Walkable Dining & Shopping Recommendations
There are many wonderful and walkable restaurants in our neighborhood.
Coffee Shops - Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, La Crema and Hannah’s Coffee House are all within a 5-10 minute walk.
Restaurants - Luna Mexican Restaurant is a great place to grab a fantastic lunch and dinner. Fantastic margaritas!
Luna Mexican Kitchen
1495 The AlamedaHannah Coffee & Sweets
754 The AlamedaPeet's Coffee
1295 The AlamedaRosie's New York Pizza
1285 The AlamedaTee Nee Thai Cuisine
1423 The AlamedaFive Guys
4180 N 1st StWine Affairs
1435 The AlamedaStarbucks
101 E Santa Clara StSAP Center
525 W Santa Clara StJust a five minute walk to The Alameda, Whole Foods has you covered with pre-made food to-go.
350 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
777 The AlamedaJust a five minute walk to The Alameda, Whole Foods has you covered with pre-made food to-go.
Catch Amtrak or Light Rail just 2 blocks away at Diridon Station.
134 locals recommend
San Jose Diridon Station
65 S Montgomery StCatch Amtrak or Light Rail just 2 blocks away at Diridon Station.
This winery began growing grapes in Santa Clara County over 100 years ago. It’s tasting room is quaint and just a five block walk from your cottage.
11 locals recommend
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
1000 Lenzen AveThis winery began growing grapes in Santa Clara County over 100 years ago. It’s tasting room is quaint and just a five block walk from your cottage.
Monopoly in the Park
330 W San Carlos StSAP Center
525 W Santa Clara StZona Luna makes my top three list!
Delicious & authentic Mexican fare in a casual, quaint and welcoming atmosphere. Their cuisine is made fresh daily. Their homemade, hand-pressed, cook to order corn tortillas are a never miss!
Best Happy Hour On The Alameda Tursdays to Fridays 3-5 pm!
$3 beers
$8 margaritas 🍹 Yum!!! (Try their Hibiscus Margaritas!
My favorite cocktail- Hibiscus Margaritas and Bloody Mary
My favorite dishes-
Appetizer-
Quacamole with Bacon & Pistachios
(yum!)
Chips w/ Three Salsas
Brunch-
Chilaquillas- chips, scrambled eggs, black beans, tomatillo crema, queso, crema.
ZR Potato Hash - potatoes, burnt carnitas ends, queso fundido,
two eggs over easy
Dinner-
Carne Asada y Hongos- hanger steak, shiitake mushrooms,green beans, chipotle crema
Carnitas Cazuela - Black beans, white rice, plantains, and pico de gallo. Served with 3 hand pressed tortillas.
Every Taco on the menu!!
30 locals recommend
Zona Rosa
1411 The AlamedaZona Luna makes my top three list!
Delicious & authentic Mexican fare in a casual, quaint and welcoming atmosphere. Their cuisine is made fresh daily. Their homemade, hand-pressed, cook to order corn tortillas are a never miss!
Best Happy Hour On The Alameda Tursdays to Fridays 3-5 pm!
$3 beers
$8 margaritas 🍹 Yum!!! (Try their Hibiscus Margaritas!
My favorite cocktail- Hibiscus Margaritas and Bloody Mary
My favorite dishes-
Appetizer-
Quacamole with Bacon & Pistachios
(yum!)
Chips w/ Three Salsas
Brunch-
Chilaquillas- chips, scrambled eggs, black beans, tomatillo crema, queso, crema.
ZR Potato Hash - potatoes, burnt carnitas ends, queso fundido,
two eggs over easy
Dinner-
Carne Asada y Hongos- hanger steak, shiitake mushrooms,green beans, chipotle crema
Carnitas Cazuela - Black beans, white rice, plantains, and pico de gallo. Served with 3 hand pressed tortillas.
Every Taco on the menu!!
Neighborhoods
Rose Garden
Downtown San Jose is a vibrant downtown area. If it’s your first time visiting I highly recommend a stop at The Tech Museum.
111 locals recommend
Downtown San Jose
Downtown San Jose is a vibrant downtown area. If it’s your first time visiting I highly recommend a stop at The Tech Museum.
Located just 1.5 miles away is Downtown Willow Glen. There you will find a great assortment of delicious restaurants and shopping.
My Favorite Bites -
Willow Glen Creamery makes delicious local ice cream.
The Table makes a mean burger.
Aqui Mexican Restaurant makes a choose your flavor margarita cocktail called “The Swirl”. They’re so good you’re only allowed two!
53 locals recommend
Willow Glen
Located just 1.5 miles away is Downtown Willow Glen. There you will find a great assortment of delicious restaurants and shopping.
My Favorite Bites -
Willow Glen Creamery makes delicious local ice cream.
The Table makes a mean burger.
Aqui Mexican Restaurant makes a choose your flavor margarita cocktail called “The Swirl”. They’re so good you’re only allowed two!
Santana Row
Santana RowUpscale downtown with tons of shopping, restaurants and even a few tasting rooms.
79 locals recommend
Los Gatos
Upscale downtown with tons of shopping, restaurants and even a few tasting rooms.
Fantastic shopping mall with a hundred fantastic shops including high-end shops such as Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior and Burberry, a fantastic new bowling alley, movie theater, a huge Apple Store, and Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom anchor stores.
Check out Eataly! It’s a new restaurant, Italian market, wine shop, pizza and dessert shop all rolled into a three-story Italian fantasy. It’s absolutely fantastic!!
488 locals recommend
Westfield Valley Fair
2855 Stevens Creek BlvdFantastic shopping mall with a hundred fantastic shops including high-end shops such as Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior and Burberry, a fantastic new bowling alley, movie theater, a huge Apple Store, and Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom anchor stores.
Check out Eataly! It’s a new restaurant, Italian market, wine shop, pizza and dessert shop all rolled into a three-story Italian fantasy. It’s absolutely fantastic!!
Sightseeing
My Favorite Bay Area Places!
Everyone loves Santa Cruz!
It has a wonderful foodie scene, great beaches and, of course, the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
242 locals recommend
Santa Cruz
Everyone loves Santa Cruz!
It has a wonderful foodie scene, great beaches and, of course, the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
If you love history and a bit of the paranormal, Sara Winchester made the perfect home for you to visit.
302 locals recommend
Winchester Mystery House
525 S Winchester BlvdIf you love history and a bit of the paranormal, Sara Winchester made the perfect home for you to visit.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowSan Francisco
The City By The Bay is, by far my favorite city in California.
Just a 45 minute drive from the city is Northern California’s hidden little gem and the home to The Pumpkin Festival every October.
Half Moon Bay’s beautiful small downtown is filled with deliciousness and fantastic local shopping. It’s cooler beaches are great. It’s historic Main Street is the place to be. Great restaurants and delicious bakeries (check out Half Moon Bay Bakery for the best Sourdough you’ll ever have).
Favorite
Our Favorite Spots Not in Downtown
The Ritz Carlton - Drop by and enjoy a cocktail while enjoying the ocean views.
The Half Moon Bay Distillery- WE LOVE THIS RESTAURANT! They offer some of the most scenic views from inside the restaurant and serve delicious casual eats such as Fish & Chips, burgers, seafood, pasta and sandwiches. But it’s the oysters on a half shell and delicious mussels cooked in a wine and butter we go for. HIGHLY SUGGESTED- Sit outside when you can sit in a rocking bench with wool blankets as you enjoy your meal with a glass of wine or delicious microbrew while overlooking breathtaking ocean views! It’s a must go!
279 locals recommend
Half Moon Bay
Just a 45 minute drive from the city is Northern California’s hidden little gem and the home to The Pumpkin Festival every October.
Half Moon Bay’s beautiful small downtown is filled with deliciousness and fantastic local shopping. It’s cooler beaches are great. It’s historic Main Street is the place to be. Great restaurants and delicious bakeries (check out Half Moon Bay Bakery for the best Sourdough you’ll ever have).
Favorite
Our Favorite Spots Not in Downtown
The Ritz Carlton - Drop by and enjoy a cocktail while enjoying the ocean views.
The Half Moon Bay Distillery- WE LOVE THIS RESTAURANT! They offer some of the most scenic views from inside the restaurant and serve delicious casual eats such as Fish & Chips, burgers, seafood, pasta and sandwiches. But it’s the oysters on a half shell and delicious mussels cooked in a wine and butter we go for. HIGHLY SUGGESTED- Sit outside when you can sit in a rocking bench with wool blankets as you enjoy your meal with a glass of wine or delicious microbrew while overlooking breathtaking ocean views! It’s a must go!
Entertainment
This beautiful music venue that’s perched high in The Santa Cruz Mountains hosts Summer Concert Series
Mountain Winery
14831 Pierce RdSAP Center
525 W Santa Clara StWorld famous music!
Levi's Stadium
4900 Marie P DeBartolo WayThe home of the world champion Golden State Warriors and a great concert venue in Downtown San Francisco
60 locals recommend
Chase Center
1 Warriors WayThe home of the world champion Golden State Warriors and a great concert venue in Downtown San Francisco
San Jose Improv
62 S Second StThis venue is located 1.5 miles away in Downtown. It’s always hosting fantastic entertainment.
9 locals recommend
San Jose Civic
135 W San Carlos StThis venue is located 1.5 miles away in Downtown. It’s always hosting fantastic entertainment.
The best National traveling Broadway show performances year-around!
Some of my Past Shows-
-Hamilton
-Dear Even Hansen
-Les Miserables
-Rent
-Wicked
Upcoming Shows Late 2022-Early 2023
-September ‘22 - Cats
-November’22 - Book of Mormon (great show for adults)
-January’23 - Annie
Late Feb. - My Fair Lady
Broadway San Jose
255 S Almaden BlvdThe best National traveling Broadway show performances year-around!
Some of my Past Shows-
-Hamilton
-Dear Even Hansen
-Les Miserables
-Rent
-Wicked
Upcoming Shows Late 2022-Early 2023
-September ‘22 - Cats
-November’22 - Book of Mormon (great show for adults)
-January’23 - Annie
Late Feb. - My Fair Lady
Wine Tasting
Just 30 minutes away you’ll find dozens of wineries in the Santa Clara County wineries. I highly suggest taking advantage of The Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Trail. They offer a set priced all-day wine tasting tour which takes you to delicious vino!
Santa Cruz Mountains
Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry StCakebread Cellars
8300 St Helena HwySilver Oak Napa Valley
915 Oakville Cross RdBlack Dog Wine Company
7425 Steubenville PikeBeauregard Vineyard
10 Pine Flat RdGreat little winery just 30 minutes away from the cottage.
Who doesn’t love a wine cave, tasting room and fantastic restaurant located in beautiful, green mountains just 30 minutes away?
36 locals recommend
Testarossa Winery
300 College AveWho doesn’t love a wine cave, tasting room and fantastic restaurant located in beautiful, green mountains just 30 minutes away?
Located in the Cupertino Hills, this winery had a casual, well-priced and very welcoming tasting room in an old barn. The PERFECT place for a picnic on this farm!
25 locals recommend
Picchetti Brothers Winery
13100 Montebello RdLocated in the Cupertino Hills, this winery had a casual, well-priced and very welcoming tasting room in an old barn. The PERFECT place for a picnic on this farm!
The top-of-the-top wines are located just up the hill from the Pichetti Winery is the famous Ridge Vineyards and Tasting Room.
Reservations are mandatory as well as steep a tasting room fee (worth it!). If you’re a wine connoisseur and wish to taste some of the best Cabs and Zins in California you must make a day of it here.
Ridge Tasting Room offers varietals and blends not available to purchase anywhere else. Oh, did I mention the views? One of the only places (on a clear day) whet you can see from San Francisco to Santa Clara Valley to The East Bay Hills.
23 locals recommend
Ridge Vineyards
17100 Montebello RdThe top-of-the-top wines are located just up the hill from the Pichetti Winery is the famous Ridge Vineyards and Tasting Room.
Reservations are mandatory as well as steep a tasting room fee (worth it!). If you’re a wine connoisseur and wish to taste some of the best Cabs and Zins in California you must make a day of it here.
Ridge Tasting Room offers varietals and blends not available to purchase anywhere else. Oh, did I mention the views? One of the only places (on a clear day) whet you can see from San Francisco to Santa Clara Valley to The East Bay Hills.
It’s absolutely impossible to not love Napa Valley! Located just an hour & a half north Napa can be a wonderful day trip during your stay.
I have stocked the cottage with books to help you find your perfect Napa Valley bucket list. I’m always available to share my favorite Napa Valley wineries.
219 locals recommend
Napa Valley
It’s absolutely impossible to not love Napa Valley! Located just an hour & a half north Napa can be a wonderful day trip during your stay.
I have stocked the cottage with books to help you find your perfect Napa Valley bucket list. I’m always available to share my favorite Napa Valley wineries.
For The Kids
The Tech is a wonderful interactive museum. It does get busy so pre-purchase tickets are highly recommended.
Just a ten minute drive away is Great America. Both an amusement park and Water Park it’s a fun day for kids of all ages.
299 locals recommend
California’S Great America
4701 Great America PkwyJust a ten minute drive away is Great America. Both an amusement park and Water Park it’s a fun day for kids of all ages.
An hour drive away, and just outside Napa Valley is this roller coaster lovers dream! This park has two separate areas, the Wild Animal Park and the rides area. It offers a long day of play.
132 locals recommend
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
1001 Fairgrounds DrAn hour drive away, and just outside Napa Valley is this roller coaster lovers dream! This park has two separate areas, the Wild Animal Park and the rides area. It offers a long day of play.
We love this place! Built for younger children (1-6 yrs. old) the museum offers wonderful interactive, educational play. You may want to bring proper clothing for the water play area. (I could never get my daughter away from this area until she was soaked!)
Your child will have a wonderful day here!
141 locals recommend
Children's Discovery Museum
180 Woz WayWe love this place! Built for younger children (1-6 yrs. old) the museum offers wonderful interactive, educational play. You may want to bring proper clothing for the water play area. (I could never get my daughter away from this area until she was soaked!)
Your child will have a wonderful day here!
Drop the older kids off for the day at this very popular water park.
40 locals recommend
Raging Waters San Jose
2333 S White RdDrop the older kids off for the day at this very popular water park.
The PERFECT place for the family of younger children and parents.
This historic park, located about 3 miles away from the cottage, had two separate sides; the zoo and petting zoo side and the rides side. They offer a fun day for 5-10 year olds. Happy Hollow opened in 1961 and has been a San Jose treasure ever since.
99 locals recommend
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
748 Story RdThe PERFECT place for the family of younger children and parents.
This historic park, located about 3 miles away from the cottage, had two separate sides; the zoo and petting zoo side and the rides side. They offer a fun day for 5-10 year olds. Happy Hollow opened in 1961 and has been a San Jose treasure ever since.
An absolutely lovely park! Peaceful and absolutely beautiful!
51 locals recommend
Japanese Friendship Garden
1300 Senter RdAn absolutely lovely park! Peaceful and absolutely beautiful!
If you, or your child have an interest in Egyptian history this place is for you. This museum is located 1.5 miles away in The Rose Garden Neighborhood.
105 locals recommend
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
1660 Park AveIf you, or your child have an interest in Egyptian history this place is for you. This museum is located 1.5 miles away in The Rose Garden Neighborhood.
Museums That Are Fun
Who wants to go to interactive, fun and enriching museums? If you answered yes then these are the places to go!
The CIA at Copia
500 1st St