Best Restaurants Open for Newyears Eve this year in Santa Cruz – 2024

Really fun vibe, delicious food, nice staff. It was pretty busy, a 15 minute wait, and there were definitely not enough staff to manage all the customers. My poke bowl was super delicious, and the coconut shrimp rolls were AMAZING! Overall, great experience, probably better to go on a less busy day!

I was in Santa Cruz with my friends and we were looking for some place to eat with food and drinks. HULA ranked on the top list with excellent recommendations from google and yelp so we decided to give it a try. Oh girl, I was absolutely impressed; this Hawaiian Island themed restaurant serves a variety of high quality vegan/vegetarian, gluten free appetizers, entree and their cocktails. Some of the best food we have ever had! Since I am vegetarian and most of the time I struggle with good food but this place surpassed my expectations and tasted like heaven. This place has good indoor ambiance. unfortunately we could not get experience it! We saw one beautiful Hawaiian themed room next to their bar section with mind blowing decor and so asked host if they could accommodate us inside but they couldn’t. I still wonder why would not they want to serve us there :( Anyways, our host sat our table in their outdoor dining area.The drinks and food came out quickly and tasted so great. I am sucker of good cocktails and every single one of them were delicious and well balanced with right mixology and the best of presentation. The service was also excellent . Server was sweet and friendly, she suggested everything to my taste bud . This place stand out if you looking for some top notch hand crafted cocktails with very best vegetarian bites. A great place to hangout with your families and friends if you in Santa Cruz .The entire crew is friendly. They could have made our dining experience more enjoyable if they had served us inside the themed dining room. Parking is convenient to get since there is one paid parking spot across the street and also parking is available on the street.

What a treat! Hands down our favorite Santa Cruz restaurant. We love a great Polynesian/Tiki restaurant, but this is tied for best overall, anywhere, in our opinion. This restaurant delivers on location, atmosphere, music, menu, quality of food and it's in the Surf Capitol of the USA. Every dish was perfectly prepared. The menu and nightly features were so interesting, we made hard choices. If this restaurant were nearby, I'd return daily until I tried the whole menu. Seriously, it's probably a great thing for us that this place is over 1000 miles away, and yet we can't wait to try it again.

Smaller place. Always really tasty food. Great service. A definite favorite of ours. I believe very reasonably priced for the quality of food delivered. Ribeye, garlic mashed potatoes with the best asparagus (have had multiple times). Pesto Ravioli with chicken and mozzarella. No photo of Ceasar salad, but good also.

The food here was AMAZING. We had a Caesar salad (sooo fresh and good) and the shrimp pasta. I can't even explain how good it was. Our waitress was nice, but she looked at us like we were absolutely crazy when we asked for extra salad dressing. (For some reason, a huge salad for two people is only served with two tiny cups of dressing?) The restaurant is super cute with good ambiance, but the tables are super close together. I guess that is common in California. Anyway the food was perfect, so I definitely would recommend this place.

What a jewel of a place. Our server was phenomenal. She was so friendly and caring. The food was great and came out at the correct temperature.

We came here for my sister graduation dinner. It was a large group of us. The server was very patient and helpful as we have never been here before. Some members had some drinks that I tasted and were delicious. My husband had a meatball dish that I didn’t like. Nor did I like the salad. But my Alfredo was very delicious. It tastes fresh and was very creamy. This place is very pricy, but it’s worth a try because they are good.

Food was quick to come out and attentive service. We had the meatballs, deep fried artichokes, chicken fettuccine, spaghetti carbonara, and spaghetti pomodoro. Their cheesecake was amazing and chocolate torte is definitely shareable as it was very rich.

This is my favorite Santa Cruz restaurant, hands down many times over. I cannot say enough good things about the food and service. And that is true for *all* 9 times I've been there. It's consistently EXCELLENT. Reservations can be made easily, and online. My favorite entree was always the filet mignon, but after tonight the braised short rib with polenta might be my new favorite. My adult kids love the chicken parmesan, and I agree it's is the best we've ever had. Arancini...delicious. The salads...amazing. Ravioli in pink sauce...OMG. Their mushroom ragu sauce they let me sample is still seared in my mind. Every single thing I've tried on their menu has been absolutely great. My *ONLY* regret is always being too full to order dessert! And I do truly regret that because I've seen some lovely desserts on other tables. I VERY highly recommend Lillian's.

So we found out that this place changed menus about 3 months ago and decided to come check out their happy hour. And this place is amazing with really good food and super good service and the person that runs the bar Lindsay made a fantastic Maitai for me. They have an extensive menu and a really good selection of sake, wine and spirits. The fries are out of this world. The portions are decent and the food tastes amazing.

Went here after seeing they were a "dog friendly" place, and we had our corgi who we just took to the dog beach. We found parking right away, but had a hard time finding this place after we parked. Once we found it, we were seated right away outside. I'm not sure if we went on a bad day, but none of the staff seemed like they wanted to be there. The host, who sat us, saw us with our dog or why she would sit us outside, and our server saw our dog as well, but never did they give her a bowl of water. All the other customers who were coming in with dogs were given a bowl of water. This pissed me off because why were we treated differently. The food was good as well as the drinks. The service was horrible and I'll rather go somewhere else.

The small plates were all very good, will definitely try more of those next time. Fried chicken was just OK. A bit on the dry side, and the green beans, which incidentally we also got as a side dish not knowing they would heavily, were quite tough. I suspect this was more a function of the quality of the beans than the preparation method though. Also got a miso salad that was Overly salty and heavily dressed compared to good variations of same elsewhere.

***FYI: bring cash. There’s an automatic 3.5% payment if you use credit card*** This place had the most reviews nearby so we wanted to try it. It’s located at the end of the pier. Parked at the outside of the neighborhood and walked to the pier. It was free parking at the neighborhood. They only need residential parking during the months of May-September, but always check where you parked to avoid a ticket. Parking at the pier $1/hour up to 4 hours. $2/hour after that. Max $12 daily. No wait on a Saturday when we arrived. They gave us options to sit upstairs or not. The upstairs has bar seating so the tables and seats are high. I sat at the level seating area. I prefer the diner seating. Windows can see the ocean view. We ordered Crab Melt that came with fries and 1/2 Crab Melt with Clam chowder. The clam chowder is good! I think they out in gravy or something to make it taste different. I didn’t ask though. The Crab Melt, I felt, was salty! Like a little too salty. I think they salted the crab and the cheese that they put on top of the crab pieces was salty too. Next time if I come here again I would choose just the Crab Sandwich instead. 1 Dozen Oysters were so fresh and isn’t fishy. I really liked the sauce that came with it. It was really delicious!!! The price is market so it came out to $33.95 for 12 oysters. The only problem with the oysters is that it isn’t easy to eat. We had to take the fork to get the meat off the shell. Our waitress wasn’t friendly. She didn’t come back to us or ask how we’re doing. She only gave us water and food. Never came back to check on us. FYI: there is take out just outside next to the restaurant. I think next time I’ll just do that. They sell different oysters, cups of shrimp, crab, and a lot of other things. Next time I would do that instead of dining in.

May not be a fair review because we did not have the chance to try the full menu. We are here to pass some time before our dinner reservation in Capitala. So we just ordered a steam clam and three beers. The $28.95 steam clams only come with seven clams in a very big plate. I can’t really justify the price for this dish. But the waitress was very nice. Coming over to check on us for many times. I may have better opinion next time after I try their other items on the menu.

The atmosphere and decor were cute! The food was very fresh ,full of flavor and delicious !! Service could have been better and quicker. Wait, time wasn't that long (15 minutes for lunch on Sunday), The call back is convenient. You can sit outside and enjoy the view till they call you. Overall, it was a good experience. Will definitely go back !! Thank you. Our family enjoyed everything!

Stopped for a quick bite and it was worth it! The chilaquiles were spicy and filling. The vegan burger was tasty. Great location and good views of the ocean if you get a window seat. Good indoor and outdoor sitting.

We are a family of four, with two young boys and a special needs four year old. The service was outstanding! Our hostess was kind and helpful, and helped us store a mobility chair when we were seated. The waiter was very friendly and patient. And our food was simply delicious. Ideal Bar & Grill is 100 percent kid friendly, with a beautiful interior and a stunning view. 5 stars! We are definitely coming back.

Terrific location by the wharf, a stone's throw from Beach Boardwalk. Pleasant atmosphere and pretty good service. Food wasn't necessarily memorable but still fine. Enjoyed being there and seeing the bustling activity all around.

We ordered the daily special of raw oysters—absolutely delicious! We also tried the fresh halibut, brought in straight from the boat; it was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. Their appetizers are always creative, and while the execution sometimes varies, they get high marks for originality. We don’t frequent places that feel redundant, so this spot keeps us coming back. Service is consistently good, and the view of the harbor is spectacular, making it a fun place to enjoy beautiful summer days. The vibe is casual, with a lively bar full of regulars. For parking, there’s a paid meter conveniently near the restaurant, with an additional machine at the far end of the larger lot. If you have some extra time, walk down the harbor on the other side to visit the lighthouse (see photos).

Our first visit hear and we were not disappointed. They offer fresh fish options daily and 3 ways to have them served. I chose the Halibut, Mashed Potatoes and mixed veggies so good! My hubby had the Fish Tacos which he ravee about. Starter was Crab Cakes Highly recommend! The Garlic Bread was good but I expecting more of a sourdough it was french bread. For our anniversary they comped dessert and I chose Creme Brulee. Great Dinner and experience.

Stopped in for a late lunch with my wife and tried the blue crab stuffed avocado. Ordered the Huli Huli halibut with roasted Bok Choi and wifey ordered the fish tacos. The service was outstanding (I think it was the owner and he showed a lot of pride in the establishment) and the blue crab stuffed avocado was so good I had to order another one. The Bok Choi was delicious, delicious, delicious and the Halibut was cooked perfectly! The plate of fish tacos was huge and a good flavor. Will for sure go back for the food and the view was awesome!

This is a fantastic spot for breakfast. Our local friends brought us here for a late breakfast. It seems to be popular with locals. Great traditional breakfast fare. Think eggs, bacon, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, and much more. They also have fresh tangerine juice when it’s in season. It was so good. The staff is very good and personable. Can’t wait to go back when we’re in town.

Made a stop here on Mothers Day and got seating at the bar with no wait. Food was excellent as always and the wait staff superb. Our food arrived hot and fresh. Our coffee was refreshed frequently. French toast is my favorite and it was delicious. A Santa Cruz favorite, this place it worth a stop anytime.

Sat outside on the mall on a pleasant Sunday morning. so happy to see a vegan breakfast. it was yummy! Tofu Mess...

Burrito slapped. If you want the best Mexican food in Santa Cruz, this is the spot. My girlfriend gets all the cred for finding this place. Definitely a dive with food that is a 5 out of 5. Would recommend this to anyone passing through.

Omg! The Pericos fish burrito was amazing. So flavorful and mission style, which I love! The fish was incredibly tasty and didn’t get lost among the other components of the burrito. They also have a salsa bar which is A++!

Popular and busy place, so I was assuming it was going to be a phenomenal experience with all the local competition. The line was out the door, so it must be good, right? Personally, I was not impressed. I have had way better. I am suspicious that we may have gotten sick from the food. Not positive, but the environment was not super clean, and ironically it smelled of cleaner (I think it was Fabulouso, yuck) and I had to go outside to wait for the food due to the cleaner smell permeating the establishment. And I found an unidentifiable piece of something (plastic) in my taco. No intention of returning.

My favorite and recommendation- Riva Chipotle Tacos (All Prawns). The tacos were really juicy and tasty! Ordered Fried Fish and chips, Fried Prawns and chips as well. They were decent. I liked the Prawns here more than the fish. Service and ambience was absolutely amazing. Will visit again to try more items!

The food was super good!! Fresh, fast and fit the vibe amazingly! Loved the view and the vibe! The staff was super friendly and truthful about their favorites would 10/10 recommend. The curry, fish and chips, crab melt, and salad were amazing!!

My wife and I been to Santa Cruz several times a year for the last 20 years. Manuel was the best bartender we've ever met. Very chill, friendly, and very attentive. If you want to grab a drink and delicious seafood come sit at the bar.

We had a reservation but they were very busy and very apologetic to seat us late. We brought out of town guests because we know this place is special. I was really embarrassed that it took a full 15 min after being seated to get water or ask for our order. Again, staff was apologetic. Then the naan came out undercooked. A blob of flat dough with really great dipping sauce. Our meals were really tasty and generous portions. We sat outside on the patio which is lovely. You could be in Italy. And it’s off the street, very quaint and protected from wind and fog. Heated with heat lamps. I think we were there on a tough night for staff. We for sure will return again.

The five stars of the service goes to the Manager Xander. He asked about our experiences when we're paying the bill. I told him the pasta was too salty to finish. Actually we didn't expect anything but only want him to know about it, though our server never asks. Glad that Xander followed up with the issue and we really appreciate it.

Laila Restaurant in Santa Cruz is a hidden gem that offers a delightful dining experience. We recently visited and were impressed by the quality and flavor of the dishes. We started with the lamb soup, which was delicious and hearty, served in a generous portion that was just right – not too heavy, not too light. The lamb pasta was exceptional, featuring fresh in-house fettuccine and a perfect tomato cream sauce that left us wanting more. The leek dumplings were another highlight – crazy good with a small portion size that was just perfect. The lamb kebabs came with delicious roasted vegetables on the side and flavorful rice. Although the lamb felt a little overdone, the overall dish was still quite enjoyable. We ended our meal with the pistachio cardamom ice cream, which was excellent – packed with tons of pistachios and very delicious. The service at Laila was great; the staff was friendly and attentive, making our experience even better. One downside is the parking, which is hard to find on the street. However, the great service and fantastic dishes more than made up for it. Laila Restaurant is truly a gem in Santa Cruz, and we highly recommend it for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.

Makai Island Kitchen made our beach day absolutely unforgettable, thanks in large part to Beau, the star of our visit! His enthusiasm and expertise transformed our meal into a culinary adventure. Beau suggested a variety of dishes, and every single one was a hit—the kalbi ribs and coconut prawns were bursting with flavor, and the pineapple cake he recommended was the perfect sweet finale. His warm personality and impeccable service deserve all the recognition. Pair that with the stunning ocean views from the rotating deck, and this wharf dining experience becomes a must-visit. Ask for Beau—you won’t regret it!

Shannon and Richard make the great location and atmosphere, even better. This is a nice relaxing environment, along with the excellent food, service, and rotating bar. A must try place when you’re in Santa Cruz.

If you can get a seat at the rotating bar! Super fun drinks and really nice bartenders! If you like Tiki themed cocktails, this is the place to go. All the drinks are served in fancy cups and the menu is very detailed. Make sure you take a look through the window on the floor and you’ll see the massive seal below.

Most everything was great, but my baked potato was dry and old. The outside was tough and leathery. We had the special banana chocolate bread pudding. The outside was dry and hard. They added a bunch of whip cream. Just not the best for the price we paid. The prime rib was good. I recommend the shrimp artichoke it was a good appetizer. The crab cakes were good but rather pricey for 2 cakes.

Probably the best Salmon Burger I've ever had in my life. Either I was incredibly hungry, or it was just a great sandwich. Either way, I enjoyed it and the service was great too. The rest of our party had the pastas. A bit on the oily and salty side but none the less still tasty pastas. I didn't try the salad bar they offer, but I'll get that next time we visit. Located right on the harbor, with a beautiful view of the gorgeous beach and ocean.

During this year's restaurant week I went with family and ordered from the prefix menu. Everything was great! We had a young child with us, and it was easy for the parents with a high chair provided and even a treasure chest treat at the end!

A lovely dining experience. Feels like taking a step into the past. Interior decor is very nostalgic. Food quality and taste is also amazing. Definitely recommend trying the Salmon Sandwich and their heavenly Tiramisu. Lots of veggie options for vegetarians and vegans too.

It's a solid diner. Got the chicken fried steak, they call it country fried. It's pretty expensive for what you get. The portions are acceptable, you shouldn't leave hungry. Gravy was the highlight it was very good gravy. I think the steak is from frozen, so they're not battering it to order. Pretty common but i think for that reason it should be cheaper. I got hashbrowns and they weren't bad but they were under cooked, they should be creamy in the middle and some of the potato was still raw. They're probably cooking them from frozen instead of cooking them thawed. Hashbrowns should be thawed out before they're cooked otherwise they don't come out right. I also got a biscuit, it was pretty good but very tough, drenched in gravy they're pretty good but i wouldn't get one with jelly or honey. I prefer honey on a warm biscuit. Service was great, they're bilingual with Spanish. Pretty clean place, little rip in the seat but no biggy. I do wish they had more hot sauce options, only Tabasco at the tables you gotta hunt down the better ones. All in all a worthy place to eat, definitely better than that garbage they serve at Black Bear Diner. Give them a shot! Plus a rare they're open 24 hr, practically unheard-of in California.

Awesome place! Came here to eat, nice AC in here, very nice employees everywhere!! Nice comfy seating ❤️ i just got the chicken basket menu item and it's good y'all IT IS GOODDD!! Crispy chicken tenders and well seasoned fries PERFECT!!!