We had a lovely time at this spot. Good wine!…read more Friendly service- the gentleman there was so personable and helpful. Bathroom - single person bathroom in the back~ Decent parking in front and street parking around.

Cute winery and outdoor garden, nice staff, but terrible wines. $20 for 5 wines. None of us liked…read moreany of the wines. A couple tasted like they had already gone bad so we poured those out and we hardly ever waste alcohol. Outside food is allowed. Walked in on a Saturday afternoon and it was not busy at all

Great landscaping that is hummingbird friendly. No picnics allowed. They have lighter bodied wines…read morewith a heavy acid/citrus note. My favorite wine was the 2022 Cabernet Franc from pleasant valley.

Amazing service and people!!! We came here for my bachelorette and they were so nice and the winery…read moreis BEAUTIFUL!!!! The wine was fantastic and we had an amazing time thanks to the amazing people who run this place! The best part of our trip and I would highly recommend going here!!!

I visited Armida Winery when they were open and had a very pleasant experience. The tasting room…read morehad a cozy local feel, and the atmosphere was calm and welcoming. The wine selection was interesting, and the staff made the tasting feel relaxed instead of rushed. I liked that the place felt personal and not too commercial. It was a nice stop in Capitola, especially for a quiet wine tasting with good service and a comfortable setting.

The gals here were knowledgeable and very nice! Left with two bottles of wine to enjoy on our…read moreAirbnb patio. Met some really friendly people at the bar as well tasting wine.

First things first, the cable car ride down was so cute. Cramped. But cute. The staff were so nice…read moreand accommodating. Definitely make reservations ahead of time! Now let's get to the food. I can only speak for what I ordered. My espresso martini made with tequila instead of vodka was UHMAZING! Best one I've had so far. The baked Brie was mouth watering, the crostinis were so good and crispy. And the top sirloin was perfectly cooked to medium rare. Loved every bit of it! And the cheesecake was good but I wasn't a fan of the peach compote. My friend loved her cosmo and her gnocchi. And she loved the peach compote. So it worked out for us. Will definitely be back next year!

If you're on the hunt for a truly captivating, breathtaking, and memorable dining experience, do…read moreyourself a favor and pay a visit to "Shadowbrook". Located in the beautiful Mediterranean-esque coastal city of Capitola, this unique and elaborate restaurant has been in operation dating back to 1947. Originally built as a log cabin, this place has gone through evolutionary changes over the decades while preserving the historical rooms (both inside and out) that can seat hundreds of guests at any given time. Located directly off of Wharf Rd and adjacent to the Soquel Creek, this place captivates the heart of Capitola and surrounding areas in every way possible. As far as getting here, you have the option of driving your personal vehicle while Shadowbrook offers a dedicated lot to park. And of course there is always Uber/Lyft. But if you want the ultimate experience by arriving here in style, I HIGHLY recommend booking a complimentary Shadowbrook shuttle. My lady and I were staying at the "Best Western Plus Capitola By-The-Sea Inn & Suites" (only 0.8 miles away) and one of the hotel staff called the restaurant to have us picked up at 5:30pm on Friday 9/4/2026. However, this isn't any old shuttle. Nope, we were picked up by a restored 1955 Checker Cab! Not only did our driver drop us off at the restaurant, but he also took us through some of the amazing views of Capitola! We felt like celebrities that were living in a fantasy world. When we arrived, we made a short walk to the entrance that eventually led us towards the red Shadowbrook cable car. This tram/gondola goes down a slanted track making its way through a dense, green hillside. Once we got to the primary entrance to the actual restaurant, everything was a breeze just in time for our 6:00pm reservation. I have to say, the attention to detail here is on a whole other level. The massive amount of foliage combined with the overall beauty and aesthetics of both the interior and exterior dining areas really prove that every seat here is a winner. We were fortunate to sit at the outdoor patio area which provided a serene view of Soquel Creek and all of its surroundings. Our server, Sean was absolutely fantastic. He brought out (2) food menus and a drink menu as well as warm ciabatta bread with whipped butter. As for their food selection, they carry a vast array of traditional upscale American cuisine. I ended up ordering a 6 oz. cut of their "Chateau Prime-Top Sirloin". This char-grilled Angus steak included potato gratin, Shiitake mushroom sautéed spinach, Baker's bacon, and topped with chef's butter. My lady went with their "Ricotta Ravioli" which included edamame puree, sugar snap peas, and topped crispy tarragon butter. I went with a refreshing "Coconut-Lavendar Lemonade" while she opted with a glass of the "Salmon Creek Merlot". Total time to receive our food after ordering was roughly 30 minutes. I was perfectly fine with that as this was a place worth admiring every single minute. When our entrées did arrive, everything was showcased and beautifully presented. As for my sirloin, this had the perfect 'char' while retaining all the juices (as I had requested it medium). The potato gratin was creamy with the addition of infused cheese. I particularly loved the bacon chunks that were part of the spinach. I also tried a few bites of her ravioli and that too was perfectly balanced with the creamy ricotta and edamame puree. All in all, both of our dishes were a 9/10. After we were done eating, our server Sean was gracious enough to even take a picture of my lady and I complete with the creek as the background. I will say that everything from the main dining room to the Rockroom Lounge to the Rooftop Terrace to the exterior dining spot where we ate, this place is a real gem. Reservations are strongly encouraged but not required. Hours at the Rockroom Lounge are from 12-10pm while main dining hours are from 2-8:30pm (with extended hours to 9:30pm on Fri/Sat). Whether you're here for date night, a birthday, anniversary, etc., this place is as good as it gets. Finally, with world class service, million dollar views, amazingly delectable food, and an experience that I will never forget, I am giving "Shadowbrook" restaurant in Capitola a perfect five star rating.

We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon with our pup. The patio is cute and spacious, and we were…read moregreeted with a splash of Riesling (which was great!). The service was excellent and so was the wine. We would definitely come back here next time we're in town.

We did a tasting at Big basin wine bar in Santa Cruz on Saturday afternoon. It was a very laid back…read moreand chill atmosphere. There were several tables filled and most people were eating food as well as drinking wine. I enjoyed every wine I sampled and because of that, I really want to visit the winery property. I definitely will return here. Great location and the food looked good, too.

Lovely little spot that's finally open on more regular hours. Stop by on a Friday or Saturday…read moreafternoon for pleasant wine and ocean views. I think reservations are required these days, but they're very easy to do online. The seating is in a nice outdoor area in the redwoods overlooking the ocean. A great setting and all of the wines we tried were good as well. Grapes aren't grown on site but are mostly sourced locally which is cool. We enjoyed everything so we were happy to purchase a few bottles. To sweeten the pot they apply your tasting fee to bottle purchase. It's really a no brainier to leave with a wine or two. They're priced pretty reasonably and it's nice supporting a local wine maker.

The scenery is stellar and the lady helping us was nice. Just got a weird feeling when the the…read moresupposed "guy that makes the wines" visits with every party there except for ours. Made us feel a little unwelcome. Then towards then end I'm not sure if we've been spoiled by every other vineyard but she didn't ask if we wanted to re visit any of the wines we tried. Was only asked if we would like to purchase any bottles. We asked if we could try a wine that wasn't on the flight and unfortunately they didn't have an open one. No worries but still wasn't offered anything else. Was a very relaxing experience would maybe come back it's just minor details. Overall had a fine time. To sum it up quickly the wine overall was I'd say a 7.5 out of 10. Some good, others were a bit mute but not bad.

MJA Vineyards Wine and Tasting Room....I love you! I always…read morehave a wonderful time when I stop by, and I am always treated like family; Marin's energy and generous Aloha spirit make customers feel welcome. There are all kinds of varietals--seriously, there are so many to try! Plus, it is easy to leave having made new friendships. I also love being part of the wine club and the perks, and I have been a member for about ten years. The wine club member parties and movie nights are a great time. There is a wine for everyone. The Cabernets age very well. I just opened a 2013 Cab this week ("Still Horny" ????) that was awesome.

Stopped here for a wine tasting and had a nice experience. The tasting was $25 and focused mostly…read moreon whites. We tried Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, two different Sauvignon Blancs, and a Red Zinfandel. The wines were good and the staff provided great service throughout the tasting. The setting is relaxed and perfect if you're looking for a casual place to enjoy some wine while in Santa Cruz.

We stopped in to Aptos Vineyards tasting room on a Thursday afternoon. What a beautiful little…read moretasting area! Everything about it was lovely. We started as the only two people in the tasting room, but very shortly the entire room was full of all kinds of return customers, mostly wine club members. We sampled their beautiful wines, which were quite good, and enjoyed them. There was no pressure to purchase wine, the tasting room server was as pleasant and knowledgeable as she possibly could have been. She was swamped with people, and someone did come to help her. I loved the location of this tasting room and even though it was small it was nicely appointed and felt akin to someone's living room. I would recommend stopping at Aptos vineyards tasting room next time you are in Aptos!

The wine is excellent. If you can put up with the staff. Rude and pretentious…read more I went in today to purchase my favorite wines as a gift. Not only did the male employee fail to make eye contact or greet me. The female employee made a comment about how "wow - you are really making me do my steps today...". The place is very small. I dropped $200.00 and was never offered a sample. The atmosphere was pretentious and unwelcoming. I highly recommend the wine - but know that if you go - you want to get in and out get out.

Excellent beer/Ale, cool vibe, Every time we come to Capitola I stop in for an ale - or two if we…read moreare spending the night in town. They have some quite tasty offerings. The slushies come and go - there was some sort of issue with the city and licensing last year, but I think that has all been resolved. That said, I have never ordered one - I go for the beer and ale.

This past weekend, we visited Capitola and found this cool place. Friendly bartender. Loved the…read moreEnglish-style vibes and of course the beer. I ordered a margarita slushie and it was good. My boyfriend ordered beer and it was smooth to drink. It tasted like vanilla ice cream. The decor and place itself is so cool. Love the mug collection! Definitely will be back!