Guidebook for Aptos

Lisa
Guidebook for Aptos

Food Scene

Great outdoor patio for drinks and appetizers (and live music on Wednesday "Neighborhood Night). Nicer dining inside.
48 locals recommend
Café Rio Aptos
131 Esplanade
48 locals recommend
Great outdoor patio for drinks and appetizers (and live music on Wednesday "Neighborhood Night). Nicer dining inside.
Great, casual spot for coffee, breakfast, big deli sandwiches, and more. Nice outdoor patio.
40 locals recommend
Pixie Deli
111 Venetian Rd
40 locals recommend
Great, casual spot for coffee, breakfast, big deli sandwiches, and more. Nice outdoor patio.
Fun environment with good, old-school Mexican dishes & tasty margaritas. Always a good idea to call ahead for a reservation. A nice 15-20 min walk from our place along the Esplanade and up big stair.
91 locals recommend
Manuel's Mexican Restaurant
261 Center Ave
91 locals recommend
Fun environment with good, old-school Mexican dishes & tasty margaritas. Always a good idea to call ahead for a reservation. A nice 15-20 min walk from our place along the Esplanade and up big stair.
Casual place serving up delicious breakfast! Also open for lunch and dinner. A nice 15-20 minute walk from our place along the Esplanade and up the large staircase near Cement Ship.
8 locals recommend
The Hole In the Wall Restaurant
257 Center Ave
8 locals recommend
Casual place serving up delicious breakfast! Also open for lunch and dinner. A nice 15-20 minute walk from our place along the Esplanade and up the large staircase near Cement Ship.
A Santa Cruz County tradition! A nice 15-20 minute walk from our place along the Esplanade and up the large staircase near Cement Ship.
45 locals recommend
Marianne’s Ice Cream
218 State Park Dr
45 locals recommend
A Santa Cruz County tradition! A nice 15-20 minute walk from our place along the Esplanade and up the large staircase near Cement Ship.
Serving up delicious, up-scale comfort food. Nice outdoor seating, and one of the best restaurants in Aptos.
59 locals recommend
The Hideout
9051 Soquel Dr
59 locals recommend
Serving up delicious, up-scale comfort food. Nice outdoor seating, and one of the best restaurants in Aptos.
Located inside Deluxe Foods.
9 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee & Tea
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
9 locals recommend
Located inside Deluxe Foods.
Excellent Texas-style BBQ with live blues almost every night. Casual setting with a huge selection of beers of tap. Get there early to get the full selection of meats - when it's gone, it's gone!
95 locals recommend
Aptos St. BBQ
8059 Aptos St
95 locals recommend
Excellent Texas-style BBQ with live blues almost every night. Casual setting with a huge selection of beers of tap. Get there early to get the full selection of meats - when it's gone, it's gone!
Good local coffee plus bagels and baked goods. Located in Rancho del Mar near Safeway.
7 locals recommend
Aptos Coffee Roasting Co
7 locals recommend
Good local coffee plus bagels and baked goods. Located in Rancho del Mar near Safeway.
Excellent brunch in a cute setting in Aptos Village. Also open for dinner.
79 locals recommend
Café Sparrow
8042 Soquel Dr
79 locals recommend
Excellent brunch in a cute setting in Aptos Village. Also open for dinner.
They deliver!
20 locals recommend
Village Host Pizza & Grill
4 Seascape Village
20 locals recommend
They deliver!
This is the only Indian restaurant in Aptos, and fortunately it is a good one! Dine in or order ahead for pick-up.
24 locals recommend
Ambrosia India Bistro - Aptos
207 Sea Ridge Rd
24 locals recommend
This is the only Indian restaurant in Aptos, and fortunately it is a good one! Dine in or order ahead for pick-up.
A Santa Cruz County classic! Take the funicular down and enjoy drinks and appetizers at the Rock Bar, or make a reservation for fine dining in the main restaurant. Great for special occasions.
205 locals recommend
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Rd
205 locals recommend
A Santa Cruz County classic! Take the funicular down and enjoy drinks and appetizers at the Rock Bar, or make a reservation for fine dining in the main restaurant. Great for special occasions.
Wonderful, family-owned vegetarian restaurant. Friendly setting, large portions!
62 locals recommend
Dharma's Restaurant
4250 Capitola Rd
62 locals recommend
Wonderful, family-owned vegetarian restaurant. Friendly setting, large portions!
Casual and tasty Mediterranean restaurant.
49 locals recommend
Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine
7528 Soquel Dr
49 locals recommend
Casual and tasty Mediterranean restaurant.
Great for breakfast! Very large portions! Outdoor seating available. Located in the Deer Park Center near Deluxe Foods.
42 locals recommend
Red Apple Café
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
42 locals recommend
Great for breakfast! Very large portions! Outdoor seating available. Located in the Deer Park Center near Deluxe Foods.
The best Thai food in the area. About 20 minutes south on Hwy 1 in Moss Landing.
30 locals recommend
Lemongrass Seafood Bar & Grill Thai Cuisine
413 Moss Landing Rd
30 locals recommend
The best Thai food in the area. About 20 minutes south on Hwy 1 in Moss Landing.
Good Mexican food in a fun environment. About 20 minutes south on Hwy 1 in Moss Landing.
51 locals recommend
The Whole Enchilada Market Place
7902 CA-1
51 locals recommend
Good Mexican food in a fun environment. About 20 minutes south on Hwy 1 in Moss Landing.
Charming restaurant with consistently wonderful food - probably our favorite in Aptos! Great for a special event meal like a birthday or anniversary. Cozy place; reservations recommended.
25 locals recommend
Persephone
7945 Soquel Dr
25 locals recommend
Charming restaurant with consistently wonderful food - probably our favorite in Aptos! Great for a special event meal like a birthday or anniversary. Cozy place; reservations recommended.

Essentials

Nice gourmet market, and the closest grocery store to our place. Located in the Deer Park Shopping Center.
78 locals recommend
Deluxe Foods of Aptos
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
78 locals recommend
Nice gourmet market, and the closest grocery store to our place. Located in the Deer Park Shopping Center.
Large, newer Safeway store.
82 locals recommend
Safeway
2720 41st Ave
82 locals recommend
Large, newer Safeway store.
Great market! Our local version of Whole Foods.
248 locals recommend
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair Ave
248 locals recommend
Great market! Our local version of Whole Foods.

Everything Else

Miles and miles of trails through the redwoods. Excellent hiking and mountain biking. About 2 miles away.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek Road
272 locals recommend
Miles and miles of trails through the redwoods. Excellent hiking and mountain biking. About 2 miles away.

Entertainment & Activities

Great wines and lovelyindoor/outdoor tasting area.
18 locals recommend
Soquel Vineyards
8063 Glen Haven Rd
18 locals recommend
Great wines and lovelyindoor/outdoor tasting area.
Nice wine tasting, lovely outdoor patio.
31 locals recommend
Bargetto Winery
3535 N Main St
31 locals recommend
Nice wine tasting, lovely outdoor patio.

Sightseeing

Kayak rentals in Moss Landing.
55 locals recommend
Kayak Connection
2370 CA-1
55 locals recommend
Kayak rentals in Moss Landing.
Give yourself the whole day to explore this fantastic aquarium.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
668 locals recommend
Give yourself the whole day to explore this fantastic aquarium.
Great aquarium/research center on thew northern edge of Santa Cruz. Great for kids.
80 locals recommend
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister Way
80 locals recommend
Great aquarium/research center on thew northern edge of Santa Cruz. Great for kids.

Shopping

Wonderful store for the bath and home.
7 locals recommend
Outside-In
7568 Soquel Dr
7 locals recommend
Wonderful store for the bath and home.
The best toy store around!
7 locals recommend
Outside-In
7568 Soquel Dr
7 locals recommend
The best toy store around!
Wonderful home/bath/decor.
7 locals recommend
Warmth Company at Aptos Village
140 Post Office Dr
7 locals recommend
Wonderful home/bath/decor.