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.
Downtown Santa Cruz is finding fresh momentum through food, drink, and community—from a thriving farmers market to pop-up taprooms and creative holiday markets.
Spontaneous Confections offers pumpkin tarts with vanilla chantilly and candied hazelnuts, apple tarte tatin domes over caramel and almond cream, and chocolate tarts with ganache and chocolate whipped cream
Last week the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the statewide commercial opener of the upcoming Dungeness crab season has been delayed until at least Jan. 1, 2026.
