Los Gatos Travel Guide

 
by jumpingnorman
 
  •   Los Gatos
    by jumpingnorman
  • Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos
      Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos
    by jumpingnorman
  • Son wandering in Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos
      Son wandering in Santa Cruz Mountains,...
    by jumpingnorman
  • My nephews and their Dad into Los Gatos forest
      My nephews and their Dad into Los Gatos...
    by jumpingnorman
  • Daughter buying apples, Los Gatos, CA
      Daughter buying apples, Los Gatos, CA
    by jumpingnorman
 

Pro

Shaft28 profile photo

 rich community 


Con

jumpingwithnorman profile photo

 Pricey real estate, parking issues 


In a nutshell

ChuckG profile photo

 Great city to live in...if you can afford it... 

 

Explore Los Gatos

Things to Do  

Get your Wonka on at Powell's

Get your Wonka on at Powell's, Los Gatos

 jumpingwithnorman Says:  Powell's Sweet Shop in downtown Los Gatos is right in the middle of N Santa Cruz, between the Apple store and the Los Gatos Cinema. It's a chain and set up like the old-time candy stores you might remember from watching Willy Wonka& the Chocolate Factory. They also serve... 

Redwood Forest on Summit Rd - nature ride

Redwood Forest on Summit Rd - nature ride, Los Gatos

 jumpingnorman Says:  From San Jose, we decided to go to a nice hilly forest residential community in Los Gatos. It is a nice afternoon ride - just make sure your car's tires are well-inflated and that you have enough gas. On I-17S, just take the Summit Rd exit and follow this road going up into... 

Hotels  

Hotel Los Gatos

 173 Opinions

Hotel Los Gatos And Spa

 1 Review and 173 Opinions  You go stay at the Hotel Los Gatos, apparently. I was housesitting for my uncle and their A/C broke,... 

Restaurants  

Steamer's Grillhouse: Fancy Schmancy

Steamer's Grillhouse: Fancy Schmancy, Los Gatos

 RblWthACoz Says:  This place is one of those typical Californian places that serves a fairly wide variety of food, though much of it is seafood. Everything I had was rich and well prepared and I was more than ready for a nap after eating there. the chowder is very good 

Cafe Marcella: French on Los Gatos

Cafe Marcella: French on Los Gatos, Los Gatos

 RblWthACoz Says:  Cafe Marcella is actually a very nice restaurant in Los Gatos serving French cuisine. The food is fairly interesting in combinations and their wine list is extensive (heavier on the French side). Service there isn't as great as it could be, and not everyone is exactly at the... 

Fleur De Cocoa: Authentic French Patisserie. Taste luxury.

Fleur De Cocoa: Authentic French Patisserie. Taste luxury., Los Gatos

 jumpingwithnorman Says:  Limited seating space but heavenly desserts. It's more than a bakery... it's a patisserie. Aside from divine cakes available by the slice or as a whole, they also offer assorted gelatos/sorbets, chocolates, lunch sandwiches, soups, coffee, french food specialties like violet... 

Icing on the Cake: For those with a very sweet tooth

Icing on the Cake: For those with a very sweet tooth, Los Gatos

 SJTravel Says:  When you walk in to Icing on the Cake, there is no way your sweet tooth can walk out without at least getting a cookie. All the desserts in there are visually appealing, many have been designed specially. It is a high end bakery, so although their prices are good for Los... 

Willow Street: Pizza, Pasta, Sandwiches

Willow Street: Pizza, Pasta, Sandwiches, Los Gatos

 SJTravel Says:  Your typical Italian-American (American influenced Italian food) eatery. It is a chain, although i did not know it at the time I ate there. They boast their wood-fired pizza and it seemed to be really popular by the other patrons. They have outdoor eating patio in front with... 

Los Gatos Brewing Company: Superb Beer, and great food

Los Gatos Brewing Company: Superb Beer, and great food, Los Gatos

 tim_pearce Says:  This is a great place for lunch or dinner. If you just want to sit at the bar and drink you can but the food is well worth getting a table for and the place is large.Ambience is a cunning mix between old and trendy but is just darned pleasant. It's child friendly too and... 

La Esquina: Mexican Food and lots of it!

La Esquina: Mexican Food and lots of it!, Los Gatos

 Srechko Says:  Restaurant is of a self-serve type, and prices are below average. Portions are huge and very tasty. Beef enchilada 

Sushi On The Run: Sushi On The Run

Sushi On The Run: Sushi On The Run, Los Gatos

 WebMink Says:  The proprietor is the lynchpin of this little restaurant. He buys the fish fresh locally himself, prepares all the food, is friendly and interesting. It is a tiny place, little more than a filled alley, but has plenty of character. Everyone there sits at the sushi bar; when... 

Transportation  

Free Los Gatos Shuttle Bus

Free Los Gatos Shuttle Bus, Los Gatos

 jumpingwithnorman Says:  There are several bus stops around Los Gatos and the free shuttle bus gets you in & around Los Gatos pretty good. Just be sure to ask if the bus you're boarding is the free one as there are other buses around that stop at the same time. 

Take a good look

Take a good look, Los Gatos

 ChuckG Says:  Take a good look at the display at "Ferrari of Los Gatos"...they have a wide variety of Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, Lotus. Chances are, we'll never be able to afford one of those but in the crazy years of the DotCom, they had a 5 years waiting list and people were reserving... 

Local Customs  

Cruise on Santa Cruz
ChuckG profile photo
ChuckG 413 reviews

Quite interesting to have a coffee on that main street and watch the locals (and Siliconians) show their roadster, sport car, convertible or beaten-up truck to i-don't-know-who... I still haven't got used to this tradition after years and years...

Written Apr 10, 2003

Was this review helpful?

Off The Beaten Path  

Hiking Close to Town But Not Too Close
jumpingwithnorman profile photo
jumpingwithnorman 118 reviews

St Joseph's Hill is a walking loop that winds up and down within easy reach of the town of Los Gatos. You can choose to park at the Alma Bridge Road and take a vertical walk up the slopes to the very top or park somewhere off Main Street/N Santa Cruz Avenue and meander over to the trail which starts over between the library and the post office. It's a great walk that's do-able and sweat-inducing. Bikes do use the trail too so watch out for them as you go up the steep roads. Dogs also share your path along with their owners who are pretty conscientious about leaving "no trace" behind.

Written Apr 14, 2009

Related to:
 Hiking and Walking
 Budget Travel
 Family Travel

Was this review helpful?

Favorites  

Black Watch for commies!
Shaft28 profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Shaft28 191 reviews
bartender at Black Watch

Favorite thing: While in Los Gatos (if over 21) you have to go to the Black Watch 141 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.354.2200 for kamis.
Or shall I say a kamikazi.
They make the best ones in the area, not to mention a few other choice drinks.
Used to be a biker bar, no crowded with you name it. Scottish charm at its best.
Grap 3 friends, 4 kamis' and some dice for liars dice and roll the night away.

Fondest memory: Trying to convince the bartender my buddy Ford was napping not passed out while playing dice.

Updated Feb 26, 2003

Was this review helpful?

Comments

Map of Los Gatos