BAD ANIMAL

Amazing food, wine, and ambiance! This charming new restaurant is half fine dining, half book store. Stop in for happy hour drinks and delicious dishes (often sprinkled with edible flowers). Make sure to try one of their unique orange wines!

I simply enjoy their dishes. I always get fantastic customer service here. The place is well organised and the cashiers are always super nice. I highly recommend this place.

It has a special feeling, partially because of the books and partially because of the amazing food. The folks who work here were friendly and knowledgeable so it makes for a pleasant experience.

Wonderful natural wine bar. Enchanting to take your glass of wine and browse the eclectic used books here. Very knowledgeable and enjoyable staff. The truffle popcorn was to die for.

Santa Cruz badly needed a spot like this. It's an outstanding 'third place', serving as a harbor of refuge from the storm of commercialism while satisfying most, if not all, of my mid-afternoon hedonistic desires. I found the staff to be beyond helpful with thoughtful recommendations. The ambiance was on point and the entire set and setting served to enhance my state of consciousness. I thought the decadent snack and dinner menu paired extremely well with the carefully selected French and California wines on offer.

Bad Animal has successfully penetrated my short list of local spots to drink wine. I never cease to be romanced by the fact that while I enjoy a finely crafted wine, I am able to nibble innovative cuisine and peruse an impressively curated collection of literature.

Importantly, Bad Animal has NO SCREENS to distract from the earth-shattering flavors that are exploding all over your palette. There are ZERO TVs to avert your eyes from the sometimes revolutionary and often subversive texts woven through the space. This place is old school cool.

When I exited Bad Animal after a long afternoon session, I felt as though I were a new man. Dirtier. Rowdier. Stronger and more virile than before. Let Bad Animal inside you, just this once. Maybe twice if you like it.