We love spending time in Los Gatos, a side detour if you’re in Silicon Valley and only a stone’s throw from San Jose, CA. We had a blast hanging with the San Jose Tourism Board team (and friends) recently, where we had a chance to taste some of the local fare and explore fun activities in the region.
Credit: Tollhouse
Los Gatos Charm
There’s so much charm and style in Los Gatos. We’re huge fans of Hotel Los Gatos, a charming Mediterranean styled stay that reminds me a bit of my heritage (yup, I’m about as Italian as they come). Renee reviewed the property when we stayed there last summer.
On this magical trip, we stayed at The Toll House, also in the heart of downtown. This simple but elegant and intimate small-town hotel boasts a much more modern character though retains some of the flavor of this historical South Bay town at the base of the serene Santa Cruz Mountains.
Credit: Tollhouse
Credit: Tollhouse
The Lobby & Lounge Areas
One of the most charming things about this downtown Los Gatos stay is its modern flare and yet it’s comfy and cozy in the lounge areas inside.
The Verge, their indoor restaurant with options to dine outside as well.
The Fabulous Outside Courtyard
Take a look at this fabulous outdoor courtyard (it’s one of the features that make the hotel such an attractive option for weddings and meetings; it’s a great business travel choice as well)
See this this lovely array of flowers and herbs? Imagine several of these lined up together, which is precisely what they do to divide two function areas outside when they have hosted events. So elegant and so perfect for an outdoor soiree or celebration. Think annual business gatherings, team pow-wows, anniversary parties, birthday bashes and more.
Breakfast @ The Verge
While we didn’t have an opportunity to official review this Los Gatos restaurant, which is connected to the hotel, we did have breakfast here for two mornings. Their options and pairings are ever so unusual, all done with a twist.
I had to try the Egg Chorizon Quesadilla which they serve with sour cream, avocado and salsa verde. It is interestingly enough, gluten free.
Renee loves her poached eggs so paired them with fresh spinach and bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon after all, unless you’re a vegan of course. If you are, they have you covered here as well. You can also keep it simple and healthy with yogurt, fresh fruit, hot herbal tea or house-made granola.
If you’re the more adventurous foodie and are the type that says “Bring it on,” I’d suggest the Breakfast sausage ravioli which the chef and team serve with cream sauce, parmesan, pecans and breaded fried eggs. OMG – this was a “to-die-for” dish!
Then, there’s a Gingerbread waffle with whipped cream and berries and the decadent Verge Omelette, made with a delicious smoked duck (gotta love it), mushrooms, lardon, gruyere and potatoes. Southern influence comes in through their shrimp and grits iwth Andouille sausage and seafood sauce.
If you’re a serious food, you won’t want to miss the hellenic Los Gatos restaurant Dio Deka, which we reviewed last May. Also be sure to check out Cafe Rio in Aptos, which we recently reviewed. Only a stone’s throw from Santa Cruz, you can be there within 30 or 40 minutes from Los Gatos or San Jose.
A huge call out to red-headed Pam took great care of us throughout our stay. She made us feel like family.
Quiet time in Los Gatos: Tea at The Toll House
DETAILS:
The Toll House Los Gatos
140 South Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 395-7070
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Note: This trip was in conjunction with support from and hosted by San Jose Tourism Board / Convention & Visitor’s Bureau / Team San Jose. All opinions expressed however are my own.
Useful Links:
- Toll House Hotel
- San Jose Tourism: #Hashtags: #IKnowtheWay #VisitSanJose #WeAreSanJose
- Team San Jose Tourism on Twitter
Anthony Compagnone is a bilingual speech and language therapist by day and has been helping kids and adults with their speech and language needs for over 20 years in New York.
He is also a keen martial artist and has practiced a number of disciplines from kempo to kung fu and everything in between.
Also a champion of his two incredible kids, yoga, hiking and traveling, he contributes to We Blog the World about family travel, hotel and product reviews and of course culture, where his language skills are a huge asset. He speaks 5 languages but is most proficient in English, Spanish and French.
