Santa Cruz is a small city with a big personality known for its progressive history and vegan-friendly vibes. While there is currently only one entirely plant-based eatery in the city, the Vegan Chef Challenge is helping to evolve plant-based options at other restaurants. Throughout April, participating restaurants create new vegan menu items for diners to taste and vote on, encouraging the incorporation of plant-based dishes long after the challenge ends. With 27 restaurants participating, diners can enjoy creative dishes like spiced lion’s mane mushrooms, chipotle black bean-stuffed tetelas, and Egyptian koshari.

For those seeking a quick vegan bite in Santa Cruz, there are options like acai bowls from Samba Rock, Palmetto Superfoods, and Café Roxa. The city also offers a variety of independent coffee roasters, such as Cat & Cloud and 11th Hour, serving vegan-friendly options to accompany your morning pick-me-up. Whether experiencing the Vegan Chef Challenge or exploring the city's vegan dining scene independently, Santa Cruz offers a range of must-try vegan restaurants, from West African cuisine at Veg On the Edge to Mediterranean delights at Ibiza and creative sushi rolls at The Buzz Sushi.