Guidebook for San Jose
Essentials
This is the nearest grocery store and it's open 24/7 (except Christmas).
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Safeway
2760 Homestead RdThis is the nearest grocery store and it's open 24/7 (except Christmas).
What they lack in friendliness they make up for in speed and quality of service. This is the closest, and from what I've found the most reliable cleaner service in Cupertino. Not sure if they do basic laundry, but I assume they do or would at least have a decent recommendation.
Premier Cleaners
1127 S De Anza BlvdWhat they lack in friendliness they make up for in speed and quality of service. This is the closest, and from what I've found the most reliable cleaner service in Cupertino. Not sure if they do basic laundry, but I assume they do or would at least have a decent recommendation.
Marina Food is the best Asian market in the area. Some might suggest you try Ranch 99, but the prices here are better and the selection is much wider. While you won't have access to our kitchen while staying here, if you're visiting friends and want to prepare something local to the area or unique, I definitely recommend trying Marina. (I prepared a delicious rabbit pappardelle last Easter with ingredients that could only be found here)
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Marina Food
10122 Bandley DrMarina Food is the best Asian market in the area. Some might suggest you try Ranch 99, but the prices here are better and the selection is much wider. While you won't have access to our kitchen while staying here, if you're visiting friends and want to prepare something local to the area or unique, I definitely recommend trying Marina. (I prepared a delicious rabbit pappardelle last Easter with ingredients that could only be found here)
For everything you can't find at Safeway, there's Walgreens. This is a close, convenient and easy one stop shop for basic bathroom essentials and sundries. But who doesn't already know what a Walgreens is?!
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Walgreens
20011 Bollinger RdFor everything you can't find at Safeway, there's Walgreens. This is a close, convenient and easy one stop shop for basic bathroom essentials and sundries. But who doesn't already know what a Walgreens is?!
Everything Else
Miller & Whitecliff station
Closest Bus Stop (inbound)
Miller & Bancroft station
Closest Bus Stop (outbound)
This is one of many local "downtowns" that surround the city of San Jose. It is only a few blocks in size, but has something for everybody whether it's Chicago style pizza, a live music hall, the hardest brunch place to get a reservation on mother's day (Stacks), great sushi, coffee or art galleries. One notable thing about downtown Campbell is that there is a weekly farmer's market on Sunday afternoons with block after block of local vendors to visit.
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Downtown Campbell station
378 E Campbell AveThis is one of many local "downtowns" that surround the city of San Jose. It is only a few blocks in size, but has something for everybody whether it's Chicago style pizza, a live music hall, the hardest brunch place to get a reservation on mother's day (Stacks), great sushi, coffee or art galleries. One notable thing about downtown Campbell is that there is a weekly farmer's market on Sunday afternoons with block after block of local vendors to visit.
Food Scene
Great local Italian restaurant with an emphasis on seafood and maintaining lovely ambiance at a reasonable price. It's close to home, though not really walking distance, and they have a great wine selection.
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Fontana's Italian Restaurant
Great local Italian restaurant with an emphasis on seafood and maintaining lovely ambiance at a reasonable price. It's close to home, though not really walking distance, and they have a great wine selection.
Definitely more of a fine dining restaurant that's iconic to the west side of the valley. Beautiful atmosphere, spectacular menu, great service but can run a little pricey.
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La Fondue
14550 Big Basin WayDefinitely more of a fine dining restaurant that's iconic to the west side of the valley. Beautiful atmosphere, spectacular menu, great service but can run a little pricey.
The best taco/burrito place in San Jose hands down. This is the original location and can get a little crazy after hours with all the college students just getting out of bars and clubs, but well worth the visit either way. Make sure you try their famous orange sauce (though it's pretty spicy).
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La Victoria Taqueria
140 East San Carlos StreetThe best taco/burrito place in San Jose hands down. This is the original location and can get a little crazy after hours with all the college students just getting out of bars and clubs, but well worth the visit either way. Make sure you try their famous orange sauce (though it's pretty spicy).
This is my favorite fish market in all of the South Bay area. It's almost all locally caught fresh fish and shellfish that they will prepare for you on the spot. VERY casual atmosphere, but worth a visit if you like oysters, crab, trout, snapper, or whatever else they happen to be serving for the day.
247 Race St
247 Race StreetThis is my favorite fish market in all of the South Bay area. It's almost all locally caught fresh fish and shellfish that they will prepare for you on the spot. VERY casual atmosphere, but worth a visit if you like oysters, crab, trout, snapper, or whatever else they happen to be serving for the day.
Solid medium priced restaurant that can get a little loud but maintains a great seasonal menu and is perfect for taking family or a date.
Grill 57
57 Saratoga-Los Gatos RdSolid medium priced restaurant that can get a little loud but maintains a great seasonal menu and is perfect for taking family or a date.
So this is a semi-famous donut shop in the South Bay that's known for keeping its location in spite of massive development all around it, and the students who use the space to study literally 24/7. Whether you want a place to people watch or work, Donut Wheel is an affordable spot to make that happen.
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Donut Wheel
10250 N De Anza BlvdSo this is a semi-famous donut shop in the South Bay that's known for keeping its location in spite of massive development all around it, and the students who use the space to study literally 24/7. Whether you want a place to people watch or work, Donut Wheel is an affordable spot to make that happen.
If you have AirBnb, you certainly have google, so I won't waste your time telling you where the nearest Starbucks is. Coffee Society however is one of the oldest local coffee shops in the area located in The Oaks shopping center that's filled with an array of hidden gems you can only find in Cupertino. It's located across the street from a beautiful park you can walk around it with a latte, and the biggest community college in the South Bay. Whether you're there for work or just grabbing a cup of coffee before seeing a play at the Flint Center (performing arts center at the college) it's worth stopping in to this local main stay.
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Coffee Society
21265 Stevens Creek BoulevardIf you have AirBnb, you certainly have google, so I won't waste your time telling you where the nearest Starbucks is. Coffee Society however is one of the oldest local coffee shops in the area located in The Oaks shopping center that's filled with an array of hidden gems you can only find in Cupertino. It's located across the street from a beautiful park you can walk around it with a latte, and the biggest community college in the South Bay. Whether you're there for work or just grabbing a cup of coffee before seeing a play at the Flint Center (performing arts center at the college) it's worth stopping in to this local main stay.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is the local British Pub, and is about a 20 minute walk from the house if you would prefer not to Uber or get acquainted with the local Sheriff on your drive home. The kitchen serves a wide array of menu options, most notably British cuisine, until around 10pm. Night time activities include a trivia night, karaoke, dart league, pool, live music, and occasionally a live DJ. Definitely no frills though, and not really the "craft" beer or cocktail kind of location.
Britannia Arms Pub
This is the local British Pub, and is about a 20 minute walk from the house if you would prefer not to Uber or get acquainted with the local Sheriff on your drive home. The kitchen serves a wide array of menu options, most notably British cuisine, until around 10pm. Night time activities include a trivia night, karaoke, dart league, pool, live music, and occasionally a live DJ. Definitely no frills though, and not really the "craft" beer or cocktail kind of location.
This is a pretty standard dive bar, also a local staple. There's pool, a juke box, a smokey patio and a mixture of Apple employees, college students, and neighbors. They specialize in serving a stiff cocktail and some occasionally fresh popcorn :)
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Paul & Eddies Monta Vista Inn
21619 Stevens Creek BlvdThis is a pretty standard dive bar, also a local staple. There's pool, a juke box, a smokey patio and a mixture of Apple employees, college students, and neighbors. They specialize in serving a stiff cocktail and some occasionally fresh popcorn :)
This is the South Bay's premier gay bar specializing in karaoke and trivia during the week and dancing/shows Thurs-Sun. I will add that this is one of my jobs at the moment, so if you'd like to hear me as a DJ one of the nights during your stay shoot me a text or email and I can let you know when to stop by. Self-promotion aside, it's a fun spot that welcomes everybody--my whole family has been as have just about everyone I've ever known from high school and college. It was newly remodeled a few years ago, features 2 dance floors with separate DJs upstairs and downstairs, and has a fun open air upstairs patio that looks out over the street. Oh, and it's also extremely reasonably priced.
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Splash Bar Inc
65 Post StThis is the South Bay's premier gay bar specializing in karaoke and trivia during the week and dancing/shows Thurs-Sun. I will add that this is one of my jobs at the moment, so if you'd like to hear me as a DJ one of the nights during your stay shoot me a text or email and I can let you know when to stop by. Self-promotion aside, it's a fun spot that welcomes everybody--my whole family has been as have just about everyone I've ever known from high school and college. It was newly remodeled a few years ago, features 2 dance floors with separate DJs upstairs and downstairs, and has a fun open air upstairs patio that looks out over the street. Oh, and it's also extremely reasonably priced.
This is a new, very trendy (dress code enforced), craft beer & cocktail lounge that can be a little quiet during the week but gets packed on the weekends. They have a like faux-food truck in the back patio area that serves amazing small bites, and there are several loungey chairs and fireplaces set up around the space. Drinks can run a little expensive, but it's a fun place to start or end a night.
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The Continental Lounge And Patio
349 S 1st StThis is a new, very trendy (dress code enforced), craft beer & cocktail lounge that can be a little quiet during the week but gets packed on the weekends. They have a like faux-food truck in the back patio area that serves amazing small bites, and there are several loungey chairs and fireplaces set up around the space. Drinks can run a little expensive, but it's a fun place to start or end a night.
Sightseeing
In addition to having an actual Rose Garden at the center of it, this is one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Jose and showcases an array of beautiful and unique architecture that's frankly lacking in many other newer parts of the city. If you like doing driving tours of neighborhoods to get to know an area, I highly recommend grabbing a cup of coffee, opening the sunroof and checking out this family friendly neighborhood.
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Rose Garden
In addition to having an actual Rose Garden at the center of it, this is one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Jose and showcases an array of beautiful and unique architecture that's frankly lacking in many other newer parts of the city. If you like doing driving tours of neighborhoods to get to know an area, I highly recommend grabbing a cup of coffee, opening the sunroof and checking out this family friendly neighborhood.
Parks & Nature
Great for hiking, mountain biking, sight seeing, and horseback trails: I highly recommend this area if you're looking for a small slice of nature in an otherwise suburban environment. It's at most a 10 minute drive from the house, and my favorite trail is the one that leads to an overlook of the entire bay area. On a clear day when our smog has blown over to the Central Valley you can even see the San Francisco skyline from this point.
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Reserva Fremont Older
Great for hiking, mountain biking, sight seeing, and horseback trails: I highly recommend this area if you're looking for a small slice of nature in an otherwise suburban environment. It's at most a 10 minute drive from the house, and my favorite trail is the one that leads to an overlook of the entire bay area. On a clear day when our smog has blown over to the Central Valley you can even see the San Francisco skyline from this point.
Gorgeous open space perfect for hiking and biking. Rancho San Antonio is a 15 minute drive from the house. It's enormous and would take days to see all of the trails on its map.
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Rancho San Antonio County Park
Gorgeous open space perfect for hiking and biking. Rancho San Antonio is a 15 minute drive from the house. It's enormous and would take days to see all of the trails on its map.
Shopping
If you want a Macy's or a Nordstrom you know how to ask Siri, but if you want to find small boutiques and local vendors you will find that in downtown Los Gatos. Originally a bedroom community for foggy San Francisco, sunny downtown Los Gatos has a quaint almost film noir quality to it. It has several small mom&pop restaurants, specialty clothing stores, book stores and if heaven forbid you need to visit one, a DMV with the shortest wait times.
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Los Gatos
If you want a Macy's or a Nordstrom you know how to ask Siri, but if you want to find small boutiques and local vendors you will find that in downtown Los Gatos. Originally a bedroom community for foggy San Francisco, sunny downtown Los Gatos has a quaint almost film noir quality to it. It has several small mom&pop restaurants, specialty clothing stores, book stores and if heaven forbid you need to visit one, a DMV with the shortest wait times.