Restaurants in Santa Cruz


Below you will find a list of eating-related possibilities for your stay in Santa Cruz. Please be advised that this list is not exhaustive, and of course the pricing should be taken as an estimate since this will depend largely on what you decide to order. Furthermore, a caveat: the "descriptions" of many of these places appear to be taken from somewhat biased sources that are not necessarily too informative, so a link to the Google Local site for each restaurant has been included (where possible) to help you find customer reviews.



$ = inexpensive, under $8 per person
$$ = moderately priced, $8-15 per person
$$$ = more than $15 per person.



Eating Facilities on Campus

Note: Many of these options will be closed for the Saturday portion of the conference, and may be closed on Friday as well, as school will not yet be in session for the fall quarter. Proceed at your own risk to these eateries.

Joe's Pizza and Subs $
Location: In Quarry Plaza, across from the Bay Tree building.
Description: "Standard fare: sandwiches, pizza, fries, soup, etc."
Phone: +1-831-459-3066

Bay Tree Express Store $
Location: In the Bay Tree Building, downstairs from the Conference Room.
Description: "Snacks, beverages, breakfast food (muffins/bagels/etc.), cold sandwiches."

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Restaurants Located on Mission Street (easily accessible from campus)

The following restaurants are all located on Mission St. and are a simple busride/car trip from campus. They are listed in alphabetical order by category. Most of them are open for both lunch and dinner (call for reservations/hours).

Asian

Golden City $
Location: 1230 Mission St.
Description: "A friendly, inexpensive Chinese restaurant."
Phone: +1-831-423-0688
[Google Local]

O'Mei $$-$$$
Location: 2316 Mission St. (not easily accessible by bus, but close if you have a car)
Description: "...the cuisine is a constructive compromise between California nouvelle and provinvial Chinese. Truly some of the best food available in the region."
Phone: +1-831-425-8454
[Google Local]

Sabieng $$
Location: 1218 Mission St.
Description: "Definitely try a kra pow (basil) dish in this friendly, popular Thai restaurant."
Phone: +1-831-425-1020
[Google Local]


Greek and Middle Eastern

Falafel of Santa Cruz $
Location: 1501 Mission St.
Description: "...well-prepared Middle Eastern fare, including some of the best Turkish coffee on this continent."
Phone: +1-831-459-0486
[Google Local]

Vasili's $$ (cash only)
Location: 1501 Mission St. #A
Description: "Marvelous Greek food..."
Phone: +1-831-458-9808
[Google Local]


Italian

Pleasure Pizza $
Location: 1917 Mission St.
Description: "Thick-crust pizza by the slice. Small groups only."
Phone: +1-831-426-1400
[Google Local]

Ristorante Avanti $$-$$$
Location: 1711 Mission St.
Description: "...very fresh and tasty, wonderful ambiance."
Phone: +1-831-427-0315
[Google Local]

The Upper Crust $
Location: 2415 Mission St.
Description: "Excellent deep dish pizza, salads, and beer."
Phone: +1-831-423-9010
[Google Local]


Mexican and Central/South American

Cafe Brasil $$
Location: 1410 Mission St.
Description: "...great, hearty Brazilian breakfasts and lunches."
Phone: +1-831-429-1855
[Google Local]

La Mission $-$$
Location: 1719 Mission St.
Description: "...good Mexican food with jovial ambiance."
Phone: +1-831-
[Google Local]


Bakery Emily's Good Things to Eat $
Location: 1129 Mission St.
Description: "...good for coffee, pastries, and sandwiches from 6am to 6pm."
Phone: +1-831-429-9866
[Google Local]

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Restaurants Located Downtown

The following restaurants are located downtown, mostly on Pacific Avenue, Center Street, Cedar Street, and Front Street. Also included are restaurants on or near Soquel Avenue, Ocean Street, and River Street even though these are not traditionally considered to be in the downtown area (but they are walkable from downtown). Restaurants are listed by category in alphabetical order.

Asian

Asian Rose $-$$
Location: 1547 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Incredibly delicious Sri Lankan food."
Phone: +1-831-
[Google Local]

King Chwan $-$$
Location: 415 Ocean St.
Description: "Your basic Chinese restaurant."
Phone: +1-831-429-5898
[Google Local]

Little Shanghai $-$$
Location: 101 Cedar St.
Description: "Very cheap; good and hearty if you order from the noodle menu rather than the regular menu."
Phone: +1-831-458-2460
[Google Local]

Mei Garden $-$$
Location: 533 Ocean St.
Description: "Chinese, a bit more upscale than King Chwan."
Phone: +1-831-458-1687
[Google Local]

Mobo Sushi $$-$$$
Location: 105 River St.
Description: "Very popular sushi bar and restaurant."
Phone: +1-831-425-1700
[Google Local]

Royal Taj $$
Location: 270 Soquel Ave.
Description: "The food is loosely Northern Indian, exquisitely prepared."
Phone: +1-831-427-2400
[Google Local]

Shogun $$
Location: 1123 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Upscale Japanese restaurant."
Phone: +1-831-469-4477
[Google Local]

Thai House $$
Location: 353 Soquel Ave.
Description: "Upscale, the best Thai restaurant in Santa Cruz."
Phone: +1-831-458-3546
[Google Local]


Italian/Mediterranean

Gabriella Cafe $$-$$$
Location: 910 Cedar St.
Description: "Romantic; good, fresh, local veggies."
Phone: +1-831-457-1677
[Google Local]

Kianti's Pizza and Pasta Bar $-$$
Location: 1100 Pacific Ave.
Description: "... a noisy, bustling atmosphere with reasonably-priced Italian fare."
Phone: +1-831-469-4400

Pearl Alley Bistro $$-$$$
Location: 110 Pearl Alley; between Pacific Ave. and Cedar St. at Lincoln St.
Description: "French and Mediterranean bistro food."
Phone: +1-831-429-8070
[Google Local]

Pizza My Heart $
Location: 1116 Pacific Ave. #B
Description: "This is possibly the best in the area, and possibly the best pesto anywhere... they also make killer calzones."
Phone: +1-831-426-2511
[Google Local]

Zoccoli's Delicatessen $
Location: 1534 Pacific Ave.
Description: "An Italian delicatessen that offers excellent sandwiches and hot lunches."
Phone: +1-831-423-1711
[Google Local]


Mexican and South American

Costa Brava $$
Location: 1222 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Good lunch specials."
Phone: +1-831-425-7871
[Google Local]

El Palomar $$-$$$
Location: 1336 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Large-portion Mexican food. Get on the waiting list early -- they don't take reservations."
separate taco bar $
Description: "Truly excellent tacos -- tortillas freshly made, with seafood or meat. Popular spot; noisy."
Phone: +1-831-425-7575
[Google Local]

Jalapenos $
Location: 206 Laurel St.
Description: "One of the better burrito joints."
Phone: +1-831-457-0159
[Google Local]

Planet Fresh $
Location: 1003 Cedar St.
Description: "Gourmet burritos and tacos with an international flare."
Phone: +1-831-423-9799
[Google Local]

Taqueria Vallarta $
Location: 1101 Pacific Ave. and 608 Soquel Ave.
Description: "Very cheap, crowded, and lively; large quantities of great food."
Phone: +1-831-471-2655
[Google Local]


Also of note...

Aqua Bleu
Location: 1108 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Modern seafood with a Pacific fusion accent."
Phone: +1-831-423-6999
[Google Local]

The Crepe Place $-$$
Location: 1134 Soquel Ave.
Description: "Excellent food with nice outdoor eating in the garden."
Phone: +1-831-429-6994
[Google Local]

Falafel House $
Location: 113 Walnut Ave.
Description: "Try the baklava."
Phone: +1-831-459-9770
[Google Local]

Marianne's Ice Cream $
Location: 1020 Ocean St.
Description: "Serves the best ice cream in Santa Cruz."
Phone: +1-831-458-1447
[Google Local]

The Santa Cruz Diner $
Location: 909 Ocean St.
Description: "24-hour diner with economical breakfast combos."
Phone: +1-831-426-7151
[Google Local]

Saturn Cafe $-$$
Location: 145 Laurel
Description: "Vegetarian and vegan cuisine in a funky atmosphere. Open late."
Phone: +1-831-429-8505
[Google Local]

Walnut Avenue Cafe $$
Location: 106 Walnut Ave.
Description: "Great salads and sandwiches; also good for breakfast."
Phone: +1-831-457-2307
[Google Local]

Zachary's $$
Location: 819 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Big portions, good food, reasonable prices. Breakfast/brunch/lunch only."
Phone: +1-831-427-0646
[Google Local]

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Eating Beyond Downtown in Santa Cruz

There are plenty of good seafood restaurants along the wharf. The following are also good restaurants that are worth the drive.

The Crow's Nest $$-$$$
Location: 2218 East Cliff Dr.
Description: "Beautiful view of the harbor."
Phone: +1-831-476-4560
[Google Local]

Pink Godzilla $$-$$$
Location: 830 41st Ave., Capitola
Description: "Good Japanese food... the name says it all."
Phone: +1-831-464-2586
[Google Local]

Shadowbrook $$$
Location: 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola
Description: "Very elegant location and atmosphere; excellent food; very pricy."
Phone: +1-831-475-1511
[Google Local]

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Coffeehouses and Bars in Downtown Santa Cruz

Coffeehouses

Caffe Pergolesi
Location: 418 Cedar St.
Description: "...the place to go to get a taste of the 'real' Santa Cruz. Also serves beer."
Phone: +1-831-426-1775
[Google Local]

Lulu Carpenter's
Location: 1545 Pacific Ave.
Description: "...quiet intellectual atmosphere, a pleasant small courtyard in the back... and very good coffee."
Phone: +1-831-429-9804
[Google Local]

Santa Cruz Roasting Company
Location: 1330 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Fair-trade, organic coffee."
Phone: +1-831-459-0100
[Google Local]

Starbucks Coffee
Location: 1335 Pacific Ave.
Description: "In a tucked away spot to allow tourists to indulge in corporate bliss."
Phone: +1-831-459-7681
[Google Local]


Bars

99 Bottles
Location: 104 Walnut St.
Description: "99 different kinds of beer plus delicious food."
Phone: +1-831-459-9999

The Asti
Location: 715 Pacific Ave.
Description: "A bar with pool tables and a jukebox."
Phone: +1-831-423-7337
[Google Local]

The Blue Lagoon
Location: 923 Pacific Ave.
Description: "One of the few places to go dancing. Very busy on Friday and Saturday."
Phone: +1-831-423-7117
[Google Local]

Clouds
Location: 110 Church St.
Description: "Upscale bar/restaurant catering to a wealthier clientele."
Phone: +1-831-429-2000
[Google Local]

Dakota
Location: 1209 Pacific Ave.
Description: "The only gay bar and nightclub in Santa Cruz."
Phone: +1-831-454-9030
[Google Local]

The Poet and the Patriot
Location: 320 Cedar St. #E
Description: "Good beer, friendly atmosphere, darts."
Phone: +1-831-426-8620
[Google Local]

The Red Room
Location: 1003 Cedar St.
Description: "Your basic noisy, crowded college bar."
Phone: +1-831-426-2994
[Google Local]

Rosie McCann's
Location: 1220 Pacific Ave.
Description: "Great bar, good pub fare as well."
Phone: +1-831-426-9930
[Google Local]

Rush Inn
Location: 113 Knight St.
Description: "Dive bar with a dartboard and an unpretentious crowd."
Phone: +1-831-425-9673
[Google Local]

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Information as of March 2006 and compiled by Justin Nuger.