On Walnut Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz, California, the “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub” literally offers 99 varieties of beer, many of which are served on tap. If you are a beer connoisseur, then 99 Bottles, as it is known to Santa Cruz locals and college students, is an essential stop along California’s central coast.
What originally sold me on 99 Bottles in Santa Cruz was the fact that they serve Hoegaarden, which is an extremely pale Belgian wheat beer that I love dearly but which is extremely hard to find in California beer pubs. While I originally tried 99 Bottles for the Hoegaarden, I quickly realized that I would probably never get through the many varieties of beers that 99 Bottles offers. For those who are more persistent than I am, 99 Bottles will proudly display your name and a quote of your choice on a plaque on their brick wall, proving to the world your beer drinking prowess. You can get a free card listing all 99 varieties of beer that 99 Bottles offers, which the waitress will then punch with a special hole punch for you when you try a new beer. I had the best of intentions of following through on all 99 beers, but then I lost my beer card and my motivation along with it.
99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub in downtown Santa Cruz also offers some of the tastiest fried pub fare of any beer pub I have visited. One of my favorite selections is the deep fried breaded artichoke hearts. I also enjoy the deep fried calamari, deep fried mushrooms, the fried chicken strips, etc. As you can see, the 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub is not a place for the health conscious folks to visit. This is a place to drink beer and eat fried food, so don’t come expecting much that is healthy.
In addition to typical pub fare appetizers, 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub also offers some very good and interesting hamburgers. One of my favorites is the Bleu Cheese burger, which goes very nicely with whichever of the 99 beers you happen to be in the mood for that day. The hamburgers are filling, as a good burger should be, and many varieties are offered; so anyone should be able to find something to suit his/her taste buds at the 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub in downtown Santa Cruz.
Parking in Santa Cruz is a basic nightmare, so if you are visiting Santa Cruz, allow me to offer a helpful parking tip. There is a free two-hour parking garage literally right next door to 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub on Walnut Street. You may have to do a couple of laps around the garage to find a place, but I have never been stuck without being able to find a parking space in this particular garage in downtown Santa Cruz.
In conclusion, if you are a beer connoisseur, need a new beer to try, or are just passing through Santa Cruz, 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Restaurant & Pub is what would consider to be an essential stop. Have a quick beer, or stay for an appetizer or a meal with friends. It can get a little crowded on the weekends, but the beer selection and pub fare makes it worthwhile to try to brave the crowds for a visit to 99 Bottles.
