By The Editors By The Editors | December 2, 2021 | Lifestyle
From vegan restaurants to hair salons and everything in between, here are our best recommendations of 2021 in Silicon Valley.
Vina Enoteca
In late 2016, Shannon and Rocco Scordella—the proprietors of Tootsie’s—unveiled their Italian restaurant in the Stanford Barn space that previously housed California Café. Open for takeout only, the tantalizing pastas, breads and pizza dough are all made in-house. Vina Enoteca became the first place in Silicon Valley to offer the Impossible Burger, the plant-based meat alternative developed by Redwood City’s Impossible Foods. A pair of sliders—composed of poppy-seed buns, sun-dried tomatoes and cavolo nero, served with marbled potatoes—is available only during lunch. Check out our full list of the best Italian eateries in the valley here.
Get Cannabis Delivered
Redwood City’s first cannabis delivery service, Juva Delivery, provides the peninsula with a contactless way to procure CBD and THC products while abiding by shelter-in-place orders. A number of goods available for same-day delivery, including edibles, THC cartridges, infused sparkling drinks and ready-to-roll packs complete with hemp papers, suit a variety of lifestyles. For more ideas on what to do on a rainy or cold day, check out our full story here.
Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley
A timeless choice for a weekend escape, the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto is an ideal option for a retreat from the madness of daily life. Not only does the getaway have a luxury spa offering treatments inspired by the natural beauty of the redwood forest and other iconic natural California features, there's also virtual personal trainers and a rooftop lap pool on hand to keep you entertained all day. Want more options? Check out our full story.
Here in the land of Tartine Bakery acolytes, As Kneaded Bakery offers a distinctly French twist on the baguette. Although she is a Bay Area resident, she does not use sourdough at all. But take a bite of any of Berkowitz’s variations on the baguette and you may well become a convert. Her sublime pain d’epi is rich in flavor and features a crunch that you can’t find anywhere else. Take a peek at the rest of the valley's best bakeries here.
Orchard City Kitchen
Jeffrey Stout’s Orchard City Kitchen delivers amazing, ingredient-driven food in a contemporary setting. According to Stout, almost every table orders the Triple B: biscuits, bacon and honey butter. And while there are some familiar dishes in the lineup, don’t miss creative spins such as Loco Moco, made with a hamburger patty, fried egg, rice and mushroom-shallot gravy. Wash it down with a P.O.G. mimosa . The menu's Hawaiian influences are courtesy of GM Cyrus Schultz, who hails from Maui. There's more where that came from—check out our full list of the best brunches in town.
Verve Coffee Roasters
Founders Ryan O'Donovan and Colby Barr opened Verve in 2007 with a passion for serving their community the best locally sourced products. They sell bags of coffee beans, instant coffee packs and nitro cold brew cans. Verve also just released new coffee flavors consisting of pink pineapple and papaya from Papua New Guinea, cranberry and lilac from Ethiopia, blood orange and blackberry preserves from Burundi and lemondrop, butterscotch and vanilla from El Salvador. Peruse our full story about the valley's best ceffeinated spots here.
Ettan
This bohemian-style restaurant serves a Cal-Indie cuisine with fresh and authentic ingredients and flavors, all on a chic patio setting. Get cozy on one of the outdoor chairs and couches, and start off your dinner with the Ettan salad, filled with mixed greens, avocado, grapes and pumpkin seeds with a fermented curry leaf chutney. Here's our full list of Silicon Valley's best outdoor dining spots.
Cream
Ice cream scoops, sandwiches, tacos, oh my! This delectable ice cream shop, whose name aptly stands for "Cookies Rule Everything Around Me," specializes in handcrafted, warm ice cream sandwiches, ice cream tacos, milkshakes, sundaes and more. Decadent creations and classic flavors like Birthday Cake and Rocky Road reign supreme here. Sweet tooths, check out our full list of the best ice cream shops here.
Fireworks At California’s Great America
Explore the waterpark and scream on rides at California’s Great America during the day, and watch a firework display at night. The park puts on a colorful show on the Flight Deck roller coaster plaza to close out the holiday. Here are a few other ways to celebrate the 4th.
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
Known as "one of the world's great urban jazz festivals," the San Jose Summer Fest brought great live music, fun and delicious food this year. With five stages playing a mix of blues, R&B, Latin, New Orleans and jazz, the festival aimed to share cultural collaborations and offered a great ambiance. For the rest of our favorite summer fests in the area this year, click here.
CordeValle
With nearly 1,700 acres of space in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, CordeValle has room for it all. Their 7,360-yard championship golf course was self-appointed by acclaimed golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. as his finest creation. The course features all the beauty of Northern California, with tree-spotted meadows, creeks and canyons. And with a clubhouse, wellness spa, fitness facilities, outdoor pool, winery and tennis center, the rest of the resort leaves no box unchecked. Tee up at the other top golf courses in Silicon Valley listed here.
Manresa
There’s no better place to spend a romantic evening at than a Michelin-starred restaurant. With chef David Kinch serving as executive chef, Manresa is a dining experience like no other because of its delicious food, contemporary dining room and exceptional service. Recently, the Los Gatos restaurant has finally welcomed customers back in-person after a year of only serving take-out. Enjoy one of Manresa’s signature dishes paired with a glass of wine from their impressive wine menu or try a dish from the Chef’s Tasting Menu. For a truly romantic evening, check out the rest of the great date spots listed here.
RawASF
With the power of both super foods and an inspiring backstory, RawASF is serving up 100% plant-based dishes with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It was founded by owners Quan Nguyen and Catherine Trinh, a married couple who completely overhauled their diet after struggling with personal health issues. Aiming to empower diners to take charge of their own health, they opened RawASF. They specialize in acai bowls and smoothies, featuring fresh fruit and toppings like coconut chia seed pudding, flaxseed and diced almond. Larger meals are also available, like the avocado truffle burger with umami spread and pickled cucumber served on a fresh-baked, artisan bun. And set in a sleek, modern interior, RawASF is the perfect place to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Try one of these other top vegan eateries listed here.
Umbrella Salon
Get supermodel-level hair with exclusive stylists like Umbrella Salon founder Kien Hoang, who styled models for 2018 New York Fashion Week and a number of magazine shoots. Using Oribe products, Umbrella's highly experienced hairdressers apply their knowledge and confidence in their abilities to transform each head of hair they come across. The understated modern decor and relaxed vibe inside Umbrella create a warm environment where customers can leave feeling classy and confident. Check out our full story on the top stylists in the area here.
Orchard Days at Filoli
Visit the formal gardens of Filoli to see the magnificent autumn blooms and stroll through rows of apple trees and grapevines. During Orchard Days from September 25 to October 31, they also have live music, local artwork and warm homemade apple cider, making it the perfect spot to spend a fall afternoon. For more ideas on what to do during the fall, click here.
Dead Time Dreams
For its first-ever open-air immersive haunted attraction this year, Dead Time Dreams terrifies guests with The Meat Factory. Every detail of this apocalyptic meat factory, from masks to makeup, makes this walk-through feel like your inside of a horror movie. Get your blood flowing while you wait in line with the Midway of Terror, featuring freaks, creatures and nighly shows that will get you in the mood to be spooked. Get even more spooked at the rest of the Halloween events listed here.
A Tasting Experience At Manresa
Treat your foodie friend to an exquisite tasting experience at Michelin-starred Manresa in Los Gatos. Featuring new American cuisine, the chef's tasting menu, made with the finest hyperlocal ingredients of the season by executive chef David Kinch, can be paired with fine wines upon request. It's a gift they won't forget. For more ideas on where to shop this season, head to our full story here.
Christmas in The Park
Plaza de Cesar Chavez is brimming with holiday lights, trees and exhibits that bring joy to the whole family this season. Get in the holiday spirit at the other displays listed here.
New Year's Eve Dinner at Hotel Valencia
At Hotel Valencia Santana Row, start out the night with a five course meal and a complimentary glass of champagne, then head to the dance floor where you can party on with two live DJ's until 1:30 a.m. Check out our full story here for more ideas on how to ring in 2022.
Photography by: Photo by Mo/Unsplash
