Spotlight: San Jose

For the city’s most luxurious shopping experience, visit this snazzy outdoor mall, a mix between California’s relaxed stylishness and a swanky European village on market day. This walkable, nook-and-cranny-filled complex has benches for relaxing under leafy oaks, large sculptures by French artists André Dumonnet and Christine Foulché, antique fountains, live musicians, and open-air seating outside quality restaurants. It’s the kind of place where you can easily while away the hours, sitting on a bench perusing your purchases while nibbling fresh croissants from Cocola. If your shopping tastes run more toward Main Street than Paris boutique, there are familiar chains including Orvis and H&M. And, in the ultimate Silicon Valley indulgence, why not custom-design your own luxury all-electric car at Santana Row’s Tesla store.

After decades in a foggy, chilly wind tunnel known as Candlestick Park, the San Francisco 49ers football team has moved south to one of the snazziest stadiums around. Players now huddle, punt, and play in 68,500-seat Levi’s Stadium, a high-tech marvel northwest of downtown San José. The stadium, slated to host Super Bowl 50 in 2016, also boasts eco-friendly features like a living roof, solar panels, and field irrigation that uses recycled water. If you’re lucky enough to settle into a luxury suite, check out the woodwork: it’s made of sustainable bamboo.

Befitting a stadium in the heart of Silicon Valley, Levi’s Stadium is also high-tech to the max, with fan-friendly touches like Wi-Fi access in every seat, so you can tweet, post, and chat about the game, not to mention order food without missing a play. If you do venture out to eat, it’s not all lukewarm hot dogs and soggy fries. Celebrity chef Michael Mina overseas the stadium’s high-end steak house, which offers inside-the-park tailgate parties throughout the season.

Beyond football, the venue is slated to host college football games, domestic and international soccer matches, motocross events, concerts, wrestling, and more. Public tours of Levi’s Stadium and its new 49ers Museum let you check out all this fabulousness, even if you’re not going to a game or event. The stadium also makes it easy to use public transit, with close-by access to local light rail, bus, and Caltrain.

This downtown museum prides itself on its origins: In 1969, the beautiful 19th century building that then housed a library was threatened with demolition, and a group of citizens banded together to save it and open an art gallery. That local effort grew, creating this remarkable downtown facility, including a light-filled wing added in the 1990s. Permanent exhibits present an outstanding and varied collection, including contemporary abstracts, photography, figurative painting, sculpture, and works in new media by Bay Area artists. If you’ve got kids, check the schedule for family-friendly, hands-on activities to help children get excited about art. 

San Jose’s vibrant dining scene is one of the Bay Area’s best-kept secrets. In recent years, dozens of excellent restaurants, breweries, and wine bars have opened their doors in the so-called Capital of Silicon Valley. 

San Jose serves up exceptionally elevated dining experiences. In 2018, Adega became the first restaurant in the city’s history to receive a Michelin star—one of only two Portuguese dining spots in the country to ever receive that honor. Three different prix fixe menus (splurge for the seven-course tasting menu) are offered daily at the family-owned establishment. Celebrity chef Michael Mina, a Michelin-star winner in his own right, works his magic at Arcadia, a steakhouse that’s a popular spot before or after shows at the nearby San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.

Think of a global cuisine and you’re almost sure to find it in San Jose. Enjoy a kaleidoscope of authentic international flavors, including traditional Ethiopian fare at Zeni Restaurant and homemade tarmosalata at Nemea Greek Taverna. With more Vietnamese residents than any city outside of Vietnam, San Jose is a hotspot for pho, bahn-mi, and banh xeo—all of which can be found at Grand Century Mall in Little Saigon. If American-style meat and potatoes is what you’re after, head to Harry’s Hofbrau for an old-fashioned buffet paired with specialty craft beers.

Downtown San Jose’s lively, open-late food hall, San Pedro Square Market, is a great place for a casual hang or a grab-and-go meal. How about a bowl of Nepali steamed dumplings from Urban Momo? A glass of wine from local vintners at Vino Vino? Check out Treatbot, the ice cream trike from the future, serving up karaoke and local ice cream flavors like the “408” (caramel ice cream, fudge, and Oreos). No sense goes un-served in the public market’s three halls: Keep your nose peeled for the aroma of roasted coffee beans and wood-fired pizza, while enjoying live entertainment and local artwork.

On sunny days (which are the norm here), take your food out to a table or bench in the adjacent plaza, bordered by the Peralta Adobe (the city’s oldest building; guided tours are offered throughout the year). 

Alongside its outstanding eats, San José is making a name for itself in the craft brew scene as well. Following the Silicon Valley creed of “iterate, iterate, iterate,” Hermitage Brewing brews three or four beers almost every single day. Strike Brewing Company marries a sports bar feel (pretzels and ping pong) with upscale Belgian-style beers. At local favorite Good Karma Artisan Ales & Café, you can sip carefully crafted lagers alongside the best vegan food in the South Bay. Enjoy!