Social Profile: 
✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery
… View more
What started as a fish market evolved into Santa Cruz’s go-to fish restaurant and bar. At Riva Fish House, we offer a view with flavor. Dine at our seaside haven on the Municipal Wharf today! Voted Best Restaurant in Santa Cruz and Best Seafood in Santa Cruz for a reason. Great view. Great food. Great people. Full stop.
Low-key establishment serves hearty portions of prawns, oysters & other American seafood favorites.
Hours
| Friday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Monday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–8 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 31 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 429-1223
Website: http://rivafishhouse.com/
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Menus | Riva Fish House in Santa Cruz, CA
See the menu for Riva Fish House in Santa Cruz, CA. Open Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Happy Hour: Weekdays 3:00 – 6:00 PM for dine-in and …
Welcome to Riva Fish House
Voted Santa Cruz’s Best Restaurant and Best Seafood Restaurant, we offer something for everyone – a view with flavor. Dine at our seaside haven on the …
Lunch & Dinner | Seafood Restaurant in Santa Cruz, CA
Riva Fish House specializes in providing amazing seafood, cocktails, and seaside views in Santa Cruz, CA. You’ll walk in with a smile and out with a grin.
Reviews
Joseph
Great bargin for seafood. Fish and calamari plate for $22 not bad for the portions. Well seasoned fries for sure could use a little seasoning on the calamari but still amazing with cocktail sauce. We missed happy hour seating but overall good service. For being at full capacity. Only a 15 minute wait around 5:45ish.
… moreKatrina Jenkins
As a Santa Cruz local I grab a to go soup all the time but really never sit in. My Aunt and Uncle came to visit us from Idaho. My Aunts last request was to have dinner on the water. I looked up the top three on the wharf and Rivas was one of them. The wait was around 30 minutes in a tight space so I suggest the vibrating numbers like some restaurants have to eliminate congestion. Every single person was very happy with their meal and I was even more pleased that I got away with $100 bill for 5 people amazing. Made me look good to my auntie and filled all her needs and dreams for their last dinner.
… moreMadison Sadler
You WILL make seagull friends through the glass! They have great cocktails here, and excellent service. I came in shortly before the dinner rush and good the spicy steak tacos I didn’t stay too late, but I imagine the sunset views from this side of the wharf are divine.
… moreMark Bartlett
Riva Fish House was a great place to eat. The food was excellent and the service was just as good. I really enjoyed the fish and calamari. To top it off the views were wonderful with all the various birds flying aroundthe windows. I will be back.
… moreCassandra Ortega
First time visiting servers were amazing sat at the bar while waiting for our table the bartender was very friendly and helped with our questions regarding menu options, Food was very good we loved it definitely recommend
… moreJanelle Stepper
Stopped in Riva Fish House for some clam chowder bread bowls! We were seated immediately and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. We ordered some gin and tonics with the meal, which were very refreshing. The clam chowder was good but not great. Would have loved more clam and less potato in it. All in all though, I think the overall experience of dining here was very pleasant.
… moreLori Castillo (LoriSaysSo)
Visiting from San Antonio, Texas, we were on a Pacific coastal road trip from San Jose to San Diego when we stopped in Santa Cruz for the night. We randomly picked Riva’s Fish House for dinner—and I’m so glad we did!
We were seated quickly, and although the window seats overlooking the Pacific were full, we got a spot just across from the window, which was just as breathtaking. The atmosphere was both fun and relaxing, with beautiful local artwork adorning the walls (and even available for purchase!).
Our waitress, Lola, was outstanding! She recommended a local lager that was delightfully refreshing after a long day of traveling and sightseeing. She was attentive, checked in on us several times, and truly made us feel like welcomed guests.
Now, the food—SPECTACULAR! We started off with cheesy bread, which was delivered with a house made ranch that was, by far, the best I have ever tried. (And as a South Texan, where we chug ranch by the gallon, this is saying A LOT!) I ordered the salmon with the Soy Ginger sauce (a perfect blend of soy sauce, green onion, cilantro, teriyaki, ginger, red vinegar, and honey), and it was superb—hearty, savory, and bursting with flavor. The fried fish, prawns, and calamari were lightly battered, crispy, and cooked to perfection—not overly greasy or heavy. Every bite was fresh and delicious.
Between the amazing seafood, welcoming service, and great atmosphere, I would absolutely recommend Riva’s to anyone visiting Santa Cruz. It was a perfect, memorable stop on our road trip, and I would return in a heartbeat! Lola deserves a raise!
… moreWe were seated quickly, and although the window seats overlooking the Pacific were full, we got a spot just across from the window, which was just as breathtaking. The atmosphere was both fun and relaxing, with beautiful local artwork adorning the walls (and even available for purchase!).
Our waitress, Lola, was outstanding! She recommended a local lager that was delightfully refreshing after a long day of traveling and sightseeing. She was attentive, checked in on us several times, and truly made us feel like welcomed guests.
Now, the food—SPECTACULAR! We started off with cheesy bread, which was delivered with a house made ranch that was, by far, the best I have ever tried. (And as a South Texan, where we chug ranch by the gallon, this is saying A LOT!) I ordered the salmon with the Soy Ginger sauce (a perfect blend of soy sauce, green onion, cilantro, teriyaki, ginger, red vinegar, and honey), and it was superb—hearty, savory, and bursting with flavor. The fried fish, prawns, and calamari were lightly battered, crispy, and cooked to perfection—not overly greasy or heavy. Every bite was fresh and delicious.
Between the amazing seafood, welcoming service, and great atmosphere, I would absolutely recommend Riva’s to anyone visiting Santa Cruz. It was a perfect, memorable stop on our road trip, and I would return in a heartbeat! Lola deserves a raise!
Conley Gentry
We gave it a try, and it was awesome!!! Great good, excellent service, and incredible views. I had the fried fish sandwich, with a cup of clam chowder, and she had the Cod&Prawn Florentine,.she also had a Pineapple Coconut Margarita. Our Server was Dustin F. , he could do no better, we highly recommend this restaurant. We also liked the art for sale on the walls, good to see artist promotion and a small business helping out in every way
… moretutti hacking
I have been coming to Riva’s for years. It is by far the best value in town. There is no where else that you can see a beautiful sunset while you eat such great food. I love the Cioppino! Wow! Fish, clams, mussels, prawns, scallops, AND crab in a delicious tomato broth. The craft beer was great, and you can’t pass up the gelato. I wish the music wasn’t so loud, but the awesome sunsets make up for it. Service was excellent too!
… moreMichael Benner
Had lunch on a Monday. Food was really good. Honestly, the clam chowder was some of the best I’ve had. I would have given the food 5 stars, but for breaking the cardinal rule of shrimp! If it’s a shrimp dish meant to be eaten with a fork, NO TAILS! Now my hands are all saucy because I’m digging around in my dish with my fingers trying to remove shrimp tails. Ugh.
In any case, great location, and very attentive staff. Was empty when we went in at 11:30, but had filled up by the time we left around 12:30.
Definitely recommend of you are headed to the Santa Cruz Wharf for the day.
… moreIn any case, great location, and very attentive staff. Was empty when we went in at 11:30, but had filled up by the time we left around 12:30.
Definitely recommend of you are headed to the Santa Cruz Wharf for the day.