Our guide to dining establishments that are open after a 10-year-old’s bedtime. Because your stomach doesn’t care that it’s after 9pm.
99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall (110 Walnut St., Santa Cruz. 831.459.9999) The classic meal-in-a-bottle has 99 different constructions, but if you don’t feel like eating is overrated, they can take care of that too. Appetizers daily until midnight.
Charlie Hong Kong l(1141 Soquel St., Santa Cruz. 831.426.5664) It’s okay to stay up late when there are organic noodle, curry and peanut bowls waiting. Open till 11pm every night.
The Crepe Placel (1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.429.6994) The main dish is European-style pancakes topped with anything, followed by evening indie rock drenched in sweat. Weeknights until midnight: Friday-Saturday until 1am.
Denny’sl (1515 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. 831.426.4628) It hasn’t closed since ___, and you can be sure it won’t start now. Open 24 hours every day.
Manuel’s l(261 Center Ave, Aptos. 831.688.4848) The original late-night Mexican food joint—with salsa that’s won a local cult following—serves heaping platters of spicy goodness and cocktails til midnight daily except Sunday, when the kitchen calls it quits at 11pm.
Nite Owl Cookies l(831.423.NITE) For when real food won’t do the trick, fresh-baked cookies and milk delivered to your door are just a phone call away.
Oswald l(121 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.7427) There aren’t too many options downtown after the late movie lets out, but this swanky eatery has a tasty and affordable bar menu available until 11pm most nights.
Parish Publick House l(841 Almar Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.421.0507) The publick doesn’t vanish when the sun goes down, and the Parish keeps the graveyard shift fed and watered. Dinner served until 2am daily.
Pizza My Heart l(1116 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.426.2511; 2180 41st Ave, Capitola. 831.475.6000; 209 The Esplanade, Capitola. 831.475.5714) The iconic Santa Cruz favorite provides the satisfaction of pizza after midnight, whether it’s needed by the slice or by the pie. Downtown location: Sun-Thu until midnight, Fri-Sat until 2am. Capitola locations: Sun-Thu until 10pm, Fri-Sat until 1am.
Red l(200 Locust St., Santa Cruz. 831.425.1913) A chic appetizer and cocktail menu is the perfect complement to an atmosphere thick enough to chew. Kitchen open daily until 1am.
Rockers Pizza Kitchenl (1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.426.7499) Huge slices of pizza for, to quote a Yelp fan, the amount of money you could find in your shoe. Til 2am every day.
Santa Cruz Dinerl (909 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. 831.426.7151) Old-fashioned diner food tastes better in the moonlight, and this hotspot is open 24 hours a day.
Saturn Cafel(145 Laurel St., Santa Cruz. 831.426.2511) Second dinner comes early for no one, and Saturn makes sure everyone can partake. Open till 3am every night.
Soif Wine Barl (105 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.2020) Date night restaurant with gourmet small plates and killer atmosphere is open til 11pm on weekend nights.
Tampico Restaurant and Barl (822 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.458.0126) The world needs more Mexican food at all hours, and Tampico is getting the ball rolling. Late night menu until 2am.
