Guidebook for San Mateo
Food Scene
Jack's Prime Burgers & Shakes
3723 S El Camino RealExcellent burgers.
Bonchon San Mateo
220 South B StreetFantastic Korean Fried Chicken (yes, that's a thing!)
Vietnamese style boba teas and tropical drinks. They ship in proper coconuts for the coconut water. Delicious. My favorite place for a healthy dessert. Ask for "no sugar" for extra healthy.
13 locals recommend
Bambu Desserts & Drinks
153 S B StVietnamese style boba teas and tropical drinks. They ship in proper coconuts for the coconut water. Delicious. My favorite place for a healthy dessert. Ask for "no sugar" for extra healthy.
German Beer hall. We love going here for beer and sausages.
They open late too.
12 locals recommend
Wursthall
310 Baldwin AveGerman Beer hall. We love going here for beer and sausages.
They open late too.
Fantastic burger. High end gourmet chef experience for cheap, out of a train caboose, small menu. Grab a burger and head to the beach.
15 locals recommend
Dad's Luncheonette
Kelly AvenueFantastic burger. High end gourmet chef experience for cheap, out of a train caboose, small menu. Grab a burger and head to the beach.
Best sandwiches in Half Moon Bay. Home made bread. Grab a sandwich and head to the beach.
8 locals recommend
San Benito Deli
356 Main StBest sandwiches in Half Moon Bay. Home made bread. Grab a sandwich and head to the beach.
In my opinion the best (non-touristy) bakery in San Francisco. Best almond croissant I have ever had.
93 locals recommend
Thorough Bread and Pastry
248 Church StIn my opinion the best (non-touristy) bakery in San Francisco. Best almond croissant I have ever had.
Lunch in the hills. You will see lots of motor bikes and maybe a bunch of super cars on the weekend as people do their 'Sunday Drive" along Skyline.
65 locals recommend
Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline BlvdLunch in the hills. You will see lots of motor bikes and maybe a bunch of super cars on the weekend as people do their 'Sunday Drive" along Skyline.
Owned by the chef at Pixar. If you want to know what it feels like to have lunch at Pixar, this is it. They do not take reservations so be prepared to hang out in this lovely space sip some wine eat some warm olives and wait for the deliciousness. I like the burger here but it is all good.
38 locals recommend
Johnston's Saltbox
1696 Laurel StOwned by the chef at Pixar. If you want to know what it feels like to have lunch at Pixar, this is it. They do not take reservations so be prepared to hang out in this lovely space sip some wine eat some warm olives and wait for the deliciousness. I like the burger here but it is all good.
Cuisinett
1105 San Carlos AveFrench comfort food. I like their simple meat and two veg style menu.
In a strip mall off El Camino, don't let the location fool you, the food is absolutely outstanding.
25 locals recommend
Kabul Afghan Cuisine
135 El Camino RealIn a strip mall off El Camino, don't let the location fool you, the food is absolutely outstanding.
ok, this bar is in San Francisco, but if you are visiting the area you wil probably end up in sf at some point. Great bar, fantastic cocktails and a really great ambience in a bar decked out like an old airplane that crashed in the jungle, complete with bar seats from 1980's american airlines airplanes.
14 locals recommend
Last Rites
718 14th Stok, this bar is in San Francisco, but if you are visiting the area you wil probably end up in sf at some point. Great bar, fantastic cocktails and a really great ambience in a bar decked out like an old airplane that crashed in the jungle, complete with bar seats from 1980's american airlines airplanes.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
45 W Hillsdale BlvdReasonable price and quality groceries.
Getting Around
Hillsdale Caltrain Station
50 E 28th AveEnterprise Rent-A-Car
477 E Hillsdale BlvdA convenient non-airport car rental location.
Get the Lime Bike app and track down a bike or electric scooter to ride around.
10 locals recommend
Lime
85 2nd StGet the Lime Bike app and track down a bike or electric scooter to ride around.
Sightseeing
Filoli Historic House & Garden
86 Cañada RdA stately home and gardens.
Portola Discovery Site
20 Van Ness AveHike up Sneath Lane Trail to get to this monument. Go on a non-foggy day.
Buy a ticket, take the elevator to the top of the tower for stunning views of Stanford and silicon valley. Interesting history display at the bottom about Hoover.
22 locals recommend
Hoover Tower
550 Jane Stanford WayBuy a ticket, take the elevator to the top of the tower for stunning views of Stanford and silicon valley. Interesting history display at the bottom about Hoover.
Rodin Sculpture Garden
Rodin sculptures on the lovely Stanford campus.
Memorial Church
450 Jane Stanford WayA lovely church in an iconic building
Parks & Nature
The terminus of the great California water system bringing water from the Sierra Nevada mountains to San Francisco.
17 locals recommend
Pulgas Water Temple
56 Cañada RdThe terminus of the great California water system bringing water from the Sierra Nevada mountains to San Francisco.
Sawyer Camp Trail
Crystal Springs RoadBeautiful hiking trail by the reservoir.
Nice hikes in the forest, good for a hot day. Not very busy, and plenty of redwoods.
46 locals recommend
Wunderlich County Park
4040 Woodside RdNice hikes in the forest, good for a hot day. Not very busy, and plenty of redwoods.
Trail Overlooking the cliffs, and possible spot some whales in the winter.
49 locals recommend
Devil's Slide Trail
Trail Overlooking the cliffs, and possible spot some whales in the winter.
Take Skyline Bkvd (35) to Sneath Lane. At the end of Sneath Lane is the start of the trail. Stunning views and a monument to the first Europeans to find SF Bay. Go on a non-foggy day.
Sneath Lane Trail
Sneath Lane TrailTake Skyline Bkvd (35) to Sneath Lane. At the end of Sneath Lane is the start of the trail. Stunning views and a monument to the first Europeans to find SF Bay. Go on a non-foggy day.
You want to see Redwoods? Forget crowded Muir Woods. Drive the length of Tunitas Creek Road to (or from) the ocean). There is nobody there, you will have the redwoods to yourself. Better yet do it on a bicycle, but its a steep road so you will need to be fit. Take your time, its a country lane. Then have lunch at Alice's restaurant.
Tunitas Creek Road
Tunitas Creek RoadYou want to see Redwoods? Forget crowded Muir Woods. Drive the length of Tunitas Creek Road to (or from) the ocean). There is nobody there, you will have the redwoods to yourself. Better yet do it on a bicycle, but its a steep road so you will need to be fit. Take your time, its a country lane. Then have lunch at Alice's restaurant.
Hike to the Stanford radio telescope. Its a nice hike with great views, but no shade so don't go on a super hot day and bring a hat and sun lotion.
99 locals recommend
Stanford dish hiking trailhead
Stanford Dish Hiking TrailHike to the Stanford radio telescope. Its a nice hike with great views, but no shade so don't go on a super hot day and bring a hat and sun lotion.
Its 20 minutes walk from our house. And then you are in nature. Super hiking, single track mountain bike trails.
Laurelwood Park Trail
Laurelwood Park TrailIts 20 minutes walk from our house. And then you are in nature. Super hiking, single track mountain bike trails.
This is a giant nearly 2000 year old redwood tree just a 30 minute drive from our house and sitting right by the roadside with hardly any hiking to be done to get to it. No need to slog out to the Sierras or Muir woods to see a truly giant tree.
Methuselah Tree
Kings Mountain RoadThis is a giant nearly 2000 year old redwood tree just a 30 minute drive from our house and sitting right by the roadside with hardly any hiking to be done to get to it. No need to slog out to the Sierras or Muir woods to see a truly giant tree.
Check out Whittemore Gulch Trail here. Here is a quote from MTB Project, a mountain bike trail app. Hikers, and bikers use this trail:
"This is a close competitor for the singletrack with the best scenery in the bay area. This trail has it all, ocean views, close contact with huge redwoods, fern canyons and creeks.
One the the best flowing singletrack trails, Whittemore Gulch Trail gives you that "I'm like a Jedi, flying between the redwoods" feel. It is not very technical, fantastically flowy."
14 locals recommend
Purisima Creek Trail, Higgins Road Trailhead
Check out Whittemore Gulch Trail here. Here is a quote from MTB Project, a mountain bike trail app. Hikers, and bikers use this trail:
"This is a close competitor for the singletrack with the best scenery in the bay area. This trail has it all, ocean views, close contact with huge redwoods, fern canyons and creeks.
One the the best flowing singletrack trails, Whittemore Gulch Trail gives you that "I'm like a Jedi, flying between the redwoods" feel. It is not very technical, fantastically flowy."
Shopping
All the shopping you will need, plus a food court, in walking distance.
150 locals recommend
Hillsdale Shopping Center
60 31st AveAll the shopping you will need, plus a food court, in walking distance.
High end shopping mall if you want to get your Gucci on.
526 locals recommend
Stanford Shopping Center
660 Stanford Shopping CenterHigh end shopping mall if you want to get your Gucci on.