Charming Capitola Hideaway - Shadowbrook
Apr 19th, 2026 | 09:34 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,634
Likes: 21
Charming Capitola Hideaway - Shadowbrook
Earlier this year on a midweek jaunt to California’s central coast, our friends Kim and Mary suggested we dine with them at a historic Capitola restaurant that Kim visited as a kid (so you know it’s old). Shadowbrook Restaurant is definitely a “wow” experience thanks to its gorgeous setting nestled in the hills above Capitola, beautiful interior and fantastic food. As an added bonus, you can reach this restaurant via cable car or old-time Checker cab making Shadowbrook quite the culinary journey.
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/sha...t-capitola-ca/
While on a mid-week holiday to California’s central coast with friends Kim and Mary, they asked us if we wanted to have dinner at Shadowbrook in the tiny beachside town of Capitola, Having never heard of Capitola, I was intrigued.
Located about 45 minutes north of Carmel by the Sea (where we were staying), and a little over an hour south of San Francisco, Capitola takes one back in time. Upon arrival, Kim showed us the Venetian Court, a 102-year old complex of 46 colorful buildings where he and his family stayed when he was a kid.
For special occasions, he and his family would dine at nearby Shadowbrook, perched on a hillside overlooking Capitola and the river that flows through it to the ocean. The restaurant was originally constructed as a summer home in the 1920s. After falling into disrepair, it was restored in the mid 1940s, and opened as a restaurant in 1947. There’s an informative video on it history on the restaurant’s website.
To get to the multi-level restaurant you can navigate down the steep staircase or take the funicular (Cable car). If you are staying in a three-mile radius around the restaurant, there is complimentary shuttle service provided by a Checkered cab.
Opened in 1947, this Swiss chalet style building has been expanded and improved over the decades and it is definitely a “special occasion” restaurant not to be missed if you are in the area. Reservations are recommended and don’t even think about coming here in shorts and a tank top! The dress code policy is “Dress to Impress” which Kim and Mary forgot to tell us.
We arrived in the early evening and popped into the Rock Room bar for a pre-dinner libation.
The bartender was very personable and could definitely get a job at Octoberfest should this gig not work out.
The restaurant has several different dining rooms.
We dined in the Garden Room (most likely due to our more casual attire), but in our defense we had spent a busy day visiting the nearby Carmel Mission and Monterey Aquarium).
Tracy and I didn’t even need to look at the menu, as we had already decided on prime rib. We shared the Soup of the Day which was butternut squash with cinnamon crema. Wow! Warm rolls are delivered to the table directly from the onsite bakery via a wicker basket.
The slow-roasted prime rib is served with garlic-whipped potatoes, creamed spinach and horseradish cream. It was as good or better than my favorite prime rib from Lawrey’s Beverly Hills.
Kim and Mary shared a Caesar salad with parmesan crisps and extra anchovies. I am pretty sure Mary had been hankering for them after seeing a tank of anchovies swimming at the Aquarium.
Kim ordered the house spiced loin of lamb with roasted garlic, beurre rouge, mushroom bread pudding and honey-glazed carrots. Judging by his empty plate it was delicious.
Mary still had fish on her mind and dined on the perfectly grilled salmon with orange-infused Hollandaise sauce, roasted sweet potatoes, green beans, and a Divina tomato and basil in a tarragon vinaigrette.
As usual, we left no room for dessert, but we would want to return some day to try more items on the menu. We hopped on the cable car to take us to our car. As it says on their website: “It’s not about the cable car. It’s about where the cable car takes you.”
In case one has too many of those Old Fashioned cocktails, the man in the yellow Checkered cab is there at your service. This is definitely a perfect spot for a special dinner.
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Road
Capitola, CA 95010
831.475.1511
Dining Room
Monday - Friday 4 pm - 8:30 pm
Saturday 2 pm - 9:30 pm
Sunday 2 pm - 8:30 pm
On-Site Parking: Free
https://shadowbrook-capitola.com/
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/sha...t-capitola-ca/
While on a mid-week holiday to California’s central coast with friends Kim and Mary, they asked us if we wanted to have dinner at Shadowbrook in the tiny beachside town of Capitola, Having never heard of Capitola, I was intrigued.
Located about 45 minutes north of Carmel by the Sea (where we were staying), and a little over an hour south of San Francisco, Capitola takes one back in time. Upon arrival, Kim showed us the Venetian Court, a 102-year old complex of 46 colorful buildings where he and his family stayed when he was a kid.
For special occasions, he and his family would dine at nearby Shadowbrook, perched on a hillside overlooking Capitola and the river that flows through it to the ocean. The restaurant was originally constructed as a summer home in the 1920s. After falling into disrepair, it was restored in the mid 1940s, and opened as a restaurant in 1947. There’s an informative video on it history on the restaurant’s website.
To get to the multi-level restaurant you can navigate down the steep staircase or take the funicular (Cable car). If you are staying in a three-mile radius around the restaurant, there is complimentary shuttle service provided by a Checkered cab.
Opened in 1947, this Swiss chalet style building has been expanded and improved over the decades and it is definitely a “special occasion” restaurant not to be missed if you are in the area. Reservations are recommended and don’t even think about coming here in shorts and a tank top! The dress code policy is “Dress to Impress” which Kim and Mary forgot to tell us.
We arrived in the early evening and popped into the Rock Room bar for a pre-dinner libation.
The bartender was very personable and could definitely get a job at Octoberfest should this gig not work out.
The restaurant has several different dining rooms.
We dined in the Garden Room (most likely due to our more casual attire), but in our defense we had spent a busy day visiting the nearby Carmel Mission and Monterey Aquarium).
Tracy and I didn’t even need to look at the menu, as we had already decided on prime rib. We shared the Soup of the Day which was butternut squash with cinnamon crema. Wow! Warm rolls are delivered to the table directly from the onsite bakery via a wicker basket.
The slow-roasted prime rib is served with garlic-whipped potatoes, creamed spinach and horseradish cream. It was as good or better than my favorite prime rib from Lawrey’s Beverly Hills.
Kim and Mary shared a Caesar salad with parmesan crisps and extra anchovies. I am pretty sure Mary had been hankering for them after seeing a tank of anchovies swimming at the Aquarium.
Kim ordered the house spiced loin of lamb with roasted garlic, beurre rouge, mushroom bread pudding and honey-glazed carrots. Judging by his empty plate it was delicious.
Mary still had fish on her mind and dined on the perfectly grilled salmon with orange-infused Hollandaise sauce, roasted sweet potatoes, green beans, and a Divina tomato and basil in a tarragon vinaigrette.
As usual, we left no room for dessert, but we would want to return some day to try more items on the menu. We hopped on the cable car to take us to our car. As it says on their website: “It’s not about the cable car. It’s about where the cable car takes you.”
In case one has too many of those Old Fashioned cocktails, the man in the yellow Checkered cab is there at your service. This is definitely a perfect spot for a special dinner.
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Road
Capitola, CA 95010
831.475.1511
Dining Room
Monday - Friday 4 pm - 8:30 pm
Saturday 2 pm - 9:30 pm
Sunday 2 pm - 8:30 pm
On-Site Parking: Free
https://shadowbrook-capitola.com/
Apr 20th, 2026 | 02:09 PM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,634
Likes: 21
"Next month, we're doing a slow meander with friends down Hwy. 1 and staying one night in Santa Cruz."
If you're going as far as Big Sur, this is a great stop, too. Have fun.
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/nep...ur-california/
If you're going as far as Big Sur, this is a great stop, too. Have fun.
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/nep...ur-california/
Apr 20th, 2026 | 03:46 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,489
Likes: 4
Thanks! We've been to Nepenthe many times over the years. On this trip, the couples alternated in choosing stops/hotels. In Big Sur, we're staying at Deetjen's and probably dining there as it's where the choosing couple spent their honeymoon.
Apr 20th, 2026 | 04:14 PM
#5
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,007
Likes: 50
I've been to Shadowbrook probably 20+ times over the decades (Mom and Dad liked to celebrate their birthdays and/or anniversary there if they coincided with our frequent stays on Rio Del Mar Beach (basically Aptos). Has always been a 'destination' sort of restaurant -- and pretty special.
