This place has such a beautiful view of Capitola beach, the restaurant's outdoor seating in the back is a perfect spot to have a couple of drinks with a seaside view. Drinks - We ordered the Mango Margarita and Bloody Mary, both were amazing! The drinks were not only strong, but had great flavor. I requested my Bloody Mary spicy, and they couldn't have made it any better for me! I love a spicy Bloody Mary, and I can tell this restaurant uses quality ingredients and doesn't cut corners when it comes to their drinks. The Mango Margarita was one of the best I've had so far, I could taste the fresh mango nectar, and it didn't have any artificial or syrupy taste like many fruit margaritas tend to have. I would highly recommend this place if you're looking for good quality drinks with a great view! read more

Margaritaville - Bloody Mary and Mango Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

I thought this place would be like a chain restaurant but it wasn't at all, it was really good! It's very modern and everyone working there is super nice. Our server, Taylor, was so sweet! We got the chips, salsa and guac. My husband got the Baja tacos which he loved and I got the chimichurri steak which was really good too! The drinks were also so good, I got the painkiller-- be careful it's strong but good. He got the jalapeño mango margarita (because you can mix flavors) and loved it. We also got the churros for dessert, they smelled like Disneyland. Also recommend sitting outside, the fire heaters kept us warm and we had a nice view! read more

Margaritaville - Painkiller and Jalapeño Margarita and Guacamole w/ Chips and Salsa - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Great food, a little pricey but you pay for the view. Service was average. Drinks from the bar took a while. Fish tacos and carnitas burrito were good. read more

Food was amazing. Customer service was great atmosphere was outstanding to die for. Will definitely be back 5 stars all across. read more

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I came back today and was very disappointed to see how different their customer service changed. The main host gave us a estimated wait of 20-30 minutes and we ended up wait a hour. We went up to asked her if it was really bad she was extremely rude and unhelpful. She the sat us at a table that would cram my party into a very small table. Told us to leave if we weren't happy so we did. Would not recommend going here. read more

Margaritaville - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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Staying in Santa Cruz for a few days, so we had to come try out Margaritaville. We were NOT disappointed. The food came out fairly quickly. We ordered the ceviche as a starter. Our entrees, clam chowder bread bowl was delicious the garlic shrimp w/ beans & rice was AMAZING. The flavor of the garlic shrimp was so good I was dipping my bread in it. We really enjoyed our dinner & the outdoor seating with the friendly ducks swimming around along with the outdoor heating lamps makes it such a nice ambiance. We'll definitely be back. Enjoy! read more

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We went here for lunch and in the middle of a quiet afternoon experienced an emergency. Staff was VERY helpful and was just oh so kind. We enjoyed every food we ordered and if I can only give them 10 stars for the GENUINE customer service and compassion received I would. I would totally support businesses that give back the support to its customers. BIG THANKS to the staff! read more

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The Drinks and Food are Delicious! Beautiful View of the ocean and lots of great Lil walkways and paths to go through and explore! Highly recommended to go on a weekend, and rent a room near by. The Night Entertainment is really good as well. read more

Margaritaville - Capitola Beach 09/2022 - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Great lunch spot with a sweet view! We got to snag ourselves an outdoor spot overlooking the beach and the colorful buildings. We shared the chile verde nachos which were my favorite part of the meal. Extremely delicious starter! To drink I had the pomegranate margarita and my entrée was the skirt steak with chimichurri. Steak was cooked nicely and melted in your mouth. Enjoyed the chimichurri sauce, as well as the mixed veggies garnished on top. Service was quick, friendly and attentive. It is a MUST you order the chile verde nachos if you find yourself here! You won't regret it. read more

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My Girlfriend said these were the best nachos she's ever had. I had the midnight Margarita and loved it, the baja fish tacos were alright at best though. The staff are so nice, our server was really awesome. Love the outdoor seating, id come back and have a margarita anytime. read more

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I was looking for a place to grab brunch/snacks after a long ride to Aptos. We were starving and were close to capitola, I choose this place since it had decent reviews and we were craving some spicy and warm Mexican food (Perfect for a foggy day in the bay). We ordered the skinny house margarita (in pomegranate.. this was great and boozy) and a beer, modello. They had a good range of menu and drink options to choose from. We ordered the chips and salsa (very fresh and crispy), the chicken Quesadilla (so cheesy that I can't stop eating), chicken nachos (loved this and also took them Togo as we couldn't waste it). This place has a goood view of the capitola beach, very picturesque. The staff was very friendly and followed all the necessary protocol. Even though it was cold and foggy we still had heaters next to us and had a great time with good view at the patio seating, good ambiance, good food and boozy drinks. I'd definitely come back here if I pass by capitola. The neighborhood has some cool options for coffee too. Tip: I'd recommend to come here on a nice day to make the most of it. read more

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Our party of 5 got seated outside with no wait around 3pm. There was a lot of wind and we were freezing. When we tried to flag someone down to turn the heaters on no one acknowledged us. We got drinks and chips and salsa and then decided to just pay leave and finish our meal elsewhere. It was too cold to even finish the chips and drinks. They were delicious though. This was supposed to be a birthday lunch for my friend so we were super disappointed. Our waitress kept saying she'd find somebody to help with the heaters but clearly it didn't work. read more

Got turned away today because my autistic son who only eats chicken nuggets, French fries and pizza couldn't bring his one slice of pizza in there while me and my mom had lunch. I even explained he was autistic and he wouldn't eat anything they had there but the host or manager or whoever the guy was with missing teeth did not care he still said we couldn't dine there. Thanks margaritaville. We just got more pizza from pizza my heart and ate with my son outside. read more

A friend of mine told me that Margaritaville had the BEST calamari in town. Being a fishy fiend myself, I knew that I would eventually need to go and try them for myself. This review is then only for their calamari takeout during our current quarantine days. I called in to place my order which they said would take appx. 30 minutes to prepare. In fact, the order was done within 10 and I hadn't even already arrived yet to pick it up. They have two separate entrances- one for pickup orders and one for dine-in in order to keep the traffic flow one lane. Restaurant itself practiced great social distancing and health measures by ensuring everyone was wearing a mask and tables were spread out. Major props to them for doing this especially in such a tourist hot spot. As for my $16 calamari, I honestly can't say that they were my favorite. The portions were quite small (as you can see in my photo) and I found the batter and seasoning nothing to write home about. While the quality of the squid was good, I couldn't get past the high expectations that I had been instilled. I'm hoping to return again one day to try out more of their Mexican fare since that is what they are all about. read more

Margaritaville - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

It's been a long while since I had last visited Margaritaville. It was a perfect day to sit in the patio area and enjoy the scenery. I had lunch with my girlfriends and we shared some pitchers of margaritas - classic, pomegranate and mango plus chips, guacamole and salsa. I enjoyed a cup of chicken tortilla soup and followed by the green chile enchiladas dish with a side of beans and rice. read more

Margaritaville - Classic margarita, chicken tortilla soup & green Chile Verde Enchiladas. - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Beautiful view of Capitola beach! For appetizers we ordered the cuesadilla and the nachos (big dish, came with cheese and we added chicken) And then we ordered the El Ultimo Burrito and Fish Tacos, great for 3 people And the service was good! read more

Margaritaville - The view - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Tried to call make a reservation for 9 for my daughters birthday. They said we don't take reservations and they will be so busy and it might not be worth coming in. So I made a reservation at paradise which was amazing. I walked by and looked inside before we went into paradise and they had tons of tables open. Super rude customer service, happy we didn't go. Used to love this place but after this experience will never go back. Not the way to treat your local diners who have supported your establishment for years. read more

I drove 2 hours away to come to capitola! And was served by rainy! 100% enjoyed my experience thanks to her, can't wait to come back... cheers! read more

Margaritaville - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

I do not have one complaint regarding this establishment. The workers here are beyond friendly, knowledgeable, attentive & The food is good. They have the best calamari I have tried in a long time, the sauces paired with it was delicious!! Oh and they offer pitch margaritas for a decent price. read more

Margaritaville - Jalapeo Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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Nice location right near the beach. Love the atmosphere. Staff were very nice and welcoming. The food came out very quickly. We tried the grilled chicken tacos and fish tacos. Both were very good! read more

Margaritaville - Baja fish tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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Gone down hill, Mexican food is not that hard to do well, and generally can be done good at a reasonable price, the food here has gone down and the prices up. Would not return here or ever send anyone to them. Far better Mexican food places in town. read more

Margaritaville has the best Birria tacos, hands down THE BEST!!!!. Please do yourself a favor and order it if you're there. I drive from the South Bay almost every Sunday just to have them. I'm on my way now, lol. Their Dungeness crab tostadas are so good and very refreshing, especially on a hot summer day, and yes, it's real Dungeness crab. The Baja fish tacos are also good, very crispy with a nicely dressed slaw to cut threw the grease... They have the best margaritas. My favorite one is for pomegranate margaritas. I did try their flan for dessert, and I enjoyed it. It was delicious. There is a bit of a wait, and sometimes service can be slow; I did took off one start bc. I'll be honest, even if we have reservations, we usually wait 25 to 30 mins; that is not cool. Hopefully, they will look into that and change it. read more

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I'm giving Margaritaville a solid 4.5/5! My boyfriend and I showed up around 1:30 on a Saturday with no reservation and was told for indoor seating they could seat us right away but for outdoor it would be about a 20 min wait. We opted to wait for outdoors since it was a gorgeous day and after about 10 min I got a text saying our table was ready (so we really hardly waited)! I started with the pomegranate margarita and my boyfriend had the strawberry margarita. Both were good, not too strong. We got chips and salsa for an appetizer and both salsas were SO GOOD. The chips were crispy and fresh, we wanted more but our fish tacos that came next said "you'll want to eat all 3 of us so stop now!" Now for the fish tacos....I'm still thinking about them and it's been 5 days. They are LOADED with goodness, incredible fried fish, avocado, mango salsa, and a chipotle sauce. If you're sensitive like me, note the chipotle sauce has a smidge of a kick to it but it's really good. Major note here...if you're eating outside BE WARY OF THE SEAGULLS! They are ruthless and will 100% poop on you. I saw it happen right before my eyes, thankfully I was covered by an umbrella but my poor boyfriend really got the worst of it! read more

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Great experience after a day on the beach. Our waiter Rafael provided top notch service. We had margaritas and chips and salsa as the sun set. They make everything in house, including the salsa, chips and the juices for the margaritas. Great view from our patio table into the beach. Great afternoon. We were not rushed in any way. Definitely the best Margaritaville I've ever been to! COVID precautions were well implemented. Masks, gloves, online or paper menus, tables space read more

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Visiting in Aptos for the week, we had to come to Capitola for an afternoon. We chose Margaritaville and we were not disappointed! All the food we had was great and the ambiance was fantastic! Natalie, our server was exceptional! I normally take pictures of all the food, but it was so good we just drove in. Quesobirriea tacos-fabulous! Fish tacos, light and crunchy. Salsas were yummy! Perfect! We will be back for sure read more

Margaritaville - View from deck - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Our first experience was amazing. Tried to reserve a table in advance a week prior and had no luck. Took a chance the day of (on a Friday) for a walk-in for late lunch and with luck scored a table for 4 on the patio. Great views of the bridge, water and colorful rentals across the water. There's something about the clear skies, gentle breeze, seagulls flying overhead, ducks in their element, sound of the waves and happy people surrounding us that elevated the our dine in experiment that much more. Made us have all the family feels. Patio was also dog friendly, which worked out for us and Fido. Was a little chilly but the heat lamps they provide settle that quick. As far as service, very courteous and quick, but not pressured. Timing was right with a few drinks to start and then food, which turned out amazing. Had the chips and salsa, gone in the first 5 mins! Salsa offered was green and red, both were yum. Had a side of guacamole and that too was delicious. Also refilled our chips when they saw empty. Great option if you're not looking to break the bank. I had the skirt steak with shrimp enchilada. Omg, Delicious!!! So fresh and wonderfully cooked to my liking (medium with the right amount of pink) and so juicy. The presentation wasn't too bad on the eyes either. My husband had the fish tacos. He enjoyed it as well, although he did mention could have used a little more seasoning. However, the chipotle sauce it came with did the trick. Overall, the ambiance and food were well worth the experience. Would visit again! read more

Margaritaville - Skirt steak with Shrimp Enchilada - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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Great service food was average and overpriced. You're paying for the view if your sitting outside or by the window.

I took my parents here for there 37th Anniversary, it's a cute restaurant. Extremely busy. We had a very long wait, come to find out this is the busiest weekend of the year. Because of the wharf to wharf Marathon, that takes place on Sunday. We were a party of 10, so that didn't help either, however, the hostess was very nice and added a couple of chips and salsa appetizers for free. Chips and salsa we're great. We also ordered calamari. And I had clam chowder it was delicious my dad had clam chowder in a bread bowl. Brother, Baja Fish tacos, sister had nachos. my mother had a blended jalapeño margarita she that had some good kick to it very good. She also had clam chowder and a small salad, there "small" salad was rather large salad. The clam chowder had bacon and green onion, which adds a good flavor. Everyone enjoyed their food. The only reason why I'm giving three stars is because the men's bathroom was horribly dirty, there seemed to be something wrong with the plumbing or something but it was overflowing according to the Men in our group and there was toilet water and toilet paper all over the floor, and the bathroom was unusable. Apparently, if you try to flush a toilet or a urinal, the water would come back at you. Our server was great, and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. In my opinion it's a pretty nice restaurant, I was a bit disappointed with the lack of options, in the appetizer part of the menu, and some of the menu itself. It would have been nice to see more salad, options , or wrap options. I don't know if I would go back, but my mom loves this restaurant. So as long as she's happy I'm happy. read more

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It's so relieving to find Margaritaville on a chilly winter night in Santa Cruz with a hungry kiddo. We did not have a reservation but we were still admitted quickly but their friendly staff. We ordered calamari as appetizer, and two entrees Brizano (fried seabass) and the crab & shrimp enchiladas, and a kids meal of quesadillas. The foods are served in a timely manner, and our picky kiddo likes their Spanish rice and quesadillas a lot! The seabass is a deep fried whole fish which surprised us a bit especially with its reasonable price. The enchiladas have a rich flavor with the sauce. Overall it's a good experience and we will definitely come back when we visit Santa Cruz the next time. read more

Margaritaville - sea bass - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

We loved this restaurant. Easy to make a reservation and the vibe was friendly, relaxed and vibrant. Our server Dylan was friendly, attentive and chill. The fish tacos and mango and pomegranate margaritas were fresh and delicious! read more

The family and I stopped in at Margaritaville for lunch as we made our way from San Francisco to Pacific Grove. The Mrs. and I happen upon Margaritaville during a previous visit to Capitola. To avoid any confusion, this Margaritaville is not affiliated with the Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville empire. You can tell that from looking at the menu, the restaurant, and the staff. There are no cheeseburgers in paradise, no waiters in Margaritaville shirts, of Jimmy Buffet music playing in the background. Also, if you look up Margaritaville locations, Capitola, California doesn't register. Sorry Parrot Heads. The restaurant itself is nice. Very minimal in its decor, but still inviting and comfortable. The wait staff wear all black giving the place a high end vibe. The view is pretty good. The restaurant sits on the beach, but not ON the beach. Lissete was our server and did an incredible job. When we arrived shortly before noon, she was the only one waiting on tables at that point. There were 5 tables at that point and she made her job look effortless. When looking at the menu for Margaritaville, you can tell it is a Mexican restaurant. As I said, no cheeseburgers in paradise. Although, they do have clam chowder which my daughter ordered. When in Margaritaville, one must have Margaritas. The Mrs. had the House Margarita and I had the El Ultimo which was basically a Cadillac Margarita. We started our meal off with the nachos. Believe me, you don't need to add anything to them like beef or chicken. They are great as they are. The Mrs. had the Blackened Shrimp Tacos and I had the Garlic Shrimp which was really good. Even the vegetables that were mixed in with the shrimp were worthy of their own dish. Parking in Capitola can be tricky because there isn't a lot of it. The machines that you pay to park at can be temperamental. The streets are rather small and I got the vibe from driving through the surrounding neighborhood that the residents want the tourists, but they don't. So when visiting Capitola, stop by Margaritaville. Just don't expect to waste away and find the shaker is salt. read more

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The drinks and service here are pretty good. The house margarita and painkiller are my go to drinks whenever I come in. I am not the biggest fan of the food here but I'd say the best dish is the blackened shrimp tacos. read more

I came here for lunch again and was NOT disappointed. Despite the hour long wait (we had no reservation and had a party of 6), we had a very enjoyable time sitting outdoors by the water. Our servers were great and attentive. They made sure to keep our chip plate full! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. I got the shrimp ceviche to start, which was just as good as I remember. I followed that with the crab and shrimp enchiladas which everyone agreed was the best bite of the day. The margs were fresh and tangy, perfect for a rainy day lol. Paired with fresh chips and salsa this was a day well spent! Out of all the restaurants in Capitola I keep coming back here. read more

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We love coming here whenever we're in Capitola. Service is always good and food is tasty. I love their chips and salsa, the salsa roja is great! We always sit and order at the bar, it gets pretty busy but the staff are always attentive. We get a great view of the beach outside. I love bringing people here. We love ordering the quesadillas here. The drinks are good as well. The staff is so friendly, I genuinely believe they enjoy working here, always smiling and greeting the patrons. This place is a must when you're in Capitola. read more

First and foremost, this is in no way related to the chain restaurant related to Jimmy Buffet. I was curious about that going into it. This place is great! I have dreams about their Quesabirra tacos. The staff was super friendly, all the food and drinks we had were amazing and you can't beat the view. I have wanted to go back there every week because of those tacos. Coming from AZ I know great Mexican food and typically am disappointed with Mexican food in NorCal but this place shocked me in the best way. read more

Good hearty food. If you're hungry and you're in capitola this is a good spot! their shrimp tacos, mussels and burrito are really delicious and will definitely make you full! my sister in law's favorite is their chimichurri! They also have happy hour for drinks and some appetizers! Their cucumber margarita tasted like picklejuice so if you're into that kind of thing then go for it LOL. they have outdoor seating too! Overall, a good spot to get drinks and dinner! read more

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I had a vegetarian quesadilla with veggies. It was expensive but delicious! Unfortunately for me, they didn't have the calories listed. I'm on a diet and unfortunately the waitress/waiter didn't know the calories in my quesadilla either. It was a lot of food! read more

We loved everything about our visit to Margaritaville today. The restaurant is clean, modern and friendly with a beautiful view. There was Verve coffee served with a French press. Purified water with ice cubes and a carafe. Pretty green porcelain plates with gold edges. Our food server was George. He was charming, efficient, polite (and handsome). We enjoyed steak tacos, ceviche, and chips. The chips were wonderful with the best crunch ever. Thank you Margaritaville. We give you five stars on every feature. read more

My wife and I came here during our first visit to Capitola. The food was awesome and Cheyenne, our waitress, provided great service--She was attentive, very welcoming and positive. Shrimp & crab enchiladas were the bomb and recommended by Cheyenne. Chile verde was very good--tender with good seasoning. Clam chowder was delicious. Strawberry & pomegranate margaritas were good. Great time here, thanks Cheyenne & Margaritaville! read more

We can here a few yesrs ago before COVID and we had a wonderful time sitting on the patio. They served crab tostadas. However, those are no longer on the menu. We did enjoy our time this second go round. Though there was no sitting outside on the water. This time I had the steak and it was well and good. Cant wait until they have a full menu again read more

Margaritaville - Jalapeño Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California