There’s a version of July that only exists in Capitola.
It’s the one where your flip-flops never quite dry out, where “just one more shop” turns into an hour, and where dinner reservations get pushed back because the sunset over Capitola Beach wasn’t done with you yet. Named a best California beach town by USA Today, Capitola Village packs 90 shops, restaurants, and places to stay into many walkable blocks, which means you really can fish, swim, surf, shop, and dine without ever moving your car.
July is the Village at its fullest: warm evenings, a free concert every Wednesday, and just enough beach traffic to remind you why everyone keeps coming back. Here’s your month, broken down the way we live it: Shop. Eat. Play. Stay.
Shop: Color, Craft, and a Little Bit of Everything
Capitola’s shopping scene isn’t a strip of identical storefronts. It’s a few blocks of independently owned boutiques, galleries, and surf shops where the person behind the counter usually owns the place and remembers your name from last summer.
Start with apparel. Capitola Beach Company is the go-to for boardshorts, bikinis, and surf-lifestyle brands like Billabong, Roxy, and Free People, plus cozy loungewear for when the fog rolls in. For something brighter and bolder, Katalina’s Boutique built its whole philosophy around color for every size: beachy maxis, jewel-toned cocktail dresses, and a no-apologies approach to fun. If beachwear-as-art is more your speed, look for Nubia Swimwear and Xandra Swimwear, both known for pieces that feel as custom as they look.
For jewelry and gifts, pop into Art Inspired, where local designer and owner Alyse Lattanzio crafts much of the jewelry in-house alongside ethically sourced candles, ceramics, and apparel. And if your inner kid needs a stop, Rainbow City Limit has been selling wind-powered toys, kites, and tie-dye since 1976. It’s the kind of store where “we’re just looking” rarely holds up.
Want the full directory? Browse the complete list of Capitola Village shops, organized by apparel, gifts, art, wine, and more.
Eat: Breakfast Burritos to Sunset Tables
Capitola doesn’t make you choose between a quick bite and a proper dinner. You can get both, a block apart, with an ocean view either way.
Morning and snacks: Start at The Sand Bar for breakfast or brunch on a deck overlooking the colorful Venetian Court and Monterey Bay. Need beach supplies first? Quality Market has everything for a picnic on the sand: snacks, drinks, beer, and wine, steps from the water. For something sweet, swing by Capitola Candy Company, Carousel Taffy & Treats, or Polar Bear Ice Cream, and if you need caffeine with your ocean view, Mr. Toots Coffee & Tea is a Village institution.
Lunch and dinner: For Tuscan comfort food and a bar that overlooks the kitchen, try Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine. Craving tacos or Mexican classics? El Toro Bravo and Tacos Moreno 3 all deliver. For pizza after a beach volleyball game, there’s Pizza My Heart, and for fresh seafood right off the Wharf, Pete’s Fish House is the local standby.
Looking for that “Cheers”-style local pub? Read our spotlight on Britannia Arms, where owners Andy and Sydney Hewitt have spent over a decade blending traditional British fare with Capitola’s laid-back energy.
Drinks with a view: For wine tastings within walking distance of each other, visit Cocoa Vino or Vin Vivant. Want beer instead? BrewTopia831 has you covered.
See the full lineup of coffee shops, restaurants, wine, and beer on the Eat in Capitola Village page.
Play: Free Wednesday Concerts and Endless Beach Days
July in Capitola means one thing on repeat: Wednesday nights belong to the Esplanade. The free Capitola Twilight Concert Series runs every Wednesday from 6–8 p.m. at the Esplanade Park Bandstand (120 Monterey Ave). Bring chairs, bring jackets for when the fog rolls in, and grab dinner to go from any Village restaurant for a beachside picnic. Here’s the July lineup:
- July 1: Spun: Fun, rock ‘n’ party music to kick off the month.
- July 8: The B-Movie Kings: Classic rock with killer lead guitar, fronted by Kevin Krilanovich.
- July 15: Mercy & The Heartbeats: Top 40 and dance hits spanning the ’70s through today.
- July 22: Extra Large: Funky, mostly original pop.
- July 29: Santa Cruz Latin Collective: Salsa, mambo, and brown-eyed soul to close out the month.
Beyond the bandstand, July is prime time for everything Capitola does best. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, take a surf lesson with Capitola Beach Co. Surf Lessons & Rentals, or head out fishing with Capitola Boat & Bait right off the Capitola Wharf. Walk the Wharf at sunset and keep an eye out for seals, dolphins, or otters in Monterey Bay. If the sun gets to be too much, book a massage at Capitola Village Massage or a treatment at Bare Skin + Body.
Packing for the beach? Our 5 Essentials For Your Capitola Village Beach Day guide covers sunscreen, flip-flops, and the towel situation so you’re not the one borrowing everyone else’s.
See everything happening this month, including concerts and activities, on the full Capitola events calendar.
Stay: Why One Night Always Turns Into Two
Here’s the thing about day-tripping to Capitola in July: it rarely feels like enough. You know the moment: forty minutes out on Highway 1, shoes still sandy, coffee gone cold, and the quiet thought that you should have just stayed. (We wrote a whole post about it: Stay in Capitola Village: Why One More Night Changes Everything.)
If you’re ready to make it official, Capitola has lodging for every version of a beach trip. For an all-suite boutique hotel right on the sand, the Capitola Venetian Hotel offers suites with kitchens, balconies, and fireplaces. Prefer a B&B with character? The Inn at Depot Hill is a longtime Village favorite, and the Capitola Hotel and Capitola Beach Suites round out the hotel options.
Traveling with a group or want a full kitchen? Short-term rentals like the Beachfront Pink Venetian, right on Capitola Beach, or the Capitola Village Beach Cottage, just across from the river walk, put you within stumbling distance of every shop and restaurant on this list. For an oceanfront stay with a Jacuzzi, Capitola Venetian #20 looks out at the bay from almost every window.
Browse the full range of places to stay in Capitola Village: hotels, property management companies, and dozens of short-term rentals on the beach, the river, and the Esplanade.
Plan Your July in Capitola Village
Whether you’re in for the afternoon or booking the whole week, Capitola Village in July is built for slow mornings, long lunches, free concerts under the stars, and the kind of evenings that talk you into staying one more night. Shop local, eat well, catch live music every Wednesday, and let the Village do what it does best.
Get the monthly guide to Capitola’s events and happenings sent straight to you: Sign up for the Capitola Village e-newsletter.
Planning your visit? Download the Capitola Village parking map before you go. It’ll save you a lap or two around the block.
Follow @capitolavillage on Instagram and tag #ExperienceCapitola to share your July in the Village.
Travel Blog and Photos Courtesy of Opposite of East