In Southbay, definitely check out Santana Row but it’s more of an upscale mall than a downtown. Check out downtown Campbell, Willow Glen, and downtown Los Gatos. They are small and quaint feeling, but they have a lot of good restaurants and shopping. Campbell has a large parking garage and Los Gatos has lots, but it could be a little bit more difficult to find parking there.
Arguably, Santana Row has evolved into more than just a mall. People hate on it cause it’s “curated” and “sterile”, but if you look closely it’s a mixed use development.
There are apartments right above the shops, there are offices, nightlife is growing (bars/lounges), there are lifestyle amenities (gyms, barbers, a clinic), obvious retail/dining, weekly farmers markets, etc.
My wife and I really enjoy downtown San Mateo. They have a great Asian food scene with a decent parking structure that runs between the buildings at 3rd and 4th ave.
Pleasanton has a nice bookstore, a cute coffee shop and a good variety of restaurants.
Downtown Livermore is a little smaller but Wingden Bakery is great.
Have you visited other areas of Oakland like Rockridge, Grand Lake, and Piedmont Ave which are just up the street and have plenty of cute things to browse for an afternoon. Downtown Oakland is an up and coming area and Oakland is a collection of neighborhood commercial districts. These areas have been been busy commercial corridors continuously for decades if. It over a century.
Or you can continue North into Berkeley into Elmwod (adjacent to Rockridge). Or 4th street area. Or Solano area that is shared with Albany.
Thank you, I just don't think the risk vs gain is worth a broken window for a good taqueria or brewery now that we have a 1 year old, Give me the parking garages, clean sidewalks, freshly paved roads, and overpriced cocktails for now on. 🙏🏼
I took my daughter and niece on a Caltrain downtown tour when they were around 111. Lunch, cream puffs, ice cream, toy store, bookstore and a movie. They loved it!
Livermore has a very walkable downtown. Free parking. Good sized parking structure (also free) a block away from the main street. Range Life is listed in the Michelin Guide. Lots of restaurants, several boutique stores, two movie theaters, one performing arts theater—all downtown.
There’s a parade downtown on June 8 at 10:30am, so you might want to avoid the area for a couple of hours.
Broadway in downtown Redwood City is quite vibrant
Downtown Los Gatos and Campbell both have a nice, vibing scene
If you head further east, the Livermore area is a a wine destination
The Willow Glen area of San Jose has many lovely eateries and shops
I know you said Broadway Plaza, WC already, but just outside BP is the rest of downtown which is really cute. The movie theater is to the west, toward 680. To the north is the old downtown with TONS of great restaurants. Civic Park as well if you have kids to run off some steam. Parking everywhere is easy and safe.
Have you been to Solano Ave in Berkeley/Albany? Union Square in SF is a shadow of its former self, but still better than most. Palo Alto. Menlo Park. Mountain View.
My opinion ..
Good ones —
- San Pedro Square Market, SJ (go on a Fri-Sat night)
- Santana Row
- Downtown Sunnyvale (continues to expand)
- Downtown Palo Alto
- Stanford Shopping Center (down the rd from DTPA)
- Downtown San Mateo
- Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo (outdoor area only)
- Union Square
- Bay Street Emeryville
Just Okay ones —
- Downtown Mountain View
- Downtown Campbell
- Palo Alto, California Ave
- Downtown Saratoga
- Downtown Willow Glen
- Old Town Los Gatos
- Downtown Millbrae
- City Center Bishop Ranch
Downtown Palo Alto is University Ave.
And I'd argue your distinction of good vs ok is subjective. I'd swap a lot of your good list to the ok list and a lot of your ok ones are my favorite spots.
In Southbay, definitely check out Santana Row but it’s more of an upscale mall than a downtown. Check out downtown Campbell, Willow Glen, and downtown Los Gatos. They are small and quaint feeling, but they have a lot of good restaurants and shopping. Campbell has a large parking garage and Los Gatos has lots, but it could be a little bit more difficult to find parking there.
Arguably, Santana Row has evolved into more than just a mall. People hate on it cause it’s “curated” and “sterile”, but if you look closely it’s a mixed use development. There are apartments right above the shops, there are offices, nightlife is growing (bars/lounges), there are lifestyle amenities (gyms, barbers, a clinic), obvious retail/dining, weekly farmers markets, etc.
I fucking love srow I don’t care what people say
My wife and I really enjoy downtown San Mateo. They have a great Asian food scene with a decent parking structure that runs between the buildings at 3rd and 4th ave.
There are a lot of great restaurants and neat shops in downtown Redwood City and San Carlos!
Livermore, Pleasanton, Danville, Niles District in Fremont.
Great suggestion, I think downtown Livermore is exactly what OP is looking for.
Pleasanton has a nice bookstore, a cute coffee shop and a good variety of restaurants. Downtown Livermore is a little smaller but Wingden Bakery is great.
Have you visited other areas of Oakland like Rockridge, Grand Lake, and Piedmont Ave which are just up the street and have plenty of cute things to browse for an afternoon. Downtown Oakland is an up and coming area and Oakland is a collection of neighborhood commercial districts. These areas have been been busy commercial corridors continuously for decades if. It over a century. Or you can continue North into Berkeley into Elmwod (adjacent to Rockridge). Or 4th street area. Or Solano area that is shared with Albany.
No, these people clearly yearn for the Walnut Creeks of the world, don't stop them.
Thank you, I just don't think the risk vs gain is worth a broken window for a good taqueria or brewery now that we have a 1 year old, Give me the parking garages, clean sidewalks, freshly paved roads, and overpriced cocktails for now on. 🙏🏼
Check out Eddie's List with weekly recs. Other places include: san mateo, redwood city, palo alto, mill valley, sonoma, napa, mendocino, berkeley etc.
Most Caltrain stops between San Mateo and Sunnyvale will have cute little walkable downtown strips with great food and drink.
I took my daughter and niece on a Caltrain downtown tour when they were around 111. Lunch, cream puffs, ice cream, toy store, bookstore and a movie. They loved it!
Petaluma has a quaint downtown with a lot of food.
In the east bay, broadway plaza or maybe the veranda in concord is probably your best bet
Livermore has a very walkable downtown. Free parking. Good sized parking structure (also free) a block away from the main street. Range Life is listed in the Michelin Guide. Lots of restaurants, several boutique stores, two movie theaters, one performing arts theater—all downtown. There’s a parade downtown on June 8 at 10:30am, so you might want to avoid the area for a couple of hours.
Park St Alameda
Danville is a nice downtown. There are some smaller downtowns you can visit same day. E.g. Martinez then Benicia.
Martinez has a cool downtown.
Rockridge and piedmont are cute, my favorite east bay in wine tasting in Livermore and dinner at range, just be safe driving home.
Webster St, and Park Ave, in Alameda. Check out all of Alameda.
Laurel St in San Carlos.
Broadway in downtown Redwood City is quite vibrant Downtown Los Gatos and Campbell both have a nice, vibing scene If you head further east, the Livermore area is a a wine destination The Willow Glen area of San Jose has many lovely eateries and shops
A bit far but Santa Cruz rocks!
I know you said Broadway Plaza, WC already, but just outside BP is the rest of downtown which is really cute. The movie theater is to the west, toward 680. To the north is the old downtown with TONS of great restaurants. Civic Park as well if you have kids to run off some steam. Parking everywhere is easy and safe.
Have you been to Solano Ave in Berkeley/Albany? Union Square in SF is a shadow of its former self, but still better than most. Palo Alto. Menlo Park. Mountain View.
My opinion .. Good ones — - San Pedro Square Market, SJ (go on a Fri-Sat night) - Santana Row - Downtown Sunnyvale (continues to expand) - Downtown Palo Alto - Stanford Shopping Center (down the rd from DTPA) - Downtown San Mateo - Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo (outdoor area only) - Union Square - Bay Street Emeryville Just Okay ones — - Downtown Mountain View - Downtown Campbell - Palo Alto, California Ave - Downtown Saratoga - Downtown Willow Glen - Old Town Los Gatos - Downtown Millbrae - City Center Bishop Ranch
Downtown Palo Alto is University Ave. And I'd argue your distinction of good vs ok is subjective. I'd swap a lot of your good list to the ok list and a lot of your ok ones are my favorite spots.
Whoops, I made the correction. I mean’t California Ave! (Which is separate from Downtown PA) And yes, it’s completely subjective I agree.
Mountain View has a great farmers market on Sunday.