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

1. Crow's Nest Restaurant

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

Jeff M.Jeff Malkowski: Get the Calamari Caeser Salad! Odd & delicious.

C S.C Shep: The calamari is fresh and delicious! Not too heavy either.

Barry S.Barry Shaffer: Great location and relaxed atmosphere. Calamari and Smoked salmon apps are excellent but the Alderwood Smoked prime rib was absolutely amazing, honestly the best I've ever had.

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

2. West End Tap & Kitchen

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

Sue R.Sue Roth: Try the calamari.

Karina N.Karina N: Yuck! Duck meat balls are soaked in a thick sweet sauce; calamari is heavily breaded and greasy; ham and cheese sandwich is also very meh. However the atmosphere is beautiful and cozy

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

Aldo's Harbor Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

3. Aldo's Harbor Restaurant

7.4
616 Atlantic Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Breakfast Spot · Eastside · 39 tips and reviews

Claudia H.Claudia H: Best calamari!

Laura B.Laura Babbili: Really good calamari and fish and chips, but a little heavy on the oil

Cristina B.Cristina B.: Best place to bring someone from out of town because the views are great and then you can walk to the lighthouse. Fisherman's platter is always delicious as is their calamari and homemade focaccia.

Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

4. Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room

8.3
221 Cathcart St (btwn Pacific Ave & Cedar St), Santa Cruz, CA
Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 80 tips and reviews

Cyndi S.Cyndi Smith: BEST Calamari *ever* - Abalone style. BEST Mai Tai coctails EVER. :) BEST Sweet Potato Fries! Pretty much everything on the menu is a winner.

Teresa W.Teresa Wheeler-Kyle: Get the calamari pupas and fish entrees. Do not get the Mongolian beef bowl. The beef is over cooked and tough. Fish is perfect.

Christina P.Christina Pedersen: The Dukes Pork plate is the BEST. It's also a great place for happy hour - the drinks and apps are delicious (specifically the sweet potato fries, pot stickers, and the pirate ship - just share!)

Stagnaro Bros. is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

5. Stagnaro Bros.

7.2
59 Municipal Wharf (at The Pacific Ocean), Santa Cruz, CA
Seafood Restaurant · 38 tips and reviews

KiltedKilted: ask for garlic aioli for the Calamari

Gipsy B.Gipsy Blood: Poor service, worse in the upper deck. Crispy calamari is not Crispy and too breaded. Ernestos pasta is ok but not to die for. Crab cakes lack flavor and the aioli doesn't even taste like aioli.

Kat .Kat 🐱: Very average but overpriced food. The fried calamari, fish & chips and clam chowder are all meh.

Sala Thai is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

6. Sala Thai

7.9
353 soquel Ave (Ocean), Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Central Santa Cruz · 4 tips and reviews

Tanya B.Tanya Bauerle: Best pho in town! The #1 is delicious, has beef, chicken& prawns.Add mixed veggies for$2!It's pho-king tasty!I also love the fried squid with spicy green sauce and the fried bananas&coconut ice cream.

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: #vegan and #vegetarian types should avoid the tom Kha and tom yum soup. These have shrimp and other fish based broth. Otherwise, this place is fantastic for vegans. They have faux duck, chix and fish!

Aaron H.Aaron Hughes: The Pho is awesome!

Johnny's Harborside is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

7. Johnny's Harborside

7.3
493 Lake Ave (at Eaton St), Santa Cruz, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Eastside · 37 tips and reviews

Cristina B.Cristina B.: My dad loves their fried calamari and I really like their fish dishes and their sweet potato fries! Good place to watch sunset too!

Cristina B.Cristina B.: Dad loves their fried calamari. Went to lunch today and was more crowded than they were expecting. They comped us our beer for waiting. Always a great place to go!

Michelle A.Michelle Arnaiz-Dela Rosa: The view is overlooking the yachts. Nice small place thT gets packed so get reservations always. Food was great. Loved the calamari and the shrimp scampi. Service was excelent too.

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

8. Jack O'Neill Lounge

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

Odile R.Odile Roujol: Take the table outside looking at the peer. Enjoy the crab cake , the mussels, and the octopus.

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

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

Mobo Sushi is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

9. Mobo Sushi

7.9
105 S River St, Santa Cruz, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 23 tips and reviews

Tammie Lou V.Tammie Lou Van Sant: calamari roll, flying Tiger and the Norcal

MCMC: Death Star, Crunchy Dragon, Spicy Big Mac! Yummy!

MCMC: The avalanche is sweet!

Dream Inn Santa Cruz is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

10. Dream Inn Santa Cruz

8.9
175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA
Hotel · Westside · 40 tips and reviews

Tiara D.Tiara Delachevrotiere: Ocean front room is the best. You have views of the wharf & SC beach boardwalk. The Aquarius restaurant has great views and awesome food!

Detlev A.Detlev Artelt: Nice and perfect located hotel in Santa Cruz. Direct at the beach.

Jason R.Jason Rosenberg: Get a room facing the Ocean. Read more.

El Palomar Taco Bar is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

11. El Palomar Taco Bar

8.0
1336 Pacific Ave (Soquel), Santa Cruz, CA
Taco Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 5 tips and reviews

James F.James Fisher: For a quick bite, go all the way inside this place to the taco bar. Order up some small tacos and an ice cold beer! Yum!

Karina K.Karina Kozak: Happy hour $2 tacos!! 😍

Elie B.Elie Bleier: Get the super burrito

Sabieng Thai Cuisine is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

12. Sabieng Thai Cuisine

8.2
1218 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Westside · 15 tips and reviews

Greg M.Greg Monaghan: This is our go-to Thai restaurant whenever we are in, our around, Santa Cruz. Great food.

Beth K.Beth Kanter: The food is great here

James L.James Lee: They have a great lunch special

Real Thai Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

13. Real Thai Kitchen

7.9
1632 Seabright Ave (at Soquel Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Eastside · 12 tips and reviews

MatthiasMatthias: #thegreatamericantakeout : What I wasn‘t quite expecting was the heat... They are taking their spiciness serious! 🌶🔥👌🏼 WOW!! If you like it HOT, this is definitely a place to keep in mind! 👍🏼

Jeremy G.Jeremy Geiger: The name is accurate. This is one of the few Thai restaurants I the U.S. That my Thai wife will go to

Athonia C.Athonia Cappelli: Vegan options abound at the lunch buffet. Salad dressing has mayo but items like spicy tofu, green vegi curry & Tom Kha Tofu appear totally free of animal products. Spicy tofu is just that! Cha-chow!

Pacific Thai Santa Cruz is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

14. Pacific Thai Santa Cruz

7.7
1319 Pacific Ave (btwn Church & Walnut), Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 16 tips and reviews

Christine C.Christine Coffey: This is the best place to find Boba Tea. They have many different and delicious flavors. If you are brave try the taro or avocado flavor! Read more.

Sam A.Sam Azeem: There spicy lamb is one of the best Ive had. Just the right spicy and an amazing flavor to go with it and no gamines. If you like lamb you should give it a try.

FiveStarsFiveStars: Use your FiveStars card and get 1 free boba. Ask for a card if you don't have one already.

Hindquarter Bar & Grille is one of The 15 Best Places for Octopus in Santa Cruz.

15. Hindquarter Bar & Grille

7.3
303 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Steakhouse · Central Santa Cruz · 13 tips and reviews

Ashtyn K.Ashtyn Karachristos: The pork chops are delicious! Make sure to get extra apple butter!

Sal B.Sal Belleci: I’ve been here 20 years ago for the Pork chops. Now I started going back had pork chops and baby back ribs their dessert burgundy cherry mud pie is best ever

Lina K.Lina Koifman: The food is good, dont go overbord. Great service. Free refiles for youre drinks