Mark C. Anderson

This week’s Santa Cruz dining column spotlights Switch Bakery & Bistro’s gluten-free comfort food, Bruno’s Bar & Grill’s towering Bloody Marys and bargain specials, plus beer industry insights and local food news.

The Cruz Room brings together award-winning pizza, milkshakes, live music and arcade energy in one of Santa Cruz’s most inventive new dining spots.

From oysters to a standout passionfruit margarita, Mane Kitchen & Cocktails delivers bold flavors and high-energy hospitality in downtown Santa Cruz.

A quick Monterey getaway delivers oceanfront dining, spa indulgence and hidden coastal beauty at the Monterey Plaza Hotel.

From pizza deals at Watsonville’s Hangar to Beer Mule events and updates on Dharma’s, this week’s Santa Cruz dining scene is full of flavor and change.

From a tongue-in-cheek Wharf debut to new pizza and vinyl in Aptos, plus updates from Watsonville and beyond, here’s a fresh roundup of Santa Cruz County dining news.

With sleek cocktails, sharp style and a speakeasy vibe, Alley Oop delivers on its long-awaited debut in Santa Cruz.

Downtown Santa Cruz gets a double upgrade as The Hotel and Alley Oop open with inventive cocktails, stylish spaces and a renewed sense of nightlife.