{"id":165197,"date":"2026-02-05T14:31:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T14:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/165197\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T14:31:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T14:31:10","slug":"silicon-valley-california-luxury-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/165197\/","title":{"rendered":"Silicon Valley, California Luxury Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Football fans, of both the pigskin and soccer varieties, will soon be pouring into the Bay Area to convene at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara, host of both Super Bowl LX on February 8<\/a> and six matches of the FIFA World Cup tournament this summer. San Francisco is just 40 miles to the north<\/a>\u2014which is a long way if you\u2019re sitting in postgame traffic snaking up Highway 101. Why not skip all that and stay in Silicon Valley? You won\u2019t be bored\u2014we promise.<\/p>\n

Where to Stay \"NobuNobu Hotel Palo Alto<\/p>\n

Inside a ryokan suite bathroom at the Nobu Hotel Palo Alto.<\/p>\n

In downtown Palo Alto, the Nobu Hotel<\/a>\u2019s minimalist rooms blend natural materials with the subtlest of tech features (like Alexa). Make a weekend spa retreat out of it through the property\u2019s new collaboration with Watercourse Way Bath House<\/a>. A few miles away, a more Old World experience awaits at the Rosewood Sand Hill<\/a>, which sits on 16 acres of olive trees and rolling mountain views, and has a large heated pool. And closer to Highway 101, WFH tech bros are known to stake out the prime corners at the Four Seasons<\/a>, especially in its lobby bar, Esc. (Yes, it\u2019s named for the keyboard button.)<\/p>\n

\"AErin Kunkel\/Treehouse Hotels<\/p>\n

The Commons at the Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n

Over in Mountain View, the Ameswell Hotel<\/a> is named after the nearby NASA Research Center and goes all-in on the space theme with its Apollo 11-era vintage vibes\u2014with modern bells and whistles, of course. Those coming to Silicon Valley looking for creative inspiration (or at least plenty of Instagrammable backdrops) will find it at the Treehouse Hotel<\/a> in Sunnyvale, in its quirky and playful\u2014but completely top notch\u2014accommodations.<\/p>\n

Where to Eat\"CocktailBar Zola<\/p>\n

A \u201cDanish Handshake\u201d from BarZola, made with vodka, aquavit, g\u00e9n\u00e9py, apple, grape, caraway, and lemon.<\/p>\n

Top Chef champ Stephanie Izard recently opened her first Bay Area establishment, the Valley Goat<\/a>, located within the Treehouse Hotel, with a family-style menu ranging from goat empanadas to spiced fish tostadas. Evvia Estiatorio<\/a> is \u00adanother see-and-be-seen spot in Palo Alto; it\u2019s an offshoot of Kokkari, one of the best fine dining restaurants in San Francisco. Aurum<\/a> in Los Altos remains one of Silicon Valley\u2019s \u00adhottest reservations, earning Michelin recognition year after year for its modern approach to regional Indian cooking. BarZola<\/a> in Palo Alto is the ultimate California paradox: both sophisticated and casual at the same time, with a lengthy wine list and French-inflected dishes from the slightly more serious sister property, Zola, next door.<\/p>\n

And yes, Northern California has good tacos, too. For simple but solid taquerias, venture to San Jose, where Tacos El Plebe<\/a> and Tacos El Lider<\/a> have been regularly rated among the best in the Bay Area. For something more leisurely and sit-down, Luna Mexican Kitchen<\/a> serves traditional dishes and cocktails with a farm-fresh ethos and options to accommodate most dietary restrictions.<\/p>\n

What to Do\"CantorMattGush\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Cantor Arts Center on the Stanford University campus.<\/p>\n

While the impulse may be to spend time up in San Francisco or the Marin Headlands, contrary to popular opinion, Silicon Valley has plenty of things to see, and we just don\u2019t mean shiny Big Tech campuses, impressive as they are. (Although Google<\/a> and Apple<\/a> do have visitor centers.)<\/p>\n

Hauser & Wirth<\/a> is opening a new gallery in Palo Alto this year, but in the meantime get your blue chip fix at Stanford University\u2019s Cantor Arts Center<\/a>, which houses more than 44,000 works, including one of the largest Rodin collections outside Paris. Its neighbor, the Anderson Collection<\/a>, is dedicated exclusively to postwar American greats, featuring Abstract Expressionists such as Joan Mitchell, Jackson Pollack, and Mark Rothko. And naturally Silicon Valley has its share of tech museums, including the family-friendly Tech Interactive<\/a> in downtown San Jose, which also houses the largest IMAX dome west of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n

For a break from all the gametime rah-rah, San Mateo\u2019s Japanese Garden<\/a> will be a welcome escape. It has a bamboo grove and granite pagoda shaped by landscape architect Nagao Sakurai, the former chief gardener of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo<\/a>. For a breath of fresh air\u2014without an entrance fee\u2014there are plenty of public parks in the area. Alviso Marina County Park<\/a> in San Jose is dog-friendly in most spots and has a network of pathways that attracts hikers, cyclists, and birdwatchers who come for sunrise and sunset views across the wetlands. There\u2019s even a launch ramp with access to open water for kayaks and small boats.<\/p>\n

Where to Shop\"T\u00e8rnaSan Francisco Chronicle\/Hearst Newspapers\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bell\u2019s Books in Palo Alto.<\/p>\n

Bell\u2019s Books<\/a>, a beloved fixture of downtown Palo Alto filled with new, used, and rare tomes, has served the Stanford University and Silicon Valley communities since 1935. Nearby, upscale clothing boutique Leaf & Petal<\/a> has all of the requisite California uniform staples<\/a> from the likes of Varley, the Great, and Rails. And every Saturday, rain or shine, there\u2019s a farmers\u2019 market<\/a> on Gilman St. showcasing the best local produce, cheeses, breads, honey, and more\u2014with live music for an atmospheric soundtrack.<\/p>\n

\"StreetSundry Photography\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Santana Row in San Jose.<\/p>\n

San Francisco\u2019s shopping malls are having a rough-go of it lately, but the open-air Stanford Shopping Center<\/a> in Palo Alto appears to be booming. The premier destination for luxury shopping south of the City, the complex hosts the likes of Brunello Cucinelli, Cartier, and Herm\u00e8s. A Chanel boutique is coming soon. Meanwhile, San Jose\u2019s Santana Row<\/a> is a delightful neighborhood with an eclectic mix of boutiques, from local indies (we recommend Franco Uomo<\/a> for custom suits) to global brands (like Swedish fave Fjallraven).<\/p>\n

Garlic lovers\u2014yes, it\u2019s a thing around here, as anyone who has been to a Giants game would know\u2014should head even farther south to Gilroy, the de facto garlic capital of the world (or, at the very least, of America). Those garlic fries long associated with San Francisco Giants games at Oracle Park trace back to this area, which is known for processing some 90% of the country\u2019s supply of the allium. There is even an annual festival<\/a> dedicated to it, which returned in 2025 after a six-year hiatus. But aside from indulging in your fill of garlic-flavored everything (even ice cream), Gilroy also happens to be home to a number of premium outlets<\/a> for brands such as Marc Jacobs, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Janie and Jack.<\/p>\n

An abbreviated version of this story appears in the February 2026 issue of Town & Country.<\/p>\n

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\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Rachel King (she\/her) is a news writer at\u00a0Town & Country. Before joining\u00a0T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at\u00a0Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in\u00a0Forbes,\u00a0Observer,\u00a0Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and\u00a0Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at\u00a0@rk.passport<\/a>.<\/p>\n