Riva Fish House
A classic Santa Cruz seafood restaurant on the wharf, offering breathtaking ocean views, hearty portions, and friendly service with a casual, fun vibe...
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Must-see attractions
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Riva Fish House
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A classic Santa Cruz seafood restaurant on the wharf, offering breathtaking ocean views, hearty portions, and friendly service with a casual, fun vibe.
"Spectacular food including cheesy bread with house-made ranch dressing and flavorful seafood dishes."
Snag a Window Seat
Request a window seat for the best ocean views, especially stunning during sunset.
Don't Miss the Chowder
The clam chowder is a guest favorite, often recommended as a starter or in a bread bowl.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
American Seafood
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Breathtaking Ocean Views
Dine with stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, especially from window seats. Perfect for sunset.
Award-Winning Clam Chowder
Consistently praised as some of the best, served in a bread bowl or as a starter.
Crispy Calamari
Highly recommended and award-winning, known for its light batter and perfect crispiness.
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Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Snag a Window Seat
Request a window seat for the best ocean views, especially stunning during sunset.
Don't Miss the Chowder
The clam chowder is a guest favorite, often recommended as a starter or in a bread bowl.
Off-Peak Visits
Visiting mid-afternoon on weekends ensures excellent service without the rush.
Try the Cocktails
Inexpensive and creative cocktails are a standout feature, including unique sangrias.
Tips
from all over the internet
Snag a Window Seat
Request a window seat for the best ocean views, especially stunning during sunset.
Don't Miss the Chowder
The clam chowder is a guest favorite, often recommended as a starter or in a bread bowl.
Off-Peak Visits
Visiting mid-afternoon on weekends ensures excellent service without the rush.
Try the Cocktails
Inexpensive and creative cocktails are a standout feature, including unique sangrias.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Riva Fish House is celebrated for its fresh, flavorful seafood and generous portions, perfectly complemented by breathtaking ocean views from its wharf location. Guests rave about the award-winning clam chowder and crispy calamari, alongside attentive service. While most diners have exceptional experiences, some minor issues like shrimp tails in dishes have been noted.
"Visiting from San Antonio, Texas, we were on a Pacific coastal road trip from San Jose to San Diego when we stopped in Santa Cruz for the night. We randomly picked Riva’s Fish House for dinner—and I’m so glad we did!
We were seated quickly, and although the window seats overlooking the Pacific were full, we got a spot just across from the window, which was just as breathtaking. The atmosphere was both fun and relaxing, with beautiful local artwork adorning the walls (and even available for purchase!).
Our waitress, Lola, was outstanding! She recommended a local lager that was delightfully refreshing after a long day of traveling and sightseeing. She was attentive, checked in on us several times, and truly made us feel like welcomed guests.
Now, the food—SPECTACULAR! We started off with cheesy bread, which was delivered with a house made ranch that was, by far, the best I have ever tried. (And as a South Texan, where we chug ranch by the gallon, this is saying A LOT!) I ordered the salmon with the Soy Ginger sauce (a perfect blend of soy sauce, green onion, cilantro, teriyaki, ginger, red vinegar, and honey), and it was superb—hearty, savory, and bursting with flavor. The fried fish, prawns, and calamari were lightly battered, crispy, and cooked to perfection—not overly greasy or heavy. Every bite was fresh and delicious.
Between the amazing seafood, welcoming service, and great atmosphere, I would absolutely recommend Riva’s to anyone visiting Santa Cruz. It was a perfect, memorable stop on our road trip, and I would return in a heartbeat! Lola deserves a raise!"
Lori Castillo (LoriSaysSo)
"We were in the area and I wanted to kill two birds with one stone for my in-laws. My mother-in-law wanted to see the water and eat some seafood. (They're from the Midwest so I wanted to make sure they got good seafood)
They have a sangria that both my in-laws recommend. Our food came out quickly but not too quickly so we didn't have a chance to eat our starters. I can't recommend the Clam Chowder enough! If I didn't want to order the Mahi Mahi Tacos I would have just ordered chowder in a bread bowl. My mother-in-law had the calamari and fish. She said it's some of the best calamari she's ever had. This coming from a woman who lived in Spain for a few years too.
The staff was so friendly! Our server was great, and very attentive to my father-in-law and his requests. You also can't beat the view. I don't think there's a bad seat in the place. I would more than recommend stopping here if you're down near the boardwalk."
Kristen Horwith
"We gave it a try, and it was awesome!!! Great good, excellent service, and incredible views. I had the fried fish sandwich, with a cup of clam chowder, and she had the Cod&Prawn Florentine,.she also had a Pineapple Coconut Margarita. Our Server was Dustin F. , he could do no better, we highly recommend this restaurant. We also liked the art for sale on the walls, good to see artist promotion and a small business helping out in every way"
Conley Gentry
What People Like
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Frequently Asked Questions
Riva Fish House is most famous for its award-winning clam chowder and crispy calamari, as well as its stunning ocean views.
Yes, window seats offer breathtaking ocean views, but it's recommended to arrive early or request one.
Yes, they offer gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Check their menu for specific marked items.
Guests enjoy their inexpensive and creative cocktails, including sangrias. Bloody Marys are also a popular choice.
Yes, it's considered a family-friendly restaurant with a variety of menu items suitable for all ages.
Visiting during off-peak times, such as mid-afternoon on weekends, can lead to excellent service without a rush.
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Last, but certainly not least, we have a classic dish from a classic Santa Cruz restaurant. Circled in red on their menu as a local favorite for a reason, it’s served open-faced on a sourdough roll with sweet crab and melty, gooey, bubbly cheese. Be sure as an appetizer you order a basket of fried zucchini to pregame, and try to get a window seat since this restaurant is right on the wharf.
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Every family needs a dependable, kid-friendly restaurant, one with enough of a variety of menu items to interest the adults and familiar enough for children. Ours was Riva House. Our family Riva House tradition goes back to when LL and I were dating, and we would stop in for spring rolls, clam chowder and a glass of wine at the bar to visit with a friend who worked there.
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Follow West Cliff Drive all the way to the end, and you’ll be at the Santa Cruz Wharf (where Riva Fish House, at No. 31, has the best calamari in town) and on the fringes of downtown (where the Santa Cruz Warriors, an NBA development team, play through April 5 at Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St.) You’ll also be next to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park.
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Right next door to Firefish, the Riva Fish House is making a name for itself along the wharf. Voted Santa Cruz’s best restaurant in 2023, you must try their award-winning clam chowder and crispy calamari, and their mussels are sublime. With an extensive cocktail list, an array of fresh seafood, outdoor dining, and homey cafe vibes, it’s open for lunch or an early dinner.
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31 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060+1 831-429-1223 See Menu. With its easygoing vibe and unbeatable Wharf-side perch, Riva Fish House brings a fun dose of Santa Cruz spirit to classic seafood favorites. I still remember the chatter of families mixing with the salty breeze, every table sharing baskets of hand-cut fries and hearty sandwiches.
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Keep an eye out as well for harbor seals, sea otters, and even occasional migrating humpback whales in the distance, and if you’re feeling hungry, grab a bite to eat at one of the Wharf’s restaurants—maybe a bowl of piping-hot cioppino in the Upper Deck Lounge at Stagnaro Bros., or a platter of beer batter–fried calamari at Riva Fish House.
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It can be hard to decide where to eat on the Santa Cruz wharf, but rest assured you can’t go wrong with Riva’s. A favorite among locals and visitors since 1981, Riva’s offers gorgeous views, swift service and outstanding fresh seafood at an incredible value. Get there early to snag a window seat; it’s usually packed, and for good reason.
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A great place to visit for a casual meal is Riva Fish House on Municipal Wharf. This is a low-key establishment that serves American seafood classics, such as Dungeness crab sandwiches, oysters, fried cod, and prawn dishes. It has earned a reputation for fantastic customer service and hearty portions.
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Located right on the wharf, Riva Fish House has long been a Santa Cruz favorite. Highly-rated and award-winning, this popular spot offers casual eats with water views. They also offer gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, and indicate on their menu which of their items are spicy.
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Check out Stagnaro Bros., Riva Fish House, and Johnny’s Harborside for more classic seafood dishes (though Johnny’s Harborside as a Mediterranean and Asian influence), or places like The Crow’s Nest, Aquarius, and the Water Street Grill for seafood with a New American twist.
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Riva’s started out as a fish market and has since become a go-to fish restaurant and bar. It has been voted both the Best Restaurant and Best Seafood Restaurant in Santa Cruz and offers “something for everyone-a view with flavor” thanks to its prime location on the Wharf.
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I wait for a late lunch in the hopes of scoring a window seat. Successful, I gaze south across the bay to Monterey, while a flotilla of migrating seabirds takes a breather. A cormorant with feathery horns dives for his dinner.
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31 Municipal WharfSanta Cruz, CA 95060(831) 429-1223 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Riva Fish House is one of the best seafood places in Santa Cruz that is focused on fresh, sustainable seafood dishes.
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Enjoy a meal at Santa Cruz’s Best Seafood Restaurant, Riva’s Fish House, and order one of their local favorites like chowder, fried calamari, fish tacos, or killer crab melts.
Highest-rated Fine Dining Restaurants in Santa Cruz by Diners
- Rating: 3.6/5 (1385 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 31 Municipal Wharf Ste 500 Santa Cruz, California - Categories: Seafood- Read more on Yelp
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