San Jose has always been overshadowed by neighboring San Francisco & Oakland despite being larger than both of them. The entire San Francisco Bay Area is a wonderfully diverse metro area that is home to nearly 8 million residents. From the culinary gems in Oakland & Berkeley to the never-ending Instagram backgrounds around SF, every Bay Area trip is memorable. Unfortunately, this makes nearby San Jose (and the rest of the South Bay) an often overlooked & completely underappreciated destination. Even San Jose natives opine that their city cannot always measure up to San Francisco & Oakland, but visiting San Jose on numerous occasions has shown me what this city has to offer.
Known around the world as the capital of the Silicon Valley, San Jose has long been viewed more as a city for business than tourism. With San Jose consistently ranking as one of the most expensive cities to live in, there has to be more to the story. Once you look past the suburban sprawl and new development, you will find that San Jose’s charm dates back over 200 years before the likes of eBay, IBM, and Zoom arrived in the city.
San Jose’s story is fascinating. The indigenous Ohlone people lived on the land that is now the South Bay for thousands of years prior to Spanish colonization. The city was “officially” founded in 1777, and San Jose served as California’s first capital city after it became a state in 1850 (due largely in part to the Gold Rush and the influx of prospectors, or 49ers, the year prior). Not long after, San Jose had more acres of vineyards for winemaking than anywhere else in agriculture-rich California. In the years since, San Jose has made a name for itself as a center for innovation. Remember floppy disks? Have you ever done The Wave at a sporting event? Do you still eat Eggo waffles? All of these were invented in San Jose.
These days, San Jose is now bigger than ever. Cultural neighborhoods like Japantown, Little Portugal, and Little Saigon are thriving communities with great dining options. The corner of King & Story Road was the epicenter of Northern California’s lowrider scene. The inspiration of Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride, the equally spooky Winchester Mystery House, sits just outside the glitzy Santana Row district that is often lined with Italian supercars. There is even a sinking ghost town in the Alviso area of the city.
Visiting San Jose means having access to an enormous range of things to do. Next time you need to escape to California, consider flying into SJC instead of SFO or OAK. You may be surprised with what you find in the tenth-largest city in the US.
Where to stay in San Jose
Downtown San Jose is the most obvious answer to this question and is the closest to the airport. Many of San Jose’s most well-known destinations are located in or around San Jose, so this is a safe bet if you want to explore on two feet, by bicycle, or via VTA light rail. A weekend in downtown SJ will keep you busy with the best that the city has to offer. Attractive new businesses and iconic establishments dot the urban environment, and there are hidden gems around every corner.
If you are looking for a more laid-back vibe, look no further than staying in the small town of Campbell. Campbell is less than 15 minute drive from SJC airport and offers a charming downtown with surprisingly hip nightlife on the weekends. If you stay here, the tree-lined historic Lincoln Avenue (filled with local businesses and independent food options) in nearby Willow Glen neighborhood is a must-visit destination. This area is also very close to the upscale Santana Row if you enjoy boutique shops and high-end dining.
Need to get out of the city for a change? Everyone knows that San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge marks the gateway to the Pacific Ocean, but few realize that flying into San Jose will get you closer to the beaches of northern California. Rent a car and take Highway 17 over the Santa Cruz mountains for an idyllic retreat into nature. Hiking through Santa Cruz’s redwood forest is a magical experience, and you can spend a night on the Pacific coast in the hippie-friendly surf town of Santa Cruz.
Where to eat in San Jose
San Pedro Square Market
If you are staying downtown when visiting San Jose, you absolutely must stop by San Pedro Square Market. This market hall encompasses two buildings joined by a mixed-use courtyard with a live music stage. With over a dozen vendors in this shared market serving food & local beer, this is the ultimate one-stop shop if you can never agree on where to eat with your travel companions.
Join in on San Jose’s great orange sauce debate
Bottles of orange sauce, often touted as secret family recipes, are a common sight in taquerias across the city. If you are visiting San Jose for the first time, you need to know that everyone in this city has a very strong opinion about their favorite (and least favorite) taqueria’s orange sauce. People agree that La Victoria Taqueria was the first to bring orange sauce to the masses, but nobody can agree who has the best recipe.
My personal vote goes to Iguanas Burritozilla for their smoky orange sauce, but you can find great sauces at Angelou’s Mexican Grill, Tacomania, and Taqueria Los Pericos.
Falafel Drive-In
This casual grab-and-go stand’s claim to fame was being featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. This San Jose staple lives up to the hype, and SJ’s moderate climate means you can take advantage of the outdoor seating year-round. I can honestly say that I have never had a falafel sandwich as good as the ones here, and regulars know to order the creamy banana milkshake on the side too.
Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life
Meat-lovers, rejoice. Henry’s Hi-Life first opened in 1950 and has been serving BBQ & fantastic steaks to generations of Californians. Henry’s moved to its current 100+ year old building in 1960 and it is only a couple blocks away from the San Jose Sharks’ SAP Center. Grabbing a pregame meal & drink here is a near-religious experience for many diehard Sharks fans. Be warned: this isn’t your average steakhouse experience. Patrons must take a number and have their order ready when their number is called before being seated. While you wait, belly up to Henry’s old-school bar and enjoy a local beer or cocktail.
Eat your way through Little Portugal
The towering spires of the Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish makes finding east San Jose’s Little Portugal easy, but the food is what keeps locals & tourists coming back. ADEGA, San Jose’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, calls this neighborhood home. It’s a little rich for my blood (though I would love to try it out one day), but there are plenty of more wallet-friendly options here. Cafe do Canto is a cash-only neighborhood haunt that offers a place to relax over a great cup of coffee. If you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, there are a number of local bakeries within walking distance to suit your needs.
What to do in San Jose
Visit one of the many farmers’ markets
Pay homage to California’s agricultural roots and celebrate the farm-to-fork revolution by attending one of the Santa Clara County’s certified farmers’ markets. Local community markets give you a chance to experience a new destination like local, interact with local business owners, and sample fresh seasonal food. California’s fertile farmland offers an abundance of local fare year round. Check out the schedule and location of the local farmers’ markets here.
Sample San Jose’s craft brewery scene
Unlike some cities with relatively young beer scenes, San Jose has a long tradition of craft brewing. Gordon-Biersch started brewing beer in San Jose back in the 90’s, and new breweries have been popping up in the city ever since. Hermitage Brewing makes some phenomenal beers, and Strike Brewing Co’s baseball theme will appeal to fans of both good beer & our national pastime. There are over a dozen breweries & taprooms to choose from, so go forth and enjoy your beer flights.
Explore San Jose’s museums & historical sites
There are a number of interesting destinations for those who enjoy learning on their trips. Ancient Egypt comes to life in the Roscrucian Egyptian Museum, one of the largest museums of its kind in the US. The Lick Observatory sits atop Mt. Hamilton (1-hour drive) and offers astronomy lovers with a chance to explore an active research site. Anyone traveling with kids will find The Tech Initiative and the Children’s Discovery Museum in downtown SJ to be awe-inspiring.
Where to get the best Insta-worthy pics in San Jose
San Jose Rose Garden
If you are looking for bright pictures outside, the Municipal Rose Garden is where you want to go. With tons of different kinds of flowers & trees, you can get hundreds of great shots in this 5.5 acre garden west of downtown San Jose.
SoFA District
The South First Area (SoFA for short) is right in the center of downtown San Jose. I saw a number of art galleries & theaters while walking through a street festival in this area. Once known as San Jose’s red light district, the SoFA district is now full of picturesque architecture & street art.
Conclusion
SJC was my very first non-rev trip so it holds a special place in my heart. I return year after year to discover new attractions or new restaurants. Even with my experience with the city, I am sure I have only just scratched the surface of all that San Jose has to offer.I didn’t even get to mention the abundance of drool-worthy Vietnamese or Mexican restaurants above (those each deserve blog posts of their own).
Are you interested in visiting San Jose? Have you already flown into SJC? Let me know if you have any questions or recommendations in the comment section below!
