Guide to Downtown

Things to Do in Downtown

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Downtown Santa Cruz is packed full of restaurants, shops, bars, live music venues and has a lively street scene featuring an engaging mix of street performers.

The arts are alive downtown with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Felix Kulpa Gallery and other arts spaces.

The historic Veterans Memorial Building reopened in 2013 after extensive renovations and is now the site of community organizations, including those offering classes for veterans and their families.

Popular businesses include Bookshop Santa Cruz and co-working spaces NExtSpace and Cruzioworks. The Kaiser Permanent Arena hosts games by the D-League Santa Cruz Warriors and Santa Cruz Derby Girls.

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Restaurant Reservations

Popular Things to Do in Downtown

American Restaurants

Hoffman's Bistro & Patisserie

1102 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Hoffman's is a family-run restaurant in Downtown Santa Cruz. Hoffman's bakery makes everything in-house from Ed Hoffman's famous scones to decadent wedding cakes.

American Restaurants

Red Restaurant And Bar

200 Locust Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

If the salads don't get you, the Wimpy Burgers will.

Caterers

El Palomar Restaurant

1336 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Since El Palomar's opening in 1983, we have been serving Santa Cruz unique and fresh Mexican cuisine inspired by authentic family recipes. Our commitment to excellence has continuously earned us the 'Best Mexican Restaurant in Santa Cruz' award.

Bars

Rosie McCann's

1220 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

A more upscale establishment than most Irish pubs, this restaurant/bar has a tucked-away dance floor where revelers can shake out their worries without disturbing diners in the main room. A long list of mixed drinks, including the Naughty Olivia and alway

Bars

Soif Wine Bar & Restaurant

105 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Soif is a Santa Cruz Retaurantm Wine Bar, and Wine Retail Shop providing the opportunity to explore wines in a sophisticated and friendly environment. Our goal has been to provide a comfortable place to drink great wine and eat food that is as good as the

Bars

The Catalyst Club

1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

The classic club in Santa Cruz. The Catalyst is where you will find the hottest artists for all types of music, local and national.

American Restaurants

Surfrider Cafe

429 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Surfrider Cafe is located at 429 Front Street in Santa Cruz, CA.  A local favorite for years, you can find great eats, good times, and awesome brews.

Asian Fusion

Hula's Island Grill

221 Cathcart Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

The theme here is Hawaii and surf, which means this tiki-themed restaurant serves plenty of grilled ono, mahi mahi and ahi to enjoy while the surf videos run nonstop.

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Scenes from Downtown
LicheningSkyGliderCartsHousekeeping CartOctober 12: At the beach - Number 286skeleton_vs_monster_S1000525Fresh vegetables, Santa Cruz Farmers' marketRunning Late (t)Skirts, Baseball and Singing (t)shells_vs_resist_L2013439Pussy Riot at the Rio in Santa CruzRing-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)DSC_0474