The drinks & ambiance are great. I'd highly recommend coming here for the rotating bar or at the outside dining area. They have an interesting drink menu with standard cocktail pricing & the inside decor is amusing. The food is alright, small portions & high prices. The service could improve, but it was still a nice experience. Expect to spend ~$60/80 for two people.
Patty C.
The view was awesome. Took some time to get used to our table moving, but it was really cool to get such great views. The food was delish. Maybe too much mayo in the macaroni salad, but overall a fun dining experience.
Jessica P.
The food is pretty decent... But the drinks or where it's at! Do yourself a favor and take a seat at that rotating bar, order some pupusa and a cocktail, and you won't be disappointed
Caili C.
Came here for a walk lunch on the boardwalk as we were driving through Santa Cruz and ended up being really happy with our choice. First, there's fairly easy parking right along the boardwalk that's $1/hour. Makai is located at the very end so would recommend driving further down to park. We were greeted warmly and quickly seated on the patio with great views of the harbor, perfect for people watching along the boardwalk. They have some fun cocktails/mocktails but we stuck with water to drink. For food we got the Tamarind Pua'a (their version of kalua pork) and Spicy Mochiko Chicken. Both entrees were pretty good and fairly large in portion size. Loved the mac salad that came with the pork and there was a good amount of smokiness in the meat as well. The chicken was covered in a spicy mayo sauce that I wish had more kick to balance out the breaded chicken but overall it was tender and moist. Definitely a good choice for more of a tourist destination where the food can be a hit or miss. The menu is more on the expensive side but worth a visit if you're visiting the boardwalk!
Jay S.
Update: we never noticed before, but their whole bar area is on a rotating platform so guests can get amazing waterfront views! And there are windows in the floor of the restaurant so you can look down from your table to the bay water and sea lions on the pier timbers just 15 feet below you. We saw an amazing performance of dozens of sea lions from one of the many oceanfront tables today, cavorting and leaping and hunting the fish right in front of the restaurant. And as usual the food was perfect-- that superb Papaya salad heaped with lychees, sugared crispy macadamia nuts, chunks of fresh papaya, greens, and a fabulous guava dressing. The ahi sliders were wonderful as was the bowl of corn clam chowder. Service was very welcoming and efficient --the food arrived in five minutes. Really a perfect experience, validating out decision to drive a half hour over the mountains to visit our favorite Santa Cruz restaurant!
Ruby L.
The atmosphere was pretty good. We had rotating table which was fun. The view was good and a server was nice and friendly. We ordered two main dishes and two appetizers. I liked the clam chowder soup, it was good. The tuna slider was good too. In terms of main dishes, it was good but macaroni. It would have been better if there's salad instead. Overall, it was a good experience.
George G.
Excellent atmosphere, drinks, and food. In a stretch of tourist traps and burger places, Makai offers unique food made with passion and great flavors. And, it has a rotating floor around the bar meaning you get to really soak in all of the views! Service was great, all the servers work together as a strong team. Even when we accidentally knocked over a glass and made a mess, the staff was instantly on it and very friendly and caring - ensuring everyone had a good time. We even stayed another hour for drinks outside due to the relaxed atmosphere and welcoming staff. We'll definitely be back here next time we're in the area.
Jeana B.
I cannot express enough how amazing our wedding reception at Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery was! Anthony, the manager, went above and beyond to make our special day absolutely perfect. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves for the afternoon, and it was truly a dream come true. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was just magical. It was by far the best wedding reception I've ever attended, and I'm sure it will remain the best one I'll ever be a part of. Thank you to the entire team at Makai for helping us create such beautiful memories on our big day. We are forever grateful!!
Diana B.
What a fun place to go and have a cocktail. I have to admit mine wasn't very good, but the ambience was hilarious as we circled around at the bar. It actually moves. The bartenders were good and we did buy the glasses to take home!
Lawana Ofisa
This place had cute island decor. Perfect place that we celebrated my son's birthday. Drinks were so fun....including this volcano looking drink that was on fire...literally!! Definitely a must place to have dinner when in Santa Cruz. Did was delicious. I could barely take a pic of appetizers because they were almost gone before I could get my camera out. Sever was super nice and attentive to our party of 12. Thanks Makai!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Poke Bowl, Kalbi Ribs, Freaky Tiki, Loco Moco
Very good food. I loved the clam chowder with corn. It was tasty, smooth, and hot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Clam Chowder
Amanda Molina
The food is super good! Small plates but delicious.Parking: Try to park inside the wharf.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Joe “JoeColor”
We tried to walk into a place that had local wine but ended up turning into this Tiki place and sat at the rotating bar. The bartender we had made the place. He was very personable, but still professional. He made all our drinks right in front us and they were too perfection. I ordered one of the speciality drinks (no cup) and it was very balanced. I also got a clam chowder (not pictured) and it was super delicious. It was a very windy day on the boardwalk so I was glad they offered something warm. I’m happy we stopped here because it ending up being a wonderful memory.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Clam Chowder
Cristina Mestayer
Beautiful place right next to the ocean. And delicious food and drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Johnny Ramires
There is a neat feature of this place. Pretty unique experience so far,never sat in a rotating table
The drinks & ambiance are great. I'd highly recommend coming here for the rotating bar or at the outside dining area. They have an interesting drink menu with standard cocktail pricing & the inside decor is amusing. The food is alright, small portions & high prices. The service could improve, but it was still a nice experience. Expect to spend ~$60/80 for two people.
The view was awesome. Took some time to get used to our table moving, but it was really cool to get such great views. The food was delish. Maybe too much mayo in the macaroni salad, but overall a fun dining experience.
The food is pretty decent... But the drinks or where it's at! Do yourself a favor and take a seat at that rotating bar, order some pupusa and a cocktail, and you won't be disappointed
Came here for a walk lunch on the boardwalk as we were driving through Santa Cruz and ended up being really happy with our choice. First, there's fairly easy parking right along the boardwalk that's $1/hour. Makai is located at the very end so would recommend driving further down to park. We were greeted warmly and quickly seated on the patio with great views of the harbor, perfect for people watching along the boardwalk. They have some fun cocktails/mocktails but we stuck with water to drink. For food we got the Tamarind Pua'a (their version of kalua pork) and Spicy Mochiko Chicken. Both entrees were pretty good and fairly large in portion size. Loved the mac salad that came with the pork and there was a good amount of smokiness in the meat as well. The chicken was covered in a spicy mayo sauce that I wish had more kick to balance out the breaded chicken but overall it was tender and moist. Definitely a good choice for more of a tourist destination where the food can be a hit or miss. The menu is more on the expensive side but worth a visit if you're visiting the boardwalk!
Update: we never noticed before, but their whole bar area is on a rotating platform so guests can get amazing waterfront views! And there are windows in the floor of the restaurant so you can look down from your table to the bay water and sea lions on the pier timbers just 15 feet below you. We saw an amazing performance of dozens of sea lions from one of the many oceanfront tables today, cavorting and leaping and hunting the fish right in front of the restaurant. And as usual the food was perfect-- that superb Papaya salad heaped with lychees, sugared crispy macadamia nuts, chunks of fresh papaya, greens, and a fabulous guava dressing. The ahi sliders were wonderful as was the bowl of corn clam chowder. Service was very welcoming and efficient --the food arrived in five minutes. Really a perfect experience, validating out decision to drive a half hour over the mountains to visit our favorite Santa Cruz restaurant!
The atmosphere was pretty good. We had rotating table which was fun. The view was good and a server was nice and friendly. We ordered two main dishes and two appetizers. I liked the clam chowder soup, it was good. The tuna slider was good too. In terms of main dishes, it was good but macaroni. It would have been better if there's salad instead. Overall, it was a good experience.
Excellent atmosphere, drinks, and food. In a stretch of tourist traps and burger places, Makai offers unique food made with passion and great flavors. And, it has a rotating floor around the bar meaning you get to really soak in all of the views! Service was great, all the servers work together as a strong team. Even when we accidentally knocked over a glass and made a mess, the staff was instantly on it and very friendly and caring - ensuring everyone had a good time. We even stayed another hour for drinks outside due to the relaxed atmosphere and welcoming staff. We'll definitely be back here next time we're in the area.
I cannot express enough how amazing our wedding reception at Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery was! Anthony, the manager, went above and beyond to make our special day absolutely perfect. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves for the afternoon, and it was truly a dream come true. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was just magical. It was by far the best wedding reception I've ever attended, and I'm sure it will remain the best one I'll ever be a part of. Thank you to the entire team at Makai for helping us create such beautiful memories on our big day. We are forever grateful!!
What a fun place to go and have a cocktail. I have to admit mine wasn't very good, but the ambience was hilarious as we circled around at the bar. It actually moves. The bartenders were good and we did buy the glasses to take home!
This place had cute island decor. Perfect place that we celebrated my son's birthday. Drinks were so fun....including this volcano looking drink that was on fire...literally!! Definitely a must place to have dinner when in Santa Cruz. Did was delicious. I could barely take a pic of appetizers because they were almost gone before I could get my camera out. Sever was super nice and attentive to our party of 12. Thanks Makai!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Poke Bowl, Kalbi Ribs, Freaky Tiki, Loco Moco
Restaurantji Recommends
Very good food. I loved the clam chowder with corn. It was tasty, smooth, and hot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Clam Chowder
The food is super good! Small plates but delicious.Parking: Try to park inside the wharf.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We tried to walk into a place that had local wine but ended up turning into this Tiki place and sat at the rotating bar. The bartender we had made the place. He was very personable, but still professional. He made all our drinks right in front us and they were too perfection. I ordered one of the speciality drinks (no cup) and it was very balanced. I also got a clam chowder (not pictured) and it was super delicious. It was a very windy day on the boardwalk so I was glad they offered something warm. I’m happy we stopped here because it ending up being a wonderful memory.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Clam Chowder
Beautiful place right next to the ocean. And delicious food and drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There is a neat feature of this place. Pretty unique experience so far,never sat in a rotating table
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Poke Bowl, Poke Stack, Clam Chowder