Food scene
Indoor and Outdoor seating. Full bar and dog friendly patio.
Tuesday-Sunday they open their "Cafe Bittersweet" for breakfast and lunch.
Bittersweet Bistro
787 Rio Del Mar BlvdBest smoked BBQ in Santa Cruz. Craft brews and live blues every night.
95 locals recommend
Aptos St. BBQ
8059 Aptos StBest smoked BBQ in Santa Cruz. Craft brews and live blues every night.
BURGER.
Great local burger place. Fun atmosphere, dog friendly patio and great beer menu.
57 locals recommend
burger. Aptos
7941 Soquel DrBURGER.
Great local burger place. Fun atmosphere, dog friendly patio and great beer menu.
Flats Bistro Aptos
113 EsplanadeCoffee pastries and wood-fired pizza. Down at the beach!
Ocean-front dining. Seafood, steak and full bar. Dog friendly patio too.
47 locals recommend
Café Rio Aptos
131 EsplanadeOcean-front dining. Seafood, steak and full bar. Dog friendly patio too.
Two full bars, rotation taps, pub fare and patio seating. A local hangout.
29 locals recommend
Parish Publick House Aptos
8017 Soquel DrTwo full bars, rotation taps, pub fare and patio seating. A local hangout.
Great sushi and locally grown produce. Dog friendly patio,
Definitely a local favorite
20 locals recommend
Akira Aptos
105 Post Office DrGreat sushi and locally grown produce. Dog friendly patio,
Definitely a local favorite
Casual dining, flavorful meals and one of my favorite soups "Moroccan Madness"! Great outdoor area with a cool rotating art sculpture.
49 locals recommend
Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine
7528 Soquel DrCasual dining, flavorful meals and one of my favorite soups "Moroccan Madness"! Great outdoor area with a cool rotating art sculpture.
Panda Inn
783 Rio Del Mar BlvdYummy Chinese food. A local favorite!
Aptos local taqueria. Friendly staff, quick food service and consistently tasty Mexican food.
10 locals recommend
Taqueria Los Gordos
7488 Soquel DrAptos local taqueria. Friendly staff, quick food service and consistently tasty Mexican food.
Sid's Smokehouse
10110 Soquel DrSouthern style BBQ. Also sandwiches, salads and daily specials
Tucked into the redwood trees this deli is a local favorite. Outside seating and dog friendly. Cool fish tank too
9 locals recommend
The Palm Deli
3000 Valencia AveTucked into the redwood trees this deli is a local favorite. Outside seating and dog friendly. Cool fish tank too
Beach side Deli. Popular with locals and tourists. Loads of outdoor seating. Fun hang-out and yummy fries!
40 locals recommend
Pixie Deli
111 Venetian RdBeach side Deli. Popular with locals and tourists. Loads of outdoor seating. Fun hang-out and yummy fries!
Erik's DeliCafé | Aptos
102 Rancho Del MarITS OPEN!!!
Located in the Deep Park Center above Deluxe Foods. Its the local place for breakfast and lunch.
42 locals recommend
Red Apple Café
783 Rio Del Mar BlvdLocated in the Deep Park Center above Deluxe Foods. Its the local place for breakfast and lunch.
Local breakfast place. Kids love the hot chocolate. Friendly staff.
8 locals recommend
The Hole In the Wall Restaurant
257 Center AveLocal breakfast place. Kids love the hot chocolate. Friendly staff.
Local ice cream shop serving up a wide range of house-made goodies. Frozen yogurt & espresso too.
45 locals recommend
Marianne’s Ice Cream
218 State Park DrLocal ice cream shop serving up a wide range of house-made goodies. Frozen yogurt & espresso too.
French Dining. Wonderful selection of wines. Renowned for their dessert menu!
76 locals recommend
Café Sparrow
8042 Soquel DrFrench Dining. Wonderful selection of wines. Renowned for their dessert menu!
Wonderful Indian food! Weekday buffet is very good and good value too.
24 locals recommend
Ambrosia India Bistro - Aptos
207 Sea Ridge RdWonderful Indian food! Weekday buffet is very good and good value too.
Upscale dining. Dishes are based on the local availability of products and produce. Reservations recommended.
25 locals recommend
Persephone
7945 Soquel DrUpscale dining. Dishes are based on the local availability of products and produce. Reservations recommended.
Upscale Mexican food with amazing views of the ocean. Full bar & yummy chips!
56 locals recommend
Palapas Restaurant & Cantina
21 Seascape VillageUpscale Mexican food with amazing views of the ocean. Full bar & yummy chips!
Local pizza place. TV's to watch the game and video games for the kiddies.
20 locals recommend
Village Host Pizza & Grill
4 Seascape VillageLocal pizza place. TV's to watch the game and video games for the kiddies.
Carried Away
7564 Soquel DrHome cooked gourmet meals that u can eat there or "carry away".
Uncle Kwok's Szechwan Restaurant
7960 Soquel DrLocal Chinese food restaurant.
Pizza 1
253 Center AveThey have a wide variety of yummy pizza. Also pizza by the slice.
Poki Bowl Aptos
98 Rancho Del MarLong time favorite sushi restaurant which is now open in Aptos 2020!
9 locals recommend
Sushi Garden Aptos
38 Rancho Del MarLong time favorite sushi restaurant which is now open in Aptos 2020!
Mountain Mikes just opened restaurant in the Aptos Safeway Rancho Del Mar Center, February 2020! Check it out!
18 locals recommend
Mountain Mike's Pizza
266 Reservation RdMountain Mikes just opened restaurant in the Aptos Safeway Rancho Del Mar Center, February 2020! Check it out!
This is a local favorite and also my son's favorite burger joint. Outside seating
65 locals recommend
Betty Burgers
505 Seabright AveThis is a local favorite and also my son's favorite burger joint. Outside seating
Currently Menton’s has a “LITTLE BEACH” in their parking lot, for spritzes, snacks and pizzas.
32 locals recommend
Mentone
174 Aptos Vlg WyCurrently Menton’s has a “LITTLE BEACH” in their parking lot, for spritzes, snacks and pizzas.
Sanderlings Restaurant at Seascape Resort
1 Seascape Resort DrSeverino's Bar & Grill
7500 Old Dominion CtHomemade ice cream. They’re flavors change with the seasons, using locally farmed ingredients.
The Penny Ice Creamery Aptos Village
141 Aptos Vlg WyHomemade ice cream. They’re flavors change with the seasons, using locally farmed ingredients.
Soul Salad
7957 Soquel DriveLocally owned amazing salads. All organic goodness! Super cool drinks too.
Coffee Bar
Amazing local coffee bar. Beautiful coffee and teas. Outdoor seating and dog friendly.
71 locals recommend
Cat & Cloud Coffee
3600 Portola DrAmazing local coffee bar. Beautiful coffee and teas. Outdoor seating and dog friendly.
Great coffee and tea. Plenty of seating, inside and out. WiFi and dog friendly. Conveniently located next to Safeway.
9 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee & Tea
783 Rio Del Mar BlvdGreat coffee and tea. Plenty of seating, inside and out. WiFi and dog friendly. Conveniently located next to Safeway.
Starbucks
105 B Post Office DrCoffee and Teas. Located in a quite setting with restaurants near by.
California Coffee
9105 Soquel DrLocal coffee shop with a dedicated dog patio!
Local Coffee shop with lots of baked goodies. Great outdoor seating.
17 locals recommend
Pacific Coffee Roasting Co
7554 Soquel DrLocal Coffee shop with lots of baked goodies. Great outdoor seating.
Freshly baked onsite breads and other goodies. Lovely coffee, teas and such. Great place to hang-out. Outside seating.
13 locals recommend
Companion Bakeshop Aptos
7486 Soquel DrFreshly baked onsite breads and other goodies. Lovely coffee, teas and such. Great place to hang-out. Outside seating.
Norma Jean's Coffee
8043 Soquel DrLocal coffee shop.
Beach
Fish, swim and visit the SS Palo Alto aka the "Cement Ship". Picnic tables and BBQ areas. Lovely 1 mile walking path and fun little visitor center. Winter months they offer scavenge hunt inside center for the kiddies.
97 locals recommend
Seacliff State Beach
State Park DriveFish, swim and visit the SS Palo Alto aka the "Cement Ship". Picnic tables and BBQ areas. Lovely 1 mile walking path and fun little visitor center. Winter months they offer scavenge hunt inside center for the kiddies.
Long sandy stretch (miles) of beach. Good surf and fishing. Free parking just outside of lot.
55 locals recommend
Manresa State Beach
1445 San Andreas RdLong sandy stretch (miles) of beach. Good surf and fishing. Free parking just outside of lot.
Bayfront beach with lots of free parking. Places to eat and public bathrooms.
63 locals recommend
Rio Del Mar State Beach
Bayfront beach with lots of free parking. Places to eat and public bathrooms.
Hidden has a fab kiddies playground area just up from the beach. For the beach are just walk passed the park, down small hill to beach. Arrived.
16 locals recommend
Hidden Beach Park
660 Cliff DrHidden has a fab kiddies playground area just up from the beach. For the beach are just walk passed the park, down small hill to beach. Arrived.
Recreational Activities
Seascape Golf Club is open to public year round. Just up from the beach surround giant eucalyptus trees. Check-it out!
28 locals recommend
Seascape Golf Club
610 Clubhouse DrSeascape Golf Club is open to public year round. Just up from the beach surround giant eucalyptus trees. Check-it out!
This amazing forest is a local favorite for all. 40 miles of hiking trails. Mounting biking and running inside the park on well marked fire roads - 10,000 acres of variable terrain. Great workout!
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadThis amazing forest is a local favorite for all. 40 miles of hiking trails. Mounting biking and running inside the park on well marked fire roads - 10,000 acres of variable terrain. Great workout!
Aptos local bike shop. Offering rentals, sales and repairs. Wide selection of Trek & Electric bikes for sale. -My son works there too.
19 locals recommend
Epicenter Cycling
8035 Soquel DrAptos local bike shop. Offering rentals, sales and repairs. Wide selection of Trek & Electric bikes for sale. -My son works there too.
Hot Yoga! Need I say more? Local favorite for yoga, pilates, fusion and bootcamp all in a heated room. Bring lots of H2o
Hotsource Yoga
7960 Soquel DrHot Yoga! Need I say more? Local favorite for yoga, pilates, fusion and bootcamp all in a heated room. Bring lots of H2o
Don't want to "grind" your way up the mountain? Grab the bike shuttle and get dropped off at the top.
Shuttle Smith Adventures
8035 Soquel DrDon't want to "grind" your way up the mountain? Grab the bike shuttle and get dropped off at the top.
Anytime Fitness
715 Cochrane RdNew gym opened in August 2019. Small, but looks good.
Grocery Store
Neighborhood grocery store. Upscale food items, deli, olive & cheese selections, butcher, wines, Peet's coffee kiosk and all the necessary staples anyone could ask for!
78 locals recommend
Deluxe Foods of Aptos
783 Rio Del Mar BlvdNeighborhood grocery store. Upscale food items, deli, olive & cheese selections, butcher, wines, Peet's coffee kiosk and all the necessary staples anyone could ask for!
Safeway
2720 41st AveOne exit up from Rio Del Mar. Has gas station too.
Speciality store focused on natural products, also has juice bar & deli.
248 locals recommend
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveSpeciality store focused on natural products, also has juice bar & deli.
Small, but well stocked Health Market. Attached to the store is their Boutique grocery section full of homeopathic remedies, vitamins, oils, etc
14 locals recommend
Aptos Natural Foods
7506 Soquel DrSmall, but well stocked Health Market. Attached to the store is their Boutique grocery section full of homeopathic remedies, vitamins, oils, etc
Small local grocery store with deli. A variety of hot and cold food items...such as fresh sandwiches yummy soups.
19 locals recommend
Seascape Foods
16 Seascape VillageSmall local grocery store with deli. A variety of hot and cold food items...such as fresh sandwiches yummy soups.
Farmers Markets
Open year round, rain or shine. Saturdays, 8 am until 12 pm.
Ninety vendors, of which most are certified organic or use sustainable farming methods. Plants, Flowers -something for everyone!
44 locals recommend
Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
6500 Soquel DrOpen year round, rain or shine. Saturdays, 8 am until 12 pm.
Ninety vendors, of which most are certified organic or use sustainable farming methods. Plants, Flowers -something for everyone!
Seascape Village
Seascape VillageLocal certified farmers market. Open May-October on
Sundays 10am - 2pm.
Wine bar
Winepub: Eat, drink, and savor the many varieties of wine. A nice place to chill.
31 locals recommend
Cantine Winepub
8050 Soquel DrWinepub: Eat, drink, and savor the many varieties of wine. A nice place to chill.
Armitage Tasting Room
705 Post Office Dr