Super cool and unique cafe in downtown Santa Cruz, that's also open later than most spots! We were…read morecraving acai bowls towards the end of the day, and this was the only place open. They have a variety of options for acai bowls, as well as really cool drinks, aka the elixirs. Each one serves a different purpose i'd say which is super cool and fun to browse through. The worker was super friendly and helpful when we asked questions. The inside is also such a cool vibe, with hammocks hung up and multiple cozy hang out spots. I would definitely check this spot out when you are in Santa Cruz!

Came here not really knowing what to expect, especially being in the middle of a food mall, but it…read moreended up being a really solid find. The staff gave some great recommendations and the dandelion tea was honestly amazing, smooth, earthy, and just hit right. The vibe caught me off guard in a good way. It felt calm and intentional, not rushed or chaotic like you would expect in that kind of setting. Definitely a cool spot to slow down for a minute and try something a little different. Would come back for sure.

Dive Bar with heart and standards. Great drinks, fun live bands and entertainment, and impressive…read moreservice. I believe its because its under new managing ownership with Amy at the helm, leading by example. An industry OG who cares about delivering great drinks, service, and experience while also making sure her staff are well supported. Any bar can make a drink, Mission West makes a fantastic one, but the service and overall experience is what differentiates Mission West.

I've lived in Santa Cruz county for almost 10 years and haven't really visited a lot of bars in…read moretown. My sister came to visit so I looked up a few to check out and she liked their drink menu here so we checked it out. Walking in its divey inside, but I always love a good dive bar. The bartender was super friendly, happy to chat and offered us the drink list to look over. They had a pickle martini on the menu and that's what we opt'd for. I never had one before, but I DUG it. It's savory and a bit sour, love. We sat outside and they had pizza to order back there and line dancing happening. It was fun to watch the environment and people dancing. Good crowd of folks and friendly to conversation.

First time visit a few weeks ago and loved it. Did some day drinking with friends and this was our…read morelast stop. Staff was great. I seek out #divebars and this is now on my roster of places to take friends when they are in town. Drinks are reasonably priced.

Love this bar, always fun, great bands on tues and wed and pool playing is always fun , great…read morebartenders

A restaurant dedicated to The Cheese. Cool…read more I moved from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz in 1972 and thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I bought my first website from the O'Neill dive shop at the Harbor. Learned to surf at Cowells Beach, wearing O'Neill Seal Suits and Super Suits and Animal Skins, chasing Jack O'Neill around in his balloon with Mad Mike driving. Timmy O'Neill pushed me out of a dingy in the harbor channel once but I've forgiven him. They called Jack "The Cheese" but apparently I've been gone a while because I wasn't aware there was an entire restaurant, bar and lounge dedicated to The Cheese. Went there on a Thursday night in June and didn't have enough quarters to pay the parking meters on that uphill. Got lucky and found a parking space at Cowell's and used the change machine to get $5 in quarters, which is what it cost to park for a couple hours. Walked past a mural dedicated to several decades of Jack O'Neill going back to the 1950s: wetsuits, boats, hot air balloons, smiling girls. The air smelled like stale fish and salt. Inside was a clean, well-lighted place somewhere between funky and luxury .But closer to luxury. They've done a nice job with this place. The prices are reasonable in a city and a state and a time where prices can be unreasonable. Sat at a table up against the window, with a view over Cowells and the wharf and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the lights of all the fishing boats in the bay I ordered the loaded fries with avocado, which is kind of like french fry nachos. And they were good. Lots of Cheese. It's a smart idea to dedicate an entire restaurant to The Cheese, as this place is over the dirt where the first O'Neill Surf Shop was in Santa Cruz was way back when starting around 1959 when Jack moved his business and his family down to Santa Cruz and was perfectly positioned for the surf boom lit by the movie Gidget that exploded into the Beach Boys and Frankie and Annette and everybody went surfing. Only glitch was when I asked the bartender for the bathroom code and he looked at me askance and wouldn't give it up. He said it was for hotel guests only. Aren't food establishments required to provide bathrooms to customers? If I had any friends, I would take them to the Jack O'Neill Restaurant and Lounge. It's got atmosphere. P.S I've interviewed around a dozen white shark attack victims. I get their stories and tell them: "You had a rough day. I'll see if I can get you a new wetsuit. Look at the O'Neill catalogue and tell me what you want and I'll call Pat O'Neill." And Pat always comes through with quality neoprene, so maybe a restaurant for him some day?

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.

What a special place in Santa Cruz for live music. We caught the group Sambada and had a blast! If…read moreyou are visiting check out their schedule of live music. The vibe is awesome.

I had a very uncomfortable experience with an African American security guard at the Latino event…read more From the moment I arrived with my family, I felt singled out. He asked for my ID despite not asking any of my other family members, even though it was obvious I had arrived with them. That immediately made me question why I was being treated differently due to his tone and professionalism. Throughout the event, he continued staring me down in a way that felt intimidating and unnecessary. Then, after already announcing that there were 15 minutes left before closing, he approached me again and told me I needed to finish my drink right then. The tone and approach felt aggressive and disrespectful. I understand security has a job to do, but there is a professional and respectful way to interact with people. Instead, I left feeling targeted as a Latina, uncomfortable, and unwelcome at an event that was supposed to be about celebrating community and culture.

This was great, quick lunch stop! I stopped in on Friday during a holiday (Juneteenth) around…read more2:30pm and we were able to be seated right away. We got our food pretty quickly. I had the Jawaiian Jerk barramundi and I loved the level of spice in the jerk sauce. The fish was cooked well and was tender. My boyfriend got the Jawaiian Jerk pork plate and because he has a lower tolerance for spice he asked for the sauce on the side, which they were able to accommodate. He liked the sauce too, but used far less of it! The place is definitely Tiki-themed and the ambiance was casual and matched it. The lighting is pretty yellow which isn't too distracting inside but is why the pictures are very yellow--the food looked tastier in person!

This was our first time at Hula's, and it definitely won't be our last. The food was so delicious…read morethat we were already planning our next visit before we finished dinner. A huge shoutout to Naia, who made our first experience unforgettable. She was on point the entire time, friendly, attentive, and always one step ahead of anything we needed. Her wonderful energy elevated the whole evening and made us feel genuinely welcome. Great food brought us in, but Naia's exceptional service is what will bring us back. Five stars all around!

Loved my experience at The Abbey. Very serene spot off of the main road, feels quite isolated and…read morepeaceful. The coffee itself is absolutely delicious too, with a really cool, spacious indoor spot. Lots of students working, and I see why. Great coffee, great vibes, overall 10/10 experience.

Hands down my favorite coffee shop in SC. The Abbey has a relaxing vibe and is great for studying…read moreor working, the employees are nice, and the drinks are good (and I think a little less pricey than other spots in town). A lot of spots in town seem a bit hostile to students who want to study there, offering no outlets, bathrooms, or limited seating. The Abbey stands out because it invites students with all of these things, and is the perfect work spot. They even have a free pancake dinner for students working there during finals week at the end of fall term! Highly recommend the honey badger latte and the matcha sparkler, and the clear stand out for food is the avocado toast (again, best in town!).

Vino by the Sea is the place you go to enjoy a few glasses of wine but you end up coming back time…read moreand time again for the friendships you make at this establishment. They have everything you could want for a local hang out spot. We enjoy the wines, the snacks and the carefully selected bands. It's cozy and welcoming because the owners care and want you to enjoy what they have created on the wharf. The owners remember your names and take time to get to know you. What a fun place! Constantly new friends and good surprises with the locally sourced wines.

I never post here but i am just so disappointed in my experience at Vino by the Sea on the wharf I…read morefeel I need to shout it from the roof tops. I am a 45 yr local to Santa Cruz. I go to shows all the time. Free shows at Shanty Shack, Midtown, Tue wharf series you name it. Vino by the Sea really went low and dirty tonight. Punishing sober patrons and losing my local business. Don't bring your sober friends here...they will be kicked out for not spending money. Met a group of friends here for a show and drinks. My friends had been at the bar for about two hours, ate food and ordered a couple hundred dollars worth of drinks. They had been over served and slurring their speech by the time I got there. I show up and try not to lose it when I order a glass of wine and it's $23. I have spent $500+ on a single dinner for two and still got sticker shock at $23 for a glass. Whatever it was good. My sober friends who came with me to join the group were asked to leave because they were not buying drinks. I explained to the owner/bar tender they are sober and we are with a group of highly intoxicated friends who are spending a lot of money. They were still asked to leave. So they left. The only thing I said to the staff was that my sober friends should not be forced to spend money and apparently that was rude. I was calm, smiling and did not raise my voice or cause a scene. The 2nd they saw me take out my phone and write a yelp review I was kicked out