Guidebook for Soquel
Food Scene
Tortilla Flats
4616 Soquel DrAwesome Mexican Restaurant, excellent margarittas!!
Ugly Mug CoffeeHouse
4640 Soquel DrFull coffee bar/cafe. Great pastries, quiche, and smoothies.
The best breakfast joint. Huge portions, fresh food and great service. Not open on Sundys :(
16 locals recommend
Silver Spur
2650 Soquel DrThe best breakfast joint. Huge portions, fresh food and great service. Not open on Sundys :(
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveOrganic Market, a local favorite.
Great Thai food, not too heavy or salty. Outstanding service.
16 locals recommend
Sawasdee Thai Cuisine
5050 Soquel DrGreat Thai food, not too heavy or salty. Outstanding service.
This place is just blocks from the beach. They have great beer, outdoor seating, fresh local salads, sandwiches and of course pizzas. They also serve excellent breakfast. Open all day, everyday.
51 locals recommend
Pleasure Pizza East Side Eatery
800 41st AveThis place is just blocks from the beach. They have great beer, outdoor seating, fresh local salads, sandwiches and of course pizzas. They also serve excellent breakfast. Open all day, everyday.
Yummy Mediterranean food. This place closes early and gets busy right after 5 so this is a great place for early dinner.
49 locals recommend
Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine
7528 Soquel DrYummy Mediterranean food. This place closes early and gets busy right after 5 so this is a great place for early dinner.
Sunrise Cafe
4718 Soquel DrBreakfast restaurant serving decent food just down in Soquel Village.
Good breakfast joint. More toward the boardwalk and harbor. Like all the breakfast restaurants, this place gets busy.
67 locals recommend
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveGood breakfast joint. More toward the boardwalk and harbor. Like all the breakfast restaurants, this place gets busy.
If you like hamburgers, try this restaurant/pub. Good, messy hamburgers and tons of beer on tap. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating.
57 locals recommend
burger. Aptos
7941 Soquel DrIf you like hamburgers, try this restaurant/pub. Good, messy hamburgers and tons of beer on tap. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating.
Serving gourmet local, organic fare. This is on the fancier side of dining but still reasonable and has a nice cozy atmosphere.
South Main Street
South Main StreetServing gourmet local, organic fare. This is on the fancier side of dining but still reasonable and has a nice cozy atmosphere.
Everything Else
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveEasy and great take out and sweets.
Not your typical gas station. Full market with ethnic and organic products. Deli and meat bar and lots of goodies.
Chevron
836 Bay AveNot your typical gas station. Full market with ethnic and organic products. Deli and meat bar and lots of goodies.
Check out the college for year around events like theatre and musicals. Some of the best performances around.
Cabrillo College Drive
Cabrillo College DriveCheck out the college for year around events like theatre and musicals. Some of the best performances around.
The best Farmer's Market in town every Saturday from 8-12.
15 locals recommend
Student Activities Center
6500 Soquel DrThe best Farmer's Market in town every Saturday from 8-12.
New Brighton State Beach
1500 Park AveHuge beach with tons of room to spread out.
Epic forest park. Ride bikes, walk dogs, push strollers, hike, run.... you name it. This is a beautiful park, you won't be disappointed.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadEpic forest park. Ride bikes, walk dogs, push strollers, hike, run.... you name it. This is a beautiful park, you won't be disappointed.
Everything bikes! Rent, ride or fix. This shop has excellent customer service.
16 locals recommend
Family Cycling Center
914 41st AveEverything bikes! Rent, ride or fix. This shop has excellent customer service.
The Esplanade Capitola has a little bit of everything. Tourist heaven....beach, shops, restaurants, bars, ice cream. Super cute and fun.
6 locals recommend
Esplanade
EsplanadeThe Esplanade Capitola has a little bit of everything. Tourist heaven....beach, shops, restaurants, bars, ice cream. Super cute and fun.
A local swap meet favorite. If you're in the mood to wheel and deal, this is the place.
6 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Flea Market
2260 Soquel DrA local swap meet favorite. If you're in the mood to wheel and deal, this is the place.
Beautiful and expansive beach with great parking and mellow to moderate wave break. Ask us about the secret to free parking for this beach...
45 locals recommend
New Brighton State Beach
1500 Park AveBeautiful and expansive beach with great parking and mellow to moderate wave break. Ask us about the secret to free parking for this beach...
Standard American fare. It is a counter order and salad bar type restaurant. Good food and homemade milkshakes and pies. Easy and quick.
19 locals recommend
Carpo's Restaurant
2400 Porter StStandard American fare. It is a counter order and salad bar type restaurant. Good food and homemade milkshakes and pies. Easy and quick.
This is a beautiful Buddist retreat. The park is open to the public and has awesome hiking trails. If you need to reconnect, this is the place to go.
68 locals recommend
Land of Medicine Buddha
5800 Prescott RdThis is a beautiful Buddist retreat. The park is open to the public and has awesome hiking trails. If you need to reconnect, this is the place to go.
Capitola Village is great place to do your tourist visiting. It is located right on the beach with lots of restaurants, bars, ice cream, clothing shops, surf shops, etc. You can walk in about 30 min.
Mercantile Capitola
115 San Jose AveCapitola Village is great place to do your tourist visiting. It is located right on the beach with lots of restaurants, bars, ice cream, clothing shops, surf shops, etc. You can walk in about 30 min.
If you're looking for something different and interesting, this is a good place. Quick and easy tourist event that gives you something to think about.
34 locals recommend
Mystery Spot Road
Mystery Spot RoadIf you're looking for something different and interesting, this is a good place. Quick and easy tourist event that gives you something to think about.
This is our favorite bakery. You can't get much better than The Buttery, at least not in Santa Cruz. Delectable, tasty and fresh baked goods and coffee.
133 locals recommend
The Buttery
702 Soquel AveThis is our favorite bakery. You can't get much better than The Buttery, at least not in Santa Cruz. Delectable, tasty and fresh baked goods and coffee.
Shopping
If you have a need for natural and organic foods, this market is small but has everything you need including all of your alternative therapy needs.
14 locals recommend
Aptos Natural Foods
7506 Soquel DrIf you have a need for natural and organic foods, this market is small but has everything you need including all of your alternative therapy needs.
If you like good coffee and a hip scene, this is your place. Fun, good vibes and great coffee and drinks close to the beach.
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveIf you like good coffee and a hip scene, this is your place. Fun, good vibes and great coffee and drinks close to the beach.
Homemade yummy ice cream. This is not your traditional Baskin Robins. Exotic flavors and wonderful ice cream treats. Located right next to Verve.
45 locals recommend
The Penny Ice Creamery Pleasure Point
820 41st AveHomemade yummy ice cream. This is not your traditional Baskin Robins. Exotic flavors and wonderful ice cream treats. Located right next to Verve.
Entertainment & Activities
Great park for kids and adults alike. Super fun steep slide, lots of play structures on a big spread. Grills and picnic tables are also available. Nice running tract at the top if you need some exerci
19 locals recommend
Anna Jean Cummings Park
461 Soquel San Jose RdGreat park for kids and adults alike. Super fun steep slide, lots of play structures on a big spread. Grills and picnic tables are also available. Nice running tract at the top if you need some exerci