By Katie Sweeney By Katie Sweeney | February 3, 2025 | Lifestyle, Feature,
Los Altos continues to offer residents and visitors small-town charm with new twists.
Los Altos maintains its small-town feel while offering an inviting array of boutiques and seasonal activities for visitors.
Los Altos residents typically have the same reply when asked why they love their town, which became Santa Clara County’s eleventh city in 1952. “I love the small-town charm of Los Altos,” says Tori Draeger, marketing director at Draeger’s Market (draegers.com).
Craig Kozy, the owner of one of Los Altos’ oldest businesses, DeMartini Orchard (demartiniorchard.com), concurs. “Everyone seems to know everyone else, and it has a community vibe,” he says. Erin K. Mobley, the director of Montecito School (montecitopreschool. com), a beloved preschool celebrating its 65th year, further elaborates, saying, “Los Altos has that oldschool feeling to it, where people socialize in person and know their neighbors.”
The Los Altos Community Center
Although it’s one of Silicon Valley’s most coveted hamlets, with Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg building Apple and Facebook from their garages situated in Los Altos, the city retains its nostalgic appeal and natural beauty.
“The weather is always perfect—neither too hot nor too cold,” says real estate agent David Costello. “If you’re into gardening, most anything will grow in Los Altos.” Exceptional education is also a part of everyday life in this tight-knit town. Pinewood School (pinewood.edu) nurtures children from kindergarten through 12th grade, focusing on confidence and communication.
“The benefits of its strongknit community permeate other aspects of living like safety and security,” says Durga Kalavagunta, the founder and director of DesignX Company (designx.company). “Families feel comfortable with their kids biking or strolling downtown because some familiar person is watching them.”
Draeger’s Market, a mainstay in Los Altos, offers a great selection of California wines.
GROWTH & VIBRANCY
As the city grows, new generations of locals are adding to the community. “Over the past seven years, I’ve seen a remarkable transformation in the vibrancy of downtown Los Altos,” says realtor Ken DeLeon (deleonrealty. com). “It’s become the perfect blend of local boutiques, fantastic restaurants, farmers markets and craft fairs while offering plenty of activities for young children, such as a bookstore dedicated to kids and a skate shop.”
A downtown association organizes events and parades that bring the community together. Annual and monthly events like wine strolls, First Fridays with live music, a pet parade and the Festival of Lights ensure that children and families have magical experiences. This makes Los Altos feel like an authentic neighborhood rather than a sprawling city or closed-off suburb.
While residents look toward the future, there’s hope that much will remain the same. “The unique bucolic attributes of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills will continue to be cherished by future generations,” says Kimberly Mosley, president of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce (losaltoschamber.org). “Our strong schools, beautiful homes and estates, great hospitals and vibrant business districts will continue to attract young families looking for their perfect home in a charming small town in the heart of Silicon Valley.”
Locals and visitors enjoy great public art throughout Los Altos.
LOS ALTOS INSIDERS GUIDE
WHERE TO STAY
“I love hosting visiting family and friends at Enchante Boutique Hotel (enchantehotel.com) for a luxurious stay or a special family celebration,” says Kimberly Mosley, president of Los Altos Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Charmaine Tu is the founder and nurturer of Turbow Farms in Los Altos.
WHERE TO EAT
“Rustic House (rustichouselosaltos. com) and Fiesta Vallarta (fiestavallarta. com) are classics for us, though you’ll often find our family visiting Holder’s (cupertinocountryinn. com) for brunch or Redwood Grill (rwgrill. com) after a taekwondo belt test,” says Tori Draeger, marketing director of Draeger’s Markets.
“Family pizza night, with craft beer and pinball, is always fun at State of Mind Pizza (stateofmindpublichouse.com). Cetrella (cetrella.com) or ROJA for a romantic dinner for two. Our favorite lunch destination is the State Street Market (statestreetmarket.com), where we can choose our favorite lunch from the food court and share a meal together,” says Mosley.
Downtown Los Altos is extremely walkable and pedestrian friendly, which is perfect for shopping and watching live concerts.
WHAT TO DO
“We love to show off Redwood Grove (losaltosca.gov) and Shoup Park. It’s amazing we have those massive redwoods right in our backyard! And when we want to get out on a slightly longer excursion, we’re lucky enough to be close to all of the trails both Stevens Creek Reservoir and Rancho San Antonio Open Space have to offer,” says Draeger.
“There are a few things that have remained the same, and we love them for it—like the Los Altos History Museum (losaltoshistory.org) and the world-famous Blenheim apricot orchard,” says Kalavagunta.
Chef Lawrence C. Chu is the founder of the legendary Chef Chu’s in Los Altos.
CHEF CHAT
We asked Lawrence C. Chu, owner of the legendary Chef Chu’s (chefchu.com) and father of Hollywood superstar director Jon M. Chu (Wicked, Crazy Rich Asians) about the city where he raised his five children.
What do you love most about Los Altos?
We love the people that make up Los Altos. Nothing makes us happier than seeing families celebrating their special occasions with us at Chef Chu’s.
What is your history with the city?
All of my children were born in Los Altos and grew up here. Although they live all over the world now, they always return to Los Altos for the comfort of home.
What’s next for Los Altos?
The future is bright. We’re happy to have young couples and new generations of customers who go to local schools—kids who are just as famished for potstickers after soccer practice as the last generation was.
Photography by: TOM WAGENBRENNER; COURTESY OF KEN DELEON; COURTESY OF BRAND; COURTESY OF KEN DELEON; COURTESY OF BRAND; COURTESY OF KEN DELEON; COURTESY OF BRAND