Diners' Choice: Great for fine wines restaurants in Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the most notable wine lists in Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

la Posta

4.8

4.8 (2392)

$30 and under

Italian

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Select from a menu that features dishes composed of locally sourced ingredients as well as house-made pastas, naturally leavened breads and pizzas from our brick oven.

Because we rely on the bounty of the Santa Cruz farming community, our menu changes frequently and features a wide array of specials. La Posta’s all-Italian wine list includes autochthonous varieties from small producers, by-the-glass and by the bottle.

La Posta adheres to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Program and is a certified City of Santa Cruz Green Business.

We are so thankful for the incredible support from our customers and community.

We will continue to adjust our service based upon best practices for keeping our staff and community safe.

Top review

Denise

Dined 3 days ago

We love La Posta. We have always enjoyed every dining experience we have had at La Posta. We have taken all of our friends there and they also have become fans of this restaurant. It's one of our favorite places to go

Discover more

Chocolate the Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (123)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Now celebrating 25 years, Chocolate the Restaurant provides an attractive dining environment for couples on dates, friendly meetings, and special occasion meals. Dine outside on the heated garden patio. Celebrate special occasions with up to 25 guests in the private street-side party room. Maybe start with a Chocolate Martini or a Passion Fruit Margarita. Chef David Jackman's fresh baked pasta rosettes, slow-roasted meats, and delicious seasonal organic vegetable dishes are all a prelude to our many chocolaty desserts. Our wine list focuses on local and on Italian wines. Our cocktails are all made from scratch; often using locally distilled spirits, and always using fresh house-made mixers. We are at your service for dinner every night! Afternoon walk-up cafe' service Friday thru Sunday. . We are open for dinner every holiday except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Top review

MohammadVIP

Dined 7 days ago

New menu with lots of varieties including many vegan and gluten free options. Moderately priced

Cafe Cruz Rosticceria & Bar

4.7

4.7 (2127)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Soquel

About the restaurant

Cafe Cruz is a popular and lively local restaurant. We offer casual/fine dining with a full bar, indoor and heated patio dining. Guests enjoy watching the "magic" created in our open copper-backed kitchen each night by our talented team of chefs. Notable features include many locally sourced foods, nightly sustainable seafood specials, and many creative salad and vegetable options. Our innovative pastas and sandwiches are always a hit.
Spit-Roasted meats are featured each night, cooked on a french Rotisol rotisserie. The lush garden room can seat larger parties of up to 35. Guests enjoy our warm friendly service, our many seating options, and exceptionally delicious food.

Top review

Lehny

Dined 3 days ago

The food was great, service was quite good and although the tables were too close for comfort, we enjoyed our meals.

Sugo Italian Pasta Bar

4.7

4.7 (313)

$30 and under

Italian

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

A European concept-restaurant of traditional Italian cuisine; a modern and dynamic service, that allows customers to enjoy fresh, organic and authentic italian food through a selection of appetizer, panini, pizza and salads, and obviously our specialty: "Pasta".

Top review

ElizabethVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Bruschetta is a great starter. Pesto is delicious and service is always great.

Oswald

4.5

4.5 (1631)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Oswald is a contemporary American restaurant and bar that focuses on the abundance of delicious ingredients found on the central coast of California. Oswald features an eclectic, international wine list and an exciting, seasonal bar program. While the decor is spare and modern, the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. Oswald features new art shows every two months.

We do have first come tables available in the lounge as well as bar seats.
Come by and see if there is a table or seat for you.

Top review

Deborah

Dined 5 days ago

Small upscale restaurant with excellent food, different from the usual faire.

Mozaic - Santa Cruz

4.5

4.5 (482)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

We named our restaurant Mozaic because we wanted to capture the diversity of flavors and culmination of authentic Mediterranean dishes that we offer. We bring together the best of Mediterranean recipes from Greece, Lebanon, Turkey and Sicily, emphasizing Middle Eastern influence.

Our menu is hand-crafted after years of experience in the restaurant business knowing what people like. We make every dish completely authentic, utilizing 100 years old techniques that have been passed down through generations to bring you incredible flavor. COME AND TASTE THE DIFFERENCE We seek only the best, local ingredients. We use high-quality meats, like our Australian lamb tenderloin and select only sustainable seafood. Our lavash comes from an authentic Persian bakery.

Everyone wants family. Mozaic is a warm and inviting atmosphere where everyone can feel at home. Come enjoy our incredible and lush atmosphere.

Top review

Eric

Dined 3 days ago

Food and service was very good and tasty. Cocktails hit hard and the belly dancing entertainment was fun. The desserts off the charts so good!! Lamb shank was tender and fell off the bone. Cioppino was a little on the fishy side but the sauce was so so good!! Overall have already made another reservation!!

Oblò

4.3

4.3 (79)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Modern Italian cuisine with Californian influence, sit in our beautiful dining room or enjoy one of our amazing craft drinks in the comfort and cozy lounge bar area.
Our chef Andrea designed an innovative menu that perfect match with the list of cocktails craft from the Bar manager Keith Fox.

Top review

CynthiaVIP

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

My husband and I enjoyed our dinner, the ambiance, the setting, and the excellent service of this restaurant. I had Spaghetti Carbonara and my husband had Pappardelle with meat sauce. We both thought the dishes were very good. The Bruschetta was also very good. We will return!

The View Restaurant & Bar

4.1

4.1 (1283)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Set high on a hilltop with breathtaking panoramic views of the Monterey Bay, The View Restaurant & Bar at Chaminade offers a unique dining experience. Indoor and outdoor seating allows guests to enjoy the naturally beautiful scenery which compliments the contemporary California Cuisine. Whether it’s sustainable seafood or locally grown produce, The View emphasizes natural ingredients while providing four-diamond service. A 4% surcharge will be added to all guest checks to help cover increases in labor costs and to support a higher minimum wage.

***Please note that our kitchen closes from 1:30pm-2:00pm to prepare for dinner service. Our bar and restaurant remain open during that time, offering a fine selection of local wines, craft beers, signature cocktails, and non-alcoholic refreshments to enjoy.

Top review

beth

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

Beautiful day, beautiful view, excellent menu - my friends and I were impressed with The View restaurant (first time for 2 friends, many times for me). Staff was helpful, accommodating, friendly, pleasant and agreed to take a photo of us on the deck. Overall, great experience and one of my favorite restaurants. Highly recommend!

Sevy's Bar + Kitchen

4.1

4.1 (211)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Aptos

About the restaurant

Sevy's Bar + Kitchen is located in Aptos, California at the Seacliff Inn, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. This newly-renovated establishment offers a variety of menu items for lunch and dinner with a focus on fresh California cuisine. A truly serene patio dining setting sets the mood for a relaxing lunch, romantic dinner or some family fun with your pup! Don't forget to bring your favorite friends along and indulge in some hand crafted cocktails, local beers and wine from the full bar.

Live entertainment will be featured weekly, so be sure to check out the schedule on our website.

Thank you and we hope to see you soon!

Top review

Hailey

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

Noah was an amazing server! We had a large party for my sisters graduation and Noah was super awesome about it!! 10/10 service!

Discover more

Experience

WINE30

Sanderlings - Seascape Resort

3.7

3.7 (1318)

$31 to $50

Californian

Aptos

About the restaurant

Sanderlings Restaurant at Seascape Beach Resort offers elegant, casual dining with a spectacular ocean view from sunrise to sunset.

Top review

KathyVIP

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

My husband had the Caesar salad which was delicious and also the special which was the Halibut. It was served on pasta and the pasta was cold. I had the bavette and what a bargain. It was absolutely delicious. The halibut would have been much better had it been served on a bed of mash potatoes. Our server was wonderful as always.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

Explore more Diners' Choice lists