Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Best Restaurant and Food in Santa Cruz - Laili, Santa Cruz, CA

Laili

4.7
4.7
2890 Reviews
$30 and under
Mediterranean
101B Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Laili is our expression of love through food and service. We offer a unique menu made up of fusion Afghani Mediterranean items that include kabobs, wraps, flatbreads, pastas, and spiced lamb and chicken dishes as well as delicious vegetarian options.

Laili Restaurant "BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT", Good Times 2023, Voted #1

Rich Mediterranean Flavors with a Unique Afghan Twist in the Heart of Downtown Santa Cruz.
Currently taking reservations for lunch and dinner, walk-ins welcome too.

Dine in our elegant, secluded, off street patio. Visit our website for event information.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Afghan
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Get Laili’s Food at your location! Call or email us for prices and availability. Parties 50-500
  • Private party facilities
    Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate gathering, Laili Restaurant can accommodate all your special event needs.
  • Private party contact
    Xander Nicolai: (831) 423-4545
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Cruz
  • Cross street
    Pacific Avenue
  • Parking details
    Take advantage of free parking located on River Street at Front Street. In addition to metered street parking, there is also a parking lot at Front Street and Soquel and also at Locust Street and Pacific Avenue.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Lunchtime Oasis

    Multiple dates available
    Come experience lunch time at Laili, the hidden gem of Downtown Santa Cruz! Sit and relax on our gorgeous patio and enjoy the sunshine, the beautiful vines and flowers all around that envelop you with the feel of a secret garden, and of course, our delicious, fresh food! We offer special lunch time combos, an amazing wine list and delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic options like our fresh Ginger Lime Soda. Take some time to slow down and treat yourself.
    Lunchtime Oasis Photo

Private dining

What 2,890 people are saying

Laili reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Overall

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Food

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Service

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Ambiance

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Value

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Innovative

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Good for groups

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Healthy

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Good for special occasions

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Laili offers a "consistent delight" with its savory Silk Road spices and perfectly cooked dishes. Diners praise the "impeccably professional" service and charming European-inspired patio. The restaurant's ambiance is described as having an "old-world, Mediterranean feel," making it a "gem" in downtown Santa Cruz.

2,890 Reviews
  1. Mario

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, excellent service, would recommend, does not disappoint
    LailiResponded today
    Hi Mario, Thank you for the wonderful recommendation! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed both the food and service. It means a lot to know we delivered on your expectations—we look forward to having you back soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  2. Stephen

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had an absolutely wonderful time. The food was wonderful. Service was impeccable. This is the second time I’ve eaten here and each time has been very, very good. Highly recommended.
    LailiResponded today
    Hi Stephen, Thank you so much for your kind words and continued support! We're delighted to hear that both your visits have been such positive experiences. It’s always a pleasure to serve you, and we look forward to welcoming you back for many more wonderful meals. Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  3. Barbara

    San Francisco7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Laili is one of my favorite restaurants. The food is outstanding. We had lamb kabobs and a Moroccan beet salad. Both were excellent as was the service. We sat on the patio. It was a perfect night.
    LailiResponded today
    Hi Barbara, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're honored to be one of your favorite restaurants. We're thrilled you enjoyed the lamb kabobs, Moroccan beet salad, and the service—and that you had a perfect evening on our patio. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  4. Patricia

    San Francisco17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful lamb kabob! Very pretty presentation. Also don’t miss the apricot chicken flatbread
    LailiResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed the lamb kabob and the apricot chicken flatbread—two of our favorites as well. We hope to welcome you back soon for another delicious visit! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  5. Eli

    San Francisco5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Sat on the beautiful patio, had my usual filet mignon kebabs, which were cooked to perfect medium rare and super tender. Service was prompt and friendly. My only complaint is that prices have increased a lot.
    LailiResponded on May 1, 2025
    Thank you for dining with us and for sharing your experience. We're so glad you enjoyed the filet mignon kebabs and had a great time on our patio—it's always a pleasure to welcome familiar faces back. We truly appreciate your feedback on pricing. Like many restaurants, we've had to adjust due to rising costs, but we remain committed to providing the highest quality ingredients and service. We hope to see you again soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  6. Donna

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    WE enjoyed the excellent service, the food was delicious , the price on par with other more pricey restaurants in this county.
    LailiResponded on May 1, 2025
    Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the service and found the food delicious. We take pride in offering a memorable dining experience, and we're glad you felt the value matched the quality. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  7. Kate

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Super lovely. Great service, food, and ambiance. My favorite restaurant in SC. Never disappoints.
    LailiResponded on May 1, 2025
    Thank you for such a heartfelt review! We're honored to be your favorite spot in Santa Cruz. It means a lot to know that our service, food, and ambiance continue to meet your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  8. Sandy

    San Francisco41 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Eating outside on their charming European inspired patio is always a pleasure! It’s nice and toasty with the heaters, and if there’s a rowdy table ( as we had during our 1,1/2 hour dinner), it’s not a big deal, as there’s adequate room between tables. The wait staff is impeccably professional and wonderfully helpful, and our waiter was funny too! The food is consistently delicious, never disappoints….rather, always delights us with its savory Silk Road spices and perfectly done salmon. What a gem we have in this restaurant! We’re lucky!
    LailiResponded on April 26, 2025
    Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your evening on our patio and that the heaters kept you comfortable. It’s especially heartening to know that our team's hospitality and the flavors of our dishes made your experience memorable. We feel incredibly lucky to have guests like you and truly appreciate your support. We look forward to welcoming you back for another delightful evening soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  9. Heather

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The back patio was lovely, as usual.
    LailiResponded on April 24, 2025
    Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food and received excellent service. It's always a pleasure to welcome guests back to our garden patio—thank you for making us a part of your dining tradition! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  10. Ellise VIP

    San Francisco14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz. The interior and the patio are beautiful. The food is wonderful and so is the presentation. Love it!
    LailiResponded on April 22, 2025
    Thank you so much for review and continued support! We're honored to be one of your favorite spots in Santa Cruz. It's wonderful to hear you enjoy both our garden patio and dining room, as well as the food and presentation—we put a lot of care into every detail. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Laili offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Laili also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (831) 423-4545.

Laili is rated 4.7 stars by 2890 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
  5. Santa Cruz

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Laili

101B Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Pacific Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Cruz
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Afghan
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Take advantage of free parking located on River Street at Front Street. In addition to metered street parking, there is also a parking lot at Front Street and Soquel and also at Locust Street and Pacific Avenue.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Get Laili’s Food at your location! Call or email us for prices and availability. Parties 50-500
  • Private party facilities
    Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate gathering, Laili Restaurant can accommodate all your special event needs.
  • Private party contact
    Xander Nicolai: (831) 423-4545
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo