The ultimate guide to seafood restaurants with a view in Santa Cruz County

People are drawn to Santa Cruz County for many reasons, but Monterey Bay is locked in firmly at the top of the list. Whether you’re digging your toes into the beach, suiting up for a ride on some waves or just gazing across the ever-changing water from a wharf or walking path, Santa Cruz’s location on the coast is a big reason why it’s so special. 

Sometimes, both locals and tourists want to soak up as much of that oceanic influence as possible by eating a meal that’s of the sea while looking out over the sea. Plus, it’s one of the only dining scenarios where it’s not weird to whip out a pair of binoculars at the dinner table to get a closer look at a whale spout or kelp bed. 

The county is scattered with seafood restaurants, but this list showcases the ones that also boast ocean views – from across a beach, from a wharf, over the Santa Cruz Harbor or above a cliff. Prices and menu styles vary greatly from casual, takeout-only spots to upscale bistros and Mexican restaurants, showing that there are as many ways to enjoy a waterfront meal as there are fish in the sea. Among these 15 restaurants, I’ve noted my particular favorites with a 🐟 emoji. 

What is it about eating seafood with an ocean view that calls to diners when they visit the area? Aside from the appealing scenery, it’s probably because the nearness to the water suggests a “just pulled from the fishermen’s nets” level of freshness that allows one to imagine that the bounty in the seafood stew was perhaps swimming in the waters below the dining room or off on the horizon just hours before. 

That idyll is, unfortunately, not based in reality. Although Santa Cruz County once boasted a large fishing industry, the number of active fishers has declined greatly in recent years. The mussels, clams, calamari, salmon and king crab often seen on local menus are flown in from far-flung locales. If you do see local rockfish or seasonal catches of halibut or Dungeness crab on the menu, don’t miss out on these supreme Santa Cruz-area fish. 

In the modern era, the restaurants themselves have become a vital part of the area’s culture and, in cases like Stagnaro Bros. Seafood Restaurant and The Crow’s Nest, its history. Each offers an opportunity to walk away with a deeper sense of Santa Cruz, in addition to a memorable meal. 

Restaurants are listed from north to south. 

This tiny snack shack at the edge of Lighthouse Field isn’t your typical waterfront dining destination, but Steamer Lane Supply deserves a spot on this list for its location on West Cliff Drive and the menu of exciting, affordable eats made with super fresh ingredients. Named after the iconic surf spot across the street, Steamer Lane, guests can watch wetsuited surfers on their way to and from the water – there’s even a rack to stash boards by the front door. It’s all takeout service served at outdoor picnic tables, and the nearby tree logs are often filled with little kiddos enjoying outdoor playtime. For a taste of the sea, order the rock cod salad sandwich ($9.95), the rock cod ‘dilla ($12.50) – kind of like a pressed burrito – or salmon poke bowl ($13.95) over brown rice with seaweed salad.

It doesn’t get more classic Santa Cruz than Stagnaro Bros. This historic seafood restaurant at the end of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf was founded by Italian immigrants in 1913 and, more than 100 years later, it’s still family-run, along with a seafood distribution business and fish market. Every seat at the restaurant looks over Monterey Bay, West Cliff Drive and surf spot Steamer Lane, but the best views are on the ship-like second story. The menu mixes casual classics like fish & chips, fried calamari and clam chowder with Italian American seafood pastas and scampi. Giovanni’s Famous Cioppino ($31.95) is a standout, loaded with fish and crowned with Dungeness crab in a garlic-heavy tomato sauce. 

From the floor-to-ceiling windows at the Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge, located inside the Dream Inn, diners have 180-degree views that stretch from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Main Beach to West Cliff Drive, and overlook the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf as it stretches into Monterey Bay. Chef Gus Trejo sources directly from area farms for produce, and his menu highlights seasonal and flavorful ingredients with an emphasis on seafood. Try the prawn paella ($42), California trout with horseradish and dill ($44) and abalone appetizer with green chili crisp ($26). 

Firefish Grill gets its name from the mesquite charcoal broiler in its exhibition kitchen, where guests can watch their oysters Rockefeller, salmon or halibut pass through flames before landing at a Monterey Bay-front table. The atmosphere is slightly more upscale than most of the other restaurants on the wharf, with a selection of cuts of steak with lobster tail or king crab legs alongside seafood Rockefeller ($32.95) and a fisherman’s pasta ($31.95), among other dishes from the land and sea. The sleeper hit is the seafood chowder ($28.95), which is made to order, stuffed with fresh seafood, and served with fried potatoes. 

Riva’s – as it’s called by Santa Cruzans – has been a feature on the wharf since the mid-1980s, and still boasts “old school” charm. Named after Riva Trigoso, a small village on the coast of Liguria, Italy, the restaurant offers casual, straightforward, seafood-focused fare from a wood-paneled dining room that looks out over Monterey Bay, West Cliff Drive and several surf spots. No need to get too fancy here; the best dishes are comforting classics like clam chowder in a bread bowl ($17), steamed clams ($22), fish tacos ($20-28) or a simple piece of grilled fish with a choice of housemade sauces, served with brown rice and vegetables. 

The outdoor dining areas at Ideal Bar & Grill and its Capitola sister restaurant, Zelda’s on the Beach, extend over the beach, allowing diners to get as close to the sand as possible. Want to come up after a dip in the ocean for a strong cocktail and a plate of fried calamari ($21.95)? This is the spot. The vibe is casual, but the food makes an effort. Try the seafood kabobs ($33.95), with mahi mahi, salmon and prawns layered with vegetables, or the sea bass with roasted pineapple salsa ($27.95). 

Aldo’s current location on the Mariner Park lawn bordering the Santa Cruz Harbor was meant to be a temporary spot. The longstanding original brick-and-mortar diner a few hundred feet away was demolished in 2016 to repair the crumbling seawall underneath it, but plans to rebuild were officially scrapped in 2021. The now 100% al fresco restaurant might have lost its walls, but that just means every table has a front-row seat to the action at the harbor and the sailboats, yachts and fishing boats moored there. Keep it classic with a plate of fried calamari ($17.95) with a couple cold beers, a sandwich on homemade “fugasa” Italian bread ($15-19.85) or a hearty breakfast, served all day. 

Located in the Santa Cruz Harbor near the Murray Street Bridge – and above sustainable fish market H&H Fresh Fish – the second-floor dining room at Johnny’s Harborside is lined with large windows that look out over the docks. The American menu is designed around seafood, with appetizers like a blue crab-stuffed avocado ($21) and crab cakes ($23), and a list of mains that includes cioppino ($35), crab-encrusted baked salmon ($37) and beer-steamed clams ($29). It also has a lively bar with classic cocktails and local beers and wine.  

The Crow’s Nest is one of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Santa Cruz County. This grand dame of waterfront dining has looked out over Monterey Bay from a commanding perch at the mouth of the Santa Cruz Harbor since 1969. The downstairs dining room offers a wide menu that ranges from seafood dishes like grilled sand dabs ($38.95) and seafood risotto ($39.95) to coffee-rubbed filet mignon ($56.96). The upstairs Breakwater Bar & Grill is more casual – think burgers, fish tacos and fried calamari – and hosts live entertainment four to five nights a week. Both the upstairs and downstairs offer outdoor seating with clear wind-blocking panels and heat lamps. 

From its second-story vantage point, guests at Pete’s can enjoy the candy-colored historic bungalows rimming Capitola Beach and blue-green waters of Monterey Bay. Pete’s opened as Pete’s Fish House in the fall of 2024, and has since dropped the second half of its name to refocus on non-fish menu items like fresh pastas, vegetarian options and great steaks. But it’s still the best spot in town to slurp oysters dotted with caviar ($9 each) and enjoy seafood dishes like sautéed mussels with tomato escabeche and homemade ciabatta ($32) and raw scallop crudo ($22) with salsa verde. Visit at lunchtime just to order the Dungeness crab tempura sandwich ($28). 

One of a chain of beachfront restaurants along the esplanade in Capitola Village, the patio and dining room at Paradise Beach Grille offers diners a view over Capitola Beach toward the colorful historic bungalows and the newly rebuilt Capitola Wharf. When the fog covers the coast in a blanket of grey, guests can cozy up next to the indoor fireplace. Seafood plates like the seared ahi salad ($29), fish tacos ($26) and sugar and spice-rubbed salmon filet ($32) are listed alongside American classics like chicken Marsala ($33) and marinated skirt steak ($49). 

Like Ideal Bar & Grill, its sister restaurant in Santa Cruz, Zelda’s on the Beach’s claim to fame is that its outdoor dining – as the name suggests – is on the beach. The deck extends over Capitola Beach, so diners have a front-row seat to all the action. This casual waterfront restaurant is the best spot to wander in after – or during – a day in the sun for an icy cocktail and some ahi poke ($19), fried calamari ($21), a bowl of cioppino ($32) or a simple plate of grilled fish with vegetables. 

From a second-story vantage point in Capitola Village, Geisha Japanese Restaurant offers sustainable sushi with an ocean view, alongside other Japanese classics like noodles, rice bowls and katsu, or fried cutlets. Geisha strives to lower the environmental footprint of its menu by purchasing fish directly from vetted sources that put sustainable farming or fishing practices first, and emphasize wild species that are naturally resilient to fishing pressure, like mackerel, arctic char and rock crab. Try a fiery roll like The Citadel of Groovy with spicy albacore, mango, lime and macadamia nuts ($23) or The Blue Note with arctic char, albacore and house-smoked salmon ($14.50). 

Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen Beachside is the Aptos outpost for Santa Cruz-based Venus Spirits, an award-winning craft distillery and cocktail bar. A strip of parking lot is all that separates VSCK Beachside from Rio Del Mar State Beach, and the menu here is more seafood-focused than its sister restaurant in Santa Cruz’s Westside neighborhood. Here, guests will find Dungeness crab hush puppies ($18.95), miso-glazed salmon ($34.95) and linguini and clams ($28.95) alongside some beloved dishes like El Ladrón Burger ($22.95), made with Venus agave spirit, and crispy Brussels sprouts ($16.95). Splurge on the lobster roll ($36.95), a decadent yet simple sandwich on a buttery brioche roll – and be sure to order a perfectly crafted seasonal cocktail. 

In 2024, chef Trent Lidgey and restaurateur Brandon Smittcamp took over the former Palapas Restaurant Y Cantina, and reimagined the Seascape Village hotspot. If the bay is free of fog, guests can enjoy a view of the ocean from the second-story vantage point alongside a great plate of Mexican food and a brightly colored margarita. Lidgey’s menu is fresh and modern, with bright, unexpected flavors driven by the season. The emphasis is on seafood, including a robust raw bar, fish tacos and hearty but elegant mains. Don’t miss Lidgey’s dynamic crudos and ceviches – he also owns sushi bar One Fish in Campbell – or the Buffalo-style fried fish collars ($12 for three to four “wings”). 

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