Top Night clubs in Santa Cruz, United States

Best intimate music venue with the best acoustics I have experienced. I love coming, for jazz, Celtic music and more.

Every December we went and see Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola perform on this stage 🤩 always super fun!

Best venue in the Bay Area hands down.
I’d rate kuumbwa 6 stars if I could!!!!
Thank you for all the amazing shows, keep them coming 👍

Chef and kitchen staff are very nice.
Everything else, terribly organized, boomer mess. Sells more tickets than there are seats. Bad selection of performers. The kind of stuff only white American boomers would be impressed by. Bad atmosphere. Everybody is racist. While my wife and I were looking for seats some white lady came up to me and said, "There's seats outside" (outside the building). It was a cold November night btw. Not worth $150 per concert just to be crammed in with racist, rude, old people. Unless you enjoy very entitled geriatrics pushing past you saying " I NEED to get through " I NEED to get water" "I NEED this NEED that" , looking at you like you are trash, then I would not recommend this place.

Just wanted to say that the staff were incredibly helpful and kind. I'd seen a review on here saying they were the opposite, and just wanted to share my experience. I showed up late to a show there after the opener had finished, as I usually plan to do because I'm in chronic pain and the longer I sit/stand the worse my back pain gets, so I try to miss the opener to minimize the pain I'll be in for the band I came to see. Anyway I came in a power wheelchair, but they didn't have a good setup or elevator for that, and it turns out I should've shown up 10 minutes early to be let in first with the other disabled patrons. But anyway. It was my mistake really, but the staff were so incredibly kind and helpful, they helped my friend find a spot where I could sit and let me park my powerchair somewhere safe. Not only that, but the manager gave me a free ticket to ANY show in the next year just because he felt bad for the inconvenience. Really blew me away!

Other than that, the venue is pretty nice. I always love intimate venues like this where you can get closer to the artists you're coming to see. It does get a little hot and humid in there though lol. Overall I had an incredible experience for my first time there.

Royal Blood!!

Good variety of shows in the main room and The Atrium. The sound could definitely be a bit better but overall it’s a great place to see touring and local bands. The upstairs room was very spacious and the bartender was great.

Upon entering the venue, we were poorly greeted by staff complaining when the line was going to end. They were upset about how many people were attending a sold out show (less than 400 people in the Atrium) which I found extremely unprofessional. Once in the door, I asked a staff member where the bathroom is, and he rudely responded, “It’s in THERE (motioning to the Atrium), use your EYES!!!” Following this, he mocked me with a binocular motion, leaving a bad taste in my partner’s and my mouth for the rest of the night.

The only thing good about this place was that the mixing was exceptional, I could hear Hojean’s vocals over the instruments. Also, despite the Atrium being sold out, at max capacity there was still plenty of room to dance around and not be in the middle of a crowd.

Wonderful experience as always. Been enjoying this club since I was a youngster. The highest quality friendly kind people work and volunteer here. Music is always great. Don't change a thing.

Love seeing shows here! I’ve been in two of the venues and both were great. Safe to go alone, parking is easy.

There's nowhere quite like the Kuumbwa, and I love it that way.

For reference, I am biased: my partner is one of the sound guys, and I joined the team in April 2023 as a volunteer. But holy hell, I have never found such a hidden gem quite like the K. This is the spot for jazz in the greater Monterey Bay, and perhaps even beyond that; Tim Jackson has created a master class of jazz venues, and it shows throughout every aspect of the space.

If you're coming for a show, make sure to stop by the bar for reasonably priced beers, wines, and non-alc options. Plus, order the special dinner from the cafe (always delightful and expertly crafted) and DO NOT FORGET, I repeat, DO NOT FORGET to get dessert. My favorites? The tofu chocolate mousse pie and/or the carrot cake — hell, GET BOTH!

And then there's the jazz! From legends like Oz Noy to Hiromi to Hermeto Pascoal, it's time to get into this music! There's no time like the present — truly, all of those acts are from just this year!

Bouncer can’t tell difference between real and fake ID’s

Very unpleasant experience visiting Motiv, if I could I would leave negative stars. Stray away

Busy social environment and great DJ's!

A very neat, tucked away little music venue. I really liked how cozy it felt. They served dinner items and sweets before the show, and had a nice little bar to grab drinks before or during. The skylight provided ambient lighting during the show, which was a nice touch. Very good acoustics. Would definitely go to see a show here again!

Nice big dance floor, it's in the middle of downtown. Theres a younger crowd the music is the highlight. Overall nice atmosphere.

I went last Saturday to the Motiv with a couple of friends. The bar was packed as hell with people. Arden saw that we needed help, she was on top of it. Friendliest bartender in there. Made our drinks really fast and every time we went to the bar she was right there to help us. We will be back again to see Arden and dance on the dance floor.

One of the bouncer there mistaked me for another black guy and kicked me out. My other friends of color have also received racial discrimination from this bar or club.

Motiv is a local Santa Cruz bar, the two girlies who work the downstairs bar are so sweet & make the best drinks. I love seeing Jacob at the door; he’s amazing and one of the reasons that I visit Motiv over & over again. Love Jacobs energy and he’s beer pong nights. He makes the club a whole lot safer, he’s kicked out some creeps that have harassed us before. A suggestion that I have is better djs and better variety of music.

I have been to this venue a couple times over the years. I saw Ekali in 2019 and Niki in 2022. This is a very fun venue if you are interested in seeing performers up close and getting to know them personally. It really feels like they are right in front of you! The venue doesn't have much flashy lights, visuals, or any special effects... It is simply a stage at the end of the day.

They lack a proper air conditioning system or some ventilating fans! It was insanely hot inside the venue and I was finding myself growing warmer and warmer as the concert went on. I felt bad because someone in the crowd fainted mid-show! There were also many people who were stepping out and looked lightheaded... they would have to squeeze through the crowd. Niki was really kind to ask management to give waters out to everyone in the crowd! You could definitely tell, as a performer, she was a bit shaken from the person passing out.

Some Pros:
+ Water bottles at the bar were only $2
+ You could get a good view from most parts of the venue since it is intimate and smaller than most
+ Audio was decent and I didn't hear any delay
+ It was very easy to purchase tickets via ETIX

favorite venue EVER!! both the main stage and atrium are the perfect size for small concerts. the catalyst always has some fun, upcoming artists performing for very cheap tickets. i’ve always had a great time and have always been at the very front of the stage. staff are super nice here including the ones at the bar (regardless if you are 21 or not).

Great place to have an intimate interaction with the performers. Went to see SonoMusette, songs of Edith Piaf and 20th Century Paris. Wonderfully enchanting and all extremely talented musicians

The Catalyst has space for 600 people between a main floor and two upstair balconies that's after the main lobby. It has an ADA compliant ramp and lift for physically impaired peoples to access the main floor, which I appreciate. The alcohol was considerably expensive, but partly worth the spend if you especially saved up for the occasion. The building is a tad bit dated, but it serves its purpose well, and the staff was incredibly accommodating and kind towards disabled folk. They were friendly and provided the safety necessary for an enjoyable experience.

We frequent this venue when we’re on tour & it’s always a great night! The staff is friendly & helpful. The crowd is always fun & enjoying themselves.

During our last visit (post-Covid), they weren’t serving food but I remember them selling food before (pre-Covid) which was pretty good. There are a lot of good food options around the venue also.

We went for the happy hour and it was so chill! I had a Guinness on tap and my boyfriend had a nice vodka soda, each for $4 at happy hour. Around 6:30 there was only one other group in the bar. The bartender told us it starts to get crazy at night around 10:30..!