WHERE TO EAT
Capitola Village
Restaurants
Shadowbrook: A Capitola legend operating since 1947 along Soquel Creek. Free shuttle service within a 3-mile radius. Reservations highly recommended. Their Rock Room Lounge has a more casual with first come, first serve seating.
Trestles Restaurant: New restaurant in the Village that opened summer 2021. California farm-to-table cuisine. Founded by Chef with experience working in two Michelin star rated restaurants.
Paradise Beach Grille: Probably some of the better food in the Village. Great outdoor patio overlooking Soquel Creek lagoon.
Margaritaville: Contemporary upscale Mexican seafood. Good food with outdoor seating and views.
Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine: Great traditional Italian food. Very small and will only take reservations for parties of six or more.
Geisha Sushi: Only sushi restaurant in the Village. Focus on providing sustainable menu choices.
Zelda’s: Best outdoor patio in the Village. Great for breakfast, but lunch/dinner menu is just Okay. Has more of a bar vibe on weekend evenings with live music.
Casual/Take-Out
Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria: A local Capitola institution located just outside the Village. Gayle’s has been serving up high quality baked goods and more since 1978. Be sure to check out their website and place orders online.
Reef Dog Deli: Top-notch sandwiches at this little deli. Recommend ordering online and taking to go. Charcuterie boards are amazing, but must be ordered one day in advance.
Little Koe’s Beach Bites: Located in the Mercantile building. Really good food with a casual to go menu including tacos and sandwiches. Go here if there’s a long line at Pizza my Heart.
Thai Basil: Best Thai food in the area. End of story.
Mijo’s Taqueria: Casual Mexican food to go. Fresh ingredients. Online ordering available.
Pizza my Heart: A longtime favorite of the Capitola Village. Good pizza, but not worth waiting in line. Order online to save yourself some time.
Castagnola Deli & Café: Best known for their clam chowder soup in a bread bowl. Family owned business featuring sandwiches, soups, salads, and breakfast items.
Bars
Britannia Arms: British Pub and Sports Bar with an outdoor patio. Best place in the Village to watch a game.
The Sand Bar: Capitola dive bar with small patio/deck in the back and live music on the weekends.
Cork and Fork: Local wine bar that provides great wines from great wineries.
Markets/Grocery
Quality Market and Liquor: Closest market located conveniently in the center of the Village.
Nob Hill: This is the closest full service grocery store to the Village. Located just off Bay Avenue near Highway 1.
Santa Cruz and Beyond
Restaurants
Lillian’s Italian Kitchen: A favorite spot for locals. Family run restaurant serving up high quality food at reasonable prices.
Mentone: Located in the new Aptos Village. A fun twist on the cuisine of the Riviera from Nice to a bit past Genoa. From the mind of David Kinch of Manresa.
Alderwood: Upscale restaurant located in downtown Santa Cruz sure to satisfy the most finicky foodie.
East End Gastropub: A charming mix, combining comfort food with a fine dining finish in a modern and inviting space. Located off of 41st Avenue in Capitola.
Home: Farm to table restaurant providing tasty bites just up the street in Soquel.
Casual/Take-Out
The Point Market: Awesome breakfast/lunch spot located in Pleasure Point. Best breakfast burrito in town. If you have the time, consider walking there and enjoying the panoramic Monterey Bay views along East Cliff Drive.
Roux Dat: Cajun Creole family run quick service restaurant in the Brown Ranch Marketplace.
Aptos Street BBQ: The best BBQ in Santa Cruz County. Lots of quality craft beer on tap. They have another location in Santa Cruz off of Mission Street.
Zameen at the Point: A Californian twist on Mediterranean street food. This is your spot if you’re into falafel, gyros, or dolmas.
Pretty Good Advice: Funky vegetarian restaurant serving up high quality food from their 83 acre farm in Santa Cruz.
Breweries/Bars
Beer 30 Bottle Shop & Pour House: Beer garden serving up craft beer. By the bottle or by the pint with thirty rotating taps. Outdoor games, family and dog friendly!
Discretion Brewing: Tucked away at the end of 41st Avenue in Soquel. Aside from great beer, Discretion has a spectacular food menu.
Sante Adarius Rustic Ales: Voted 9th best beer in the world! Specialize in mixed-fermentation saisons. Two locations to choose from. Their brewery is in Capitola along the frontage road.
New Bohemia Brewing Company: Located in a cool two-story building on lower-41st Avenue. NUBO brews beer in very small batches, assuring the highest quality and freshness, with a wide selection of finely crafted and unique brews.
Humble Sea: Founded in 2015. Deep westside Santa Cruz location, but worth the trip. If you’re into hazy IPAs, check out their Socks and Sandals brew.