Guidebook for Santa Clara
Food Scene
Our favorite place to order and pick up for a night in. Casual and much loved. Our favorites are the Mushroom mutter and Aloo gobi.
Kabab & Curry's
1498 Isabella StOur favorite place to order and pick up for a night in. Casual and much loved. Our favorites are the Mushroom mutter and Aloo gobi.
They have four kinds of Chai! A little slow sometimes but delicious. We like the Cutting Chai with Masala Egg and Bread Omelette.
Kettle'e
1610 E El Camino RealThey have four kinds of Chai! A little slow sometimes but delicious. We like the Cutting Chai with Masala Egg and Bread Omelette.
Great place to eat family style and try lots of things. It is casual, but feels like a celebration if you get desert.
We like the Green Papaya Salad and Spicy Crispy Catfish.
10 locals recommend
Dusita Thai Cuisine
2325 El Camino RealGreat place to eat family style and try lots of things. It is casual, but feels like a celebration if you get desert.
We like the Green Papaya Salad and Spicy Crispy Catfish.
Within walking distance, bright and clean feeling, very happy lunch specials. We like the Tom Kha Soup and Mussaman Curry.
Jasmine
1211 Franklin MallWithin walking distance, bright and clean feeling, very happy lunch specials. We like the Tom Kha Soup and Mussaman Curry.
While other pizza has come and gone, this one lasts the test of time. They make the best pizza in the city and are within walking distance. They sometimes get a crowd if there’s a big game on. We like to get a large Greek Special.
Seniore's Pizza
940 Monroe StWhile other pizza has come and gone, this one lasts the test of time. They make the best pizza in the city and are within walking distance. They sometimes get a crowd if there’s a big game on. We like to get a large Greek Special.
Filling and tasty breakfast and lunch standards. Chorizo in many forms. Friendly family feelings.
12 locals recommend
Sara's Kitchen
1595 Franklin StFilling and tasty breakfast and lunch standards. Chorizo in many forms. Friendly family feelings.
A San Jose institution with a mural of all things local on its wall. Order at the counter and sit at one of the outside tables. Great for both Falafels and shakes.
We like a Falafel Sandwich and Root beer Freeze.
48 locals recommend
Falafel's Drive In
2301 Stevens Creek BlvdA San Jose institution with a mural of all things local on its wall. Order at the counter and sit at one of the outside tables. Great for both Falafels and shakes.
We like a Falafel Sandwich and Root beer Freeze.
A west coast sandwich chain with inventive ingredients, excellent sauces, and so many choices. Good for vegetarians.
We like The Handsome Owl and Sometimes I’m a Vegetarian.
47 locals recommend
Ike's Sandwiches
2235 The AlamedaA west coast sandwich chain with inventive ingredients, excellent sauces, and so many choices. Good for vegetarians.
We like The Handsome Owl and Sometimes I’m a Vegetarian.
Small and friendly, sometimes has live music, half food vendors and half produce.
We like the Apple Hill Cider from Rainbow Orchards.
7 locals recommend
Santa Clara Liquors
1291 Franklin StSmall and friendly, sometimes has live music, half food vendors and half produce.
We like the Apple Hill Cider from Rainbow Orchards.
Arts & Culture
They have a replica of an ancient tomb that you can walk through (look for the buttons on the walls to hear the audio). There is a life sized version of an Egyptian board game called Senet outside. They are also a center for the Rosicrucians and have a collection of their texts in their library.
105 locals recommend
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
1660 Park AveThey have a replica of an ancient tomb that you can walk through (look for the buttons on the walls to hear the audio). There is a life sized version of an Egyptian board game called Senet outside. They are also a center for the Rosicrucians and have a collection of their texts in their library.
This is a small museum with a unique selection of temporary exhibits. The gallery and sculpture garden is free.
15 locals recommend
Triton Museum of Art
1505 Warburton AveThis is a small museum with a unique selection of temporary exhibits. The gallery and sculpture garden is free.
A museum on the Santa Clara University grounds, they have events and permanent and temporary exhibits on the history and art of California.
De Saisset Museum
500 El Camino RealA museum on the Santa Clara University grounds, they have events and permanent and temporary exhibits on the history and art of California.
Learn how the silicon chips of silicon valley are made, function, and surround us through interactive exhibits for kids and adults.
66 locals recommend
Intel Museum
2200 Mission College BlvdLearn how the silicon chips of silicon valley are made, function, and surround us through interactive exhibits for kids and adults.
Twice a week this historic railroad building opens up to reveal a hypnotizing miniature world of trains. Its free and open Tuesday 5pm-8pm, and Saturday 10am-3pm.
South Bay Historical Railroad
1005 Railroad AveTwice a week this historic railroad building opens up to reveal a hypnotizing miniature world of trains. Its free and open Tuesday 5pm-8pm, and Saturday 10am-3pm.
A museum of modern and contemporary art that puts California art into an international context.
134 locals recommend
San Jose Museum of Art
110 S Market StA museum of modern and contemporary art that puts California art into an international context.
Entertainment & Activities
In order to see the house of Sarah Winchester of the Winchester Riffles, you have to take a 1 hour tour. They can get a bit pricy but this is a strange place that you cannot find anywhere else.
302 locals recommend
Winchester Mystery House
525 S Winchester BlvdIn order to see the house of Sarah Winchester of the Winchester Riffles, you have to take a 1 hour tour. They can get a bit pricy but this is a strange place that you cannot find anywhere else.
A classic amusement park, roller coasters and cotton candy.
299 locals recommend
California's Great America
4701 Great America PkwyA classic amusement park, roller coasters and cotton candy.
Levi's Stadium
4900 Marie P DeBartolo WayHome of the San Francisco 49rs.
Sightseeing
Although this is not the original site of the mission built by the Spanish in 1777, it is still connected to the history of colonization of California. When there is not a mass going on you can do a self guided tour of the building and the grounds.
12 locals recommend
Mission Santa Clara de Asis
Although this is not the original site of the mission built by the Spanish in 1777, it is still connected to the history of colonization of California. When there is not a mass going on you can do a self guided tour of the building and the grounds.
This is a museum, but the part we like most is looking up at Hangar 1, built in the 1930s as an air hangar for the USS Macon.
14 locals recommend
Moffett Field Historical Society Museum
500 Severyns AveThis is a museum, but the part we like most is looking up at Hangar 1, built in the 1930s as an air hangar for the USS Macon.
Take a look inside the observatory at the Great Lick Refractor or look out at the beautiful view.
29 locals recommend
Lick Observatory
7281 Mt Hamilton RdTake a look inside the observatory at the Great Lick Refractor or look out at the beautiful view.
Parks & Nature
Hakone Estate and Gardens
21000 Big Basin WayA beautiful Japanese style garden.
Great trails through rocky hills. Perfect for rock climbers.
64 locals recommend
Castle Rock State Park
15451 CA-35Great trails through rocky hills. Perfect for rock climbers.
Essentials
7-Eleven
3580 Monroe StSafeway
2760 Homestead RdShine Dry Cleaning
1260 Benton StSanta Clara Liquors
1291 Franklin StShopping
Target
533 Coleman Ave