The Redroom Cocktail Lounge — Restaurant in Santa Cruz

We stopped in to the red room lounge after a failed attempt at going to front and cooper - we went and there was no bartender to be found…? ANYWAYS, that’s besides the point because the red room was SO GREAT. We went around 4 on a Monday holiday and there were a few people lounging around and having cocktails. We didn’t have anything specific in mind and when we asked the bartender Ren if there was a cocktail menu she was quick to ask if we had things we normally gravitate to. We told her what we like and she made two incredible cocktails. As more people came and went we realized she knew everyone’s names and their preferred drink without them even asking. As we talked with her, we learned that the bar was a total locals spot. It was super cool, we got to talking and she made us two more really delicious cocktails. She even provided us with a list of places to visit while in Santa Cruz and we were not disappointed with a single recommendation on her list. Tip for travelers passing through, come here, talk to the bartender and get to know the lay of the land. You will not be disappointed. Thank you, Ren, for all the amazing recommendations and for welcoming us as if we were locals like the rest of the people who passed through. We...

There are actually two different places that are being reviewed here. They're both in the same building, are similarly named and themed, and even locals often confuse them. A couple of years ago it might not have made much of a difference since both were under the same ownership, but one of them has since been sold so they need to be kept distinct.

Both places are in the old Santa Cruz Hotel, the oldest building still standing downtown, at the corner of Cedar and Locust St. The Redroom Cocktail Lounge is on the ground floor, with its entrance on Cedar. It's a divey sort of bar popular with locals. The Red Restaurant and Bar is upstairs with its entrance on Locust, and is favored by the college crowd.

Photos and reviews you'll see here of a place with faux-leather padding on a curved bar with similarly padded barstools are of the Redroom. But if it has a fireplace, upholstered furniture, and food, that's the Red Restaurant.

Both are great in their own way, but if you step into the Redroom expecting to get a meal you'll be...

Was there with my frined who had a hat on. He was told he had to pay for them to watch all hats were not allowed. He told them ok what ever handed the door man $5 and his hat. We started up stairs and right behind us was a white young lady with a hat. I talked down the the door man thats coold you should have just said guys couldn't weir hats. I said this because he specifically stated it was a blanket rule that applied to everybody men and woman. Me and my friend just brushed it off sexist double standards you see them every day. But when we got up stairs we saw a white male with a hat as well. Observed security walk right by this man. We were there 5 minutes and decided we didn't like the racial discrimination. Im white my friend is black and ill never return. We did go to a nether club that explained it was a city rule to avoid fights but they were fair and applied the rule to everybody not just there...