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

1. Soif

8.3
105 Walnut Ave (at Pacific Avenue), Santa Cruz, CA
Wine Bar · Downtown Santa Cruz · 22 tips and reviews

Thierry L.Thierry Leleu: Nice atmosphere good wine (you can pick your bottle at the shop next to the restaurant) & good service

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.

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

2. Laili Restaurant

8.6
101 Cooper St #B (btw Front and Pacific), Santa Cruz, CA
Mediterranean Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 44 tips and reviews

Nico P.Nico Pitney: Grilled chicken flatbread is out of this world. Moroccan beet salad also great.

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.

Rosie McCann's Irish Pub & Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Special Occasions in Santa Cruz.

3. Rosie McCann's Irish Pub & Restaurant

8.4
1220 Pacific Ave (at Walnut St), Santa Cruz, CA
Pub · Downtown Santa Cruz · 32 tips and reviews

Monica H.Monica Hertzz: Best veggie burger I have ever had!! Made with black beans. And I subbed the house salad for the French fries and the salad was just as delicious! Definitely coming here more!

Eric J.Eric Jacobi: Emily. Is nice. Fun to talk to. Will joke. And has a great butt

ThreedukesThreedukes: Emily is a great waitress.

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

4. Lillian's Italian Kitchen

8.3
1116 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Italian Restaurant · Eastside · 30 tips and reviews

Krista L.Krista Leitzke: The black truffle stuffed gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce and filet mignon!! Also great fresh fettuccine

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.

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Special Occasions in Santa Cruz.

5. Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing

8.2
402 Ingalls St Ste 27 (btw Fair Ave and Swift Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Brewery · Westside · 34 tips and reviews

Hai L.Hai Li: I love the Juice Box IPA. Amazing taste. The staff was super friendly.

Sabina B.Sabina B.: Get the beer flight and sample all the goodness. If you're here during the colder months, get their ginger beer - it will not disappoint. The IPA is solid as well.

John G.John Gelbius: $3 brews during happy hour.

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

6. 515 Kitchen & Cocktails

8.2
515 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA
Lounge · Downtown Santa Cruz · 56 tips and reviews

Michael D.Michael Dacquisto III: 55 cocktail is AMAZING. Best cucumber mojito I've ever had!

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

Lauren L.Lauren Langone: Polenta Benedict is DELICIOUS!

The Penny Ice Creamery is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Special Occasions in Santa Cruz.

7. The Penny Ice Creamery

8.9
913 Cedar St (at Locust St.), Santa Cruz, CA
Ice Cream Parlor · Downtown Santa Cruz · 75 tips and reviews

cnelson ︻.cnelson ︻╦╤─: The line moves fast and it's worth the wait.

mikeymikey: Tuesday and Thursdays between 4 and 6, get a second single scoop for one penny

Ian H.Ian Hsu: Toasted marshmallow fluff topping is epic.

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

8. Crow's Nest Restaurant

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

Andrea N.Andrea Nelson: Great happy hour and an amazing view. We saw a whale while nibbling on crab martini. Kinda slow service but well worth the wait.

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

Anthony C.Anthony Cuevas: The view is priceless...

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

9. Oyunaa's Mongolian cuisine

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

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.

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

Alex P.Alex Price: Service was really slow, food came out randomly (only two out of five of our party had food in front of them at any one time) and portions are really small for what you pay for. Food was okay.

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

10. The Crepe Place

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

Trisha L.Trisha Liu: Deluxe Garden Salad is gigantic and delicious! Get it with honey lemon dressing.

Yuri P.Yuri Parsons: order the crepe Alexander, it's super yummy

Lydia K.Lydia Klem: Great food, full bar and live music to boot! #win

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

11. Real Thai Kitchen

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

MatthiasMatthias: #thegreatamericantakeout : What I wasn‘t quite expecting was the heat... They are taking their spiciness serious! 🌶🔥👌🏼 WOW!! If you like it HOT, this is definitely a place to keep in mind! 👍🏼

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!

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

12. La Posta

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

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.)

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

Gabby H.Gabby H: The bread is delicious. You can take a loaf home on Fridays and Saturdays. Not known for desserts. (We skipped it.)

Marini’s at the Wharf is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Special Occasions in Santa Cruz.

13. Marini’s at the Wharf

8.7
55 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA
Dessert Shop · 2 tips and reviews

Mr. Tambourine ManMr. Tambourine Man: great espresso!!

Faryn S.Faryn Schneider: Great strawberry smoothies

Sabieng Thai Cuisine is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Special Occasions in Santa Cruz.

14. Sabieng Thai Cuisine

8.2
1218 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Westside · 15 tips and reviews

Alex H.Alex Hernandez: The Pad Thai is the BEST in Santa Cruz! The corn cake appetizers are also one of my usuales, along with the crab delights.

Beth K.Beth Kanter: The food is great here

James L.James Lee: They have a great lunch special

Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Special Occasions in Santa Cruz.

15. Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room

8.4
221 Cathcart St (btwn Pacific Ave & Cedar St), Santa Cruz, CA
Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 80 tips and reviews

Carol G.Carol Gunby: Dark & Stormy is outstanding. Also, the ahi tuna burger & slaw

TaylorTaylor: Get a scorpion bowl...it always seems like a good idea.

Lizzy L.Lizzy Lapp: Hula's Happy Hour is amazing! Bottomless Mimosa's for $10 in 5 different flavors.