Super cute spot right off the beach. We also got a view of the colorful houses from our table. We chose outdoor seating where our table was close to a lil pond and ducks were swimming up to us! We also saw someone stand-up-paddleboarding in there as we were eating! Happy hour is M-F 3:30-5:30pm but I heard they may be discontinuing it soon :( We got the Happy Hour Cucumber Margarita + Chicken Taco Combo, Lagunitas IPA Draft Beer + Shrimp Taco, Calamari, and Loaded Nachos. Happy hour plating size is smaller than the full menu size but the amount of food was perfect for my group of 3. They gave a generous amount of chicken+shrimp on the tacos so we put the extra meat on the nachos! The shrimps are grilled with a smoky charred flavor and the chicken is so juicy and flavorful, almost having a curry/tumeric taste. So delish. Staff is super nice and our waiter was super helpful. Vibes are immaculate and I'm sure food would hit even better after a warm summer swim! read more

See all

This place has an amazing view of the waterfront and the colorful Capitola buildings while you dine on their outside patio. We went on a Monday for lunch, and there was no wait; we were seated immediately. Our waiter, Josiah, took good care of us throughout, and a manager also checked on us while we were eating to make sure everything was good. I had a mai tai that was amazing with fresh pineapple taste. I also ordered the Baja fish tacos. The fish was cooked just right with great toppings, including large pieces of avocado and a Chipotle sauce. My friend ordered chips and salsa and the clam chowder. The chowder was good, and the chips were fresh, but the red salsa was very bland. Not just mild with no spice, but bland, like not even any flavor. The green salsa was slightly better. Even so, we both enjoyed our meals and drinks and thoroughly enjoyed the view. I would definitely come back here for drinks and food! Main reason I didn't give 5 stars was because of the salsa, but everything else 5 stars. read more

See all

I came here to on a weekend with my family and some friends. I like that they have outdoor seating, however, that works better for smaller group. We had a pretty large group - not particular big (but close to 10 people) but we had to be split up in 2 booth tables. They do have a kid's menu which is great for family with kids. It does come with a drink, we got milk for our kids. Surprisingly, the portion is really good for the kiddos! We got a quesadilla for them and it was definitely more than enough food for 1 kid. We should have just had the kid share 1 item. The cost of the food all felt a little pricier than I hope, but the food wasn't bad. I got the bajo tacos and it was a good size. It had deep fried fish in them. I felt the dipping sauce that came with it was pretty good too. My husband got the quesabirria tacos which I thought was pretty good. However, I felt the dipping sauce that came with it was a little saltier than I like. I thought the service was good too. The wait staff did a good job in making sure we had what we needed. We also had the ceviche as a starter and I enjoyed it as well. We had a positive experience here. We would probably return. Parking here is also very busy and hard to get. read more

Higher prices but the portions arent terribly small at least. The clam chowder was pretty standard (nothing crazy but nothing to complain about). The steak tacos were pricey for the amount you get but the meat was good. The enchiladas were probably the most worth and were tasty though the beans weren't particularly good. The chips may be pricey but they are unlimited which is nice. My friend had the margarita and said it was just ok which is probably a little disappointing if thats what youre coming for. Service was solid though and The outdoor seating facing the beach is really nice and they do have heat lamps since it can get chilly. Parking in downtown Capitola is a little crowded (and most of it is paid parking) so you'll prolly need to do a short walk. All in all, you're paying more for the ambiance and service but the food isn't terrible and it was overall still a nice experience read more

Margaritaville - Enchiladas - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Beautiful patio seating with great service! The mai tai seemed like it was missing something. It was yellow with no orange in it, but still strong (nothing worse than a watered-down drink). The Pomegranate margarita is very tart. The tacos are always amazing! I liked that the server brought out the happy hour menus when the time came without us asking. read more

See all

We were in route from Carmel to SFO and stopped off in Capitola to stretch our legs and get a bite to eat. We are sure glad we did. It's a cute, little beach community with a canal that runs through it. The restaurant was right at the end of the canal before the small beach and Pacific Ocean. It's a picturesque spot with friendly servers and tasty food. read more

Had an overall good experience at Margaritaville. The Dungeness Crab Tostadas and Baja Fish Tacos were both really good--especially since the fish didn't taste overly fishy (big plus for me). Drinks were solid too--the Pomegranate Skinny Margarita and Piña Colada were both refreshing. Appreciated the pet-friendly outdoor seating. Only downside is the high-top tables could use bag hooks since space is limited. Service was good and the online reservation system was easy to use. Parking in this area on a weekend is a bit of a hassle. Recommend parking in the Public Lot behind the police station and walking. read more

Margaritaville - Dungeness Crab Tostadas and Baja Fish Tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

The service and the margaritas were amazing. I can also add that the food is great but pricey, and I was not pleased when I got charge an additional $12 to add chicken to a $28 quesadilla. No warning, Not cool! read more

Margaritaville - The view from the restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

A stop in Capitola means a mandatory visit to Margaritaville. It is definitely located in the touristy part of town but believe me, it is a local watering hole too. Incredible waterfront and ocean views from both inside and the outside patio make it a popular destination. The Mexican faire and spirits are very good. Seafood is a specialty. Vegan and vegetarian items available. Great chips and salsa. Margaritas that taste delicious and go down easy:). Lovely, friendly and welcoming customer service. Truly a vibrant, casual atmosphere in which to relax and enjoy your day. Bring the family, friends, or that special someone. Parking can be a challenge. But do not let that deter you from experiencing one of Capitola's best oceanside Mexican restaurants. Trust me on that one. Salud! read more

See all

Had a birthday lunch at Margaritaville surrounded by sunshine, peaceful ocean sounds, & great service. I treated myself to a coastal drive with a few stops for walking and a nice lunch. Kasey was my server & she respected my unusual requests that included alone time to read a great book and dessert first. I started with a healthy bottle of filtered water & lava cake. Ice cubes in the water glass were perfect cubes! Not crushed, not cylindrical, just perfect. I added a diet Coke to my meal... more cubed cubes. Lava cake was moist & chocolately, but I don't really like chocolate. Dessert options were limited, but I recommend the churro. Next, I had marinated skirt steak with chimichurri sauce - medium rare. I requested beans without rice, but was served beans with rice. Beans were yummy. Dunno about the rice because I don't like it. The steak! It was amazing. Perfectly cooked with the juices mixing with sauce that created a delicious blend of flavors. Chimichurri sauce was a nice blend of acid (lemon?), sweetness from the parsley, and olive oil. It was so good that I'm drooling as I type this review. Quiet day in Capitola - low season for tourists, so the restaurant was mostly empty. No rushing the guests, so I read alot & took some nice photos. Chef was very friendly & cute! Clean bathrooms, plenty of nearby paid or free parking, and patio with umbrellas for dining. Only negatives -- I asked for 'no ice' in my water & no rice with my entree. Also, I wanted Crudo instead of cake, but it wasn't available. Kasey recognized the errors and was an exceptional server. read more

See all

My recent visit will be my last visit here. This visit was very disappointing and the worst out of every single time I have ever been there. A friend and I walked in to find the place completely empty and greeted by a new worker at the front. We could tell he was new by how the supervisor was berating him through out our meal. We sat at the bar and was approached by the bartender. He asked what we wanted to drink so we ordered two pina coladas. We inquired about food and received the food menus. After we ordered they brought us water and in the middle of our conversation interrupted us to ask for payment. Don't get me wrong, worked at a bar before so it's understandable. What was not understandable was not only were we the only ones in there he began going on a rant about why he needs our card about it being during their "busy times". We were the only ones there at the time and it wasn't asked prior to our order, we should have left then. He then brought our premixed frozen 20$ drinks and began talking to another worker. He stated "how he works harder but gets paid less so he only does bare minimum now". Mind you this was going on directly in front of us while we waited for our food. The food has changed for the worst and didn't even come out hot. By the time we received our food a blonde lady who appeared to be a supervisor or lead was behind us talking to the new person at the front. She talked to him so horribly and loudly it made me uncomfortable to where I didn't even finish the food. I get having teaching moments but for one you shouldn't do that on the floor in front of customers and for two you should learn how to speak to people in a leadership role. We were watched throughout our entire meal even though at this point they had my card. The prices have raised in order to keep business running as they depend on tourist who do not know. I would not recommend based on how we were treated, how they treated each other, the unreasonable prices and the cold unflavored food. I am bothered by this bizarre experience and would not want others to experience that, save your money or go to the other surrounding restaurants. read more

My husband and I found this little gem on Yelp after seeing all the great reviews, so we decided to give it a try. We came in on a busy Sunday and were quoted a 30-minute wait, so we decided to grab a drink at the bar. It took quite a while to get our pitcher of margaritas, and by the time our drinks arrived, our table was already ready. We were seated outside per our request and had an amazing view. The weather was perfect, which made the experience even better. My husband ordered the shrimp tacos, which were excellent -- the sauce was perfectly made and the shrimp was very flavorful. I ordered the branzino plate, and it was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. There were bones, so I ate it slowly, but it had plenty of meat. It came with a salad topped with a cilantro dressing that was outstanding. We would definitely come back. They have super clean bathrooms. The margaritas were strong and delicious. The only downside was that the bar service was very slow and our table server wasn't very friendly, though it was extremely busy. Despite that, the food and drinks were excellent. read more

See all

Margaritaville in Capitola was a cute little Mexican restaurant that my friends and I decided to visit after a long day of hiking and checking out the cute painted houses/beaches nearby. While we did not have a reservation, the wait was not too bad and we only had to wait about 35 minutes. The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated with tons of seashells, blue tones and sandy wood colors and there is a large window panel where you can directly see all of the little colorful houses of Capitola as well as the water and beach behind. It is absolutely beautiful especially if you go around sunset time. As for the food, I decided to get the fish tacos, the guacamole with chips and the calamari. The calamari was my absolute favorite and was perfectly crispy and tender with a delicious aioli to accompany it. The guacamole was also incredibly fresh and tangy, and the Margaritas were also refreshing and tasty. That being said, my fish tacos were quite dry and could have used more seasoning or salsa to add flavor. All in all though Margaritaville is definitely a solid beautiful restaurant to visit while in Capitola! read more

Margaritaville - Fish tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

This place used to be better. The quality of the food has decreased in the last year. The service has slipped. The restaurant is a disappointment if you're expecting food and quality from over a year ago. Shame. What happened?! read more

Perfect Mexican restaurant with a beautiful view of the colorful architecture of Capitola. Great for families and in a fun and walkable neighborhood. The pictures don't do it just but the food was absolutely amazing. The flavors were complex and delicious. You could tell that only the best ingredients were used to prepare each dish. And of course the margaritas were solid. The service was friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend for delicious Mexican food with elevated flavors. read more

Margaritaville - Blackened Shrimp Enchiladas - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

The restaurant was super busy, so I am glad I made a reservation. Location: 5/5 stars! AMAZING! Mexican Food: 4/5 (I've had better and I wish there were specials) Service: 4.5/5 stars (attentive, but forgot my chardonnay) Sound: 3/5 stars indoors (loud!) 5/5 stars outdoors I had chimichurri steak and it was okay, but kind of greasy? Overall, a fun place to visit and get the Capitola experience. I would suggest sitting outdoors if it isn't too bright or hot. read more

Came here for dinner on a Tuesday night. It wasn't super packed but there was enough people inside to make the atmosphere feel lively. You have indoor dining options or outdoor dining options with a view. They have heaters outside to keep you warm. We got the calamari and the birria tacos. The birria tacos were good but they could've been crispier. The calamari had the same issue the breading wasn't crispy enough but the food itself had flavor and was good. The overall dinning experience was pleasant though the staff was very friendly and accommodating. read more

Margaritaville - Birria tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Deliciously affordable, authentically hospitable! The "Quesabirria"(braised beef and melted cueso oaxaca in folded corn tortialla), paired with the Azul Smoked coctail was maginicent! Mike the manager and Phil our server were five stars in assuring an exceptional experience. Our highest recommendation!!! Ray & El read more

Perfect location! Food was great, drinks were okay, but you're really paying for the amazing view. Service was very helpful! Not affiliated with Jimmy Buffetts Maragritaville read more

Margaritaville - Nachos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Yes, yes, yes. If you're looking for a strong marg, views, and comforting Mexican food without a worry of splurging the wallet in Capitola, Margaritaville is your spot. I would most def come back here again during the day and sit outside and take it all in! We arrived to Capitola late evening as the sun was setting and chose to sit indoors with the kiddo after walking the beach and finding Margaritaville still open and thriving. The staff was so gracious and even went across the street to grab a special straw for the kiddo ~ high chair/kids menu/all the special love too. It's these moments when you realize the staff has young kids and just you know..get it. So thank you Margaritaville for that, we still have the straw as a vital everyday piece of our day. As mentioned, margaritas are done well. The guac is phenomenal, chips homemade. I went with the blackened shrimp enchiladas, and others ordered the shrimp diabla and chile verde enchiladas. The verdict = delicious. My enchiladas came with a house sauce that tasted like a mole. Ample pieces of shrimp cooked to perfection. I heard from table convo the shrimp diabla was just the right amount of spice and flavor, and the pork meat being juicy in the chile verde. Loved the Spanish rice and creamy refried beans on the side as well. We did premium margaritas ($21), but there are other options like tiki drinks, zero proof, non-alcoholic, beer/wine, house cocktails, and house marg/skinny marg. Dessert is also served here, and it's recommended to make a reservation ahead of time as this place gets hoppin'. Can't wait for a day marg soon! read more

See all

Dined here for my father in laws birthday dinner. The FOH manager I believe was at the host stand checking us in when upon arrival we had decided to sit outside given the nice weather. Our party was 7 guests and she seemed annoyed that they had to set an alternative table outside. Our waiter was green, nice but very unprofessional. Example: I did the old go to the bathroom and give the waiter my credit card trick to pay for dinner. We were barely into apps and hadn't even ordered dinner or dessert when he brings me the bill moments later... Our silverware, b&b plates or napkins did not arrive until we asked mid apps. The tea my wife ordered was putrid and was unable to take off our bill because our waiter already ran my card following apps... He even inclined to not provide the itemized receipt after the 2nd, final bill was dropped at the table.. The only highlight was the fish tacos that were excellent and the waitress who covered our server for his " 10 minute break." She was outstanding, friendly and engaged in our tables event, took pictures and was just overall outstanding, as a we would expect given the nature we were celebrating a birthday. 2 starts for the tacos and last minute save from the waitress. Much training is needed and a review of standard SOP's and steps of service. read more

Never fails! Love coming here and bringing friends & family that come into town and we all love it. Drinks are delicious and so is the food!

Such a beautiful day to sit in the patio. Comfortable and pleasant. The service this past Sunday morning was outstanding! We enjoyed strawberry lemonade, some chips with salsa and I had shrimp enchiladas. All very delicious. Highly recommend for delicious food and great atmosphere. read more

Margaritaville - Shrimp enchiladas - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

April 20, 2025 - Capitola We arrived early, about 11:00 am. We had our pup with us, so we were led around the back to the patio. We were seated at a table near the water and had a lovely view of the bay, the pier, and the colorful houses. Our server (Josiah) welcomed us and gave us a few minutes to decide what we wanted to order. I ordered a glass of rose' (Birichino Rose', Santa Cruz, $14), which was very light and perfect. My husband ordered a jalapeno' margarita ($16). Spicy! We also ordered chips and salsa ($8), a small garden salad ($16), and an Ultimo Chile Verde Burrito ($28). The servings were very generous, and the food was delicious. The garden salad included mixed greens with Hass avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, and sourdough croutons with a balsamic vinaigrette. Small was large enough for two to share. Then came the monster burrito. When it came, we commented to Josiah that we'd never be able to finish it all. It was so good--Chile Verde in a flour tortilla with refried beans, Spanish rice and Queso Oaxaca. Served with sour cream on the side. Don't you know, we finished every last bite. As the food arrived, I had finished my rose, and needed something a bit more robust to go with the rest of the meal. I ordered the Midnight margarita (Mezcal Verde / Fresh Squeezed Lime / Agave / Lavender, $18). A bit smoky flavored, it was perfect to accompany my meal. The view, the food, the service (thank you, Josiah), and the dog-friendly patio, all made for a delightful lunch. read more

See all

Recently came here to celebrate with some friends for a birthday dinner and we were all excited. However upon arriving for a reservation the hostess a young gentleman immediately was very off putting and gave terrible customer service. He first asked us "where do you want to sit" and my party of six were looking around the resteraunt with no tables to accommodate all of us. We are asking where are there options for all of us and he just starts looking around. He offers a table for four people stating he can grab chairs, and then offers us two tables with a huge bannister right in the middle between the tables so we wouldn't of been able to see one another. We stated we would take a booth that sat five of us with one person sitting outside of it with a chair. When I first slid into the booth the table was so tucked in I asked the host if we could have the table pulled out more. I asked this a couple of times as he was setting the menus on the table. He didn't say anything and just walked away. After that we all looked over the menu and all of us ordered cocktails and appetizers. The chips were DELICIOUS and paired with the quac was great. Our server we had was amazing and giving us a lot of time to look over and recommend different drinks. Only thing I found odd for this place being a Margaritaville was there wasn't really any margarita selection. There was three different options and none really wowed me. Maybe it's gimmicky but I was expecting a whole list of different options like a strawberry margarita or mango margarita. However the cocktails we all ordered were delicious and well made. All of us enjoyed our food, and despite being maybe a little overpriced we all still really enjoyed our experience. And since it was my birthday I was offered a free shot of alcohol (my choice) or free ice cream. Of course choosing the shot it was sweet to have it come out with a candle. I would come here again for lunch or dinner but with a smaller group. Due to the fact they really couldn't accommodate our party despite making a reservation, but the food was yummy and deserves a good rating. Just seriously teach the host some people skills, PLEASE. read more

I have to say, not only is this a darling spot by the water to watch paddle boats and birds right near the water but the food was delicious. The crab tostada was delicious, light and refreshing, as it should be. The blackened shrimp enchilada was impressive. Good customer service and our waitress was very sweet and memorable. Would totally return! read more

Went back again & it is still outstanding! Great service, always. The food is flawless with beautiful ocean views. Management, food runners, everyone pitches in here to make the experience 100%. Year after I go here, recommend it to others & look forward to returning. Foods that are our favorites; burritos, whole fish, chile verde nachos (available in 1/2 orders). To top it off the manager was there to say goodbye on our way out! Top notch all the way! read more

Very much enjoyed our lunch at Margaritaville! Service was great, friendly, and attentive. The tacos were tasty, the steak was tender. Definitely would come back here again on a nice sunny day to sit outside. read more

Margaritaville - Steak Tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Food is standard, on the salty side. However the crab tostadas stands out. We originally wanted to make a reservation, but there is no availability. Then we tried to call and see if any arrangements can be made. Called twice with no pick up and message the restaurant with no response. On the day we visited Santa Cruz we decided to just walk in and got seated right away. The view of the beach and those colorful houses are ok cause those houses are much smaller than I expected lol. read more

Nora was our server on Friday, July 10th. And she was amazing!!! Super friendly, attentive, and the food was amazing as well. I highly recommend Can't wait to plan another trip out there read more

The food here was amazing. And the environment was also. They have outdoor seating for couples and comfortable booths for medium sized families. The manager here Nathan was probably the most helpful manager I've ever experienced in a restaurant. He was always checking on us, made sure we had comfortable seating, and even helped me when I dropped my daughter's pacifier ! An outstanding manager I was in awe because of how great he was. Will definitely come back here in the future! read more

Margaritaville - Quesabirria Tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Amazing service, great food and drinks! We ordered the chips and salsa to start along with a skinny pomegranate margarita and a strawberry margarita. For lunch we ordered the Baja Fish Tacos and Quesabirra Tacos. Everything was amazing, tasted great and had the best service by Gabe! A must if visiting Capitola. read more

See all

First time here even though we are nearby residents- usually cook at home food was AMAZING ....the service by Megan was absolutely fantastic! She let us know she was taking a quick break and we had another server who was just as lovely. Such a nice place! The Quesobirria was so good and blackened shrimp enchiladas equally delicious! read more

Fantastic place to end the day with dinner! Great views of the beach on the patio and we had excellent service from our server Nora. She hustled so hard covering so many tables, getting our order, refills, and she was so friendly! We had the chile verde enchiladas and the ultimo burrito with chicken and both were so tasty. Look forward to coming back. Thanks again, Nora! read more

Our family loved this place! We were starving when we came in here and could barely waddle out when we were done. I got the quesabirria tacos which I thoroughly enjoyed and my husband got the blackened shrimp tacos, which were also delicious. They were perfectly charred without tasting bitter. We also ordered a side of nachos, and the waiter was kind enough to let us know that we had the option to purchase only a half portion. We are so glad he did because the full size would have been way too big for us. Drinks were also great. We'll be back here! read more

See all

I would leave zero stars if possible just based off the experience. Semi busy on a Saturday night with no reservation so we sat at the bar. 1 group of 4 leaving as we walked up so we were the only patrons on the large round part of the bar. Order drinks and get menus and decide on what to eat. Bartender states "I need to get a card from you if you're ordering food". No problem right? Hand him my AMEX, think nothing of it, and over the next 40 minutes proceed to watch 5 couples order drinks, food, and not be asked for a credit card UPFRONT. Even watch a couple share a margarita, and walk out on the tab. But I get asked to give a credit card BEFORE hand??? Can we say the quiet part out loud [and I would never say it if it didn't feel that way].........RACIST. Bad look. I frequent Capitola as I have friends here. Won't be returning to this restaurant. Funnier my friends that I came to see said "their not surprised", so there's that ‍ read more

they definitely need to make a better option for dessert. one if my favorite place to be for lunch in capitola. everything is so good. read more

See all

Stopped in for a late lunch. Although they were busy, we only had a 15 minute wait. There were three young hostesses at the entrance. Only one was friendly and courteous. She was the one who took us to our table. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside on the patio. Our waitress was great and stayed on top of things. We shared the nachos, it was a good size appetizer and was tasty. I ordered the fish tacos and they were delicious! My husband had the Chile Verde Plate. He said it was good. My grandson had the ultimate burrito and loved it. We have been to this restaurant multiple times over the years and have never been disappointed. We will be back. read more

Margaritaville - Fish tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

I was so excited to have dinner at Margaritaville. We were seated on the patio so we could see the sunset and the water. That was the only good thing about the visit. We were at the restaurant for almost an hour before I had to flag down a busboy and ask for water. Our waitress had taken our food order than disappeared. After the busboy brought us water the waitress finally came back to say she was going on break. The waiter who took over never brought us more water and never brought us our food. Finally when our waitress came back from break (we have now been in the restaurant for 1.5 hours), she brought our food and it was all cold. We asked for more water and never got it. Two hours later, no bill. No boxes. Cold food. No water. I finally grabbed another busboy and asked him to get our bill. Thank goodness I had cash, otherwise we probably would have had to wait another hour for my card back. I really really really wanted to like this and have a nice romantic dinner, but instead we left angry and grumpy. read more

We came from OAKLAND the land of the food food!! Let me tell you NORA-ask for her Amazing beautiful blue eyes & so so friendly The foooddd wow!!! We were so surprised yet sooo damFULL . Seems like the boss or owner came around a few times to check on multiple tables. We ordered 3 drinks plus 4 plates less than 200$ can't beat that! -& service was amazing!!!!!! 20 stars We had our first date here 8 years ago. read more