Java Junction

Generous portions, good coffee, and exceptional service -- exactly what you hope to find on…read morevacation. We were hunting for a solid breakfast spot and honestly weren't sure from the outside. But the moment we walked in to a warm welcome and were seated right away, we knew we'd picked the right place. My grandson -- who can be a bit high‑energy -- was treated like a little gentleman. Seeing him enjoy himself let me actually relax and enjoy my own breakfast: a massive plate of French toast so good I couldn't even finish it. Linda's Sea Breeze Café is the kind of place that wins you over fast. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great start to their day.

Tl;dr ok for brunch…read more I came with my friends after fishing and it was decently busy on a Saturday morning. There is no parking lot so you have to find street parking nearby. We ended up ordering mostly from the specials menu and here are my thoughts: - chorizo scramble: chorizo was fine. Some of us liked the chorizo and others didn't lol. The scramble was pretty wet because of the spinach. - Mendocino scramble: lots and lots of basil in the scramble and it was quite tasty. The sundried tomatoes were a bit sweet and the portobello was cut to be nice and small bite sizes. It was lighter in flavor but I prefer that to being overly sweet - corned beef hash: was dry but tasty. The texture was very nice - eggs Benedict: "mid" lol. It was fine but there was nothing special about it. The English muffin was well toasted though - soup: today was clam chowder! Lots of clams and other ingredients but somehow did not taste the way we expected it to. On the starchier side too - cinnamon rolls: lots of hype and i think it's worth. The texture was kind of like a cuffing with lots of walnuts hiding inside. It can be a little bit dry but it comes with some butter too so that helps a lot I can imagine that the parking situation can get really annoying when it gets busier but it was fine for today. The service was great! A+ :) Would I come back? Yes. For the cinnamon roll. I dont actually like scrambled eggs so I would try something else next time

The masters at work over there! | August 2022

Homemade biscuits and country gravy

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Cinnamon roll

Harbor Cafe

4.4(1.7k reviews)

0.4 mi

Harbor Cafe absolutely lived up to the hype--and then some. My girlfriend and I stopped by…read morerecently, and it honestly exceeded my expectations. She ordered the spicy machaca con huevo scramble, and I went with the country steak breakfast--both dishes came out hot, fresh, and packed with flavor. Everything was cooked perfectly. This place used to be my go-to spot back when I lived in Santa Cruz, and coming back after all this time, it was even better than I remembered. Same great vibe, amazing food, and just an all-around solid experience. If you're in the area, Harbor Cafe is a must. I'll definitely be making it a regular stop again.

Classic breakfast with some new twists. I ordered: - The…read more(non-alcoholic) Kitchen Coffee: the horchata whip on top was to die for. The rest of the drink was almost dunkin' levels sweet but it did the job of waking me up - The spicy meat omelette (wasn't listed online): contained eggs, bell pepper, avocado, either beef or pork I can't remember, cheese, and jalapeño. The meat and veggies were a great contrast to the eggs and salty cheese. The side of biscuit was a proper flaky biscuit, not some cornbread style affair Logistics: - Indoor and outdoor seating - Limited parking in lot next door - we ended up parking around the corner in a residential area

The open kitchen area

Carnitas omelet

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The outdoor seating

Iveta - Downtown

4.5(128 reviews)

1.3 mi

Was looking for a sweet bite, I noticed as I walked in the door, displayed up top the counter were…read more3 types of dessert, but the Lemon tart really caught my eye. I was greeted immediately by Miss Darlene, who is the sweetest. Amazing customer service. She sat us down at the perfect table near the window. She recommended the Lemoncello mule since I mentioned that I really love lemon. And for the second drink, I had to try the Hibiscus Fiz. The restaurant was quiet since it was early in the evening, not quite yet dinner time. Dinner menu was on the table, good menu selection- I'll definitely be coming back to try the ribeye. Drinks were so pretty looking and easy to sip. The lemon tart was perfectly sweet and the berries gave it a fresh taste.

We dined here for dinner at 4:30pm on Friday night. We were the first table to be seated but were…read morequickly followed by several other parties. Overall, the ambiance and service were great, the food not so much. Here you go: Food - 3/5: We started with 2 apps - the special 'wings and beer' and margherita flatbread. The wings came out almost instantaneously which was the first sign - they had been sitting and were just reheated. The flatbread was loaded with cheese, not a lot of flavor. Our mains consisted of Caesar salad, chicken picatta, braised short ribs, and burger. The Caesar salad had a hair, the braised short ribs were fatty and no sauce over a hardened lump of dry polenta that appeared to be reheated, and the chicken picatta was just ok. Service - 4/5: We were the first seated so service was very attentive and the manager was very friendly. The issue with salad was handled professionally and taken off the bill. Vibe - 4/5: Nice, clean aesthetic. We sat inside but there is a small patio with umbrellas and flowers/shrubs for street privacy. There were only about 15-20 tables inside and a small bar area. Recommend: great local beer list and try the burger

Chicken pesto, flatbread.

Basic Breakfast

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Brunch salmon lox

Mad Yolks - Pacific

4.6(884 reviews)

1.7 mi

Excellent sandwiches, always so fresh! I love the atmosphere and will be returning! You can count…read moreon it!

Busy Saturday morning at this breakfast spot known for their egg brioche sandwiches, but honestly…read moreit was worth the wait. I tried the shrooms and the BAE sandwiches along with a side of tots, and everything came out really satisfying. The scrambled eggs were incredible -- super soft, creamy, and flavorful. The brioche buns were just as good, pillowy soft with a really nice sauce that ties everything together. The place is super clean, but it does get hectic since it's order first then seat yourself, so it can feel a little messy and chaotic finding a spot. I also went back later for a strawberry matcha latte and that was surprisingly good -- not overly sweet, and the matcha tasted high quality. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it. It felt better than Eggslut in LA in my opinion, and I'd come back again for sure.

Interior June 2024

Delicious Sandwiches

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Spam sandwich

Monarch Cove Inn

4.2(155 reviews)

3.2 mi

We had a fantastic stay on a Sunday in the Lilac Room. Stunning views, our own balcony, clean and…read morecomfortable room. Bed was great, shower had great water pressure and the continental breakfast was top notch and delivered to your room at your requested time. When we checked in the woman was taking care of caterpillars in the office to help breed the monarch population. She showed us what they're doing to help. It was a really cool thing to see! She even put a butterfly on my finger. She took us to the room while explaining the history of the place as well. Very cool spot. Highly recommend!

It's a Bed & Breakfast with its own character. I think it was built in 1887. Based on the…read moreinformation book in the room, Al Capone has stayed here before! It's a historical building so there is no AC but fans are provided. The Inn has a trail to the ocean with has nice views. It is dog friendly which is the main reason we stay here. The property manger is super friendly and helpful. I think she is the reason the Inn has great reviews.

Lilac Room

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Crow's Nest Restaurant

3.4(2.7k reviews)

0.0 mi

Took out of town friends for birthday celebration We were…read morein bar and grill with the best view! Food is great grilled chicken sandwich very yummy Salad bar is fantastic Our server was very busy but always attentive Been 6yrs since we were there last. We won't wait so long this time

Expensive and slightly bland, but a beautiful view! I came for a birthday dinner with a group of 7,…read moreand thank goodness we had reservations, as the wait would have been two hours. All of the servers were great, but the food itself was lacking. We all ordered a different dish, and no one seemed really wowed (my pasta was definitely lacking seasoning). I really wanted to like this place as I know it's a Santa Cruz institution and many people recommend it for the seafood (which the birthday girl really wanted), but it didn't live up to the hype.

The upstairs bar and restaurant

Crab & shrimp omelette

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View Walton Lighthouse

Johnny's Harborside

3.6(1.5k reviews)

0.3 mi

Locally owned & operated

Wheelchair accessible

Best Oysters! Chef Jeffrey has curated a culinary menu…read moreutilizing the freshest ingredients. Whether land or sea, you will experience a great meal. Sky and staff cannot be more welcoming and service oriented. Santa Cruz Harbor MUST STOP!

Came here with some CO workers right at noon on a Friday. Excellent service and amazing views. Felt…read morevery authentic. I grabbed a mai tai IPA which was perfectly chilled and crispy. And for my main course was their lobster roll. Good lobster roll but was missing a nice buttery touch (my preference) otherwise assembled nicely. Would recommend this lunch spot any day

Bonito crudo taco, blue corn tortilla made with smoked marrow fat, marinated mango, salsa, diablo verde, oranges

Fresh Oysters

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Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

The Point Market

4.3(554 reviews)

1.6 mi

•$

Overpriced, expect to pay at least $50-60 for 2 burritos and a drink. Very limited places to…read moreactually sit down and eat, the burritos were big and good price, but there weren't any hard textures it's all mushy. In terms of the place, I'm not sure if I'm suppose to rate in terms of being a market or a "breakfast spot" but wasn't for me, maybe next time.

Go for the breakfast burritos. Nothing else matters. It's a breakfast burrito joint, kk?…read more There is a convenience store there too, but I swear people just go there for the breakfast burritos.... or maybe an occasional coffee or sandwich.

Barrel Burrito

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Sausage Burrito with Jalapeño

Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge

3.8(448 reviews)

1.3 mi

We have so many special places to visit and eat. Jack O'neals is just another home away from home…read more From the beachside window seats to the wall up to the dream in. Christian made sure to keep us happy. it's a great place to sit and enjoy a meal, coffe or get a wonderful drink at the bar. Service is always amazing. i've never had a bad meal here. the steak and eggs are best on the block. thank you again for another great experience! Dennis J Rodriguez II Pro Show Painting

Popped into here for a light dinner. Had a bowl of clam chowder, and a Caesar salad with chicken…read more The clam chowder had an odd taste and it was really paste-y. The salad was surprisingly small. The chicken was good but the dressing was nasty salty. The sardines? That is what I get for not asking for dressing on the side. Great view but the food sucks, especially for the price.

Social Area to relax and converse

Tostada

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Strawberry Fields

Dream Inn

3.8(945 reviews)

1.3 mi

I've been wanting to give the Dream Inn a go for a long while. Recently, all of the parts fell into…read moreplace to host our program retreat here ~ and I'm so glad we did! It was just perfect for our small staff gathering, with their Cove Meeting Room right off their on-site restaurant, Jack O'Neill, and the package with breakfast, lunch, beverages and snacks along with the meeting room all included. The rooms are comfortable and every one of them has a wonderful view of the beach and Santa Cruz Wharf (and the Boardwalk a bit farther away down the beach). Love that they offer a complimentary selection of e-books, audio books, meditations and podcasts (QR code to scan right on the bedside table) and that they've eliminated all single-use plastic water bottles on their property. The weather was perfect during our visit in early February. Staff were all friendly and helpful ~ special shout outs to Elaine and Shannon for all of their help leading up to our stay. Would return in a heartbeat!

Great location with ocean views from every room. However, was disappointed that they play…read morepop-style music over the pool area until well into the night and have back hotel lights glaring. I had to close my patio window and curtains and try to drown out the sound and light until they turned it off (was maybe on until 10pm or later? - not sure) and then I could finally listen to the beach waves crashing. Really wasn't the vibe I wanted. I also couldn't figure out how to run my shower without getting the entire bathroom soaked- including the clothes I brought inside that I had planned to change into. Aside from that they allowed me to check-in early (no extra fee) which was appreciated and they have convenient outside hotel parking (extra fee) that is easily accessible across the street.