Santa Cruz Good Times

Friday
Jul 30th
Text size
  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Good Times Home Visitor Guide Clubs & Night Life

Clubs & Night Life

Monday, 28 June 2010 00:00 All About Santa Cruz - Activity & Visitor Guide
 E-mail

nightlife_cypressAs the long days turn to twilight and the sun sets to the west the Santa Cruz nights light up with something for everyone.  Whether you are looking for cool jazz, rock 'n' roll or some acoustic guitar you'll find it here.  Locals and travelers join together to celebrate great food, cool drinks and night beats. See Santa Cruz Area NightLife A-Z

Asti Café / 715 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-7337 Collages of snapshots taken inside this popular bar—going strong for more than 60 years—align the walls. High spirits and fun times can be found here. Plus: three pool tables and one of the best juke boxes in town.

The Avenue / 711 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-426-3434 / One of Santa Cruz’s older drinking establishments, The Avenue boasts four pool tables, an air hockey table, and even a couple of old-school video game machines—but the clientele itself is interesting enough. There is a large patio/deck outside. Check out the Avenue’s famous “drink and drown” Wednesdays, where selected domestic beers go for $4.25 a pitcher and $1.75 for a pint.

Bay Bar / 209 Esplanade, Capitola
831-477-0749 / In addition to offering breathtaking views of Capitola Beach, Bay Bar boldly lays claim to the best burgers in town. Curl up with a cocktail in front of the fireplace in the winter. Full bar, pool tables and an internet jukebox.

Blue Lagoon / 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-7117, thebluelagoon.com / Blue Lagoon caters to just about every palate: deep house, goth-industrial, hip hop, Brit-pop and a thriving ’80s music night on Thursdays. Check out the DJs on the weekends. You can also find some live bands. There’s also a quieter cocktail lounge and a pool table room for the less dancetastic among us. LGBT friendly.

Brady’s Yacht Club / 413 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz / The second living room for many Seabright residents,  Brady’s is a perfect place to throw back a pint after work. There’s  nothing too fancy about it. There’s a bar, some taps, a pool table and a jukebox with an impressive selection of Flogging Molly. Best dive bar in town.

Britannia Arms / 8017 Soquel Drive, Aptos  831-688-1233 / This authentic British pub offers a taste of Dear Old Blighty with the help of imported beer and a full menu including fish ’n’ chips. With its cozy atmosphere, families are invited to eat by the fire, and the younger crowd can drink it up while enjoying the variety of live entertainment offered. A dinner special is offered Monday nights. Trivia contests Wednesday nights, games and karaoke on some nights.

Beauregard Vineyards Tasting Room & Winery / 10 Pine Flat Road Bonny Doon, 831- 425-7777, beauregardvineyards.com / While there are plenty of scattered vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains to hunt down and explore, sometimes it’s nicer to just stay near the beach and relax with a glass of local wine and a view of the ocean. That’s where Beauregard comes in, with their scenic tasting room on the upper floor at the end of the wharf, where a panorama of Monterey Bay is paired with the best reds and whites of local vintage.

Castaways / 3626 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, 831-465-8200 / A great neighborhood bar—festive, sporty, fun. This is a just-be-yourself and “hang” place. Nice service and nices interior lounging options.

The Catalyst / 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-1338, catalystclub.com  A local legend and the place that once lured in the likes of Tina Turner.  Features great music acts—most that tour—and two full bars. The atrium also offers food. In the the main music hall, it’s all about the music. Take note of the smaller bar upstairs, plus six pool tables and a game room.

Cava Wine Bar / 1115 San Jose Ave. Capitola, 831-476-2282, cavacapitola.com  Hard not to love this little haven. A wide array of stellar wine—some local— Cava hosts many theme nights, plus live music. You can chat with local winemakers here, too, and settle in for some jazz, Experience a glass of your favorite wine. Impressive and always fun here.

Clouds / 831-429-2000, cloudsdowntown.com / Known for its killer cosmos and fine wine list, Clouds Downtown is a festive hangout that attracts a diverse crowd. The spirits are high here and it’s become the ultimate hot spot for Friday and Saturday nights.

Crow’s Nest / 2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 831-476-4560, crowsnest-santacruz.com  Reggae rhythms and an icy tropical drink? Live soul music and a perfect martini? Whatever your dream combination, chances are you’ll find it at the Crow’s Nest. From rock and blues to reggae and soul, the Crow’s Nest offers a wide variety of live entertainment and dancing in the upstairs lounge. Add that to the full bar with ocean views and some appetizers from the Breakwater Grill, and you’ve got a classic night out in Santa Cruz.

Cypress Lounge / 120 Union St., Santa Cruz, 459-9876  What a fun spot this is. A perfect blend of locals, some university students and professionals. Entertainment on select nights plus great appetizers and main dishes—not to mention that great drink menu—make Cypress stand out.

Don Quixote’s / 6275 Hwy 9, Felton 831-603-2294, donquixotesmusic.info / Its menu may be dominated by upscale Mexican cuisine, but Don Quixote’s is the place to go to hear the country’s best Americana/Roots musicians. Acoustic folk, bluegrass, country-blues—you name it. Local musicians also enjoy a significant stage presence.

418 Project / 418 Front St., Santa Cruz 831-466-9770, the418.org / The 418 serves as one of Santa Cruz’s premiere performance arts venues. Dance, drumming, classes and more happen in this home to artists. Around for years, the 418 is a favorite establishment.

515 Kitchen and Cocktails / 515 Cedar St., Santa Cruz 831-425-5051  /515 Cedar St., Santa Cruz 831-425-5051, 515kitchenandcocktails.com  A social sister to The Red wins points for its flair and cheery upstairs patio. But the impressive Mediterranean menu and the long list of speciality drinks, combined with its friendly—at times, hip—vibe makes this place sizzle.

Henfling’s Tavern / 9450 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond 831-336-9318, henflingstavern.com  / Wild times in the redwoods. This is a fun sport to hear  danceable live music, get a burger or a “biker’s breakfast burrito,” and hone your darts game. Huge on-tap selection and knowledgeable bartenders.

Kuumbwa Jazz Center / 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz 831-427-2227, kuumbwajazz.org  A local icon, this long-running, world-famous intimate venue lures in prominent jazz musicians such as Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau. There’s food and wine, too. Café Kuumbwa, offers an impressive organic menu. It’s the next best thing to stumbling upon a jazz legend in an underground European club.

Mad House Bar and Lounge / 529 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz 831-425-2900  The ultimate neighborhood bar. Fine selection of DJs, great drink specials, a nice dance floor and more. This is a festive spot with amazing DJs. It also is LGBT-friendly.

Moe’s Alley / 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 831-479-1854, moesalley.com / You can’t beat Moe’s. It’s one of the best blues/music venues in town. But take note of the salsa, reggae, rumba and hip-hop acts that also round out the line-up during the year.  Fully-stocked bar and outdoor patio.

Nightlif_DESCMotiv / 1209 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-427-2516  Mixing the best of both a hip (lounge) dining experience and the zest of a polished big-city bar, Motiv lures in locals. Dining from lunch on. In the evenings, a DJ spins. Nice array of drink specials and Happy Hour fun. Hip and festive.

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub / 110 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz 831-459-9999, 99bottles.com / Taking inspiration from the drinking song of old, 99 Bottles offers beer lovers a little bit of everything—99 varieties of beer in stock, from breweries and locations all over the globe. Entertainment most nights ranges from music to trivia to a raffle for fabulous prizes and free booze.

The Parish Publick House / 841 Almar Ave., Santa Cruz,  421-0507 / Good food. Good beer. What else is there to say? Sometimes, that’s all you need. Great location on the Westside and some amazing service—friendly, friendly, friendly—make for a memorable time.

The Poet and the Patriot / 320-E Cedar St., Santa Cruz 831-426-8620 / Sporting lads and lassies, darts and brews, the curious might examine all of the historical and cultural Irish artifacts that fill every nook and cranny.  The thirsty will enjoy the Guinness on tap, served as it ought to be, at room temperature.

The Red / 200 Locust Street., Santa Cruz 831-425-1913  One of town’s best hot spots, The Red is an engaging social showcase. Beyond its phenomenal decor, the list of food and drink options are downright impressive. Nice drink specials, too. Good news—all the food is served in bountiful portions. It’s all about abundance here. Terrific lounge DJs spice up the atmosphere later in the evening. A long winding bar is a plus as well. Very social. Very fun.

Motiv2The Red Room / 200 Locust Street., Santa Cruz 831-425-1913  One of the most historic spots in town. Situated on the bottom floor of the old Santa Cruz Hotel building, the Red Room’s décor and ambiance are in keeping with the motif and the name of the establishment. The regular crowd has been coming back for years. Pictures of Miss California winners from decades past—when the event was held in Santa Cruz—hang in the front corner, greeting you as you step inside. It sometimes feels as though you’ve entered a different time period.

Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub & Restaurant / 1220 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-426-9930, rosiemccanns.coM  We love Rosie McCann’s. This popular downtown venue is festive, generous with its food portions and creative with the types of drinks it offers. The Irish pub/restaurant sports about 25 beers on tap, and the best selection of rare Bushmills, Jamesons and other single malt Scotches and whiskeys. There’s nothing wrong with ordering Fish & Chips, but you’ll be surprised with other great menu items like lamb stew and even some creative salads. RM also features live music and DJs on the weekends. Every city, by obscure international law, must have an Irish pub. This is Santa Cruz’s.

The Rush Inn / 113 Knight St., Santa Cruz 831-425-9673 / Filled with Joe Montana and teammates’ memorabilia, the inside of the Rush Inn looks almost like a shrine that any true 49ers fan should make a pilgrimage to at least once in their life. Devotees of Bay Area teams can usually catch a game or two on the TV at night, pool sharks can play a close-quarters game if it’s not too crowded around the table, and the adventurous can try to finish off an Irish Car Bomb cocktail.

NightLife_SoifSoif Wine Bar & Merchants / 105 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-2020, soifwine.coM  This downtown Santa Cruz portal is both an amazing wine boutique and a truly divine place to eat. Experience the best of both worlds here—shopping and dining. In the wine store, you will find local and international wines of great variety. In the actual bar, you can order from an eclectic food menu or sample the wines from the diverse wine list. One of the best spots in town.
photo: Kelly Vaillancourt

Surf City Billiards / 931 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-7665, surfcitybilliards.com / There are 16 tables here, some trivia, shuffleboard, big-screen TVs and great Happy Hour (4-7pm) drinks. It recently won a design award for one of the Top 10 best new billiard rooms.

Vinocruz / 725 Front St. #101, Santa Cruz 831-426-8466, vinocruz.com  One of Downtown Santa Cruz’s priceless gems, Vinocruz has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and other noteable publications. Owners J-P Correa and Jeffrey Kongslie have managed to create a winning venue here, perfectly located next to the Museum of Art & History. Best news is that Vinocruz caters to wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains—with more than 60 wineries. Impressive wine tastings and upscale nibbles are a plus.

See also Good Times readers votes for the Best of Santa Cruz

Comments (0)Add Comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

busy
< Prev   Next >
 

More Good Times

 

Santa Cruz Area Events

BLUE Ocean Film Festival      

 

Music Calendar

GT Weekly Club Grid PDF >

 

Memory Matters

Twenty years after the fact, a geologist and a historian say we must not forget “Loma Prieta was a humbling experience for most of us. a reminder of our diminutive stature in the grand scheme of things. I think that remembering events like that is a perfect antidote for our collective hubris; it keeps us honest.” —Sandy Lydon, ‘History Dude’  

 

Ocean Advocacy Goes Federal

You don’t need to tell a Santa Cruzan how important the ocean is. From our economy to our natural beauty to our hard-fought-formoniker as “Surf City,” Santa Cruz is defined by its relationship to the ocean as much as Colorado is to its Rockies. So when President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order on July 19 creating a national ocean policy for the first time in history, it was like hearing about a big break for an old friend who’s been going through a tough time lately.

 

Rearranging Rape

“As of next school year, Rape Prevention Education as you know it will no longer exist.” This is what UC Santa Cruz administrators told Rape Prevention educator Gillian Greensite last month, explaining a decision to “reorganize” the program. Greensite was told that, starting in the 2010/2011 school year, Rape Prevention Education would no longer be a separate effort, but would be absorbed into the Student Health Outreach and Promotion program (SHOP), and that she would no longer be a rape educator, but a sexual health educator through SHOP. She promptly retired.

 

Overall, how would you rank the local club scene? What could be improved?

I'd say it's average. I like a lot of dub step and electronic music. Most of the hip-hop and K-DON and stuff—I really get over those kind of songs. More DJ's and what not would be nice. Nesta LoniSanta Cruz | Prep Chef

 

Perfect Palm

The Glaum family is adored for their locally fresh cage-free eggs. For the past year, these eggs have been served in breakfast burritos and sandwiches at the Glaums’ new deli where Piggie Market has nurtured Redwood Village neighbors for 25 years. The central, thatched-roof, hexagonal open kitchen mimics the unusual shape of the extensively renovated building. Textured stone flooring winds around the kitchen, leading to an extensive wine selection. From the wall of refrigerators you can still pick up your milk and eggs, as well as beer, numerous brands of beverages, and locally made Massimo gelato.

 

From the Editor

Club much? Sometimes, it’s a good thing, and if you’ve moseyed to any of the local nightclubs in Santa Cruz County over the years, you more than likely have been greeted by a powerful presence—a bouncer. This week, writer J.D. Ramey takes readers behind the scenes and uncovers, well, let’s say the more embraceable side of some of our area’s favorite greeters and, at times, protectors. These guys are an enigmatic bunch.

 

Nordic Forge

“Man is wolf to man.” Not only is this a quote from the Roman playwright Plautus, one of the earliest known Latin authors, but it is also the title of the earliest known demo recording from local metal slayers Nordic Forge. “[The title track] is a song Jimi wrote almost all at once,” explains the vocalist, Rueben. “Then, I wrote the lyrics after listening to the hymn ‘O Rubor Sanguinis’ by Saint Hildegard Von Bingen.” Determined not to be just another scrawled name in the metal world, the guys in Nordic Forge draw their creativity from classics such as Shakespeare (“Throne of Blood”) and saintly hymns, to an array of bands from the early days of thrash metal and the extremes in Scandinavia. Mario, the act’s guitarist, cites atmospheric and melodic groups like Dissection, At the Gates, and Darkthrone as influences. “Always Darkthrone,” he emphasizes. Only known by their first names, the band of intellectual malcontents consists of Reuben on flesh-curling vocals, brothers Mario and Jimi decimating the guitar scales, Ben on thunderous bass, and Andrew manning the rapid-firing drums.

 

Place Your Vote

Author, musician, sometime-politician and all-around American raconteur, Kinky Friedman doesn’t mince words when it comes to pontificating on just about any subject near and dear to his heart. His takes on life are often delivered in a humorous, satirical manner, but the 65-year-old tackles a lot of serious issues and themes, much like the manner in which Mark Twain presented his opinions and views to readers. Still, Friedman is clearly on a level all his own today.

 

Storrs Winery Chardonnay 2008

One of the most popular wines round these parts is Storrs Chardonnay. It’s probably one of the most-requested wines at any given restaurant. And the reason is simple – it’s an excellent wine. It turns out that many judges at this year’s California State Fair think so, too. They named the Storrs 2008 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay as the Best Wine of the Region. As the top wine of the greater Bay Area, this wine also garnered a Best Chardonnay of Region distinction, and a gold medal. When you think of all the wines submitted in this competition, this is truly an impressive achievement.

 

Meet the Bouncers

Wherever there’s a crowd of people drinking, there’s bound to be a jackass or two. Much as we might wish we could just hit the “Eject” button and send the rabble-rousers flying, it takes a living, breathing human to get rid of that unwanted guest who’s had one too many. Which, of course, is where bouncers come in. The doorman is a figure who appears throughout history and throughout nature: The Old Testament makes mention of “gatekeepers” whose duty was to keep things copasetic at the Levitical Temple, and even certain species of ants have their own peacekeepers whose duty is to chuck out unwelcome parties. Clearly, this is an essential service, but few people have the stones for it, let alone the physical power.

 

Bad Faith

Searing tragedy of intolerance reduced to melodrama in 'Agora' | There's a fascinating, heartbreaking, infuriating true story at the center of Agora, a sumptuous drama of ancient Alexandria from Spanish filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar. But even as the female scholar protagonist lectures her students that every system in the universe must revolve around a center or it will collapse, Amenábar clutters up his narrative with so much bombast and portent, it's own center finally cannot hold.
Sign up for our weekly events newsletter
you can unsubscribe any time.
  • Login
    Log in to post comments, add Community Calendar events & get access to web-exclusive content
  • Create an account
    Registration
    *
    *
    *
    *
    *
    REGISTER_REQUIRED

    • Advanced Search

    Most Read . . .

    GT This Week

    Santa Cruz

    SC Quick Links


    Bookmark and Share