If there’s one thing Santa Cruz is known for, it's the beautiful shoreline and unparalleled ocean views. With the area’s most recognizable landmarks including the Santa Cruz Wharf and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the waterfront includes high-flying rides, exciting games, and so much more.
And when you’re feeling hungry, you don’t want to miss the excellent dining options in and around Santa Cruz, either! Using fresh, delicious ingredients, such as crab and salmon, here are our picks for five must-try seafood restaurants in the area.
Poké House
1543 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz
Cities all across the country are waking up to excellent Hawaiian cuisine, and Santa Cruz is no different. Poké House is a popular Hawaiian poké restaurant located right in the heart of downtown, and offers on-the-go and casual dining (with outdoor seating)—excellent for quick lunch breaks, or when you don’t have a lot of time.
Poké House uses various (often raw) ingredients in their poké bowls, including salmon, tofu, tuna, chicken, octopus, and shrimp. They are also committing to sustainability, with biodegradable packaging, as well as organic and hormone-free ingredients.
Aldo's Harbor Restaurant
790 Mariner Park Way, Santa Cruz
A beautiful harborside location, Aldo’s Harbor Restaurant offers casual, Italian style fare with gorgeous views of the marina. This family-owned restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, and popular seafood dishes include fish tacos, fish and chips, and seafood fettucini (made with prawns and calamari).
Aldo’s Harbor Restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating and is pet-friendly. Their Bakery & Cafe location is in Soquel—another local favorite.
The Crow's Nest
2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
On the other side of the harbor, right next to the beach, is The Crow’s Nest. Specializing in American cuisine, this restaurant provides a refined indoor and outdoor dining experience with exceptional sunset views of the marina. There are two levels and two different menus: the lower floor housing the main dining area, and the Breakwater Bar & Grill on the upper floor.
For delicious seafood, The Crow’s Nest is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. Some favorites include the salmon burger, the award-winning calamari, and the ahi sandwich.
Café Cruz
2621 41st Avenue, Soquel
For an elegant night out, Café Cruz is the perfect option. This fine dining restaurant proudly serves regional wines and uses local ingredients, although it does not serve seafood exclusively. Café Cruz also employs sustainable practices for sourcing their fish and uses organic options as often as possible.
The restaurant itself has been in business for almost 30 years. Favorite seafood dishes include the Blackened Fish Taco Salad and the Black and Blue Ahi Tuna Club.
Riva Fish House
31 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz
Located right on the wharf, Riva Fish House has long been a Santa Cruz favorite. Highly-rated and award-winning, this popular spot offers casual eats with water views. They also offer gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, and indicate on their menu which of their items are spicy.
Riva Fish House, named after an Italian fishing village, began as a market before transforming into one of the best restaurants in the area. Favorite dishes include the New England Clam Chowder, Chipotle Prawns & Scallops, Fish & Chips, and the Shrimp & Crab Melt.
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