The Abbey Coffee, Art & Music Lounge is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

1. The Abbey Coffee, Art & Music Lounge

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

Steven O.Steven Ormsbee: Great live music, come check out their open mic nights.

NicholasNicholas: A Great place for coffee and live music.

Sarah R.Sarah R: Come here for live music

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

2. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

8.5
400 Beach Street (btw Riverside Ave & Cliff St), Santa Cruz, CA
Pedestrian Plaza · Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk · 186 tips and reviews

wai-ling q.wai-ling q.: Worked there for a summer @ the food places. Fun summer job but was hard to watch everyone on the beach while I was slinging food. Gotta love Friday Free Beach Concerts & 1907 nights 50 cent hotdogs

TravelMuseTravelMuse: Fun to go to once in awhile. The Big Dipper is the best; also have a fun summer concert series for free. However, unless you have children, there are many more worthy places to spend your time in S.C.

Santa Cruz Beach BoardwalkSanta Cruz Beach Boardwalk: See one of the FREE Friday Night Bands on the Beach concerts during the summer! Two FREE Shows 6:30pm & 8:30pm See website below for line-up and details. Rockin'!! -ds Read more.

Mission Street Barbecue is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

3. Mission Street Barbecue

8.6
1618 Mission St (btwn Olive & Bay St), Santa Cruz, CA
BBQ Joint · Westside · 28 tips and reviews

O L.O L: Excellent brisket. Over 20 beers to try. Get down on Tuesday for live music.

Jana T.Jana Taylor: Everything is great here! Portions are large and sauces are tasty. Live Blues music every evening.

Sarah R.Sarah R: They have live music. I get the berry Bleu salad and top it with brisket.

Santa Cruz Main Beach is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

4. Santa Cruz Main Beach

8.7
Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA
Beach · Westside · 32 tips and reviews

irieirie: come on Fridays for free concerts at the Boardwalk!

Niki🔥🍁 F.Niki🔥🍁 Fernandes (Brown)😚💨: Season passes,tailgating n the back of main parking lot, pic~nic tables w/a CROWD FREE entrance (next 2Crazy Surf)Best & cheapest way to spend ur time here.ALWAYS bring a sweater,even on nice days

Allen W.Allen Wagner: The water is cold, look out for sharks.

Streetlight Records is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

5. Streetlight Records

8.9
939 Pacific Ave (at Elm St.), Santa Cruz, CA
Record Store · Downtown Santa Cruz · 7 tips and reviews

Michael A.Michael Abon: Incompetent staff. If you're ordering concert tickets through Streetlight, make sure they actually have them.

Maya W.Maya Wagoner: Always always always listen to their recommended cds. Some of my favorite ever albums have come from this.

ABAB: Love this store and its employees but consider Logos if you're selling vinyl, they pay way more.

Kuumbwa Jazz is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

6. Kuumbwa Jazz

8.1
320 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA
Jazz and Blues Venue · Downtown Santa Cruz · 5 tips and reviews

Jeremy H.Jeremy Helm: It's incredibly intimate, you're right there with the musician. Sit up close, or stand in the back so you can dance

joanne r.joanne reiter: Love love love this place. Fabulous jazz and food

Stevie P.Stevie P: Bar has reasonably good, reasonably priced red and white wine on tap.

Rio Theatre is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

7. Rio Theatre

8.1
1205 Soquel Ave (Seabright Ave.), Santa Cruz, CA
Concert Hall · Eastside · 7 tips and reviews

Lara S.Lara Saikali: This is an awesome place to see a show. The seats fan out in the front so there are plenty of great seats in the House

TicketWebTicketWeb: From Peter Murphy to Gorillaz to movie documentaries to Vagina Monologues. What an amazing Theatre Santa Cruz has. TW ♥'s Rio Theater! Read more.

Matt C.Matt Cline: Very charming men's room. Reminds me of grade school.

Moe's Alley is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

8. Moe's Alley

8.6
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, CA
Dive Bar · 5 tips and reviews

RemezclaRemezcla: Join the Bay Area’s cumbia band, La Misa Negra and Flor De Caña for a Latin Double Bill Dance Party at Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz on January 30, 2015. Read more.

Marina C.Marina Cazorla: Some great seats near the stage if you get here early.

Charlie V.Charlie Villagrana: Old school bands!

The Crepe Place is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

9. The Crepe Place

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

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

Noah B.Noah Batterson: Tasty crepes and decent bloody Mary's. Staff was fast and efficient. Cool dive-y atmosphere.

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

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

10. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium

7.4
307 Church St (at Center St), Santa Cruz, CA
Concert Hall · Downtown Santa Cruz · 7 tips and reviews

Nancilou B.Nancilou Biscotti: Roller Derby and concerts!

Karl G.Karl Goldfield: Home of the best team in Santa Cruz, the DERBY GIRLS!

M L.M Lockton: This is where the biggest acts come to Santa Cruz, and yes, also the derby girls. Get tickets early for this 2000 person venue.

Woodstock's Pizza is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

11. Woodstock's Pizza

7.9
710 Front St (at Cooper St.), Santa Cruz, CA
Pizzeria · Downtown Santa Cruz · 43 tips and reviews

Joe W.Joe Wildebread: There's live music most Tuesday nights generally starting around 7 pm!! Next Tuesday the 29th there's a Bebop Jazz Quartet playing, come check 'em out!!

Sarah R.Sarah R: Large pepperoni pizza and a family salad for $20.75. They have wine, too.

Growth H.Growth Hacker: Liter of beer...

Jack O'Neill Lounge is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

12. Jack O'Neill Lounge

7.7
175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA
Lounge · Westside · 8 tips and reviews

Aisha O.Aisha Owens: Live music on Thursday & Saturday nights!

Marek M.Marek Minecki: Fun place for drinks and a snack... has a nice mix of surf bum and postmodern classy. Have some original and yummy takes on classic cocktails.

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: Brazilian Samba trios play here on alternating Thursday & Saturday nights. Call in advance though to verify. Respect.

West End Tap & Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

13. West End Tap & Kitchen

8.0
334 Ingalls St Ste D, Santa Cruz, CA
Gastropub · Westside · 32 tips and reviews

Allison K.Allison Kaminski: Great place to grab a drink and a bite to eat before a game or concert at the UC, they even have a shuttle there! It’s a four corners bar so the food is obvi good!

Lydia K.Lydia Klem: Great food and Great beer! The squash blossom appetizer is delicious.

Brian S.Brian Strauss: Excellent calamari with jalapeños. Loved the Peter's Lager on the patio.

Engfer Pizza Works is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

14. Engfer Pizza Works

7.6
525 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Pizzeria · Eastside · 15 tips and reviews

Amy L.Amy Leigh: Pizza is amazing, live music Tuesday nights. Good beer selection bottles and on tap. Gluten free pizza but cooked in same oven.

Maya B.Maya Borgueta: Awesome vegan pizza. I like cashew topping.

Shige H.Shige H: Ace's wild is the ticket

Crow's Nest Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places for Musicians in Santa Cruz.

15. Crow's Nest Restaurant

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

Amy L.Amy Leigh: Live music

Miguel S.Miguel Sojo: Excellent clam chowder. Nice place witg great ambience and view

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