San Jose Guidebook
Food scene
Open Monday 7am-2:30pm, Tu-Fr 7am-2:30pm, Sat 8am-3pm, Sun 8am-2pm
Alicia’s favorite breakfast place! They have super healthy breakfast options and awesome cappuccino!
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mikayla's Cafe
2209 Tasman DrOpen Monday 7am-2:30pm, Tu-Fr 7am-2:30pm, Sat 8am-3pm, Sun 8am-2pm
Alicia’s favorite breakfast place! They have super healthy breakfast options and awesome cappuccino!
Open Monday 5 PM - 9, Tuesday thru Thursday 11 - 2 & 5 - 9, Friday 11 - 2 & 5 - 10, Saturday 5 - 10
La Catalana is a Catalan-Spanish tapas restaurant with incredible, authentic food and an extensive Spanish wine menu. Their lunch and dinner menus vary, but for the most part, everything on the menu is genuine to the Catalan region. They have plenty of meat and seafood options, but also have a number of vegetarian options as well.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Catalana
3720 N 1st StOpen Monday 5 PM - 9, Tuesday thru Thursday 11 - 2 & 5 - 9, Friday 11 - 2 & 5 - 10, Saturday 5 - 10
La Catalana is a Catalan-Spanish tapas restaurant with incredible, authentic food and an extensive Spanish wine menu. Their lunch and dinner menus vary, but for the most part, everything on the menu is genuine to the Catalan region. They have plenty of meat and seafood options, but also have a number of vegetarian options as well.
Open Monday thru Friday 11:30 - 9
Happy Hour Monday thru Thursday 4 - 6, Friday 4 to 9
Right down the street, you’ll find Chef Michael Mina’s Bourbon Pub, a casual American restaurant that puts a classier spin on the average pub food. Styled in 49ers theming, it’s both industrial and modern, with an awesome menu. Pulled pork sandwiches, cherry burgers (it’s better than it sounds!), and veggie Philly cheese steaks are the sort of things you can expect to find here.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bourbon Pub
4900 Marie P DeBartolo WayOpen Monday thru Friday 11:30 - 9
Happy Hour Monday thru Thursday 4 - 6, Friday 4 to 9
Right down the street, you’ll find Chef Michael Mina’s Bourbon Pub, a casual American restaurant that puts a classier spin on the average pub food. Styled in 49ers theming, it’s both industrial and modern, with an awesome menu. Pulled pork sandwiches, cherry burgers (it’s better than it sounds!), and veggie Philly cheese steaks are the sort of things you can expect to find here.
Open Monday thru Friday 10 - 3 & 5 - 9:30, Saturday & Sunday 10 - 3, 5 - 9
Saigon Seafood Harbor is a Hong Kong- style Chinese restaurant that specializes in seafood. Their seafood is brought in fresh daily and they have a ton of options to choose from--everything from prawns, crab, scallops, flounder. For folks who don’t particularly like seafood, they also serve the sort of things you’d expect to find in a standard Chinese restaurant, like kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef, sweet & sour pork, etc.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Saigon Seafood Harbor
1135 Lawrence ExpyOpen Monday thru Friday 10 - 3 & 5 - 9:30, Saturday & Sunday 10 - 3, 5 - 9
Saigon Seafood Harbor is a Hong Kong- style Chinese restaurant that specializes in seafood. Their seafood is brought in fresh daily and they have a ton of options to choose from--everything from prawns, crab, scallops, flounder. For folks who don’t particularly like seafood, they also serve the sort of things you’d expect to find in a standard Chinese restaurant, like kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef, sweet & sour pork, etc.
Open Monday thru Thursday 11 - 10 , Friday 11 - 11 , Saturday 12 - 10 , Sunday 10 - 9
Happy Hour Monday thru Friday 4 -7
Pedro’s is a restaurant and cantina that’s been a Santa Clara staple since 1980. The interior is beautifully styled in rustic Mexican decor, and it’s large enough that you usually don’t have to wait too long for a table to open up. Their banquet menu features a ton of authentic and unique Mexican dishes like steak a la casa, salmon al guajillo, chicken tinga, and more, but if you’re traveling with a group of 20 or more, they also have a buffet with things like a mini taco bar, enchiladas, and chicken flautas. You can place a reservation right on their website, pedrosrestaurants.com
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pedro's
3935 Freedom CirOpen Monday thru Thursday 11 - 10 , Friday 11 - 11 , Saturday 12 - 10 , Sunday 10 - 9
Happy Hour Monday thru Friday 4 -7
Pedro’s is a restaurant and cantina that’s been a Santa Clara staple since 1980. The interior is beautifully styled in rustic Mexican decor, and it’s large enough that you usually don’t have to wait too long for a table to open up. Their banquet menu features a ton of authentic and unique Mexican dishes like steak a la casa, salmon al guajillo, chicken tinga, and more, but if you’re traveling with a group of 20 or more, they also have a buffet with things like a mini taco bar, enchiladas, and chicken flautas. You can place a reservation right on their website, pedrosrestaurants.com
Open Monday thru Friday 11 - 3 & 4:30 - 8
San Jose and the surrounding area have no shortage of Vietnamese restaurants, but Le Bon is one of our favorites. They have awesome Hanoi-style pho, but they also serve specialty items like sweet & sour grilled pork, garlic noodles, Vietnamese-style BBQ short ribs, and wok-fried curry chicken. The restaurant itself is fairly small, but they have a pleasant little patio for outdoor dining.
Le Bon Modern Vietnamese
1274 Persian DrOpen Monday thru Friday 11 - 3 & 4:30 - 8
San Jose and the surrounding area have no shortage of Vietnamese restaurants, but Le Bon is one of our favorites. They have awesome Hanoi-style pho, but they also serve specialty items like sweet & sour grilled pork, garlic noodles, Vietnamese-style BBQ short ribs, and wok-fried curry chicken. The restaurant itself is fairly small, but they have a pleasant little patio for outdoor dining.
Open Tuesday thru Thursday 11 - 9:30, Friday & Saturday 11 - 10, Sunday 11 - 9:30
Happy Hour Tuesday thru Friday 3 - 6
Nom Burger is a modern burger restaurant that serves up locally-sourced food and makes just about everything from scratch. They grind their own meat and bake their own buns in-house, and all of their toppings are prepared right on site. Their menu is simple (just burgers, fries, and shakes), which allows them to focus more on the quality of the food. They have a dozen local craft beers on tap at all times, with wine options as well.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nom Burger
251 W Washington AveOpen Tuesday thru Thursday 11 - 9:30, Friday & Saturday 11 - 10, Sunday 11 - 9:30
Happy Hour Tuesday thru Friday 3 - 6
Nom Burger is a modern burger restaurant that serves up locally-sourced food and makes just about everything from scratch. They grind their own meat and bake their own buns in-house, and all of their toppings are prepared right on site. Their menu is simple (just burgers, fries, and shakes), which allows them to focus more on the quality of the food. They have a dozen local craft beers on tap at all times, with wine options as well.
Open Tuesday thru Friday 11 AM - 2:30 PM
The hours for Smoked Out BBQ are pretty limited, but if you happen to be in town during the week, we totally recommend checking this place out for lunch! This place has some of the best BBQ in the Bay Area, and their menu is killer. They have different combo plate options available, but you really can’t go wrong with the smoked brisket, mac & cheese, or cheesy tots. It’s a pretty small place, so it might be a good idea to get it to go.
Smoked Out BBQ
807 Aldo AveOpen Tuesday thru Friday 11 AM - 2:30 PM
The hours for Smoked Out BBQ are pretty limited, but if you happen to be in town during the week, we totally recommend checking this place out for lunch! This place has some of the best BBQ in the Bay Area, and their menu is killer. They have different combo plate options available, but you really can’t go wrong with the smoked brisket, mac & cheese, or cheesy tots. It’s a pretty small place, so it might be a good idea to get it to go.
Open Monday thru Saturday 11 - 9, Sunday 12 - 8
Pizza Flora is a relatively new restaurant that serves up vegan and vegetarian New York-style pizza. They’re best known for the margherita and putanesca pizza and they have a great beer selection. This place is a great option for folks with dietary restrictions, but even non-vegans are sure to enjoy it!
Pizza Flora
78 S 1st StOpen Monday thru Saturday 11 - 9, Sunday 12 - 8
Pizza Flora is a relatively new restaurant that serves up vegan and vegetarian New York-style pizza. They’re best known for the margherita and putanesca pizza and they have a great beer selection. This place is a great option for folks with dietary restrictions, but even non-vegans are sure to enjoy it!
Shopping
Santana Row, located at 377 Santana Row, is one of the nicest and most popular malls in San Jose. The mall is almost entirely outdoors, and the streets and architecture almost make it feel like an upscale village. They have all of the brands you’d expect to find in a shopping mall, but they also have plenty of boutique shops and restaurants. If you’re looking to do some shopping while you’re in town, or if there’s something you forgot to pack, you can likely find it here!
Open Monday thru Saturday 10 - 9, Sunday 11 - 7
818 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Santana Row
Santana RowSantana Row, located at 377 Santana Row, is one of the nicest and most popular malls in San Jose. The mall is almost entirely outdoors, and the streets and architecture almost make it feel like an upscale village. They have all of the brands you’d expect to find in a shopping mall, but they also have plenty of boutique shops and restaurants. If you’re looking to do some shopping while you’re in town, or if there’s something you forgot to pack, you can likely find it here!
Open Monday thru Saturday 10 - 9, Sunday 11 - 7
If you’re looking to do some high-end shopping while you’re in town, Westfield Valley Fair, at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, has all of the luxury brands you can imagine. This mall features stores like Prada, Giorgio Armani, Balenciaga, Versace, and Tiffany & Co. It’s not all luxury, though. Most of the stores you’d expect to find in your own local mall can also be found here.
Open Monday thru Friday 10 - 9:30, Saturday 10 - 9, Sunday 11 - 7
488 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Westfield Valley Fair
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd If you’re looking to do some high-end shopping while you’re in town, Westfield Valley Fair, at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, has all of the luxury brands you can imagine. This mall features stores like Prada, Giorgio Armani, Balenciaga, Versace, and Tiffany & Co. It’s not all luxury, though. Most of the stores you’d expect to find in your own local mall can also be found here.
Open Monday thru Friday 10 - 9:30, Saturday 10 - 9, Sunday 11 - 7
In town for a 49ers game and want to take home some team swag? The 49ers Team Store is located at 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, right at Levi’s Stadium. Just about anything with the official 49ers brand can be found there!
Open Monday thru Saturday 10 - 6, Sunday 10 - 5
49ers Team Store
4900 Marie P DeBartolo WayIn town for a 49ers game and want to take home some team swag? The 49ers Team Store is located at 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, right at Levi’s Stadium. Just about anything with the official 49ers brand can be found there!
Open Monday thru Saturday 10 - 6, Sunday 10 - 5
Grand Century Shopping Mall, located at 1111 Story Rd, is a fun break from the traditional mall experience. Grand Century is an Asian-oriented mall with a ton of unique shops and services. There are also a lot of Asian restaurants here, and plenty of people like to go just for the Vietnamese food!
Open 9 - 9 daily
Grand Century Shopping Mall
1111 Story RdGrand Century Shopping Mall, located at 1111 Story Rd, is a fun break from the traditional mall experience. Grand Century is an Asian-oriented mall with a ton of unique shops and services. There are also a lot of Asian restaurants here, and plenty of people like to go just for the Vietnamese food!
Open 9 - 9 daily
Family-Friendly Activities
Lively Japantown is known for its dynamic dining scene, with unpretentious eateries serving regional Japanese fare, as well as Japanese-American and Hawaiian diners. On the busy streets, chic clothing and gift shops mix with hip galleries and karaoke bars. The Japanese American Museum highlights stories of immigration and WWII internment, while peace is found in the gardens of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
107 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Japantown
Lively Japantown is known for its dynamic dining scene, with unpretentious eateries serving regional Japanese fare, as well as Japanese-American and Hawaiian diners. On the busy streets, chic clothing and gift shops mix with hip galleries and karaoke bars. The Japanese American Museum highlights stories of immigration and WWII internment, while peace is found in the gardens of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
Open 9 - 4 daily
Winchester Mystery House is probably the most well-known and publicized attraction in all of San Jose and it’s a must-see while you’re in town! The Winchester Mystery House was once the home of Sarah Lockwood Pardee WInchester, widow of William Wirt Winchester and heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms Fortune. According to legend, a psychic medium told her she needed to build a home for herself and for all of the spirits of people who were killed by Winchester Rifles. Construction on the home started in 1884 and continued until her death in 1922. The home features trap doors, stairways to nowhere, fake doors, secret passages, and more. This house is definitely worth checking out!
302 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Casa Misteriosa de Winchester
525 S Winchester BlvdOpen 9 - 4 daily
Winchester Mystery House is probably the most well-known and publicized attraction in all of San Jose and it’s a must-see while you’re in town! The Winchester Mystery House was once the home of Sarah Lockwood Pardee WInchester, widow of William Wirt Winchester and heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms Fortune. According to legend, a psychic medium told her she needed to build a home for herself and for all of the spirits of people who were killed by Winchester Rifles. Construction on the home started in 1884 and continued until her death in 1922. The home features trap doors, stairways to nowhere, fake doors, secret passages, and more. This house is definitely worth checking out!
Right down the road, you’ll find California’s Great America, the Bay Area’s only amusement park. Originally opened in 1976, Great America has been one of the top attractions for over 40 years. This park features some world-class roller coasters, and some of the most highly-rated rides in America. If you’re not much of a thrill seeker, the park also has a lot of family and kids rides. They regularly have shows and special events, and of course there’s fair food!
299 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Gran América de California
4701 Great America PkwyRight down the road, you’ll find California’s Great America, the Bay Area’s only amusement park. Originally opened in 1976, Great America has been one of the top attractions for over 40 years. This park features some world-class roller coasters, and some of the most highly-rated rides in America. If you’re not much of a thrill seeker, the park also has a lot of family and kids rides. They regularly have shows and special events, and of course there’s fair food!
Open Wednesday thru Friday 9 - 5, Saturday & Sunday 10 - 6
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is home to the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in North America. Artifacts from ancient Egypt include jewelry, bronze tools, burial artifacts, and even a mummy! The museum itself takes a couple of hours to walk through, and a stroll around the themed gardens adds to the whole experience.
105 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
1660 Park AveOpen Wednesday thru Friday 9 - 5, Saturday & Sunday 10 - 6
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is home to the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in North America. Artifacts from ancient Egypt include jewelry, bronze tools, burial artifacts, and even a mummy! The museum itself takes a couple of hours to walk through, and a stroll around the themed gardens adds to the whole experience.
Open Tuesday thru Friday 10 - 4, Saturday 10 - 5, Sunday 12 - 5
Children’s Discovery Museum is a fun, interactive museum geared toward kids. It’s best suited for children under the age of 10, and has a lot of hands-on exhibits for kids to interact with science, history, and art.
141 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo de Descubrimiento Infantil
180 Woz WayOpen Tuesday thru Friday 10 - 4, Saturday 10 - 5, Sunday 12 - 5
Children’s Discovery Museum is a fun, interactive museum geared toward kids. It’s best suited for children under the age of 10, and has a lot of hands-on exhibits for kids to interact with science, history, and art.
Outdoor Activities
Alum Rock Park is like an oasis right here in San Jose. This 720 acre park is nestled in Alum Rock Canyon in the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range and features 13 miles of hiking trails and 3 miles of biking trails. The canyon is home to a number of plant and animal populations that are endemic to the Bay Area, and it’s especially notable for bird watchers! Spring is an especially beautiful time to visit, as the wildflowers and ferns have started coming back to life!
Alum Rock Avenue
Alum Rock AvenueAlum Rock Park is like an oasis right here in San Jose. This 720 acre park is nestled in Alum Rock Canyon in the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range and features 13 miles of hiking trails and 3 miles of biking trails. The canyon is home to a number of plant and animal populations that are endemic to the Bay Area, and it’s especially notable for bird watchers! Spring is an especially beautiful time to visit, as the wildflowers and ferns have started coming back to life!
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a a protected environmental zone just north of here on the Bay. From the Visitor Center (address above), you’ll be able to walk on the refuge’s 30+ miles of designated hiking trails. The refuge is home to hundreds of different species, many of which are endangered and can only be found in the Bay Area. From the Mallard Slough Trail, you can even get a glimpse of Drawbridge, a ghost town with 150 years of history!
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a a protected environmental zone just north of here on the Bay. From the Visitor Center (address above), you’ll be able to walk on the refuge’s 30+ miles of designated hiking trails. The refuge is home to hundreds of different species, many of which are endangered and can only be found in the Bay Area. From the Mallard Slough Trail, you can even get a glimpse of Drawbridge, a ghost town with 150 years of history!
Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve is a 1600+ acre nature preserve in Eastern Santa Clara County. This preserve has a number of hiking and biking trails that offer sweeping views of the Alum Rock Canyon and the valley. This park is unique in the sense that a lot of it is rolling grassland, meaning you’re able to really take in some expansive views and get a sense of how beautifully laid-out the San Jose area is. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, there are a number of protected species to be found here, including the American badger, Western burrowing owl, bobcats, and gray foxes.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve
Sierra RoadSierra Vista Open Space Preserve is a 1600+ acre nature preserve in Eastern Santa Clara County. This preserve has a number of hiking and biking trails that offer sweeping views of the Alum Rock Canyon and the valley. This park is unique in the sense that a lot of it is rolling grassland, meaning you’re able to really take in some expansive views and get a sense of how beautifully laid-out the San Jose area is. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, there are a number of protected species to be found here, including the American badger, Western burrowing owl, bobcats, and gray foxes.
No trip to the Bay Area would be complete without visiting the redwood forests! For nature-lovers, this is an absolute must-see. It’s a bit of a drive to get to this park, but it’s totally worth it. This state park is home to over 40 acres of old-growth redwood trees, and it contains some of the tallest and oldest trees in the entire world. In the early 1900s, Teddy Roosevelt visited this area and helped spur an initiative to protect the trees. They are one of the most spectacular natural species in the entire United States and the Bay Area is one of the best places to see them.
335 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Estatal de los Bosques de Secuoyas de Henry Cowell
101 N Big Trees Park RdNo trip to the Bay Area would be complete without visiting the redwood forests! For nature-lovers, this is an absolute must-see. It’s a bit of a drive to get to this park, but it’s totally worth it. This state park is home to over 40 acres of old-growth redwood trees, and it contains some of the tallest and oldest trees in the entire world. In the early 1900s, Teddy Roosevelt visited this area and helped spur an initiative to protect the trees. They are one of the most spectacular natural species in the entire United States and the Bay Area is one of the best places to see them.
General Entertainment
Studio Climbing is a rock climbing gym located in Downtown San Jose. It’s an indoor facility with a 40 foot tall lead wall that offers 11,000 square feet of climbing and 3,000 square feet of bouldering. If you’ve never climbed before, they offer a one-hour Intro to Climbing Class to learn the basics, and then you’re off to find your own route up the wall!
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Studio Climbing
396 S 1st StStudio Climbing is a rock climbing gym located in Downtown San Jose. It’s an indoor facility with a 40 foot tall lead wall that offers 11,000 square feet of climbing and 3,000 square feet of bouldering. If you’ve never climbed before, they offer a one-hour Intro to Climbing Class to learn the basics, and then you’re off to find your own route up the wall!
Box Office open Tuesday thru Friday 9 AM - 4 PM, Saturday & Sunday 12 PM - 4 PM;
Performance times vary
If you’re in need of a good laugh, San Jose Improv is the place to go. It’s a part of the Improv network based out of New York City, and it regularly hosts well-known and up-and-coming improv and standup comedians. Check their website, improv.com/sanjose, to see who’s performing while you’re here!
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
San Jose Improv
62 S Second StBox Office open Tuesday thru Friday 9 AM - 4 PM, Saturday & Sunday 12 PM - 4 PM;
Performance times vary
If you’re in need of a good laugh, San Jose Improv is the place to go. It’s a part of the Improv network based out of New York City, and it regularly hosts well-known and up-and-coming improv and standup comedians. Check their website, improv.com/sanjose, to see who’s performing while you’re here!