Marini’s At the Beach

Delicious ice cream and chocolate! Perfect Theres one ice cream flavor that is chocolate chip and cookie dough, wow really my favorite. The cone I picked was white chocolate and rainbow sprinkles which made it that much more delicious. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the wharf! Super cool to sit down and seal watch while eating :-)

Of course it’s on Santa Cruz beach Boardwalk. Its location is near the arcade area. There is always a line. I Think we waited like 15 minutes. There is a lot to choose from and lots of different flavor of salt water taffy. They also sell cotton candy, variety of candy and different kinds of chocolate like brownies by the pound. So if you want a Little bit for the day you can just buy enough of it.
We got a quarter pound of the Piña colada one and cotton candy. The taffy was good, but the cotton candy seem to be not as sweet or fresh.

The worst espresso I have ever had. The people working there don’t know what there doing. I asked for a short shot, and they gave 3oz of flat discusting expresso. I say «expreso» because this was nothing like an espresso. It was flat, and without crema. How can it be a true espresso without that? No I’m sorry but this place was a big disappointment. Don’t go here for coffee

Five stars for the chocolate covered bacon. It tasted so strange, but in a good way! Lol
Minus one star for rude and neglectful customer service. They literally rolled their eyes when I asked for some help after waiting 10 minutes at the cash register.
Minus one star for being super duper over priced.

$ 26/​pound for chocolate! Even the most posh of candy places don’t charge that much per pound. Chocolates tasted like chocolate chips. Vanilla taffy had an odd, off taste. Not a great vanilla flavor. Disappointed.

Came to Santa Cruz on a day off to bring my Girlfriend to her first experience. Was looking for ice cream and this place popped up. The ice cream didn’t look good and the smoothies were made from bottled flavorings and milk. Very very disappointed in the quality. It was later that I found out that this place is more known for the chocolates and sweets than the ice cream. I should have known the line outside was the main store and not the ice cream shop inside the arcade.
Tips:
1) Get the sweets from the candy store
2) Don’t get ice cream or smoothies
3) Enjoy Santa Cruz!

Another great visit… Dark chocolate bacon, salt water taffy, carmel corn and a really cut cut sand dollar bag … And thr most adorable beachy measuring spoons. Always a must visit when in Santa Cruz.

Great yummy treats but I paid $ 7 for a mocha frappé and the girl argued with me that it doesn’t come with whip cream. I said no problem at all, but your picture shows it…
sorry $ 7 and she’s going to tell me «I’m seeing things» that’s why you get 2 stars… better service would get you better reviews. Just sayin.

Employees were super friendly and helpful. Chocolate shake was very good. I also bought some chocolate fudge. Made there in the store and super good. Lots of choices for candy, chocolate, and ice cream

Worked for Marini family, not a good experience. They care little about their employees and are only interested in the almighty $. Wouldn’t frequent this place if you paid me.

Where my peanut butter fantasies are made into realities.
Growing up, I used to always get a variety of flavors — from watermelon to anything else really. However, as I’ve cultivated a specific pallet in my older days — I now strictly buy the peanut butter salt water taffy’s! They are nothing short of AMAZING.
As I continue to write this, please note this review is for their customer service/​management. As I’ve been to this location many times over my many years of existence, I’d still give them the same rating for their store/​location.
Most recently, I received a quarter of a pound package of PB only taffy’s from the parentals. I was in Heaven, literally so excited to eat them. However, when I tried to eat them, they were all stuck to the wrapper. This didn’t stop me… for the most part. I have to admit, on a few I said ‘screw it’ and just ate small bite of paper and spit them out when I came to them. But for the most part, I was taking bites out of the candy and throwing half, or so, away. Sad that it was hard to eat, but happy at the amazing peanut butter deliciousness, I thought I’d write an on-​line inquiry.
As it should be noted, this could have been my parents fault via transit, or it could have been on the part of Marini’s. I’m not sure, so I wrote to them anyways. Just asking if this happens often, no blame, just a curious purchaser of their products. Within a few days, the owner left me a voicemail saying he’d like to speak with me regarding my inquiry. As usual, I forgot to call him back, but he called again. This time I answered, I don’t get many SC phone calls. He introduced himself as Mr. Joe Marini and we spoke briefly. Although neither of us knew the cause, he still wanted to replace them. I said this wasn’t necessary, but he wanted to so I caved. A few days later, I received my package… not only did he replace my original package, but he gave me 300% more… he shipped a whole pound of PB taffy’s too me. To say I was in Heaven would be the understatement of the year.
To Mr. Joe Marini — your customer service is on par with Nordstrom. I was already a lifelong fan of your product… so now I’m a SUPER lifelong fan, because I don’t know what else to call it. Thank you for taking a simple inquiry and making sure there was follow through on behalf of your company. There are many companies that should look to your customer service as an example. You exemplify great management and I commend you. Again, thank you kindly!
As if being a candy store on the historical Santa Cruz beach boardwalk wasn’t enough, they’ve won me over with their customer service and attention to detail. The smell of their store, the taffy machine churning in the window, and the free samples — I can instantly image myself there right now.
Your taffy’s are what my peanut butter dreams are made of…

All I got to say is Chocolate Covered Bacon. Don’t be a weenie and just try it!
Just don’t go on fireball after you eat.

I spent close to $ 30 here and I have no regrets. Everything was great! The service was very friendly as well. I’m picky about chocolate and Marini’s meets my high standards.
Here’s a list of everything I had, starting with my favorite:
–dark chocolate salted caramels: I’m salivating just thinking about these. I wish I had gotten more.
–dark chocolate covered bacon: I actually came from San Francisco just to try this and it did not disappoint. The bacon is thin and crisp and the savory taste complements perfectly with the bittersweet dark chocolate.
–peppermint taffy: Natural tasting flavor and soft texture. I wish the peppermint taste would’ve been a little stronger though.
–peppermint bark
–dark chocolate turtles
–mocha drink: Warmed me up and came with a piece of yummy fudge
I didn’t get any fudge but I sampled the plain chocolate and the one with banana flavor. They were both really good. The banana one was intense on the banana flavor. Can’t wait to come back! I ate everything in just two days and I want more.

CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON!!! HELLA F’in GOOD !!
I thought deep fried oreos was the best untill I had the chocolate covered bacon !!. Its so good, I’m speechless!
TWO THUMBS UP! IM DONE !!

I’ve been here almost every time I’ve been to the wharf… let me tell you why.
You can smell this place from a few stores down and it has you wondering, «where is that delicious-​ness coming from?» (walks a couple stores down) OMG! Heaven!
This store is filled with chocolates, candies, and Frapps! We had the mocha Frap and I got a few different types of candies.
The Mocha Frap was good with whipped cream on top! I got the turtle chocolate, which I didn’t like because it tasted like «diet» candy. was it sugar free? Maybe,.I wasn’t paying attention! =(
But all the chocolates looked so good and it was hard to pick just a few! I’m definitely coming back again and again to try all the different candies! I would get the mocha frap again too! Service was quick even though there was a lot of people in the store.

What’s a trip to the Boardwalk if you don’t get sweets!
I really liked this place and the good variety of sweets. I would have given them 5 stars if it wasn’t for the girls working there.
I got a caramel apple, some salt water taffy (their specialty), and some chocolate covered bacon! BACON?! Yes, bacon and it was oh so yummy! It’s actually a really good combination and the way the bacon crunches in your mouth while the chocolate melts is great! So no complaints on the sweets!
It did go down hill when my sister ordered her cherry candy. While I was being helped another girl helped her so I couldn’t point out to her that the prices were by ¼ or ½ pound (I forgot what it was). Being like most teens who don’t really pay attention she thought the price was for a pound so that’s what she ordered. Once she saw how much it was going to be and how much candy it was (she didn’t want too much) she called me over. She is also shy at times and explained to me what happen and I asked the girl if she could please have less. I understand there was a policy that candy could not be returned but she was just so mean about it! She rolled her eyes called another girl over to tell her while the other girl (manager perhaps?) said it was ok. But while she was putting the untouched candy back she was huffing and puffing like that was her job!
We both loved the sweets but how about being a little nicer! You would think that tourist attractions would hire nicer people!

While hanging out at the boardwalk with my boyfriend, we just ventured to the end of the wharf for some ice cream. We got a double scoop in a waffle cone. The almond mocha & strawberry ice cream was delicious… sucks that it was melting so quickly though. However, the server was very friendly and made sure to give us huge scoops. Between the two of us, we couldn’t even finish the ice cream.
The shop itself reminds me a lot of the other Marini’s in Santa Cruz, but what I really liked about it was we could see a glass room where a lady was making the chocolates right in front of us. We could see how fresh all the chocolates were =) The caramel apples and chocolate covered strawberries looked so good! Next time, I think I’m gonna get one of those so I don’t have to worry about my ice cream melting.

Always a place I hit up while on the boardwalk. No matter how many times we go, its always fun to watch them make the candy.
It’s always super crowded, but the staff is always super friendly, no matter what. The candy is great, of course especially the salt water taffy. YUM YUM YUM!!!

Everyone has to come here when they hit up the Boardwalk. It’s a must. I’ve never been able to compare this taffy with anyone else’s.
Anything you could possibly imagine is in this candy factory of a store:
Salt water taffy, candied apples, caramel corn, chocolates and fudge, peanut brittle, lollies, gummi treats, licorice, and the ever delicious chocolate covered bacon!
The workers spend hours in the sweet smelling haven of Marini’s so naturally they are sweet when it comes to service and attention to details.
A lot of the time, you can see the employees working the taffy machine or making some other delectable treat which is pretty nifty when waiting in line.
Cheap treats. First class service. Close proximity to Boardwalk.
When you go here, savor the moment.

Only two words come to mind when I think about Marini’s– and those two words are CRAZY DELICIOUS.
I’ve been getting Salt Water Taffy and Chocolate from this location for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a kid its become almost a tradition to get a bag of assorted taffy and a handful of chocolates from Marini’s. As a kid, I remember always stopping here BEFORE and AFTER my visit to the boardwalk– Once to get some taffy while I played on the beach, and again to grab some taffy for the ride home.
More recently I’ve been turned on to their delicious Chocolate/​Caramel Apples! All these year have gone by and I’d never tried them, but now I can’t live without them– they’re awesome!
The prices are not as expensive as some say people say, especially for a tourist destination– in my opinion. $ 4.65 per ¼ LB can still get you about a dozen pieces of chocolate INCLUDING a slice of their famous BACON chocolate all for around $ 6. Also, their taffy is what their known for, and you can get prepacked bags for only a few bucks. See my pictures if you’re ready to drool, and next time you’re visiting Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk check out Marini’s!