Oswald is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

1. Oswald

8.7
121 Soquel Ave (at Front St.), Santa Cruz, CA
American Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 14 tips and reviews

Mimsie L.Mimsie Lemar: Sit at the bar... Great bar food. You want quiet and intimate get a table... Beautiful Santa Cruz Food!!!

Rick H.Rick Hartley: The burgers with blue cheese and caramelized onions are the best. Great cocktails too.

Tyler F.Tyler Fox: Delicious food and very legit portions! A great night out.

The Crepe Place is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

2. The Crepe Place

8.2
1134 Soquel Ave (between Seabright & Cayuga), Santa Cruz, CA
Creperie · Eastside · 41 tips and reviews

kaleb a.kaleb askew: A nice, intimate venue filled with wonderful Crepe aroma.

MJ L.MJ Lee: Good for dating.

Noah B.Noah Batterson: Tasty crepes and decent bloody Mary's. Staff was fast and efficient. Cool dive-y atmosphere.

Lillian's Italian Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

3. Lillian's Italian Kitchen

8.6
1116 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Italian Restaurant · Eastside · 30 tips and reviews

SarahSarah: This place has very nice ambiance, good for date nights. The ravioli and lasagna are both divine.

Melissa M.Melissa M: Call ahead. The wait can be long, but so worth it!! Prawns scampi and black truffle gnocchi were a hit! We ate here two nights in a row during our trip.

PaulinaPaulina: Get the black truffle gnocchi.

Laili Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

4. Laili Restaurant

8.7
101 Cooper St #B (btw Front and Pacific), Santa Cruz, CA
Mediterranean Restaurant · Downtown Santa Cruz · 44 tips and reviews

Virgi R.Virgi R.: The pomegranate eggplant are a must try. Good selection of beers & wines. The staff is lovely and helpful.

NmNm: Didn't like the chicken kabob .. Eggplant and parmesan on flatbread is recommended .. Great service .. Little pricey .. Crowded ..

NahidNahid: Get patio seating if available (gorgeous). Great food, prices in the $20-30 range for entrees.

Crow's Nest Restaurant is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

5. Crow's Nest Restaurant

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

Aditi M.Aditi Modak: The view from the patio is amazing. Crab cakes and patrale sole was simply delicious. Nice place to go for a romantic evening

Miguel S.Miguel Sojo: Excellent clam chowder. Nice place witg great ambience and view

Irene K.Irene Kimmel: Sunsets are beautiful and during the holidays the sail boats in the harbor are decorated and make it very festive.

Soif is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

6. Soif

8.3
105 Walnut Ave (at Pacific Avenue), Santa Cruz, CA
Wine Bar · Downtown Santa Cruz · 22 tips and reviews

Stephen L.Stephen Lear: Best wine selection anywhere in the region. Try all the small plates and you won't be dissatisfied.

Whitney S.Whitney Spagnola: Ask for Rachel. She is a GREAT server!

Julie S.Julie Scopazzi: Sign up for the classes. Amazing champagne tasting during the holidays.

Bantam is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

7. Bantam

8.3
1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Pizzeria · Westside · 16 tips and reviews

Rob H.Rob Hapner: The Brussels sprouts and pancetta pizza was soooo good. Finished off with the chocolate nemesis. Yum!

Jamie P.Jamie Pagels: What’s good: Chickpea farinata pizza with ricotta and rocket pesto, soppressata pizza with mozzarella and spicy honey

Sid B.Sid Boz: Great salads and pizza. Delicious beers on tap. Good vibe.

The Abbey Coffee, Art & Music Lounge is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

8. The Abbey Coffee, Art & Music Lounge

9.1
350 Mission St (at Highland Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Coffee Shop · Westside · 25 tips and reviews

Caleb W.Caleb Winters: Great place to study or work. Lots of space and outlets. Wifi password is elsalvador

Aleks K.Aleks Kozak: Sit down and enjoy the coziness. Read a book, even if it's your MacBook... or your neighbor's. :)

Vab MediaVab Media: Free wi-fi! Lots of room! Beautiful out and in! What's not to like?

515 Kitchen & Cocktails is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

9. 515 Kitchen & Cocktails

8.2
515 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA
Lounge · Downtown Santa Cruz · 56 tips and reviews

Tajvia W.Tajvia Willis: Great infused drinks and incredible food. It's definitely worth a visit.

ᴡ K.ᴡ Killam: Pretty decent happy hour, good service

Lauren L.Lauren Langone: Polenta Benedict is DELICIOUS!

Real Thai Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

10. Real Thai Kitchen

8.2
1632 Seabright Ave (at Soquel Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Thai Restaurant · Eastside · 12 tips and reviews

Susan C.Susan Cannon: Great buffet! (Unusual for a Thai restaurant) Wonderful Veerkat art on the walls too.

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!

Harbor Cafe is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

11. Harbor Cafe

9.1
535 7th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
Café · 41 tips and reviews

whitney b.whitney b: Worth the hype (and the wait). Gluten free options available. The polenta Benedict is amazing!

Nick P.Nick Piper: Bottomless mimosas Friday

Sondra B.Sondra Baca: Everything here is deeelish!! The Avocado Bene, Veggie scramble and Mimosa Fridays is the best. Plus the staff is great!

Verve Coffee Roasters is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

12. Verve Coffee Roasters

8.9
1540 Pacific Ave (at Front St), Santa Cruz, CA
Coffee Shop · Downtown Santa Cruz · 127 tips and reviews

cami j.cami j.: bright, sunny, gorgeous shop, knowledgeable, helpful baristas, delicious coffee.

Chris H.Chris Heilmann: WiFi password is streetlevel. don't be a dick though and buy their stuff first. excellent coffee.

Zach B.Zach Buechler: Great for a rainy day, or a sunny day, or a Monday, or hell, even great for the final days of the apocalypse.

Oyunaa's Mongolian cuisine is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

13. Oyunaa's Mongolian cuisine

7.6
1209 Soquel Ave (Seabright Ave), Santa Cruz, CA
Mongolian Restaurant · Eastside · 10 tips and reviews

Trisha L.Trisha Liu: Yum!! We had the borscht, gulyash, and buuz. All delicious!

Nick L.Nick Lachica: Lamb ribs are the best! Get there early because they'll sell out.

Sonia W.Sonia Wong: The lamb ribelletes are delicious! We also enjoyed the veggie dumplings and beef and noodle soup. Everything is handmade for you. The little wait is well worth it! Owners were great too.

Cafe Iveta is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

14. Cafe Iveta

8.2
2125 Delaware Ave (at Swift St.), Santa Cruz, CA
Café · Westside · 26 tips and reviews

Barbara M.Barbara Matthews: The spicy egg biscuit is one of our faves; we get it *without* the cream cheese dollop (& of course, no bacon). Yum!

Neha W.Neha W: They have clotted cream to take your scone enjoyment to the next level.

Barbara M.Barbara Matthews: The gluten- free scones are light and tasty. You won

La Posta is one of The 15 Best Places That Are Good for Dates in Santa Cruz.

15. La Posta

7.6
538 Seabright Ave (btw Hall & Watson), Santa Cruz, CA
Italian Restaurant · Eastside · 7 tips and reviews

Judy H.Judy H: Great wine list, loved the watermelon and buratta starter. The counter is the way to go for an engaging evening.

Matt R.Matt Rodkey: Sit at the bar for great service and wonderful conversation.

Gabby H.Gabby H: House-made bread, salads are generous, pasta has good texture. (Hostess seated three new tables in green waiter’s section — didn’t work out well for us. He was great but in the weeds.)