Today’s Red Restaurant, at 200 Locust Street, is in the old Santa Cruz Hotel building, built in 1877. The restaurant on the lower level was known throughout much of the twentieth century for its delicious Italian Family Dinners. The good food served “family style” was an inexpensive choice for tourists, before fast food restaurants.
In the 1970s, the upstairs was remodeled to become Santa Cruz Bar and Grill, and its original distinctive stained glass windows remain, as well as the dark paneling, fireplace, and skylights.
After 3 pm, enter the Santa Cruz Hotel from Locust Street and take the stairs up to the Red Restaurant to relax and enjoy a drink and a snack in the company of Santa Cruz locals.
Take the Self-Guided Mobile Tour
This piece is part of the Mission Hill Staircase Tour made possible by local history researcher Linda Rosewood. Download the free app with many tours of the Santa Cruz area and beyond.
Sources Used
- The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture, 3rd Edition. John Leighton Chase, edited by Judith Steen. Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, 2005.