The View, a treeside restaurant at Chaminade Resort & Spa in Live Oak, sits on the hillside with actual views out toward Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in at an outdoor table and watch the light change across the water while eating something decent.

The reason to take your dog here is the Pooch Patio, which is their dog-specific dining option. They’ve actually thought through what dogs might want to eat, rather than just letting you sneak bites of your entrée under the table. Your dog gets their own menu and their own treats designed for them, so you’re not improvising or worrying about whether your food is safe to share.

The setting matters too. Being among the redwoods and oaks on the property gives the whole experience a quieter feel than a typical patio restaurant. You’re not eating shoulder-to-shoulder with other tables or fighting traffic noise from a busy street. The air is different up there, and dogs seem to notice—calmer, more willing to settle on a mat or under your chair for an hour or two.

Service tends toward the attentive without being fussy. Staff members are clearly used to dogs being present, which means you don’t have to spend the whole meal feeling like you’re managing someone’s discomfort. There’s an ease to it that makes a real difference when you’re trying to have an actual meal rather than just surviving an outing.

The restaurant is accessible from Highway 1 near Live Oak, positioned high enough that you get those bay views without needing to drive all the way into Santa Cruz proper. If you’re traveling the coast and want a place where both you and your dog can eat well without compromise, this is worth the stop. Weather permitting, bring layers—it’s cooler up in the trees than you’d expect from the coast.