25 Best Things to Do in Capitola, CA

Nestled on the coast of Monterey Bay, Capitola is a lovely city just two hours away from San Francisco.

The small city is a popular tourist destination, and people from all over come to experience its sandy beaches and lovely parks.

However, Capitola has a lot more to it than just beaches; it’s home to an assortment of eateries, shops, museums, and entertainment.

The city’s close-knit community also hosts several festivals throughout the year.

One thing is for sure—the city has plenty for tourists to enjoy and explore.

These are the best things to do in Capitola, California:

Explore the Charming City of Capitola on Foot

California is known for its bright, golden sunshine.

Capitola’s weather is usually pleasant, which makes it perfect for exploring by just walking around.

This delightful city is easy on the eyes and serves incredible views of the ocean and sandy beaches.

You can discover new shops and cafes along your way and try some Californian street food while you’re at it.

Long walks on the palm-lined streets while soaking in the golden sunlight will make you love this gorgeous city even more.

People walking along capitola's beachfront trail

Learn about the Local History at the Capitola Historical Museum

The Capitola Historical Museum tells the story of the city and its coastal community through historic photographs, artifacts, and a new major exhibition each year.

The museum is at 410 Capitola Avenue, next to Capitola City Hall. The grounds also include a furnished 1907 beach cottage and an early 20th-century bathhouse.

It is open Friday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and admission is free. The annual exhibition usually runs from mid-March through December, so call ahead at 831-464-0322 if you are visiting in winter.

Visit the Capitola Historical Museum to learn more about this incredible city and appreciate its history.

Sunrise or Sunset at Capitola Beach

Perched along the northern end of Monterey Bay, Capitola City Beach is a well-liked sandy urban beach.

It is perfect for enjoying the central coast weather while relishing breathtaking ocean views.

The beach has volleyball courts, restrooms, and a fishing pier, and the Esplanade next to it is lined with shops and restaurants.

Lifeguards staff the beach every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day (weekends only in September and October). Dogs are not allowed on the sand.

Surfing is pretty popular here, and you will find many surfers enjoying the ocean waves.

The beach is also frequently visited by birdwatchers.

There are benches over the beach where you can sit and enjoy the view.

Don’t forget to catch the magnificent view of sunset or sunrise from Capitola City Beach.

Shop until You Drop at the Capitola Mall

Capitola Mall, at 1855 41st Avenue, has been operating since 1977 and is the only indoor mall in Santa Cruz County.

Target, Macy’s, and Kohl’s remain the anchor stores. Along with them, you will find a mix of national chains and locally owned shops.

Dining options include Chili’s and Olive Garden, plus smaller spots such as Ramen Kaito, Wetzel’s Pretzels, and Coffee Conspiracy.

The mall’s owner is planning a redevelopment. In 2026, the city approved zoning that would allow housing, a hotel, and commercial space on the site, but no project has been proposed yet, and the mall’s current businesses remain open.

Check the mall’s online directory for current stores and hours before you go.

Spend a Relaxing Day at New Brighton State Beach

New Brighton State Beach is a state park of roughly 93 acres on the north shore of Monterey Bay, in Capitola just east of Santa Cruz.

Its sandy beach, wooded bluffs, and hiking trails offer views across the bay. Visitors come to walk the shore, fish, surf, and swim in the warmer months.

View of New Brighton State Beach from a hill — Richard Masoner, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rocky areas shelter mussels, sea stars, and crabs, and you may spot pelicans, dolphins, sea lions, and sea otters offshore.

There are picnic areas where you can enjoy the view and the sound of the waves. The campground has more than 100 tent and RV sites, including 11 with RV hookups, and reservations are made through ReserveCalifornia.

Day use costs $10 per vehicle, and the park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset.

The Pacific Migrations Visitor Center has exhibits on Pacific wildlife migration and local Chinese-immigrant history, but it is open only seasonally, so check with the park before you visit.

See the Cement Ship at Seacliff State Beach

Just outside Capitola in Aptos, Seacliff State Beach is a long beach next to New Brighton State Beach. Its best-known landmark is the SS Palo Alto, a concrete ship resting just offshore.

The ship was launched in 1919 and intentionally sunk off the beach in 1930. It was turned into an attraction with a dance floor, a swimming pool, and a cafe.

Today the ship is partly broken up, closed to the public, and unsafe to board, but you can see it from the sand.

The fishing pier was removed after storm damage in 2023, and the campground remains closed. The beach is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, and parking costs $10.

Hike the Redwood Trails at the Forest of Nisene Marks

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park sits in the hills above Aptos, a short drive from Capitola.

The park has about 30 miles of trails and fire roads through second-growth redwoods. Almost all of this forest was logged between 1883 and 1923, and it has been growing back ever since.

Bikes are limited to the Aptos Creek Fire Road and a few other trails, and dogs are restricted too, so check the park’s rules before you go. Some trails are closed after storm damage, so check current conditions with the park at 831-763-7063.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and day-use parking costs $8 per vehicle.

Enjoy Free Live Music at the Capitola Twilight Concerts

Each summer, the City of Capitola hosts free Twilight Concerts on Wednesday evenings at the Esplanade bandstand in Capitola Village. The series runs through the summer months, with a different band each week.

Genres range from big band blues and surf rock to salsa and oldies. Concerts start at 6 p.m., and you are welcome to bring your own seating and a picnic or pick up dinner from a nearby restaurant.

Dogs and alcohol are not allowed in the park or on the beach. Check the City of Capitola website for each summer’s lineup.

Participate in the Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival

The Capitola Art & Wine Festival is a free weekend event in Capitola Village, with art, wine, food, and live entertainment.

It is usually held on the second weekend of September and makes a good last hurrah for the summer.

The festival brings together more than 150 fine artists, an artisans marketplace, and about two dozen Santa Cruz Mountains wineries.

Musical performers during the Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival

Wine tasting requires a festival glass plus tasting tokens, and you must be 21 or older with ID.

Food trucks and vendors offer plenty to eat, and a bandstand at Esplanade Park hosts live bands and local dance groups. Street performers work the village corners, and a free shuttle runs from Capitola Mall on 41st Avenue.

Attend the Capitola Art & Wine Festival to enjoy gorgeous art, good wine, and lively entertainment. The 2026 festival was held September 12–13, so check capitolaartandwine.com for next year’s dates.

Catch the Lighted Nautical Parade at the Capitola Beach Festival

The Capitola Beach Festival takes over the village each year in late September. It began in 2018 and was organized by former volunteers of the Capitola Begonia Festival.

The weekend includes a sand sculpture contest, a fishing derby, rowboat races, and music at the beach. Most events are free to join or watch, though a few, such as the Little Wharf 3-mile race, charge a fee.

The highlight is the Lighted Nautical Parade, which travels down Soquel Creek on Saturday evening. Check capitolabeachfestival.com for each year’s dates and schedule.

Walk or Fish on the Rebuilt Capitola Wharf

The Capitola Wharf, at the end of Wharf Road, stretches about 855 feet (260 meters) into Monterey Bay.

Storm waves split the wharf in January 2023, and it was closed for more than a year while the city rebuilt it. The rebuilt wharf reopened in 2024 with a wider deck, new railings and decking, public restrooms, and a fish-cleaning station.

It is once again a popular place for a walk, with views of the bay and the pastel buildings along the shoreline.

You can fish from the wharf, and no fishing license is needed.

Capitola Boat & Bait, on the wharf, has rented fishing gear, kayaks, paddleboards, and motorized skiffs, so check with the shop for current hours and services.

The restaurant that once stood on the wharf was lost in the storms, but Capitola Village is a short walk away and has plenty of places to eat with a view of the beach.

Watch the sunrise or sunset from the Capitola Wharf, and you’ll thank yourself later.

Learn to Ride the Waves with Capitola Beach Company

People surfing on the waters of Capitola

Capitola is a fantastic place to catch a wave, so don’t forget your surfboard.

If you’re interested in surfing, check out Capitola Beach Company, a fantastic surfside beach boutique that offers surfing and paddleboarding lessons.

If you don’t know how to surf, their experienced and well-trained instructors will take good care of you.

Situated along Monterey Avenue, Capitola Beach Company provides all the necessary gear with the lessons, so you don’t have to buy or rent anything.

If you already know how to surf, you can rent surfboards, wetsuits, and stand-up paddleboards from the company’s rental trailer at the south end of Capitola Beach in Esplanade Park.

Sample Wines at the Overshine Tasting Room

Santa Cruz County is known for its wineries, and Capitola Village has its own tasting room.

The Overshine Tasting Room, at 103 Stockton Avenue, was previously listed as the Armida Winery tasting room. The Healdsburg winery was acquired in 2023 and renamed Overshine Wine Co.

Overshine’s wines come from Sonoma County vineyards, including Maple Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley. Its winemaking centers on Zinfandel and field blends, with some Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, so ask what is pouring when you visit.

The room sits in the village, a short walk from the beach, shops, and galleries. Call ahead at 831-462-1065 to confirm hours and tasting fees.

Dine While Gazing at the Ocean at Paradise Beach Grille

Paradise Beach Grille has served American food and fresh seafood on the Esplanade since 1998.

This restaurant in Capitola Village is a good place for lunch, with views of the beach and the bay.

The menu runs from salads and steaks to seafood, burgers, and pasta, with vegetarian and gluten-free choices.

The drinks menu includes a long list of wines by the glass and bottle.

Stop in at Paradise Beach Grille for a meal with an ocean view.

Have a Lovely Meal at Shadowbrook Restaurant

Soquel Creek seen through the glass roof of Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, CA — Dave Parker, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Founded in 1947, Shadowbrook Restaurant offers a distinctive dining experience in a creekside setting, with indoor dining rooms, an outdoor patio and deck, and a rooftop terrace.

The menu leans American, with seafood, steak, and prime rib. Dishes on the current dinner menu include Pacific Rim salmon, beef Wellington, and an applewood glazed pork chop.

Vegetarian options include black truffle gnocchi and ricotta ravioli, and the menu marks vegan and gluten-free dishes. Menus change, so check the current one before you go.

Located on Wharf Road, Shadowbrook also runs a complimentary shuttle for guests staying at nearby lodging or within a three-mile driving radius. Availability is limited, so call (831) 475-1511 to book a ride, and mention the shuttle when you make your reservation.

Drink Crafted Ales at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales

Sante Adairius Rustic Ales is a small brewery in Capitola known for saisons, barrel-aged sours, and other rustic ales, along with IPAs.

The brewery puts its focus on quality and craft, and the lineup changes often, so ask what is on tap.

The taproom at 103 Kennedy Drive is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. It has a patio that welcomes kids and dogs.

It is a good stop if you like craft beer.

Satisfy Your Sweet and Savory Cravings at Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria

Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria serves pastries, cakes, and breads along with deli sandwiches, salads, hot entrees, and breakfast.

Its cake case rotates through the seasons, with favorites such as blackberry bramble, chocolate mousse, salted caramel, and old-fashioned chocolate cake.

Apart from their mouth-watering menu items, diners also love coming to this bakery for its cozy ambiance.

Gayle’s Bakery is at 504 Bay Avenue.

Treat Yourself to a Unique Stay at the Capitola Venetian Hotel

Located on Wharf Road beside Capitola City Beach, the Capitola Venetian is an all-suite lodging that includes ocean-view units.

The complex dates to the 1920s and was designed in a Mediterranean style, with hand-carved doors inspired by Venice.

Units range from studios to multi-bedroom condos, and most have kitchens. Note that the kitchens are not stocked with dishes or cookware, parking costs extra, and pets are not allowed.

Book an ocean-view unit to wake up with views of the beach and the wharf.

Enjoy an Italian Dinner at Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine

Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine is a small, family-run Italian restaurant at 115 San Jose Avenue in Capitola Village, in a small complex called the Capitola Mercantile.

The menu centers on pasta such as gnocchi, ravioli, and lasagna, along with seafood dishes like cioppino. It also includes gluten-free pasta and a vegan pasta list.

Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday evenings, and the restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday.

The dining room is tiny and can fill up, so call ahead at (831) 465-9040 to ask about reservations.

Share a Pizza at Mentone in Aptos Village

Mentone is a restaurant in nearby Aptos Village, a short drive from Capitola. It comes from chef David Kinch, who is also behind Manresa in Los Gatos, and its menu is inspired by the Italian Riviera.

Pizza is the main draw, and the Michelin Guide has recognized the restaurant with a Bib Gourmand, an award for good cooking at a fair price. You will also find house-made pastas, a few larger dishes, and gelato made in-house.

Mentone serves dinner Wednesday through Monday and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. It is closed on Tuesdays. Reservations are available through OpenTable, and it is worth booking ahead for weekend meals.

De-Stress at Sage Float Spa

Located on 41st Avenue, Sage Float Spa offers a peaceful environment that will give you the chance to inwardly address any difficulties you might be experiencing.

Reduce stress, improve your sleep, inspire your creativity, and strengthen your connection to intuition.

Float soundlessly in an Epsom salt solution that has been highly concentrated.

The float pods’ silence and darkness make them ideal for complete relaxation.

Your float session will leave you feeling completely unwinded, de-stressed, and re-energized.

Sage Float Spa provides float treatment in addition to having a sauna and a massage selection to round off your day of pampering.

Enjoy Margaritas and Mexican Dishes at Margaritaville

Margaritaville has served Capitola Village for more than 30 years. It was remodeled and reopened under new ownership in May 2015.

Despite sharing a name with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant chain, it is an independent restaurant, and it describes itself as locally owned and operated.

The menu focuses on Mexican food and seafood, including Baja fish tacos, ceviche, Dungeness crab tostadas, and enchiladas, alongside handcrafted margaritas.

The dog-friendly heated patio has ocean views.

Margaritaville is at 231 Esplanade in Capitola Village.

Dig Into Classic Mexican Dishes at El Toro Bravo

El Toro Bravo has served Mexican food in Capitola Village since 1967, and the same family still runs it. A fire that started next door closed the restaurant in December 2024. It reopened on January 21, 2026, after a rebuild of more than a year.

The menu is unchanged. Signature dishes include the tacolada, a large flour tortilla filled with chicken or shredded beef and topped with enchilada sauce and cheese, plus ceviche tostadas and prawn tacos.

You will find El Toro Bravo at 123 Monterey Avenue, near the beach. It filled up on its first day back, so allow extra time at busy hours.

Bring Your Kids to the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, inside Capitola Mall, is a hands-on museum for young children.

Its interactive exhibits encourage kids to explore and play, building curiosity and motor skills along the way.

The museum also hosts birthday parties, camps, and programs for infants and toddlers. It is open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, and closed Tuesdays and Sundays.

The museum has said on its website that it is looking for a new permanent home after the city approved new zoning for the mall site, so check its website for the latest location and hours before you go.

Stay the Night at Monarch Cove Inn

Monarch Cove Inn sits on Capitola’s Depot Hill, on a sea cliff above Monterey Bay.

The inn offers Victorian-style guest rooms and cottages, and its grounds are next to a monarch butterfly habitat. According to the inn, the butterflies typically arrive around mid-October and stay through mid-February.

It is within walking distance of Capitola Village, and the inn also hosts weddings and events. Confirm availability with the inn when you plan your stay.