★ Spotlight 2027
Midtown
Soquel Ave · Water St · DeLaveaga · Live Oak
Midtown and Live Oak trade downtown bustle for neighborhood rhythm, with Soquel Avenue counters, a live music room on Commercial Way and a Sunday market that anchors the weekend. Farther east, the East Cliff pathway, Pleasure Point and Moran Lake bring surf breaks, a lagoon and wide ocean views within an easy stroll of one another, while DeLaveaga's hillside trails and picnic groves sit close to the middle of town.
A morning along East Cliff
- Start at Moran Lake County Park for the lagoon, the small beach and, in season, the monarchs.
- Walk the East Cliff Drive pathway west to Pleasure Point and watch surfers from the vista points.
Eat & Drink
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Cat & Cloud Coffee (Pleasure Point)
A neighborhood cafe at 36th and Portola, tied to a Santa Cruz roasting company that also hosts coffee tastings on the second Sunday of the month.
3600 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website for Cat & Cloud Coffee (Pleasure Point) (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Cat & Cloud Coffee (Pleasure Point) (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
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Charlie Hong Kong
A repurposed 1950s ice cream stand serving Southeast Asian street food built on organic produce from nearby Central Coast farms, with a covered patio for eating outside.
- Outdoor seating
1141 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website for Charlie Hong Kong (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Charlie Hong Kong (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
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Tacos Moreno
Family-run since 1982, this Midtown taqueria draws lunchtime lines for marinated al pastor, corn quesadillas, and chicken mole, finished with a house tomatillo salsa made in big batches.
1053 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website for Tacos Moreno (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Tacos Moreno (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
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The Crepe Place
A Victorian on Soquel Avenue serving sweet and savory crepes from a long menu, open from morning to night, and a fixture of this stretch of Midtown since it reopened here in 1990.
1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website for The Crepe Place (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to The Crepe Place (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
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Zameen at the Point
A Californian take on Mediterranean street food near Pleasure Point, with falafel gyros, dolmas and sweet potato fries finished in pomegranate walnut sauce. Casual counter service suits quick lunches and takeout.
851 41st Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website for Zameen at the Point (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Zameen at the Point (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
Shops & Local Makers
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Shopper's Corner
A neighborhood grocery at Soquel and Branciforte that has served the east side since 1937, open early and late every day for everything from quick snacks to the week's shopping.
Soquel Avenue and Branciforte Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 (622 Soquel Ave per third-party listing)
Website for Shopper's Corner (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Shopper's Corner (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
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Moe's Alley
A 21-and-over live music room off Commercial Way with a full bar and an outdoor patio, where the calendar mixes roots, rock, DJ nights and tribute acts all month long.
- Live music
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
Website for Moe's Alley (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Moe's Alley (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
Parks, Beaches & Outdoors
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Arana Gulch
A city open space just north of the harbor, with a short paved path, dirt trails through meadows, and seasonal wetlands. Home to the endangered Santa Cruz tarplant and welcoming to leashed dogs.
Local tip: Dirt trails around the meadows are closed to bicycles; the paved path is the one to ride.
- Dog-friendly
- Bike-friendly
- Wildlife
- Free
Entrances at Frederick Street at Broadway, Agnes Street at Mentel Avenue, and 7th Avenue at Brommer Street, Santa Cruz, CA
Website for Arana Gulch (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Arana Gulch (opens in a new tab) ↗
Checked
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Moran Lake County Park
A Live Oak county park where a lagoon, a small beach and monarch butterfly habitat sit beside a multi-use trail, with an outdoor shower and bike racks for riders finishing a coastal loop.
- Wildlife
- Bike-friendly
22775 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website for Moran Lake County Park (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Moran Lake County Park (opens in a new tab) ↗
Checked
Landmarks & Local Highlights
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DeLaveaga Park
A sprawling hillside park that began as a hacienda, with picnic areas, ballfields and a playground below, and hiking and biking trails, archery and a steep, famously tough disc golf course above.
Local tip: The George Washington Grove is closed for the winter from November 1 through March 1.
- Dog-friendly
- Family-friendly
- Bike-friendly
855 Branciforte Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
Website for DeLaveaga Park (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to DeLaveaga Park (opens in a new tab) ↗
Checked
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Pleasure Point and the East Cliff Drive Pathway
A stretch of East Cliff Drive where a multi-use pathway links Pleasure Point's surf break, public art and vista points with The Hook, an easy ocean walk with plenty of places to pause and watch the waves.
- Coastal walk
- Ocean view
East Cliff Drive, Live Oak, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (no street number)
Website for Pleasure Point and the East Cliff Drive Pathway (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Pleasure Point and the East Cliff Drive Pathway (opens in a new tab) ↗
Checked
Spotlight 2027 edition. Places are checked against their own websites, most recently in November 2026. Hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Every business listed is locally owned.
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