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    Margaritaville

    4.1 (1.2k reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Mexican
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Margaritaville Photos

    Business Info

    MARGARITAVILLE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Margaritaville

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    Enchiladas
    Tammy Y.

    Higher prices but the portions arent terribly small at least. The clam chowder was pretty standard (nothing crazy but nothing to complain about). The steak tacos were pricey for the amount you get but the meat was good. The enchiladas were probably the most worth and were tasty though the beans weren't particularly good. The chips may be pricey but they are unlimited which is nice. My friend had the margarita and said it was just ok which is probably a little disappointing if thats what youre coming for. Service was solid though and The outdoor seating facing the beach is really nice and they do have heat lamps since it can get chilly. Parking in downtown Capitola is a little crowded (and most of it is paid parking) so you'll prolly need to do a short walk. All in all, you're paying more for the ambiance and service but the food isn't terrible and it was overall still a nice experience

    Christian E.

    Beautiful patio seating with great service! The mai tai seemed like it was missing something. It was yellow with no orange in it, but still strong (nothing worse than a watered-down drink). The Pomegranate margarita is very tart. The tacos are always amazing! I liked that the server brought out the happy hour menus when the time came without us asking.

    Dungeness Crab Tostadas and Baja Fish Tacos
    Belle P.

    Had an overall good experience at Margaritaville. The Dungeness Crab Tostadas and Baja Fish Tacos were both really good--especially since the fish didn't taste overly fishy (big plus for me). Drinks were solid too--the Pomegranate Skinny Margarita and Piña Colada were both refreshing. Appreciated the pet-friendly outdoor seating. Only downside is the high-top tables could use bag hooks since space is limited. Service was good and the online reservation system was easy to use. Parking in this area on a weekend is a bit of a hassle. Recommend parking in the Public Lot behind the police station and walking.

    The view from the restaurant
    Indhara M.

    The service and the margaritas were amazing. I can also add that the food is great but pricey, and I was not pleased when I got charge an additional $12 to add chicken to a $28 quesadilla. No warning, Not cool!

    Great customer service!
    Lizz H.

    A stop in Capitola means a mandatory visit to Margaritaville. It is definitely located in the touristy part of town but believe me, it is a local watering hole too. Incredible waterfront and ocean views from both inside and the outside patio make it a popular destination. The Mexican faire and spirits are very good. Seafood is a specialty. Vegan and vegetarian items available. Great chips and salsa. Margaritas that taste delicious and go down easy:). Lovely, friendly and welcoming customer service. Truly a vibrant, casual atmosphere in which to relax and enjoy your day. Bring the family, friends, or that special someone. Parking can be a challenge. But do not let that deter you from experiencing one of Capitola's best oceanside Mexican restaurants. Trust me on that one. Salud!

    Lava Cake
    Judie H.

    Had a birthday lunch at Margaritaville surrounded by sunshine, peaceful ocean sounds, & great service. I treated myself to a coastal drive with a few stops for walking and a nice lunch. Kasey was my server & she respected my unusual requests that included alone time to read a great book and dessert first. I started with a healthy bottle of filtered water & lava cake. Ice cubes in the water glass were perfect cubes! Not crushed, not cylindrical, just perfect. I added a diet Coke to my meal... more cubed cubes. Lava cake was moist & chocolately, but I don't really like chocolate. Dessert options were limited, but I recommend the churro. Next, I had marinated skirt steak with chimichurri sauce - medium rare. I requested beans without rice, but was served beans with rice. Beans were yummy. Dunno about the rice because I don't like it. The steak! It was amazing. Perfectly cooked with the juices mixing with sauce that created a delicious blend of flavors. Chimichurri sauce was a nice blend of acid (lemon?), sweetness from the parsley, and olive oil. It was so good that I'm drooling as I type this review. Quiet day in Capitola - low season for tourists, so the restaurant was mostly empty. No rushing the guests, so I read alot & took some nice photos. Chef was very friendly & cute! Clean bathrooms, plenty of nearby paid or free parking, and patio with umbrellas for dining. Only negatives -- I asked for 'no ice' in my water & no rice with my entree. Also, I wanted Crudo instead of cake, but it wasn't available. Kasey recognized the errors and was an exceptional server.

    House margaritas
    Anna O.

    My husband and I found this little gem on Yelp after seeing all the great reviews, so we decided to give it a try. We came in on a busy Sunday and were quoted a 30-minute wait, so we decided to grab a drink at the bar. It took quite a while to get our pitcher of margaritas, and by the time our drinks arrived, our table was already ready. We were seated outside per our request and had an amazing view. The weather was perfect, which made the experience even better. My husband ordered the shrimp tacos, which were excellent -- the sauce was perfectly made and the shrimp was very flavorful. I ordered the branzino plate, and it was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. There were bones, so I ate it slowly, but it had plenty of meat. It came with a salad topped with a cilantro dressing that was outstanding. We would definitely come back. They have super clean bathrooms. The margaritas were strong and delicious. The only downside was that the bar service was very slow and our table server wasn't very friendly, though it was extremely busy. Despite that, the food and drinks were excellent.

    Fish tacos
    Priyanka S.

    Margaritaville in Capitola was a cute little Mexican restaurant that my friends and I decided to visit after a long day of hiking and checking out the cute painted houses/beaches nearby. While we did not have a reservation, the wait was not too bad and we only had to wait about 35 minutes. The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated with tons of seashells, blue tones and sandy wood colors and there is a large window panel where you can directly see all of the little colorful houses of Capitola as well as the water and beach behind. It is absolutely beautiful especially if you go around sunset time. As for the food, I decided to get the fish tacos, the guacamole with chips and the calamari. The calamari was my absolute favorite and was perfectly crispy and tender with a delicious aioli to accompany it. The guacamole was also incredibly fresh and tangy, and the Margaritas were also refreshing and tasty. That being said, my fish tacos were quite dry and could have used more seasoning or salsa to add flavor. All in all though Margaritaville is definitely a solid beautiful restaurant to visit while in Capitola!

    Blackened Shrimp Enchiladas
    Tara J.

    Perfect Mexican restaurant with a beautiful view of the colorful architecture of Capitola. Great for families and in a fun and walkable neighborhood. The pictures don't do it just but the food was absolutely amazing. The flavors were complex and delicious. You could tell that only the best ingredients were used to prepare each dish. And of course the margaritas were solid. The service was friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend for delicious Mexican food with elevated flavors.

    Birria tacos
    Jeremy L.

    Came here for dinner on a Tuesday night. It wasn't super packed but there was enough people inside to make the atmosphere feel lively. You have indoor dining options or outdoor dining options with a view. They have heaters outside to keep you warm. We got the calamari and the birria tacos. The birria tacos were good but they could've been crispier. The calamari had the same issue the breading wasn't crispy enough but the food itself had flavor and was good. The overall dinning experience was pleasant though the staff was very friendly and accommodating.

    Nachos
    Kamryn K.

    Perfect location! Food was great, drinks were okay, but you're really paying for the amazing view. Service was very helpful! Not affiliated with Jimmy Buffetts Maragritaville

    Guacamole w/ Chips & Salsa
    Gina G.

    Yes, yes, yes. If you're looking for a strong marg, views, and comforting Mexican food without a worry of splurging the wallet in Capitola, Margaritaville is your spot. I would most def come back here again during the day and sit outside and take it all in! We arrived to Capitola late evening as the sun was setting and chose to sit indoors with the kiddo after walking the beach and finding Margaritaville still open and thriving. The staff was so gracious and even went across the street to grab a special straw for the kiddo ~ high chair/kids menu/all the special love too. It's these moments when you realize the staff has young kids and just you know..get it. So thank you Margaritaville for that, we still have the straw as a vital everyday piece of our day. As mentioned, margaritas are done well. The guac is phenomenal, chips homemade. I went with the blackened shrimp enchiladas, and others ordered the shrimp diabla and chile verde enchiladas. The verdict = delicious. My enchiladas came with a house sauce that tasted like a mole. Ample pieces of shrimp cooked to perfection. I heard from table convo the shrimp diabla was just the right amount of spice and flavor, and the pork meat being juicy in the chile verde. Loved the Spanish rice and creamy refried beans on the side as well. We did premium margaritas ($21), but there are other options like tiki drinks, zero proof, non-alcoholic, beer/wine, house cocktails, and house marg/skinny marg. Dessert is also served here, and it's recommended to make a reservation ahead of time as this place gets hoppin'. Can't wait for a day marg soon!

    Shrimp enchiladas

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    2 years ago

    We were waiting for waitresses for a 25 minutes. Inappropriate service. And what's more, they don't care

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    Page 5 of 31

    Ask the Community - Margaritaville

    Do they have Happy Hour? If so, which days and what times?

    Typically between 4pm - 7pm

    If one were to invite 30 or so friends to meet at the bar on a Friday late afternoon, would there be space either outside or inside to do this?

    I don't think you could get 30 people at the bar and outdoor seating was limited. You might be able to get 30 people in the restaurant. Margaritaville isn't a huge place.

    Do they allow dogs on patio?

    We do allow dogs on the patio! We hope to see you soon!

    Do the refried beans contain pork lard or are they vegetarian?

    Vegetarian

    Do they have a kids menu?

    Yes! I have been there several times with my kids who are 3 and 4. The staff is always super friendly and we love the kids quesadilla.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Pete's Capitola - Iberico Pork Skirt "Steak"

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    4.4(104 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    The best experience I've ever had! From the moment I arrived, everything was absolutely…read moreexceptional. The bartender was phenomenal--friendly, knowledgeable, and crafted some of the best drinks I've ever had. The oysters were unbelievably fresh and absolutely to die for. Every member of the staff provided outstanding service, making me feel genuinely welcomed and well taken care of. To top it all off, the view was absolutely breathtaking. It truly doesn't get any better than this. I can't wait to come back!

    I stopped by for a drink on a hot Tuesday afternoon. I was absolutely committed to a seat right by…read morethe water and although Pete's doesn't have the largest volume of patio seating, all of it is right by the water. Since it was an off-time, I also had the whole patio to myself. I ordered the Garden Gimlet (which I finally learned with a hard G, like "gift"). The drink arrived ice-cold (which hit especially well on such a hot day in Capitola) with a balance of punchy fresh lime juice, delicately herbed syrup, and the classic botanical sophistication of gin. The drink also comes with a decorative edible flower. I don't know my flowers too well but of the two different flowers I had in the two gimlets I ordered, both had a very subtle licorice flavor (nothing at all close to jäger) and an herbaceous quality. Pro-tip: dip the flower in the drink for an even more complex experience. The drinks and the ambiance were both excellent but the service took the experience to the next level. I had the pleasure of being served by Erik, who is normally the bartender but was also my server today. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, and served a consistent and delicious drink each of my rounds. I certainly benefited from it being slow the afternoon I visited because I got some extra time to chat with Erik about some of the things on my mind that brought me to grabbing a drink overlooking the water in Capitola. Definitely say hi if you see him working sometime; he's a wise soul.

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    Pete's Capitola - The main dining room is full of light and doors and windows to the beach and ocean

    The main dining room is full of light and doors and windows to the beach and ocean

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    Shadowbrook

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    4.3(6.3k reviews)
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    The Shadowbrook was everything I expected and more! From…read morethe delicious food to the beautiful ambiance, it was truly an experience to remember. We enjoyed the baked Brie, Caesar salad, and roasted Chilean sea bass, along with some wonderful drinks. Everything was absolutely delicious! And what more could you ask for? After dinner, you can take a walk down to the beach, wander around beautiful Capitola Village, and do a little shopping. I'll be honest--I'm not a fancy person, but I absolutely loved The Shadowbrook! It has that special something that makes you feel like you're part of an experience rather than simply going out to dinner. If you're looking for great food, beautiful surroundings, and an evening you'll never forget, The Shadowbrook is definitely worth experiencing!

    A must try! I never knew about this restaurant until others mentioned it. My husband took us here…read morefor our anniversary with my son. We came at an odd time where there are no reservations so seating was limited. This is such a unique experience. My kid loved taking the cable car. The lush greenery and views made it even better. Since we came around 2:00, the full menu wasn't available. I decided to order the chicken, my husband ordered the steak, the kiddo ordered a burger and we got some clam chowder and prosecco to celebrate! The steak was delicious. The chicken was just OK. I wish it would've came with a better side like mashed potatoes or rice. Anyway, I liked the chimichurri sauce. The clam chowder was also really good. I wish the full menu was available, but we'll come at a different time next time. Our server was great and we had an amazing experience.

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    Paradise Beach Grille - Steamed clams

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    3.6(997 reviews)
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    The outside patio dining and view of the adorable Painted Hosues is amazing, but the food was great…read moreas well. I had the fish tacos, and our table also got the burger and butternut squash ravioli. Everyone was happy! Service was friendly and fast. Reccomend stopping here for lunch or dinner when you're in downtown Capitola!

    My family and I stopped by Paradise Beach Grille during our trip and, unfortunately, left a bit…read moredisappointed. The best part of the experience was easily the location. We sat outside and had an incredible view of Capitola Beach. The service was slow throughout the meal, and one thing that stood out was that I never received a water refill the entire time we were there. It wasn't terrible service, but it definitely felt inattentive. I ordered the Seafood Fettuccine because I wanted something a little more filling. In hindsight, that's partly on me since seafood fettuccine isn't exactly a dish I usually expect to be exceptional anywhere. The Alfredo sauce was bland and needed a lot of pepper to bring some life to it. Most of the seafood was overcooked and chewy, particularly the fish. The clams were probably the best part of the dish and were cooked reasonably well. Overall, the view was fantastic, but beyond that, the meal didn't do much for me. Between the slow service and underwhelming food, this ended up being one of the worst meals I had on my trip.

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    Cafe Cruz - Linguini Cruz w/ added skirt steak

    Cafe Cruz

    4.0(1.1k reviews)
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    I stopped by Caffe Cruise and had a half roasted chicken with black rice and black beans, along…read morewith a separate dish called Linguine Cruise, which I added "prawns" to. Now, I say "prawns" because apparently there was a little seafood identity crisis happening -- they were actually shrimp! Outside of that little prawn/shrimp confusion, everything was exceptionally good. The roasted chicken was delicious, the black rice was really good, but those black beans were FIIIIRRREEE! They had this amazing smoky flavor that I absolutely loved. Seriously, those beans were ridiculously good. The Linguine Cruise was also excellent, and even though my "prawns" turned out to be shrimp, they were still damn good! The restaurant itself is huge, clean, and has plenty of seating, with a killer bar that I really liked. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming, and the staff were super friendly, funny, and genuinely enjoyable to deal with. Overall, I really liked this place. Great food, good portions, cool atmosphere, friendly people, and some seriously fire black beans. I'd absolutely go back!

    We visited with family, a group of eight, and had a reservation. Even though the restaurant was…read morepacked and lively, it never felt overly loud, making it easy to enjoy conversation. The exterior doesn't do the restaurant justice. Inside, the dining room and patios are beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. There's plenty of space for both small and mid-sized groups. The food was fabulous! We started with the calamari, which was honestly some of the best I've ever had, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We also ordered the seasonal Caprese (tomato stack) salad, which was incredibly fresh with a wonderful combination of flavors. Even the complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar stood out. The balsamic was so good I forgot to ask what brand they use so I could buy some for home! Our server was friendly, attentive, and helpful. When I ordered the fettuccine with steak, she thoughtfully confirmed whether I wanted the Gorgonzola Alfredo or the traditional Alfredo sauce. I chose the traditional Alfredo, and it was absolutely perfect. I shared it with my daughter, so the photo shows about half of the original portion. Everyone at our table loved their meals. The rotisserie chicken received rave reviews as well, although I forgot to take a photo. If the weather is nice, don't miss the outdoor patios. There's a table for six near the fireplace that looked especially inviting. I wanted to take a picture, but I couldn't get the angle without including other diners in the frame. I also tried the watermelon martini, which was refreshing and delicious, and the wine pours were generous. If you're in Aptos, this restaurant is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back.

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    Trestles Restaurant - Brussels

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    4.5(442 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    Matthew provided outstanding service. Food as always is…read moreexcellent. Whenever we're in the area it's a must stop for dinner. You have to put this on your "TO DO" list.

    Trestles has been the first $$$ restaurant in the Monterey Bay region that I have enjoyed and…read morethought was worth spending my money at. Don't get me wrong, it is pricy, but the food is good, creative, and memorable. They also brought out the starters one by one in a great order that I really appreciated. (1)Ceviche 2) pork belly 3) squash blossom 4) toast) 10/10 for: -squash blossom stuffed with crab: this was fried. loved that it was. Nice light batter that was crunchy. Crab was so good and fresh. I wish there was more than just 2 blossoms because we definitely could have just kept going. -pork chop entree special: so juicy!! the variety of flavors were so good. The corn mousse was delicious and not too sweet. If you wanted more sweetness, the au jus tasted almost like honey on the plate. Squashes were perfectly cooked and light to balance the flavors of everything else. Great grilled taste too. -peach toast: just great!! Sweet and a little savory from the buttered toast. Nice palette cleanser almost before our entrees 9/10 for the creme brulee: solid. Fun creme brulee top but very thin layer. The sauce was like a tart apple caramel that nicely balanced the sweet and creamy cake. 8/10 for: -pasta entree: fresh pasta was soo perfectly bouncy and soft. Sauce was balanced and light. Nothing crazy but I liked it. Partner thought it was a bit normal -pork belly starter: very flavorful and yummy but can be a bit salty on its own. Partner and I wish we could have had some mashed potatoes, bread, or white rice with it but then it would probably be more of an entree very good though! Eggplant sauce was lovely even for those who don't like eggplant normally. This also had mushrooms. 4-5/10 for the tuna ceviche because it mostly just tasted sour. I liked the cherry tomato and basil addition, but it needed some spice or more tomato and basil to balance out the sourness of the lime. this was the only dish I wish we didn't get I'd recommend this place for a nice date night! There is a small patio outside. I think they MIGHT accommodate pets out there. There is also a small elevator lift for those who need an accessible way up. Otherwise, you'll have to walk up a few steps. Kitchen is in the back but in an opened lay out. You can see them cooking everything if you sit at the bar or facing that way. Probably better for small groups or couples rather than a large party. We made a reservation at 7 and were seated promptly. Seemed like a full house all night. May need to wait a bit for walk in parties.

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    H&H Fresh Fish - 6/11/2023

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    4.6(103 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Cute hole in the wall. Harborside had the FRESHEST oysters and YUMMIEST tuna poke…read more 10/10 would recommend

    Very small fish market in the harbor where all the boats park, right underneath Johnny's Harborside…read moreSeafood Restaurant. Even though small in size, at least they focus and value the local catch. To that I had to show my interest. I saw they opened a newer store in north Santa Cruz in a new and hip retail complex called The Swift Street Courtyard. That one seems to be more geared toward prepared foods/product as that complex is a food and drink destination, breweries, wine tastings and coffee shops all around. This one is mostly a raw fish market. Mostly filleted and pan-ready items. Not sure if you can request a whole fish here but my guess is you can if you establish a correspondence with the employees. But in a small cooler up front they also have some prepared seafood items ready to grab n go. They have tuna poke, some ceviche, and some smoked salmon deviled eggs. They may have more things but the slowish day I went, that seemed the selection. Rockfish Ceviche ($14/4*) my receipt said halibut ceviche but the container label said rockfish. Not sure what I got but the nice chunks of fish were nice and whitish from the citrus cure, clean and meaty. Which ever I got, it was delicious. There was sliced raw onions, cucs, tomato, jalapeno and cilantro which made for a standard but satisfying ride. Everything was in nice big chunks which I tend to like more than when Mexican places finely chop it to where you can't really identify anything anymore. Only thing I wished I had access to were some squirts of hot sauce and some tortilla chips. But since this wasn't a sit-down resto situation I had to make due. Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs ($8/3.5*) You only get 3 halves so basically an egg n a half. I think they should give at least 4 halves to even things out if being shared. But the smoked salmon is beaten into the yolk mixture so you can't really see or identify it. Upon chewing the deviled egg, you will taste a smidge of smoked salmon. It's not strong or in your face but it will remind you that something else is there. I wished it were more identifiable or obvious, but it was still pretty tasty especially with the hits of tobiko. They had one of my favorite Asian brands of iced green tea which was a nice surprise. And after swimming and lying around on the hot beach down the street, this made for a refreshing snack break. Even though I wished there were better seating and amenities this filled a void on a weekday when the restaurant upstairs was closed. Nice find and I'll try and buy some local fish from their market next time I'm around. And I sure as heck am gonna try their newer and more visible location.

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    Margaritaville - seafood - Updated September 2026

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