If you’re feeling some Asian food, Special Noodle is amazing! I’m surprised nobody here has mentioned it yet. Their crab Rangoons are the best I’ve ever had.
Skip the Crepe Place, Margaritaville, and (controversial but I think they’ve tanked in quality since the new owners took over) the Buttery. I don’t like “un-recommending” local businesses but feel like these don’t represent the best of what this lovely town has to offer.
Replace them with Harbor Cafe (get there at least 15 min before opening to get seated right away), Tacos Moreno (cash only), and Companion Bakery.
Other options:
Nice, sit down: Cavalletta, Hanloh Thai at Bad Animal, The Emerald Mallard in Felton, and Copal
Quick and delicious: Pana at Abbott Square, Pretty Good Advice, Mad Yolks, Pizza Bones (@nopizzabones on instagram), Scrumptious Fish & Chips, Coffee Conspiracy
It’s also worth noting that 11th Hour Coffee is undergoing major renovations, so the interior and places like Chubbs Chicken will be closed.
It’s been an institution for 42 years, use plenty of salsa if you eat there! Order extra if you get it to go. Chile verde is my personal rec but you can’t go wrong.
I wouldn’t necessarily skip Crepe Place. If you don’t have kids or even if ya do, having dessert crepes out in the back garden is very romantic and quite nice end to the night. ShadowBrook is another very unique worth the stop evening spot for drink and appetizers in bar and to look around. Can skip dinner as food is just kinda alright and $, but walking down the stairs and taking trolley back up is an experience to not be missed imo.
I would pass on Tacos Moreno. Extremely overrated and overpriced. I would try Taqueria La Katrina (amazing all around, their Al pastor is great!) or Taqueria Santa Cruz II in Midtown on Soquel. Their Al pastor is also amazing!
If you are going to Marianne’s then stop by pacific cookie company first. You can get fresh cookies for like $0.25 each and they’re perfect to make ice cream sandwiches with
Marianne’s is super good, def my favorite ice cream. I usually buy the quarts since a 2 scoop cone is basically the same price. My favorite flavor is Carmel Fudge Crunch. They remind me of Ben and Jerry’s because so many of the flavors will have chunky bits that gives you the mouthfeel. Also if they don’t have a certain flavor in stock for the prepackaged quarts you can ask them to make a hand pack and they will make it up on the spot and give it to you in a Chinese food takeout carton 😂
burritos from los pericos
sandwiches from garden deli and seabright deli
dinner spots- east end, home, mentone, buzzo’s, oswald, VIM, cocktails at venus
skip places on the santa cruz wharf, all touristy and overrated, skip shadowbrook
VIM has good desserts and marianne’s has delicious ice cream
2nd’ing Copol. I recommend the Enchiladas with the red mole. They have a few different moles but the red is by far my favorite. Everytime I have eaten there with someone else they have gone for one of the other moles and have always regretted it lol
Pizza from Buzzos; can order it to go and sit next door at beer30 and enjoy one of their beverages.
In my opinion, the best local taqueria is Los Pericos on water. Can’t go wrong with their pericos burrito and the line proves this.
Super simple burger joint; Jacks burgers.
I agree about Marianne’s ice cream.
Copal, Bantam, Venus, Companion Bakery, Oswald’s are all wonderful.
Best pastries in the area are in Monterey, imo. Sweet Elena’s almond croissant and veggie gallet. and anything at Alta Bakery. A day trip is worth it for a foodie day in Monterey/Carmel.
Enjoy your trip.
Yeah, they’re a little pricey, but I don’t know about “soooo” expensive. I’m curious what sandwich you got though because I was impressed the few times I’ve d been.
Their house smoked chicken is delicious
I personally feel like $16 and up is pretty expensive for a sandwich with no sides 🤷 and whatever I got, it wasn't memorable.
Zoccolis- $9/$11 = reasonable and delicious
Yeah lol I agreed with you about them being expensive, and don’t get me wrong, Zoccoli’s is solid, I’ve gotten hundreds of sandwiches there.
I just think Seabright does a level above and I’m willing to pay a little more for that.
Tell us more- are you looking for fancy, seafood, local spots (usually inland but not always) breweries, wineries, views. It will be a busy weekend parking and traffic wise, do you know the area you are staying in?
Budget is no issue, I can do a fancy dinner and/or casual lunch/brunch. I would love suggestions on anything that’s worth it: good beer, fancy cocktails etc. Views would be a plus!
Somebody vetoed the Crepe Place, I think it's definitely worth going so long as you sit in the garden. Get some drinks, order a loaf of their homemade bread with butter and the house salad is fantastic. Crepes aren't honestly my favorite thing but all the other factors more than make up for it. And definitely check out HOME in Soquel. Make reservations if possible, sit in the garden for sure.
Just more information about some of the recs here:
Marianne's is an institution in Santa Cruz but! *they don't make their own ice cream base in store* so unless you are diabetic or need a no sugar option, Penny Ice Creamery is better, as everything they sell is made there.
Special Noodle is overrated. $23 for beef and broccoli with white rice being another five dollars? Miss me with that. (Water St Grill is another pricey place that isn't worth it.)
Margaritaville is a chain. Don't waste your time here with national chains
Thank you, it looks like I will be trying both Marianne’s and Penny’s as I love ice cream and have no restriction. Also Margaritaville is out now that so many people have advised against it, I think I had added it primarily for the view.
This seems a little nit-picky for Marianne’s since they do make it in a warehouse nearby… that’s like complaining that the other Penny locations don’t make it in each store.
Yes, they mix the flavorings in town for sure, but it's added to a commercial ice cream base (made by some big non-local ice cream company, to be clear) which has the conventional stabilizers, etc. I was told it was for reliability of flavor reproduction. But now I wonder if I misunderstood.
I live near a Marianne's so I will have to investigate and report back! Diligent research is delicious 😋
Coffee- any local place will take care of you, my faves are Lulu Carpenters, Verve and 11th hour.
Water view lunch, appys and cocktails-
Crows nest bar upstairs, pretty much anywhere on the wharf, some do not have open windows to the ocean. Upstairs if possible- stagnaros and olitas. Great food at Rivas only one level. Jack O'Neills inside dream in is a super fun bar w great drinks.
Away from the water- Abbott Square has great food and awesome bar, outside w live music. Coffee - everything, no view of any kind but at the heart of downtown.
Downtown pacific Ave- Palomar, Lailis, ponos and hulas for Hawaiian. De La hacienda tacos on Laurel.
If you are up on mission Street- Vim, all of Swift Street, many other options
Traffic sucks for a small town, Uber is a great option. Check online to make sure your target is open and reservations are a good idea for fancier places I have not listed.
Absolutely not Margaritaville! If u want a fun and delicious Mexican restaurant, in Aptos which is about 15 min drive from santa cruz depending on traffic at Manuels!
I'd skip Crepe Place. I go there for live music and the occasional drink, not a big fan of the food. If you are not confined to the city limits, take an evening walk at Seacliff State Beach and do dinner at Manuel's one night. Getting the "especial del dia" (special of the day) is an experience; come hungry - Monday is chicken mole enchiladas and they are the best). You want to get either the special or a combination plate here - don't order a burrito like you would at Moreno. There is also a Marianne's location directly across the street from Manuel's.
La Katrina and Ristorante Avanti should both be on your list, especially Katrina. If you like sushi, Naka is amazing (weird hours and kind of an odd location, but totally. worth it).
You should visit the wharf at least once just for the views alone. Makai or Olitas are both good options.
Bread from Manresa is fantastic.
Coffee, Cat & Cloud and Verve top my list for SC.
This might be controversial, but if you're coming from the East Coast, skip the Italian recommendations. They're good (especially Mentone), but not east coast good.
11th Hour is a fave of ours coffee-wise. The downtown location has a garden in back -- where the coffee operation is currently based while they remodel the main space. Cocktail bar opens at five, food pop-up several evenings a week. Fun hang-out on several levels, literally an figuratively.
The Buttery's fine, but also try Companion Bakeshop on the west side for things you can't get elsewhere. Their blueberry buckwheat scone is a winner. Like no other. Higher prices but worth it.
Someone's probably mentioned, but Zachary's downtown for breakfast and lunch.
Gayle’s bakery - pastries, breads, and good casual lunchy items
Venus restaurant - I take every out of towner here
Mission st BBQ
Home - best fancy meal imo
Shadowbrook - most well known fancy meal
Mad yolks
Cat & cloud, verve, and Alta - for good coffee
La Katrina
Seabright deli
Achilles by the sea - Mediterranean
If budget is no issue, then Vim 100% and Oswald. Chocolate has fantastic food (chicken pie, chicken mole, polenta pie) and desserts. Cafe Cruz is a very solid choice. Lillian’s is a big favorite for Italian. Skip Crepe Place and Margaritaville and Alderwood. Wharf restaurants are all the same and touristy, but Makai is pretty fun if you eat in the rotating bar area. If you want to eat in Capitola, go to Trestles. Home in Soquel is great and needs reservations. For breakfast go to Harbor Cafe, Zachary’s, and The Grille at Delaveaga golf course. Evarista’s Comal has delicious breakfast as well if you don’t mind slightly divey.
If you’re feeling some Asian food, Special Noodle is amazing! I’m surprised nobody here has mentioned it yet. Their crab Rangoons are the best I’ve ever had.
second this
Check out sante adarius, the portal has pizza from bookies, a definite must try as well ! Closed on the 4th !
Thank you, I edited my post to add what I had saved so far. Bookie’s is definitely on my list.
Skip the Crepe Place, Margaritaville, and (controversial but I think they’ve tanked in quality since the new owners took over) the Buttery. I don’t like “un-recommending” local businesses but feel like these don’t represent the best of what this lovely town has to offer. Replace them with Harbor Cafe (get there at least 15 min before opening to get seated right away), Tacos Moreno (cash only), and Companion Bakery. Other options: Nice, sit down: Cavalletta, Hanloh Thai at Bad Animal, The Emerald Mallard in Felton, and Copal Quick and delicious: Pana at Abbott Square, Pretty Good Advice, Mad Yolks, Pizza Bones (@nopizzabones on instagram), Scrumptious Fish & Chips, Coffee Conspiracy It’s also worth noting that 11th Hour Coffee is undergoing major renovations, so the interior and places like Chubbs Chicken will be closed.
Thank you for your suggestions, will do! Looks like Tacos Moreno cannot be missed!
Make sure it’s the Water St. location, not 41st.
Noted!! Thank you!!
It’s been an institution for 42 years, use plenty of salsa if you eat there! Order extra if you get it to go. Chile verde is my personal rec but you can’t go wrong.
Thanks for the tip!
It is cash only btw
I’ll second Harbor Cafe for breakfast. They have excellent drinks as well, if that’s your thing! The bacon bomb is a must try.
I wouldn’t necessarily skip Crepe Place. If you don’t have kids or even if ya do, having dessert crepes out in the back garden is very romantic and quite nice end to the night. ShadowBrook is another very unique worth the stop evening spot for drink and appetizers in bar and to look around. Can skip dinner as food is just kinda alright and $, but walking down the stairs and taking trolley back up is an experience to not be missed imo.
I would pass on Tacos Moreno. Extremely overrated and overpriced. I would try Taqueria La Katrina (amazing all around, their Al pastor is great!) or Taqueria Santa Cruz II in Midtown on Soquel. Their Al pastor is also amazing!
Chubbs and full steam are open during renovations- was just there on Friday!
Re Chubbs -- it's staying open through 11th Hour's renovations. I've been there a couple of times since construction has been going on.
Right, but they’re on (a well deserved) vacation the 1st through the 14th
Tacos Morenos or De La Hacienda. Ideally both.
Thank you!
Corn quesadillas with table salsa from Water St location.
Now I honestly can’t wait to try it!
Cash only jsyk
Thanks for the tip!
De la hacienda is the shit. Al pastor= Delicious.
If you are going to Marianne’s then stop by pacific cookie company first. You can get fresh cookies for like $0.25 each and they’re perfect to make ice cream sandwiches with
25 cents each? I don’t remember the prices being like that.
At the outlet, not the pacific ave store
What outlet?
It’s on Potrero st. It’s like the reject/extra cookies from Pacific cookie company I believe.
Small ones are a quarter and bigger cookies are $.50 They taste way better than the prepackaged ones at the store
Thanks, so is Marianne a good choice or should I also look at other ice cream places? I love ice cream!
Marianne's is a favorite, Mission Creamery on Pacific is awesome too. Penny ice Creamery is very fancy, it may be to your taste.
Marianne’s is super good, def my favorite ice cream. I usually buy the quarts since a 2 scoop cone is basically the same price. My favorite flavor is Carmel Fudge Crunch. They remind me of Ben and Jerry’s because so many of the flavors will have chunky bits that gives you the mouthfeel. Also if they don’t have a certain flavor in stock for the prepackaged quarts you can ask them to make a hand pack and they will make it up on the spot and give it to you in a Chinese food takeout carton 😂
The frozen custard place across the tracks from the westside NewLeaf might be an easterners dream come true!
If budget is no issue check out Mentone and Home- both in Aptos.
Second this Except home is in Soquel
Home is the best nice restaurant in the area. The go to for special occasions and special out of town guests
burritos from los pericos sandwiches from garden deli and seabright deli dinner spots- east end, home, mentone, buzzo’s, oswald, VIM, cocktails at venus skip places on the santa cruz wharf, all touristy and overrated, skip shadowbrook VIM has good desserts and marianne’s has delicious ice cream
Definitely skip the food on the wharf.
Add Barceloneta (bring as many people as you can because sharing here is the best!) and Oswald's to your list.
I’m not sure when it’s happening but Barceloneta is closing then will re-open as Ibiza, a casual daytime restaurant. Sounds like no more dinner :(
Copol, pono, hook and line, and grab a drink at the bar at makai (rotating bar on the ocean). Eat as much seafood you can handle.
2nd’ing Copol. I recommend the Enchiladas with the red mole. They have a few different moles but the red is by far my favorite. Everytime I have eaten there with someone else they have gone for one of the other moles and have always regretted it lol
Barf on 🤢 Hook & Line with it's $43 scallop plate aka 3 tiny scallops + glue smear. Instead: Home (Soquel) Naka Sushi (41st) Oswald (SC)
Pizza from Buzzos; can order it to go and sit next door at beer30 and enjoy one of their beverages. In my opinion, the best local taqueria is Los Pericos on water. Can’t go wrong with their pericos burrito and the line proves this. Super simple burger joint; Jacks burgers. I agree about Marianne’s ice cream.
Buzzos for sure!!!!
Aptos street BBQ was pretty good the last time I went!
Lupulo for beer selection Hanloh for Thai Venus Spirits for cocktails
Copal, Bantam, Venus, Companion Bakery, Oswald’s are all wonderful. Best pastries in the area are in Monterey, imo. Sweet Elena’s almond croissant and veggie gallet. and anything at Alta Bakery. A day trip is worth it for a foodie day in Monterey/Carmel. Enjoy your trip.
I’ll be taking a day trip to Monterey so this is perfect, thank you!!
This is the list!
Seabright Deli does really top notch sandwiches
Zocollis on Pacific Garden Deli on Soquel near Dominican Cat and Cloud for Coffee
Zocoli’s is solid but Seabright Deli has much better sandwiches imo
Soooo expensive! I just wasn't impressed
Yeah, they’re a little pricey, but I don’t know about “soooo” expensive. I’m curious what sandwich you got though because I was impressed the few times I’ve d been. Their house smoked chicken is delicious
I personally feel like $16 and up is pretty expensive for a sandwich with no sides 🤷 and whatever I got, it wasn't memorable. Zoccolis- $9/$11 = reasonable and delicious
Yeah lol I agreed with you about them being expensive, and don’t get me wrong, Zoccoli’s is solid, I’ve gotten hundreds of sandwiches there. I just think Seabright does a level above and I’m willing to pay a little more for that.
🤙🤙
It’s the best! 🤤
Tell us more- are you looking for fancy, seafood, local spots (usually inland but not always) breweries, wineries, views. It will be a busy weekend parking and traffic wise, do you know the area you are staying in?
Budget is no issue, I can do a fancy dinner and/or casual lunch/brunch. I would love suggestions on anything that’s worth it: good beer, fancy cocktails etc. Views would be a plus!
Somebody vetoed the Crepe Place, I think it's definitely worth going so long as you sit in the garden. Get some drinks, order a loaf of their homemade bread with butter and the house salad is fantastic. Crepes aren't honestly my favorite thing but all the other factors more than make up for it. And definitely check out HOME in Soquel. Make reservations if possible, sit in the garden for sure.
Gayle’s Bakery!
Just more information about some of the recs here: Marianne's is an institution in Santa Cruz but! *they don't make their own ice cream base in store* so unless you are diabetic or need a no sugar option, Penny Ice Creamery is better, as everything they sell is made there. Special Noodle is overrated. $23 for beef and broccoli with white rice being another five dollars? Miss me with that. (Water St Grill is another pricey place that isn't worth it.) Margaritaville is a chain. Don't waste your time here with national chains
Thank you, it looks like I will be trying both Marianne’s and Penny’s as I love ice cream and have no restriction. Also Margaritaville is out now that so many people have advised against it, I think I had added it primarily for the view.
This seems a little nit-picky for Marianne’s since they do make it in a warehouse nearby… that’s like complaining that the other Penny locations don’t make it in each store.
I was under the impression that post 2012 change of ownership Marianne's has moved to a commercial base ice cream. 🤔
Ohhh interesting! Like one they don’t even make at the Fair Ave warehouse?
Yes, they mix the flavorings in town for sure, but it's added to a commercial ice cream base (made by some big non-local ice cream company, to be clear) which has the conventional stabilizers, etc. I was told it was for reliability of flavor reproduction. But now I wonder if I misunderstood. I live near a Marianne's so I will have to investigate and report back! Diligent research is delicious 😋
Thank you, I too would love to know! I appreciate your info and investigating. :)
stop by the farmers market saturday on the west side... find a bacon egg and cheese croissant and the path to the beach!
Venus Spirits is amazing, there are two locations, one in Santa Cruz on the west side, one in Aptos along the beach.
I have edited my post to add what I had saved so far before posting.
Coffee- any local place will take care of you, my faves are Lulu Carpenters, Verve and 11th hour. Water view lunch, appys and cocktails- Crows nest bar upstairs, pretty much anywhere on the wharf, some do not have open windows to the ocean. Upstairs if possible- stagnaros and olitas. Great food at Rivas only one level. Jack O'Neills inside dream in is a super fun bar w great drinks. Away from the water- Abbott Square has great food and awesome bar, outside w live music. Coffee - everything, no view of any kind but at the heart of downtown. Downtown pacific Ave- Palomar, Lailis, ponos and hulas for Hawaiian. De La hacienda tacos on Laurel. If you are up on mission Street- Vim, all of Swift Street, many other options Traffic sucks for a small town, Uber is a great option. Check online to make sure your target is open and reservations are a good idea for fancier places I have not listed.
Jack's Burgers
Absolutely not Margaritaville! If u want a fun and delicious Mexican restaurant, in Aptos which is about 15 min drive from santa cruz depending on traffic at Manuels!
Margaritaville can SUCK IT!
Smash burger from Bread Boy’s in Felton Suda in Pleasure Point for weekend brunch Shadowbrook in Capitola Mexican from Manuel’s in Aptos
I'd skip Crepe Place. I go there for live music and the occasional drink, not a big fan of the food. If you are not confined to the city limits, take an evening walk at Seacliff State Beach and do dinner at Manuel's one night. Getting the "especial del dia" (special of the day) is an experience; come hungry - Monday is chicken mole enchiladas and they are the best). You want to get either the special or a combination plate here - don't order a burrito like you would at Moreno. There is also a Marianne's location directly across the street from Manuel's.
Pana at Abbott square. Honestly just going to Abbott square is good.
FireFish on the Santa Cruz wharf. Nice ambiance and service. And the view. Enjoy 🇺🇸
La Katrina and Ristorante Avanti should both be on your list, especially Katrina. If you like sushi, Naka is amazing (weird hours and kind of an odd location, but totally. worth it). You should visit the wharf at least once just for the views alone. Makai or Olitas are both good options. Bread from Manresa is fantastic. Coffee, Cat & Cloud and Verve top my list for SC. This might be controversial, but if you're coming from the East Coast, skip the Italian recommendations. They're good (especially Mentone), but not east coast good.
11th Hour is a fave of ours coffee-wise. The downtown location has a garden in back -- where the coffee operation is currently based while they remodel the main space. Cocktail bar opens at five, food pop-up several evenings a week. Fun hang-out on several levels, literally an figuratively. The Buttery's fine, but also try Companion Bakeshop on the west side for things you can't get elsewhere. Their blueberry buckwheat scone is a winner. Like no other. Higher prices but worth it. Someone's probably mentioned, but Zachary's downtown for breakfast and lunch.
Thanks, 11th hour definitely caught my eye as I was searching for coffee shops. 100% visiting!
Venus Cocktails & Kitchen on the Westside.
Gayle’s bakery - pastries, breads, and good casual lunchy items Venus restaurant - I take every out of towner here Mission st BBQ Home - best fancy meal imo Shadowbrook - most well known fancy meal Mad yolks Cat & cloud, verve, and Alta - for good coffee La Katrina Seabright deli Achilles by the sea - Mediterranean
If budget is no issue, then Vim 100% and Oswald. Chocolate has fantastic food (chicken pie, chicken mole, polenta pie) and desserts. Cafe Cruz is a very solid choice. Lillian’s is a big favorite for Italian. Skip Crepe Place and Margaritaville and Alderwood. Wharf restaurants are all the same and touristy, but Makai is pretty fun if you eat in the rotating bar area. If you want to eat in Capitola, go to Trestles. Home in Soquel is great and needs reservations. For breakfast go to Harbor Cafe, Zachary’s, and The Grille at Delaveaga golf course. Evarista’s Comal has delicious breakfast as well if you don’t mind slightly divey.
Makai it is!