Do you wish there was a list of the restaurants and other food establishments in the Santa Cruz area that serve organic and/or local food? We thought so, too, so we did some research!
This list contains restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and grocery stores in the Santa Cruz area that serve organic and/or locally sourced food and drinks. We focused on locally owned establishments as much as possible.
Each entry below includes the name and address of the business, their website, a quote from them that describes why they made this list, and if applicable, a link to where they share more about their sustainable practices.
Avanti Restaurant
1917 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Avanti Website
“At Avanti Restaurant we have been committed to the local food culture. We serve you organic vegetables, sustainable seafood, pasture raised meats and poultry, organic milk, butter and eggs, locally roasted coffee and house made desserts in our new elegant location.”
Bantam
1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz CA, 95060
Bantam Website
“We buy local and organic ingredients. We go to the local farmers markets twice a week and get daily deliveries from small, local and organic farms. We use organic and local produce, grains, cheese, dairy, meats and sustainable seafood. The only exceptions are imported wine and certain cheeses from Europe.”
Buttercup Cakes & Farmhouse Frosting
1411 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Buttercup Cakes Website
“We use only the best and highest quality ingredients available. Whenever possible we choose local produce, organic options and during peak season we even pick fruit from our farm. Our commitment to natural food dyes keep our cake natural and delicious. We always offer gluten-free and vegan options.”
Cafe Cruz
2621 41st Ave, Soquel, CA 95073
Cafe Cruz Website
“We use the freshest local produce (organic when possible), freshly caught fish from sustainable sources, fresh natural California poultry & pork, and Harris Ranch Beef (naturally raised in California), complemented by our other top of the line ingredients.” They also use a variety of locally made products and many of their wines are grown locally in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Cafe Cruz Sustainable Practices
Cafe Gratitude
103 Lincoln St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Cafe Gratitude Yelp Page
This vegan restaurant’s menu states: “100% made in house from scratch with organic, seasonal ingredients.”
Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Charlie Hong Kong Website
“As a certified Green Business, we are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint and keeping your body healthy. Our kitchen composts as part of Santa Cruz’s local compost program, our organic tofu is made locally just for us, and our vegetables are sourced locally from organic farms on the Central Coast of California.”
Charlie Hong Kong Sustainable Practices
Companion Bakeshop
Multiple locations in Santa Cruz County
Companion Bakeshop Website
“All flour, eggs and sugar used in our baking is organic unless otherwise noted.”
Companion Bakeshop Sustainable Practices
Dharma’s Restaurant
4250 Capitola Rd, Capitola, CA 95010
Dharma’s Website
“We attempt to use the best quality ingredients available, a large majority of them being organic, such as flours, veggies, some fruits, lentils, beans, soy products, grains & pastas.”
Dharma’s Sustainable Practices
India Joze
418 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
India Joze Website
“Embracing the cuisines of the Mediterranean, MidEast, India and SouthEast Asia, we wok a fresh and sometimes intense line to vegetarian, poultry, seafood and meat dishes, and unusual desserts, using many organic ingredients. We serve a limited, locally sourced beer and wine list.”
India Joze Sustainable Practices
New Leaf Community Markets
Multiple locations throughout Santa Cruz County
New Leaf Website
“Visit one of New Leaf Community Markets’ 5 locations for natural and organic produce, meats and sustainable seafood, natural groceries, juices and smoothies, deli, supplements, herbs and body care.” “New Leaf Community Markets is the first grocer in California, second in the world, to achieve a B Corporation certification!”
New Leaf Sustainable Practices
Pearl of the Ocean
736 Water St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Pearl of the Ocean Website
“Pearl of the Ocean serves lovingly cooked all organic, healthy and delicious Sri Lankan cuisine, using fresh quality organic and locally grown ingredients and a variety of special ingredients imported directly from Sri Lanka.”
Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
820 41st Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Penny Ice Creamery Website
“The Penny Ice Creamery is the only ice cream shop in Santa Cruz making delicious ice cream completely from scratch in house. Our flavors change with the seasons, and feature locally farmed and organic ingredients.” The Penny uses “100% organic dairy, organic unrefined cane sugar, organic egg yolks.”
Penny Ice Creamery Sustainable Practices
Picnic Basket
125 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Picnic Basket Website
“The Picnic Basket is dedicated to simple, delicious food and treats, seasoned with lots of love. Local farmers, foragers, and artisans, including the famous Penny Ice Creamery, are the cornerstone of our seasonal menu.”
Pizzeria Avanti
1711 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA
Pizzeria Avanti Website
“Our ingredients are grown and raised locally at farms in Santa Cruz County.” “Expect thin crust pizza prepared with organic wheat flours. Expect organic local produce, meats, and wildcrafted mushrooms & nettles.”
River Cafe
415 River St. Suite K, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
River Cafe Website
“To this day, our menu is made from scratch using 100% organic and locally sourced produce. We strive to celebrate the abundance and local bounty of the Central California.”
River Cafe Sustainable Practices
Samba Rock Acai Cafe
291 Water St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Samba Rock Yelp Page
Samba Rock uses “100% organic fruits” in their bowls and smoothies.
Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company
1330 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Website
Organic, fair trade, and AgroEco Coffee is available at Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company. “We are committed to the pursuit of sustainable coffee agriculture and equitable business relationships with our farming partners.”
Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Sustainable Practices
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
402 Ingalls St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Website
“Think Organic. Drink Organic.” “We are committed to organic, locally sourced ingredients and sustainable brewing processes. We don’t strive to make consistent beer. We strive for consistently great beer. We believe in beer that is better for you, for the neighborhood, for our employees, for the local economy, for the planet.”
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Sustainable Practices
Saturn Cafe
145 Laurel St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Saturn Cafe Website
“Every day we are putting our values into action, whether it’s sourcing locally grown organic ingredients, using paper straws, helping move our used oil into bio-diesel or using a percentage of our budget to reinvest in our community.”
Saturn Cafe Sustainable Practices
Staff of Life Natural Food Market
1266 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Staff of Life Website
“Staff of Life Natural Foods, a Santa Cruz Landmark specializing in farm to fork goodness was opened 50 years ago by Richard Josephson and Gary Bascou to address the growing demand for organic produce, natural meats and bulk shopping.” Staff of Life is the only locally owned green certified market in Santa Cruz! Visit the link below to learn all about their sustainability practices and offerings.
Staff of Life Sustainable Practices
Vivas Organic Mexican Food
1201 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Vivas Midtown Website
“Fresh, natural and organic Mexican food in the heart of midtown Santa Cruz.”
641 Merrill Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (on the UCSC campus)
Vivas UCSC Website
“Fresh, local organic produce. Organic rice and beans. Natural meats. Cage-free eggs. Support of local growers.”
Did we forget anyone who should be on this list? Please let us know by sending us an email.