For its size, Santa Cruz boasts a large number of drinking establishments from Irish pubs to nightclubs. Many of the bars are located along Pacific Avenue. A serious pub crawl can be done starting at either the Asti (listing below) and ending about 7 blocks away at the Rush Inn or the other way around.

Pub crawl

 • 99 Bottles, (half a block off Pacific Ave). Get a free membership card and get a stamp for trying all 99 different beers and win a T-shirt. Good California pub food (fried calamari sandwiches, burgers, salads, etc). Good student hangout.
 • The Asti. End your pub crawl here and have a photo of your bare butt added to the lovely collage on the wall. Lots of cheap beer and college students.
 • Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave, 831 423-7117
 • Club Dakota 1209 Pacific Ave, 831 454-9030. The most cocktail-lounge-y place on the crawl. Gay/Lesbian friendly.
 • Crow's Nest, 2218 East Cliff Dr, 831 476-4560. In the top three annually for "best happy hour" award from the local weekly paper.
 • Poet and Patriot, 320 Cedar St, (One block off Pacific Ave)  . Music sessions and darts games.
 • The Red Room, 1003 Cedar St, (One block off Pacific Ave).
 • Rosie McCann's Irish Pub, Pacific Ave - Upstairs pub with all the trimmings -- lamb stew, Irish dance and music, cider and many beers on tap.
 • The Rush Inn Friendly little place, bar tenders were voted Most Friendly Bar Tenders 2003 in the Santa Cruz Metro weekly paper.

Coffee

 • CafféBene, 1101 Cedar St, 831 425-0441. Free Wi-Fi, Excellent coffee, good pastries. Predominantly local clientele.
 • CafféPergolesi, 418 Cedar St, 831 426-1775 - Free WiFi access. To be cool, arrive by motorcycle or Vespa.
 • The Union, 120 Union St, 831 459-9876. Free WiFi, nice garden seating.
 • Lulu Carpenter's, 1545 Pacific Ave, 831 429-9804. Free WiFi access point, small patio garden in back. Open until midnight every night / cute baristas.
 • Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company, 1330 Pacific Ave, 831 459-0100