By Erin Kain By Erin Kain | December 20, 2024 | Lifestyle, Feature, Guides,
From sushi to spas, reservations and more, these are our favorites from Silicon Valley in 2024.
The 7 Most Romantic Restaurants In Silicon Valley
Arrive early and enjoy a drink in the Rosewood Hotel’s handsome bar, which spills out onto a patio (tented in winter) that overlooks the pool. Then, settle in at Madera, where the menu features American fare crafted on the wood-fired grill and rotisserie oven. Wine director Paul Mekis’ wine list boasts 17,645 bottles, 2,500 with verticals of older vintages and 54 wines by the glass. The dishes at the one-Michelin-starred restaurant change seasonally.
The 10 Best Takeout Restaurants In Silicon Valley
Fancy a Michelin-rated meal in the comfort of your home? The Village Pub can help make it happen. Order on its website for yummy starters like the sunchoke veloute and Dungeness crab bisque, plus decadent entrees like the Sea of Cortez striped bass and honey- and pistachio-glazed duck breast. Luxe additions include bumps of caviar with toasted brioche and other sides, plus bottles of wine.
The 5 Best Antique Stores In Silicon Valley
As the largest antique store in Silicon Valley, Antiques Colony offers a variety of vintage pieces to shop from. The eclectic shopping experience includes European and Asian antiques, as well as midcentury modern items plus jewelry and garden decor.
The 17 Best Hotels In Silicon Valley
The 130-room Montage Healdsburg sits on 258 acres in Sonoma. The resort’s three-bedroom Guest House is a 4,600-square-foot lair perched like a luxe tree fort with exceptional views of Mount St. Helena and the vineyards of the Alexander Valley. Montage Healdsburg’s upgraded cocktail experience at the newly reimagined Scout Field Bar is stunning. The lobby’s unique centerpiece has expanded from nine counter seats to 25, available both indoors and outdoors, plus hinged storefront windows that showcase the resort’s vineyards and views of Mount St. Helena. Other jaw-dropping design moments include hanging bottle storage above the bar and tiered islands with pass-through under-counter refrigerators showcasing a premium liquor selection.
7 Local Interior Instagram Inspirations We Love
This full-service interior design firm from Saratoga specializes in custom residential remodeling and new builds from conception through completion.
3 Of The Best Cosmos In Silicon Valley
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Located in Hotel Valencia Santana Row, Vbar’s dramatic metal-beaded curtains and backlit red acrylic bar make a serious statement. Peruse the extensive cocktail and martini menu, or craft your own cosmo with a wide selection of vodka brands, from Chopin and Belvedere to Grey Goose and Ciroc.
Only Jeffrey Stout, chef-owner at the inventive Orchard City Kitchen in Campbell, can make flapjacks feel high-end. The Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand offers fluffy cakes crafted with creative ingredients—think tart key lime, crunchy Marcona almonds, a dash of mint and cream cheese.
The 5 Best Parks To Visit In Silicon Valley
Redwood Grove is a mini Muir Woods look-alike with its luscious and tall trees. While smaller than others, this park still has tons to offer. Take a walk along the boardwalk, have lunch in the picnic areas or explore the Adobe Creek on the Hillside Trail.
The Top 11 Bay Area Chefs To Follow On Instagram
This list wouldn’t be complete without chef Tyler Florence. The owner of Miller & Lux in Chase Center and Wayfare Tavern, Florence has hosted multiple Food Network shows and written more than 10 cookbooks. His feed features frequent celebrity diners and exclusive restaurant news.
The 5 Best Ice Cream Shops In Silicon Valley
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.
The 10 Best Sushi Restaurants In Silicon Valley
Voted as one of the best sushi spots in San Jose, Ozumo thrives as one of the Bay Area’s top restaurants. Enter the lavish ambiance and bask in the intimate and stunning interior, all while gazing upon the most visually striking fish creations. Indulge in a variety of sushi and sashimi, a delicious robata grill and an expansive sake list.
The 10 Top Margaritas In Silicon Valley
Cholita Linda is a hot spot committed to providing traditional and authentically curated flavors straight from Latin America. The one and only Cholita Margarita is the perfect match for any Latin dish you may choose. If you’re up for it, add a little spice with tajin around the rim to kick it up a notch.
The Top 10 Steakhouses In Silicon Valley
Celebrated for hosting one of the widest arrays of imported and domesticated wagyu steak, Alexander’s Steakhouse is a must-taste fusion of Japanese and American tradition. Start off with the Hokkaido milk bread, an omakase 185 wine pairing and a classic 18-ounce T-bone as the main course.
10 Local Fashion Instagrams We Love For Trendy Style Inspiration
Lauded Bay Area stylist and frequent SF magazine contributor, Theresa Palmer serves up all the inspo on her Insta. With her vast style lexicon, Palmer dissects tons of chic looks so that you can achieve them too.
The 10 Best Italian Restaurants In Silicon Valley
Chef Daniel Garcia’s northern Italian comfort food is the fare at this restaurant located in Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley. Dinner could include a roasted heirloom carrot salad to start, followed by handmade ancho pepper pappardelle with wild boar ragu, and an entree of pan-roasted branzino with celeriac puree. Pastry chef Guillermo Soto Torres makes a mean Magic Hour chocolate olive oil cake.
The 3 Best Tutoring Services In The Bay Area
Alexander Tutoring specializes in math and physics help, teaching the stories behind equations and using tangible, real-life examples. Utilize online services or in-person sessions in a variety of Bay Area locations, including San Francisco, Oakland, Marin, San Mateo and San Jose.
The 3 Best Barbers In Silicon Valley
Tucked away in Town and Country Village, 18|8 Palo Alto defines itself as a "modern barbershop for the modern gentleman." Semi-private styling chairs play host to a wide variety of high-end grooming services, signature Executive haircuts and straight-razor shaves to more indulgent scalp, face and nail treatments.
The 10 Best Cocktail Lounges In Silicon Valley
With roots in California's original tiki mtoif, Dr. Funk specializes in South Pacific elixirs. Countless ccktails range from sweet to strong, each topped with ornate garnishes that are almost too pretty to eat. Our pick? Sip on the cheekily-named Shipwreck, made with two Caribbean rums, cachaca, blackberry, banana, pineapple, pomegranate, Tiki bitters and hints of citrus for the ultimate tropical escape.
The 4 Best Spas In Silicon Valley
This popular day spa, part of the Rosewood Sand Hill, is set by California gardens with picturesque views of the Santa Cruz mountains. Its treatment menu features revitalizing massages in a luxurious setting, guaranteeing your energy to be fully replenished by the time you leave. Sense Spa also offers well-polished manicures and pedicures. Membership is perfect for clientele in the area, providing amenities like a personal lifestyle coordinator and preferred services for members.
The 3 Best Vets In Silicon Valley
Creature Comfort Holistic Veterinary Center
Creature Comfort in Oakland is a full-service practice specializing in integrative veterinary medicine, blending conventional medicine with a unique, holistic approach.
The 9 Most Sought-After Reservations In Silicon Valley
Chef Mark Sullivan transports customers back to the ’40s with his old-school menu bursting with Hollywood charm. The three-course prix fixe menu serves up fan favorites like handmade ricotta cavatelli, honey-lacquered duck breast and butter-poached Maine lobster. Alongside the caviar service, the hot spot boasts “The Coldest Martinis on the West Coast.”
Photography by: Kati Ongcharoen