Gilroy

If people know Gilroy for one thing, it’s bound to be garlic. That’s no surprise, considering that this Central Coast community is known as the “Garlic Capital of the World.” While it’s almost a requirement for visitors to try Gilroy’s various culinary applications of the so-called “stinking rose”—including the particularly unique local treat, garlic ice cream—there’s much more to see and do. For starters, you can stroll the city’s historic downtown, visit Santa Clara Valley wineries, experience a unique theme park, and explore nearby parks with miles of trails through the rolling hills. But first—garlic! Humorist Will Rogers used to visit this area just 33 miles south of San Jose and once joked that Gilroy “is the only town I know where you can marinate a steak by hanging it on a clothesline.”

Where to Eat Garlic in Gilroy

Follow the Road to Garlic to the best garlic-themed destinations, including restaurants, gourmet shops, and a giant downtown mural that celebrates the city’s unique agricultural and culinary heritage. Since 1986, the family-owned Garlic World has been the place to go for specialty items including garlic braids, pickled garlic, and infused olive oils. And if you’re finally going to try garlic ice cream, Garlic World is the place.

There’s also a Gilroy food scene beyond garlic. The town is a hot spot for Mexican food and Gilroy’s Taco Trail guides visitors to nearly 30 popular local destinations. For the freshest of seasonal produce, stop into such popular Gilroy area farm stands as LJB Farms (terrific hand-pressed apple juice) and Casa de Fruta, once just a simple cherry stand that has grown into a full-fledged attraction with a hotel, restaurant, and amusement park in nearby Hollister. 

Wine Tasting Near Gilroy

Gilroy’s wine country begins just outside of town and features a diverse array of varietals. Fortino Winery in Hecker Pass has earned considerable national praise since opening its doors in 1970—mostly for its Malbec. Less than a mile away, Solis Winery traces its roots back to a winemaking operation that started in 1917 on the property and features gorgeous views of the Gabilan mountain range. And for a great value, the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail Pass covers tasting fees at 30 area wineries for a full year.

What to Do in Downtown Gilroy

Back in downtown, take a self-guided historic walking tour that leads past 19th-century buildings, as well as a number of structures designed by noted California architect W.H. Weeks. History buffs can admire the façade of the 1922 Milias Hotel, once a destination for such celebrities as Clark Gable (it's currently an apartment complex). OD’s Kitchen is a popular spot to refuel, thanks to classics such as biscuits and gravy, country fried steak, and blueberry pancakes. The Veterans Memorial Park and adjacent walking paths offer a welcoming downtown green space. Don’t miss specialty boutique stores, art studios, and seasonal events like farmers markets that can be found along 7th Street.

You could say Gilroy punches above its weight class when it comes to breweries. Many are clustered within a block and a half of one another along Monterey Road in the heart of downtown—an area collectively known as the Gilroy Ale Trail. Pour Me Taproom, Promised Land Brewing Company, Bartenders Union, and Settle Down Brewery & Taproom are all part of the lineup, making it easy to sample multiple spots on a single outing. If you want to pair your pints with a big game, consider these places in Gilroy to catch sporting events, and if you're a soccer fan, check out the best places in Gilroy to watch the 2026 World Cup.

Family and Outdoor Activities in and Near Gilroy

If you’re traveling with children, there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained. Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park lets the younger crowd enjoy an assortment of mellow rides, including gentle roller coasters, trains, and paddle boats. But the park is most famous for its Circus Trees, 25 uniquely shaped trees that were created by using innovative grafting techniques.

A fifteen-minute drive west of the city, you can step back into the region’s Native American past at Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park. Set along the banks of scenic Uvas Creek, this small but culturally significant park preserves the site of a former Mutsun Ohlone village. A self-guided interpretive walk reveals ancient bedrock mortars—smooth grinding holes carved into stone where Indigenous residents once processed acorns and other foods—as well as petroglyphs etched into sandstone outcrops thousands of years ago. At the park’s interpretive shelter, exhibits explore the history, culture, and ongoing stewardship traditions of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, whose ancestors lived here for generations. Informational panels describe traditional plants, trade networks, and village life, helping visitors understand how Native communities thrived along the fertile creek corridor long before European settlement.

There are two other oases just outside the city where you can explore Gilroy’s gorgeous landscapes: At Mt. Madonna County Park, visitors can hike or even go horseback trail riding amidst the park’s 4,600 acres dominated by redwood forests. On the other (eastern) side of Gilroy’s outskirts you’ll find Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, which offers 35 miles of trails in the Diablo Range. And if you forgot your hiking clothes, you’re bound to find something to wear in one of the 145 stores at the Gilroy Premium Outlets. It’s also home to the California Welcome Center Gilroy, a great source for local information.

Bay Area - Garlic Town Loop Road Trip

If you feel like setting out on a South Bay road trip after flying into San Francisco, the Bay Area Garlic Town Loop turns Gilroy into the perfect halfway point on a tour of some of Northern California’s most striking scenery and cultural experiences. After taking in the City by the Bay, Santa Cruz, and Monterey along the coast, you can continue to Gilroy and then head north toward San Jose and the broader South Bay. Along the way, you can visit local markets, roadside stands, and historic downtowns of places like Watsonville and Morgan Hill, as well as Santa Clara wine country.