Oswald is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

1. Oswald

8.6
121 Soquel Ave (at Front St.), Santa Cruz, CA
American Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 14 tips and reviews

Mimsie L.Mimsie Lemar: Sit at the bar... Great bar food. You want quiet and intimate get a table... Beautiful Santa Cruz Food!!!

Tyler F.Tyler Fox: Delicious food and very legit portions! A great night out.

Rick H.Rick Hartley: The burgers with blue cheese and caramelized onions are the best. Great cocktails too.

Lillian's Italian Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

2. Lillian's Italian Kitchen

8.6
1116 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Italian Restaurant · Eastside · 30 tips and reviews

SarahSarah: This place has very nice ambiance, good for date nights. The ravioli and lasagna are both divine.

PaulinaPaulina: Get the black truffle gnocchi.

Lauren L.Lauren Langone: People talk about this place a lot, and it really lives up to the hype! Delicious and comforting Italian cuisine.

The Crepe Place is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

3. The Crepe Place

8.0
1134 Soquel Ave (between Seabright & Cayuga), Santa Cruz, CA
Creperie · Eastside · 41 tips and reviews

kaleb a.kaleb askew: A nice, intimate venue filled with wonderful Crepe aroma.

MJ L.MJ Lee: Good for dating.

Lisa B.Lisa Brett: Try the Rolled Crepes With Fresh Fruit - Sitting in the sun, feeling so pampered with this crepe!

Laili Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

4. Laili Restaurant

8.9
101 Cooper St #B (btw Front and Pacific), Santa Cruz, CA
Mediterranean Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 44 tips and reviews

Virgi R.Virgi R.: The pomegranate eggplant are a must try. Good selection of beers & wines. The staff is lovely and helpful.

NmNm: Didn't like the chicken kabob .. Eggplant and parmesan on flatbread is recommended .. Great service .. Little pricey .. Crowded ..

NahidNahid: Get patio seating if available (gorgeous). Great food, prices in the $20-30 range for entrees.

Crow's Nest Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

5. Crow's Nest Restaurant

8.3
2218 E Cliff Dr (at 5th Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
American Restaurant · Eastside · 112 tips and reviews

Aditi M.Aditi Modak: The view from the patio is amazing. Crab cakes and patrale sole was simply delicious. Nice place to go for a romantic evening

Trisha L.Trisha Liu: Salmon and mango salad, with macadamias, sesame dressing, tiny bit of kick. SO good!!

Irene K.Irene Kimmel: Sunsets are beautiful and during the holidays the sail boats in the harbor are decorated and make it very festive.

Soif is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

6. Soif

8.2
105 Walnut Ave (at Pacific Avenue), Santa Cruz, CA
Wine Bar · Downtown Santa Cruz · 22 tips and reviews

Stephen L.Stephen Lear: Best wine selection anywhere in the region. Try all the small plates and you won't be dissatisfied.

Whitney S.Whitney Spagnola: Ask for Rachel. She is a GREAT server!

Julie S.Julie Scopazzi: Sign up for the classes. Amazing champagne tasting during the holidays.

The Abbey Coffee, Art & Music Lounge is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

7. The Abbey Coffee, Art & Music Lounge

9.1
350 Mission St (at Highland Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Coffee Shop · Westside · 25 tips and reviews

Andrew W.Andrew Ward: I usually order a cappuccino or Gibraltar. Love the comfortable, shaggy-chic decor. Check out the courtyard for an ultra peaceful experience. If they served Champagne I might never leave!

Aleks K.Aleks Kozak: Sit down and enjoy the coziness. Read a book, even if it's your MacBook... or your neighbor's. :)

Vab MediaVab Media: Free wi-fi! Lots of room! Beautiful out and in! What's not to like?

515 Kitchen & Cocktails is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

8. 515 Kitchen & Cocktails

8.1
515 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA
Lounge · Downtown Santa Cruz · 56 tips and reviews

Jon B.Jon Burns: Great food and cocktails for the money cant be beat.

ᴡ K.ᴡ Killam: Pretty decent happy hour, good service

Lauren L.Lauren Langone: Polenta Benedict is DELICIOUS!

Harbor Cafe is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

9. Harbor Cafe

8.8
535 7th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Café · 41 tips and reviews

Damian B.Damian Bayona: If there's a line, sit at the outside bar area for immediate food and drink service. The breakfast croissant is a must try 👌🏻

Nick P.Nick Piper: Bottomless mimosas Friday

Sondra B.Sondra Baca: Everything here is deeelish!! The Avocado Bene, Veggie scramble and Mimosa Fridays is the best. Plus the staff is great!

Bantam is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

10. Bantam

7.9
1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Pizzeria · Westside · 16 tips and reviews

Steve C.Steve C: Best spot I’ve found in Santa Cruz for a good dinner

Jamie P.Jamie Pagels: What’s good: Chickpea farinata pizza with ricotta and rocket pesto, soppressata pizza with mozzarella and spicy honey

Sid B.Sid Boz: Great salads and pizza. Delicious beers on tap. Good vibe.

Verve Coffee Roasters is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

11. Verve Coffee Roasters

9.0
1540 Pacific Ave (at Front St), Santa Cruz, CA
Coffee Shop · Downtown Santa Cruz · 127 tips and reviews

Maggie K.Maggie Kealy: Outstanding macchiato! Perfect taste without the added flavoring, amazing ambiance and fantab staff!

Chris H.Chris Heilmann: WiFi password is streetlevel. don't be a dick though and buy their stuff first. excellent coffee.

Zach B.Zach Buechler: Great for a rainy day, or a sunny day, or a Monday, or hell, even great for the final days of the apocalypse.

Real Thai Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

12. Real Thai Kitchen

8.2
1632 Seabright Ave (at Soquel Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Eastside · 12 tips and reviews

Susan C.Susan Cannon: Great buffet! (Unusual for a Thai restaurant) Wonderful Veerkat art on the walls too.

Jeremy G.Jeremy Geiger: The name is accurate. This is one of the few Thai restaurants I the U.S. That my Thai wife will go to

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: Vegan options abound at the lunch buffet. Salad dressing has mayo but items like spicy tofu, green vegi curry & Tom Kha Tofu appear totally free of animal products. Spicy tofu is just that! Cha-chow!

Oyunaa's Mongolian cuisine is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

13. Oyunaa's Mongolian cuisine

7.6
1209 Soquel Ave (Seabright Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Mongolian Restaurant · Eastside · 10 tips and reviews

Trisha L.Trisha Liu: Yum!! We had the borscht, gulyash, and buuz. All delicious!

Nick L.Nick Lachica: Lamb ribs are the best! Get there early because they'll sell out.

Sonia W.Sonia Wong: The lamb ribelletes are delicious! We also enjoyed the veggie dumplings and beef and noodle soup. Everything is handmade for you. The little wait is well worth it! Owners were great too.

Cafe Iveta is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

14. Cafe Iveta

8.3
2125 Delaware Ave (at Swift St.), Santa Cruz, CA
Café · Westside · 26 tips and reviews

Barbara M.Barbara Matthews: The gluten-free scones are quite light & tasty. They also carry all their scone and biscuit mixes on-site. Perfect for the day after Thanksgiving!

Neha W.Neha W: They have clotted cream to take your scone enjoyment to the next level.

Barbara M.Barbara Matthews: The gluten- free scones are light and tasty. You won

La Posta is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

15. La Posta

7.7
538 Seabright Ave (btw Hall & Watson), Santa Cruz, CA
Italian Restaurant · Eastside · 7 tips and reviews

Julie S.Julie Scopazzi: Very good contemporary Italian cuisine.

Matt R.Matt Rodkey: Sit at the bar for great service and wonderful conversation.

Gabby H.Gabby H: House-made bread, salads are generous, pasta has good texture. (Hostess seated three new tables in green waiter’s section — didn’t work out well for us. He was great but in the weeds.)