Our family is looking to head to the Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley area for a brief weekend trip soon, and I’m wondering if anyone out there might be able to make some recommendations which are more recent than the ones I’ve been able to find through searches…
I’m looking for a nice, reasonably economical place to stay and hoping to gather a few options for quality (not necessarily top-end) dining options. The trip is primarily for my eldest’s 18th birthday, and although she likes good food, she’s not a very adventurous eater, just to mention it.
We have an idea or two for things to do, but we don’t really know the area well and are open to suggestions on that front as well. Thanks!
Both the Fairfield and the Hampton Inn are on the west side of Santa Cruz and relatively new. Mission Street is 4 lanes and is noisy with traffic, however. Our last trip there in October we stayed at Best Western in Scotts Valley which was somewhat dive-y but got the job done.
Fantastic thai food and fun service at Bad Animal which is a bookstore+wine shop+restaurant; we have been once and want to go again! I like Home in Soquel, but we have only been once (wife didn’t like it). Shadowbrook is a local institution and always a lovely meal and experience (funicular ride to the restaurant), typically very nice service, we have been there 10+ times. More casual than any of those is is Special Noodle for Chinese dumplings (and some plated dishes, too); always a queue unless you’re really early, we have been there twice since it opened. None of those restaurants are very adventurous. We have been to Alderwood three times, and you’ll see it is listed by Michelin; Alderwood changed chefs in June 2024 so ignore reviews prior to then. We have not yet been to Mentone (in Aptos) which is a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Friends who have visited Oaxaca tell me Copal is authentic but I haven’t been there yet, either.
Beer: Sante Adairius Rustic Ales recommended for creative beers; two locations. Humble Sea is based in Santa Cruz if you’re into IPAs.
Coffee: Cat & Cloud is the current hotness for coffee. Verve is still good, but considered by many to have been surpassed by Cat & Cloud. Both have several locations across Santa Cruz and Capitola.
Wine: Several smaller wineries have production facilities on the west end of Santa Cruz and of course the Santa Cruz mountains are chock full of wineries and vineyards.
Things to do: There might still be monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz; they sometimes leave early or late each year. Bookshop Santa Cruz is a local institution and one of the Verve coffee shops is on the same block or you can hit a Cat & Cloud location across Cooper Street, or both! About an hour south is Monterey aquarium which is awesome. A little further south is Point Lobos which is a nice place to walk around and watch waves crashing into rocks.
You mentioned a lot of the top places already. I would add La Posta, and the new Hook & Line. I think both Copal and Mentone are great (with the former being casual, and the latter showing some of its Michelin starred pedigree). Lago Di Como (Northern) and Lillian’s (American-Southern) for Italian.
If you like Special Noodle, give Chloe’s Kitchen a try as well. More pan-Asian as opposed to Szechuan, but well done and great value for money.
HOME is the best restaurant in the county in my opinion, a must try. Shadowbrook is great for ambiance, I will remain silent on the food.
Don’t miss the Swift Street Courtyard for wine, beer and quality casual eats. Venus for cocktails and nice bar food.
HOME caters a lot of wine events in the region and has a great list of many Santa Cruz Mountain and Santa Lucia Highlands wines. If they have a dessert with candy cap mushrooms on the menu, ya gotta try it!
Thanks for all the recommendations, everyone! We’ve got a reservation for Home, and I’m looking at a couple of options for our other dinner in the area - leaning towards maybe Lago di Como or Bad Animal at the moment.
I get the feeling that the family will want some options for simple, casual lunches while walking around downtown and/or by the boardwalk (even though it seems like it’ll be cool out). Any recommendations for convenient burger/pizza/sandwich/burrito/etc. places?