Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Sunil
Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Food Scene

The best hands down Thai food in town! Great service. Ask for Rose the waitress extraordinaire! Tell them that we referred you.
6 locals recommend
@ Thai Recipe
2106A Mission St
6 locals recommend
The best hands down Thai food in town! Great service. Ask for Rose the waitress extraordinaire! Tell them that we referred you.
Best Sushi and Japanese food in town. Sit at the bar. Enjoy the unique flavors (spicy and non). Some lunch specials are very affordable.
9 locals recommend
Sushi Totoro
1701 Mission St
9 locals recommend
Best Sushi and Japanese food in town. Sit at the bar. Enjoy the unique flavors (spicy and non). Some lunch specials are very affordable.
47 locals recommend
Zachary's Restaurant
819 Pacific Ave
47 locals recommend
Great place for breakfast.
38 locals recommend
The Walnut Avenue Cafe
106 Walnut Ave
38 locals recommend
Great place for breakfast.
Chinese food. A little expensive but good.
9 locals recommend
O'mei
2316 Mission St
9 locals recommend
Chinese food. A little expensive but good.
Indian food. Buffet may be available. Plan to be flexible. Service may be flexible too :-)
Aroma India Bistro
810 Pacific Ave
Indian food. Buffet may be available. Plan to be flexible. Service may be flexible too :-)
Indian Restaurant. Decent buffet. Chai provided. Standard Northern Indian Food. Vegetarian menu.
Maharaja
270 Soquel Ave
Indian Restaurant. Decent buffet. Chai provided. Standard Northern Indian Food. Vegetarian menu.
Great pizza. May have long lines especially on weekends. Order and pick up is easier!
141 locals recommend
Pizza My Heart
209 Esplanade
141 locals recommend
Great pizza. May have long lines especially on weekends. Order and pick up is easier!
Probably the best Italian place in town. A little away - you may prefer to drive. Get reservations! and clarify open hours!
125 locals recommend
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel Ave
125 locals recommend
Probably the best Italian place in town. A little away - you may prefer to drive. Get reservations! and clarify open hours!
Also a sports bar. Right on Pacific. They have a great show put on by the waiters at night (some nights). Be prepared for the show!
19 locals recommend
Kiantis Pizza & Pasta Bar
1100 Pacific Ave
19 locals recommend
Also a sports bar. Right on Pacific. They have a great show put on by the waiters at night (some nights). Be prepared for the show!
Vegan Food. Great tasting stuff! Great service!
39 locals recommend
Cafe Gratitude
103 Lincoln St
39 locals recommend
Vegan Food. Great tasting stuff! Great service!
The best ice cream in town!
38 locals recommend
Marianne's Ice Cream
1020 Ocean St
38 locals recommend
The best ice cream in town!
Ice cream. Healthy and natural!
13 locals recommend
Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery
1101 B Pacific Ave
13 locals recommend
Ice cream. Healthy and natural!
Decadence :-) Chocolate, great meals (sandwiches to quiche to salads to desserts that will melt your heart and quench your appetite!
28 locals recommend
Chocolate the Restaurant
1522 Pacific Ave
28 locals recommend
Decadence :-) Chocolate, great meals (sandwiches to quiche to salads to desserts that will melt your heart and quench your appetite!
Bagels!
23 locals recommend
Bagelry
1636 Seabright Ave
23 locals recommend
Bagels!
Coffee
Beach Street Cafe
399 Beach St
Coffee
Good coffee place. Wireless. Sandwiches and light snacks. Easy Parking. Close by.
15 locals recommend
Coffeetopia
15 locals recommend
Good coffee place. Wireless. Sandwiches and light snacks. Easy Parking. Close by.
Starbucks on the west side.
29 locals recommend
Starbucks
21620 E Cliff Dr
29 locals recommend
Starbucks on the west side.
Good coffee. Good Teas.
23 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
214 Mt Hermon Rd
23 locals recommend
Good coffee. Good Teas.
Beware. Place has a shop with stuff that women love. This can be dangerous to the wallet :-) Serves snacks, sandwiches and other light fare.
31 locals recommend
Farm Bakery & Cafe
6790 Soquel Dr
31 locals recommend
Beware. Place has a shop with stuff that women love. This can be dangerous to the wallet :-) Serves snacks, sandwiches and other light fare.
Chinese. Pretty decent. Affordable. Well mannered service. Sometimes hard to understand English.
Shun Feng Restaurant
420 River St
Chinese. Pretty decent. Affordable. Well mannered service. Sometimes hard to understand English.
Best high level non Asian Restaurant in the area. Reservations must be made! Great burgers through more expensive seafood through more expensive food :-) Bar also present.
88 locals recommend
Café Cruz
2621 41st Ave
88 locals recommend
Best high level non Asian Restaurant in the area. Reservations must be made! Great burgers through more expensive seafood through more expensive food :-) Bar also present.
Brazilian Food!
79 locals recommend
Cafe Brasil
1410 Mission St
79 locals recommend
Brazilian Food!
Self serve. Quick generally. Okay food.
12 locals recommend
Taqueria La Cabaña
2332 Mission St
12 locals recommend
Self serve. Quick generally. Okay food.
Brunch and breakfast in a nice location.
14 locals recommend
Rockys Cafe
6560 Hwy 9
14 locals recommend
Brunch and breakfast in a nice location.
Great food for brunch, lunch. Baked goods, sandwiches.. nice location. Can get crowded.
98 locals recommend
Kelly's French Bakery
402 Ingalls St
98 locals recommend
Great food for brunch, lunch. Baked goods, sandwiches.. nice location. Can get crowded.
Lovely ocean views from the pier. Night or day.. it is very nice and romantic. Bar area and dining. Excellent food. Try the lobster quesadilla.
32 locals recommend
Olitas Cantina & Grille
49 Municipal Wharf
32 locals recommend
Lovely ocean views from the pier. Night or day.. it is very nice and romantic. Bar area and dining. Excellent food. Try the lobster quesadilla.
Coffee, teas. Right next to the Del Mar Theater on Pacific Ave. Sit outside when it is sunny and people watch. Sandwiches, cookies and snacks. Bathroom available.
6 locals recommend
Cafe Delmarette
1126 Pacific Ave
6 locals recommend
Coffee, teas. Right next to the Del Mar Theater on Pacific Ave. Sit outside when it is sunny and people watch. Sandwiches, cookies and snacks. Bathroom available.
Featured in a reality TV show. Restaurant Impossible. It has become much better ! :-) Nice jazz on some nights. Bar, breakfast, brunch, dinner.
6 locals recommend
Hoffman's Downtown
1102 Pacific Ave
6 locals recommend
Featured in a reality TV show. Restaurant Impossible. It has become much better ! :-) Nice jazz on some nights. Bar, breakfast, brunch, dinner.
Chinese and fine teas and small snacks. Quiet - no electronics - phones and smart devices must be turned off inside. Lovely to be in peace here.
10 locals recommend
Hidden Peak Teahouse
1541 Pacific Ave
10 locals recommend
Chinese and fine teas and small snacks. Quiet - no electronics - phones and smart devices must be turned off inside. Lovely to be in peace here.
Vegetarian Sri Lankan (close to Indian but not quite Indian) food. Owner can be very generous - very wonderful man.
Asian Rose Cafe
Vegetarian Sri Lankan (close to Indian but not quite Indian) food. Owner can be very generous - very wonderful man.
Great seafood. Nice location with views of the ocean.
25 locals recommend
Stagnaro Bros.
59 Municipal Wharf
25 locals recommend
Great seafood. Nice location with views of the ocean.
Great seafood.
6 locals recommend
Gilda's
37 Municipal Wharf
6 locals recommend
Great seafood.
View of ocean. Bar and restaurant. Decent Thai. @ThaiRecipe on Mission Street is the best Thai in town.
13 locals recommend
Sawasdee By The Sea
101 Main St
13 locals recommend
View of ocean. Bar and restaurant. Decent Thai. @ThaiRecipe on Mission Street is the best Thai in town.
Santa Cruz has okay Falafel to be honest :-)
Falafel Hut محل فلافل حاره
309 Beach St
Santa Cruz has okay Falafel to be honest :-)
Bar, Restaurant. Great views! Especially in day time. Upstairs for locals and cheaper food (still decent). Below overpriced and pretty good food. Not excellent.. but the scenery is what you go for unless you go upstairs for the decent food at lower prices.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 locals recommend
Bar, Restaurant. Great views! Especially in day time. Upstairs for locals and cheaper food (still decent). Below overpriced and pretty good food. Not excellent.. but the scenery is what you go for unless you go upstairs for the decent food at lower prices.
Great breakfast with stunning views. Parking a little bit challenging but not bad - may have to park and walk a bit. Good Decent food.
56 locals recommend
Aldo's Harbor Restaurant
790 Mariner Park Way
56 locals recommend
Great breakfast with stunning views. Parking a little bit challenging but not bad - may have to park and walk a bit. Good Decent food.
Pick up food and eat on the wharf as you hear the seals and sea-lions etc. barking underneath. Decent clam chowder.
50 locals recommend
The Picnic Basket
125 Beach St
50 locals recommend
Pick up food and eat on the wharf as you hear the seals and sea-lions etc. barking underneath. Decent clam chowder.

Essentials

Healthy organic food ala Whole Foods.
248 locals recommend
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair Ave
248 locals recommend
Healthy organic food ala Whole Foods.
Typical Safeway.
58 locals recommend
Safeway
2203 Mission St
58 locals recommend
Typical Safeway.
Pharmacy and some essentials.
20 locals recommend
CVS
1700 Mission St
20 locals recommend
Pharmacy and some essentials.
Pharmacy. They are supposed to be 24 hours. Please call to verify.
20 locals recommend
CVS
1700 Mission St
20 locals recommend
Pharmacy. They are supposed to be 24 hours. Please call to verify.
Healthy whole foods! Organic!
157 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel Ave
157 locals recommend
Healthy whole foods! Organic!

Drinks & Nightlife

Very close by. Enjoy a drink and then a short walk home. Also a n excellent menu for early breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have an attached cafe serving coffee and snacks as well. Right on the beach next to the pier entrance.
20 locals recommend
Ideal Bar & Grill
106 Beach St
20 locals recommend
Very close by. Enjoy a drink and then a short walk home. Also a n excellent menu for early breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have an attached cafe serving coffee and snacks as well. Right on the beach next to the pier entrance.
Also serves lunch and dinner. Very close by. Have a drink and then a short walk to your room. View of the ocean.
22 locals recommend
Aquarius
175 W Cliff Dr
22 locals recommend
Also serves lunch and dinner. Very close by. Have a drink and then a short walk to your room. View of the ocean.
Beer, Great food. Ask for Virginia as your server - She is awesome! Burgers are great.
20 locals recommend
99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
110 Walnut Ave
20 locals recommend
Beer, Great food. Ask for Virginia as your server - She is awesome! Burgers are great.
Wine - we have not been here ! :-)
8 locals recommend
Vino Prima Wine Bar
55 Municipal Wharf
8 locals recommend
Wine - we have not been here ! :-)
Wine food.
55 locals recommend
Soif
105 Walnut Ave
55 locals recommend
Wine food.
Sports bar : Good place to watch games!
KC's Sports Bar & Lounge
711 Pacific Ave
Sports bar : Good place to watch games!

Everything Else

Roller Coasters, Amusement arcade, Hot Dogs. By the beach. Enjoy!
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 locals recommend
Roller Coasters, Amusement arcade, Hot Dogs. By the beach. Enjoy!
The Beach. Can get crowded. But close .. very close to us - five minute walk. Also close to food etc.
40 locals recommend
Cowell Beach
Front St
40 locals recommend
The Beach. Can get crowded. But close .. very close to us - five minute walk. Also close to food etc.
Beach: within driving distance at the end of West Cliff Drive.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 locals recommend
Beach: within driving distance at the end of West Cliff Drive.
Relatively quieter beach. Fire pits at certain times of the year. Must be reserved way in advance by showing up early and staking a 'claim' over the pit by sitting around and shooing off everyone else who tries to grab the spot. :-)
65 locals recommend
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenue
65 locals recommend
Relatively quieter beach. Fire pits at certain times of the year. Must be reserved way in advance by showing up early and staking a 'claim' over the pit by sitting around and shooing off everyone else who tries to grab the spot. :-)
Gas Station
Valero
Gas Station
Gas for your car
13 locals recommend
Rotten Robbie
4200 Williams Rd
13 locals recommend
Gas for your car
Modest museum. Art and History like it says :-) Quiet. Wonderful place to relax at the top floor outside.
133 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front St
133 locals recommend
Modest museum. Art and History like it says :-) Quiet. Wonderful place to relax at the top floor outside.
Grocery store with healthy organic food. Ala Whole Foods.
69 locals recommend
Staff of Life
1266 Soquel Ave
69 locals recommend
Grocery store with healthy organic food. Ala Whole Foods.
Yogurt!
Yogurtland
2117 Mission St
Yogurt!
Hot tubs to rent and massages! Hot tubs are fairly affordable. Massages can be on the expensive side but the masseuses are very good generally!
12 locals recommend
Tea House Spa
112 Elm St
12 locals recommend
Hot tubs to rent and massages! Hot tubs are fairly affordable. Massages can be on the expensive side but the masseuses are very good generally!
Hot tubs to rent. Massages. Competes well with Tea House spa: see their description as well.
26 locals recommend
Well Within Spa
417 Cedar St
26 locals recommend
Hot tubs to rent. Massages. Competes well with Tea House spa: see their description as well.
Clothing optional inside. Hot tubs for rent privately. You can rent the use of the public hot tubs as well. Massages available. Decent and can be badly organized on bad days :-)
11 locals recommend
Kiva Retreat
702 Water St
11 locals recommend
Clothing optional inside. Hot tubs for rent privately. You can rent the use of the public hot tubs as well. Massages available. Decent and can be badly organized on bad days :-)
The University.
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum Road
67 locals recommend
The University.

Sightseeing

Silly for some. Serious for others. Place has mysterious magnetic properties that has you see some crazy things occur in front of your eyes.
208 locals recommend
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rd
208 locals recommend
Silly for some. Serious for others. Place has mysterious magnetic properties that has you see some crazy things occur in front of your eyes.

Parks & Nature

Hiking, Walking.
38 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
2591 Graham Hill Rd
38 locals recommend
Hiking, Walking.

Entertainment & Activities

Theater: Shows, Entertainment.
7 locals recommend
Civic Auditorium
307 Church St
7 locals recommend
Theater: Shows, Entertainment.
Standard Popular Movie faire.
32 locals recommend
Regal Santa Cruz 9
1405 Pacific Ave
32 locals recommend
Standard Popular Movie faire.
Classy movies - foreign, artistic, classic good stuff for the intellect and artistic stimulation.
51 locals recommend
Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific Ave
51 locals recommend
Classy movies - foreign, artistic, classic good stuff for the intellect and artistic stimulation.
Bowling! and Karoake!
46 locals recommend
Boardwalk Bowl
115 Cliff St
46 locals recommend
Bowling! and Karoake!
Great artsy movies - foreign, intellectually stimulating. etc.
63 locals recommend
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln St
63 locals recommend
Great artsy movies - foreign, intellectually stimulating. etc.
Super comfy chairs. Great movies.
Regal Cinemas Riverfront 2
155 River St S
Super comfy chairs. Great movies.
Great for the kid in you and the creative in your kids. Create your own ceramic masterpiece with simple to use paints and ideas from the friendly staff.
Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge
125 Walnut Ave
Great for the kid in you and the creative in your kids. Create your own ceramic masterpiece with simple to use paints and ideas from the friendly staff.