Local Attractions:

The Tech Museum of Innovation

201 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113; Tel. 408.294.TECH Chock-full of unique hands-on exhibits, this cosmopolitan museum in the heart of downtown San Jose singularly focuses on how technology functions and is changing every aspect of the way we work, live, play and learn. more >>

San Jose Museum of Art

110 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113; Tel. 408.271-6840 A splendid combination of new and old, the San Jose Museum of Art focuses on twentieth and twenty-first century artworks, with an emphasis on West Coast artists. more >>

Children's Discovery Museum

180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110; Tel. 408.298.5437 Serving the needs of children, families, and schools as a center for learning and discovery, this museum in downtown San Jose features interactive hands-on exhibits, programs, puzzles, games, classes and much more. more >>

Japantown

Japantown is located near downtown San Jose in the Jackson and Taylor neighborhood between 1st and 7th Streets approximately. It is accessible by light rail and bus.

San Jose's Japantown began as did many other communities with the need to combine comradeship and resources to survive as immigrants in a new country. It began near what was known as Heinlenville Chinatown between Jackson and Taylor east of Sixth Street. Restaurants, specialty stores and gift shops, reflect Chinese and Japanese heritage which is carefully preserved by nearby residents and shopkeepers alike. Professional services, doctors, dentists, lawyers, non-profit organizations and churches flourish. Every Sunday morning there is a Japantown Farmers' Market on Jackson Street east of Japantown where both locals an out-of-towners come to buy fresh vegetables, baked goods, or flowers.

Mexican Heritage Plaza

1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, CA 95116; Tel. 800.MHC.VIVA This 55,000 square-foot cultural center includes a 500-seat state-of-the-art theater, thematic gardens, and La Galeria, a 4,000-square foot exhibition space with two art galleries celebrating the Latino legacy. The theater is a major South Bay performance venue and the center as a whole serves as a regional resource for cultural programming and education. La Galeria will also soon be affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.

Alum Rock Park

16240 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, CA 95127; Tel. 408.259.5477 A natural, rugged getaway lies just minutes from downtown San Jose in 720-acre Alum Rock Park, San Jose's first and largest park. Visitors can partake of many leisure activities, including bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking or taking a scenic hike. more >>

Lick Observatory

PO Box 85, Mt. Hamilton, CA 95140 Whether looking up into the heavens or down into the valley below, the views from the high point of Lick Observatory can't be beat on a clear day or night.

Peralta Adobe & Fallon House

175 West St. John Street, San Jose, CA 95110; Tel. 408.287.2290 Built in 1797, the Peralta Adobe is the last remaining structure from El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, California's first settlement. The Fallon House is a 15-room Victorian Mansion built by an early San Jose mayor whose legacy is surrounded by controversy to this day. Tucked around the corner from the many fine restaurants on downtown San Jose's San Pedro Square, these two little well-preserved buildings represent a slice of California history and offer a quiet respite to the hi-tech hi-rises of downtown San Jose.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

1342 Naglee Ave., San Jose CA; 408.947.3636 Architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in the western United States--including objects from pre-dynastic times through Egypt's early Islamic era. Sure, it's not the British Museum, but thousands of vistors flock to this place every year, mostly to see the mummies and well-displayed dioramas of ancient Egyptian civilization. The museum even offers tours of a mock Egyptian tomb. There's a gift shop and a cafe on site. The museum and its gardens are located in Rosicrucian Park, which dates back 75 years and is within walking distance of San Jose's Municipal Rose Gardens. Where else in San Jose are you going to see a mummified baboon? Open Tuesday-Sunday. more >>

San Jose Golf Courses

The San Jose area boasts a full range of top flight golf courses, including the Coyote Creek Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature course, and Cinnabar Hills Golf Club (pictured above), voted the best golf course in Silicon Valley by Metro readers. There are also excellent 18-hole courses at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Pruneridge Golf Club, Santa Teresa Golf Club and San Jose Municipal Golf Course. more >>

Santa Clara Valley Vineyards

The Santa Clara Valley is the oldest continuing producing wine region in California. Local wineries include: J. Lohr Winery (pictured), Mirassou Vineyards, Sarah's Vineyard, Solis Winery, Sycamore Creek Vineyards, Thomas Kruse Winery and Troquato Vineyards. The region produces excellent Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, among others. Many of the wineries offer tours, picnic grounds, tastings and on-site purchases. more >>

San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles

110 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95112; Tel. 408.971.0323 The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is the country's original quilt museum, with a permanent collection of 450 quilts and special exhibits about the history and craft of quilts. Founded in 1977, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles promotes appreciation of quilts and textiles as art and provides an understanding of their role in the lives of the people who make quilts and textiles. more >>

 

Shopping:

Santana Row:
355 Santan Row, San Jose, CA 95128 408-551-4511
www.santanarow.com

Santana Row is the South Bay's premier living, shopping and entertainment destination. Much more than a collection of stores, Santana Row is a vibrant community of luxurious apartments, distinctive condominiums, exciting shops, pampering spas, and a full-service hotel. Dining options range from casual outdoor cafés to sophisticated international cuisines. Our pedestrian-friendly streets have a European flair, complete with fountains, a farmers' market, and concerts and other special events in the open air. From fashion to food to fun, it's all here, all in a row—Santana Row.

Westfield Shopping Town, Valley Fair:
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 2178, Santa Clara, CA, 95050-6709,
Tel: (408) 248 4451 Fax: (408) 248 8614
Email: valleyfair@westfield.com

Westfield Shoppingtown Valley Fair is truly the best enclosed shopping mall in Northern California. With nearly 1.3 Million Square feet of shopping, you will want to make a day of it.

 

Dining Scene:

The following is a guide to our top picks for San Jose eating. The restaurants represent our dining editor's favorite eateries as well as some of the most popular restaurants in the city. Most are bookable online through OpenTable.com.

Emile's

545 South 2nd Street, San Jose CA
Swiss/French. Downtown San Jose's pioneering culinary destination has reinvented itself after 30 years. There's still white tablecloth elegance, black vested service, a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list and dessert souffles. And now chef Andrea Serrano has updated the menu with contemporary touches. Emile's remains faithful to the classic European restaurant tradition but the service is never stuffy. It's one of San Jose's most romantic restaurants, and equally appropriate for a quiet business dinner.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

Eulipia

374 S. First St. 408.280.6161. New American. The revamped menu emphasizes robust flavors and beautiful presentations. Several standouts have been retained from the previous menu, as have the sexy Eulipia cocktails. Full bar.

E & O Trading Company

96 S. First St., San Jose CA Southeast Asian. You don't have to be a trader to dine like one. Entrees come on playful serving dishes and are beautifully spices with multi-culti flavors, from Bali to Ceylon and back through Malaysia. Full bar. Open 11:30am to 10:30pm, until midnight on weekends.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

Straits Cafe

333 Santana Row, Suite #1100, San Jose CA Singaporean style. Contemporary Asian fusion cuisine in a simple, elegant, contemporary setting inside the new Santana Row shopping center. Signature attractions include elegantly arranged shellfish centerpieces, whole fried fish and exotic fruity martinis.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

Original Joe's

301 S. First St. 408.292.7030. Italian diner. Classy and classic rat-pack-style diner, featuring tuxedo-clad waiters. From the homemade chicken soup to the Veal Scaloppini, Sinatra would be right at home. Full bar. 11am-1am daily.

A.P. Stumps

163 W. Santa Clara Street, San Jose CA 95113
Located in the historic Masson-Lefranc building in downtown San Jose, A.P. Stumps' cuisine is distinctly New American, which employs classic techniques with no ethnic boundaries.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

Arcadia

100 W San Carlos Street, San Jose CA 95113
Executive Chef Michael Mina describes as Arcadia's cuisine as "modern, innovative twists on classic American dishes." Some of these new takes include entrees such as Dry Aged Slow Roasted Prime Rib or Michael's signature entree the 'Lobster Pot Pie.' In addition to the regular menu, a centrally located shellfish display features an extensive assortment of crab, lobster, shrimp, littleneck clams and a variety of oysters. Arcadia is located in the San Jose Marriott hotel.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

Eight Forty North First

Closed Sun. 840 N. First St. 408.282.0840.
Contemporary American. Eight Forty North First showcases a veritable theme park of American cuisine: pastas, seafood and a procession of grilled meats. Casual. Full bar.

The Grill on the Alley

170 S. Market St., San Jose CA American grill. The Fairmont Hotel's good-looking destination for power lunchers, celebrity diners and anybody who needs a great steak. Full bar.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

Hawg's Seafood Bar

150 S. Second St. 408.287.9955 Next door to the San Jose Rep Theatre, Hawg's Seafood Bar offers simple seafood and convenience for theatergoers. Hawg's offer many seafood and pasta combinations. The linguini clams and sautéed scallops are full of garlic and rich flavors.

La Pastaia

233 W. Santa Clara, in the Hotel de Anza. 408.286.8686. Contemporary Italian. Grilled meats and fresh seasonal vegetables are treated with an unstudied, almost rustic sense of sophistication. Casual. Full bar.

Scott's Seafood

185 Park Ave., San Jose CA Seafood restaurant. A centrally-located classic fresh seafood house located on a rooftop near the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, the Fairmont Hotel, Adobe corporate headquarters, the Montgomery Theater and the Center for Performing Arts.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

7 / Seven Restaurant & Lounge

754 The Alameda, San Jose CA 95126 7 / Seven Restaurant & Lounge is Silicon Valley's new hot spot, featuring Contemporary American cuisine and a hip, energetic lounge. The restaurant's magnetic ambiance balances industrial sleek design with warm fabrics and textures for a casual but hip dining experience. While the atmosphere is energetic, the fare is simple and elegant, prepared using classic French techniques.
More restaurant info | Book a table online

71 Saint Peter

71 N. San Pedro St. 408.971.8523. New American. This romantic eatery provides recipes that speak with a slight French accent, from imaginative appetizers to the always-reliable roast of the evening. Beer, wine. Closed Sun.

 

Vendome Entertainment:

San Jose HP Pavilion

525 W Santa Clara, San Jose CA;
This San Jose theater and auditorium center attracts high-profile events as varied as Disney on Ice and the Rolling Stones and is also home to the San Jose Shark games.

San Jose Repertory Theatre

101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose CA; Tel. 408.367.7266 This San Jose theater is the largest and only fully professional San Jose theater company in the South Bay's with a top-notch venue that is not afraid of innovative, eclectic theater.

Montgomery Theatre

291 S. Market St., San Jose CA; Tel. 408.277.4468 This San Jose theater is a delight for youngsters offering children's musical renditions of "Miss Saigon," "Cinderella" and "Once On This Island."

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose CA; Tel. 408.277.5277 A clunky, tan cubist exterior at this San Jose theater gives way to interior elegance and a refreshingly diverse San Jose theater programming.

American Musical Theatre of San Jose
1717 Technology Dr., San Jose, CA 95110-1305; Tickets: 408.453.7108

Children's Musical Theatre of San Jose
1401 Parkmoor Ave., San Jose, CA; Tickets: 408.288.5437

City Lights Theater Company of San Jose
529 South Second Street, San Jose, California 95112; Tel. 408.295.4200

Lyric Theatre of San Jose
430 Martin Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95050.2911; Tickets: 408.986.1455

Le Petit Trianon
72 N. Fifth St., San Jose, CA 95112; Tickets: 408.995.5400

San Jose Stage Company
490 South First St., San Jose, CA 95113; Tickets: 408.283.7142

Theatre On San Pedro Square
29 North San Pedro St., San Jose CA 95110; Tickets: 408.283.0200