Date Nights near Aromas

Cost for two: Low–moderate. Booking: Usually no reservation. Region: Close to home -- San Juan Bautista · 15–20 min. Restaurant: Jardines de San Juan, Mexican, 115 Third Street, San Juan Bautista. Map: San Juan Bautista Mission Plaza. Website: http://www.jardinesrestaurant.com/.

Cost for two: Low. Booking: Seasonal · check the crop update. Region: Close to home -- San Juan Bautista · 15–20 min. Map: Gizdich Ranch Watsonville. Website: https://www.gizdich-ranch.com.

Cost for two: Moderate–splurge. Booking: Reserve on weekends. Region: The beach towns -- Aptos · Capitola · Santa Cruz. Restaurant: Shadowbrook, American / Steak / Seafood, 1750 Wharf Rd, Capitola. Map: Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola. Website: https://shadowbrook-capitola.com.

Cost for two: Moderate. Booking: Reserve · the patio is the draw. Region: The beach towns -- Aptos · Capitola · Santa Cruz. Restaurant: Laili, Mediterranean / Afghan (Silk Road), 101B Cooper St, Santa Cruz. Map: Laili Restaurant Santa Cruz. Website: https://lailirestaurant.com.

Cost for two: Moderate–splurge. Booking: Reservations available. Region: The beach towns -- Aptos · Capitola · Santa Cruz. Restaurant: Mentone, Italian / French Riviera (Nice to Genoa); wood-fired pizza & house-made pasta, 174 Aptos Village Way, Aptos. Map: Mentone Aptos. Website: https://www.mentonerestaurant.com.

Cost for two: $13 entry + dinner. Booking: Open daily 9–5. Region: The beach towns -- Aptos · Capitola · Santa Cruz. Map: UCSC Arboretum Santa Cruz. Website: https://arboretum.ucsc.edu.

Cost for two: Free · $10 parking. Booking: Mid-Oct to mid-Feb only. Region: The beach towns -- Aptos · Capitola · Santa Cruz. Map: Natural Bridges State Beach monarch grove. Website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/naturalbridges.

Cost for two: Moderate–splurge. Booking: Reserve via OpenTable. Region: The bay & the coast -- Moss Landing · Monterey · Pacific Grove. Restaurant: Stokes Adobe, Chef-driven seasonal California / Mediterranean (also tagged Contemporary Italian) in an 1833 historic adobe, 500 Hartnell Street, Monterey. Map: Stokes Adobe Monterey. Website: https://www.stokesadobe.com.

Cost for two: Moderate–splurge. Booking: Dinner nightly from 5. Region: The bay & the coast -- Moss Landing · Monterey · Pacific Grove. Restaurant: Passionfish, Sustainable seafood / California, 701 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove. Map: Passionfish Pacific Grove. Website: https://passionfish.net.

Cost for two: $105 per person. Booking: Private · reserve · weather-dependent. Region: The bay & the coast -- Moss Landing · Monterey · Pacific Grove. Map: Kayak Connection Moss Landing. Website: https://kayakconnection.com/elkhorn-slough/tours/.

Cost for two: Moderate–splurge. Booking: Walk-ins held daily; reserve up to 90 days. Region: Storybook Carmel -- Carmel · Carmel Valley · 50–70 min. Restaurant: La Bicyclette, French · Italian bistro, Dolores & 7th, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Map: La Bicyclette Carmel-by-the-Sea. Website: https://labicycletterestaurant.com.

Cost for two: Splurge. Booking: Reservation-only · adults-only. Region: Storybook Carmel -- Carmel · Carmel Valley · 50–70 min. Map: Refuge Carmel Valley. Website: https://www.refuge.com.

Cost for two: $570+ for two. Booking: Reservation required · via Tock. Region: Storybook Carmel -- Carmel · Carmel Valley · 50–70 min. Restaurant: Aubergine, Contemporary American / Californian tasting menu (2 Michelin stars), Monte Verde Street at Seventh, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Map: Aubergine Carmel L'Auberge. Website: https://auberginecarmel.com/.

Cost for two: Tasting fees vary. Booking: Reservations recommended. Region: Storybook Carmel -- Carmel · Carmel Valley · 50–70 min. Map: Folktale Winery Carmel Valley. Website: https://www.folktalewinery.com/.