Mark C. Anderson

Santa Cruz Burger Week brings standout burgers across the city, including a beautifully simple grassfed burger at Gabriella Café—plus wine industry shakeups and new local deals.

Wood-fired sourdough pies, pickle-topped pepperoni, and hot honey magic: Pogonip Pizza lands on the Westside as Burger Week and local food culture collide.

Alley Oop finally opens in downtown Santa Cruz with date-night energy and chef-driven plates, as SF Beer Week and local breweries raise the bar across the county.

Pearl’s stunning cocktails anchor this week’s Dining column, with Valentine’s sips, floating feasts, and local Good Food Awards finalists rounding out the menu.

A Santa Cruz Warriors game night delivers more than basketball—local food partnerships, community spirit, and a feel-good dining experience.

Cliffside Coffee occupies a rare locale—a postage-stamp-sized space next to storied Pleasure Point surf break and The Point Market.

From buzzy brunch debuts to airport dining and free tastings, here’s a roundup of the food and drink projects shaping Santa Cruz County in 2026.

Bad Animal—part bookstore, part wine bar, part restaurant—returns to in-house bistro cooking with chef Nick Hahn, bringing Parisian bistro flair and Santa Cruz soul to downtown.