just one good burger joint! A big selection of choices beyond the basics.
There are three in the country but this one is closest to Pajaro Dunes.
Breweries and Distilleries
Fruition Brewing
918 E Lake AveDiscretion Brewing
2703 41st AveHumble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift StVenus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen | Westside