It's a lovely place to hike and see some outdoor artwork. I would like to go back and hike again…read more Because I did just some trails. The hike is not that long and easy hike. And it's good to see artwork while feeling the nature. And next I would find time to watch a concert for sure.

Such a beautiful park maintained jointly by the Montalvo arts center and santa clara county parks…read more It's truly a hidden gem in Saratoga with beautifully maintained lawns, and ample trails. The Great Lawn in front of the main building ie the Montalvo Center allows picnics without reservations - just set up camp under a tree. There's a very well maintained Italian garden right next to the great lawn with varieties of succulents, a pagoda like structure and cedars. Also saw a wedding in progress while we were there and it is such a beautiful location for it! I will definitely visit again to explore the trails. Parking can be a little hard on weekends but you gotta just wait till a spot opens. If the event venue is booked out - that makes parking harder since they reserve a lot for guests. Free entry and free parking

Beautiful grounds for events! It looks like you can also rent out small cottages to help support…read moreyour events. Make it a stay! I was there assisting a Photo Booth vendor and got a chance yo walk the property a little bit. Majestic is the perfect word for this place. Lots of parking available. Extremely clean restrooms. Staff is super friendly!

What an amazing venue. The drive there is hard but once you get there it's heaven. Great…read morepicturesque place Greta for hosting engagements and weddings. It's outdoors though so weather plays a vital role in the success of the event. Parking was ample. The ambience was truly calming and staff was attentive. I wish I had known about this place prior. I would have used this as my go to venue. Awesome and would recommend to all users. The lighting and atmosphere is an awesome experience. 5 out of 5

Have I really never rated this place? And yet, I've spent so many sloshy nights here, taking drinks…read morefrom random strangers, making friends with pretty girls in the crowd, and watching drunken-unruly customers get dragged out of the place on bar stools. What's not to like about that? Such great people watching, staff who remembers your face (but never a name---this place is pretty packed on weekends). You come here for the live music (and yes, you're gonna pay a club cover, but how else do you think DJ's or musicians get paid), and you'll stay for the azz twerkable DJ sets. I'm always fond of DJ Jason Dee or David. Yes, I'm going to dance. And if you've ever wondered if you could pull a cougar, well then wonder no more. Pull up here on a Friday or Saturday and test your suspicions. The worst thing that can happen is your pockets are $10 lighter. Cheers to new adventures.

African american lady in the front is extremely rude. Besides that, everyone else is friendly.read more

Testarossa is the best winery in downtown LG. As such, it's a must do. It's historic, it's…read morebeautifully set, it is well maintained and cared for, and the tasting room staff is excellent. On top of that, the wines are very good to excellent. You must go if you're wine tasting or having lunch in LG.

If you're looking for a true South Bay gem tucked into the Santa Cruz Mountains, this place should…read morebe at the top of your list. They focus primarily on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir--and honestly, that works perfectly for me. It's worth knowing upfront, but what they do, they do very well. The tasting experience is awesome with inviting indoor and outdoor spaces, plus an on-site restaurant that makes it easy to linger and enjoy the food, wine and the setting. The main reason I came back was for their Pinot Noir, which I've loved in the past--and it absolutely delivered again. If you find yourself in the Los Gatos area, make sure to add this winery to your itinerary. They also offer membership with some genuinely nice perks, which makes repeat visits even more alluring and enchanting. Until next time--what are you waiting for?

Food is good, service was nice and friendly and waitress took the time to explain the different…read moretype of menu items including Filipino dishes. Wished there are more Filipino items on the menu. The place is definitely unique and feels like occasion coming in.

The Cats has a reputation as a historic Bay Area restaurant, and while the property itself is…read morebeautiful, that's unfortunately where the positives end. We visited for Father's Day, and it was clear they were nowhere near prepared for the day. From the moment we were seated, service was painfully slow. It took nearly 20 minutes just to receive water, and even longer for our drinks to arrive. When it was time for the buffet, I was served a steak ordered medium rare that came out medium well. After sending it back, the replacement was technically medium rare, but it was so under-rested and watery that it felt like biting into a bowl of beef juice. To make matters worse, the steak sat on our table for another 20 minutes while we waited in the buffet line because the restaurant completely ran out of food. Half the dining room was left standing around waiting for items to be replenished. The food itself was equally disappointing. Nearly everything lacked flavor, with the exception of the ribs, which at least had a noticeable smoky taste. The rice was overcooked, and the lumpia was so overdone that parts of it were burnt. Overall, this was a frustrating and underwhelming dining experience, especially for a holiday meal. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a quality meal. There are far too many excellent dining options in the area, particularly in Los Gatos, that are much more deserving of your time and money.

The Bank is No Longer a Dive--It's Saratoga's Must-Visit Cocktail Lounge! (5 Stars)…read more I was incredibly excited when I heard the longstanding establishment, The Bank, had new owners and was getting a refresh. For years, it was a classic Saratoga dive bar, but what the new ownership has done is absolutely transformative. This isn't just a renovation; it's a complete elevation of the entire experience. The Bank is officially a beautiful, high-end cocktail lounge. The interior is upscale, sophisticated, and chic--it's the perfect place for a date night or pre-dinner drink. Honestly, the level of detail they put into the reno is stunning, and I can't get over what they did with the bathrooms--they are next-level! The new owners are incredibly friendly, present, and absolutely focused on creating an amazing customer experience. They are clearly passionate about breathing new life into this landmark location. What You Must Try: You absolutely, positively must try their signature drink, The Trophy Wife. It is a perfectly balanced, unforgettable cocktail that showcases the talent behind the bar. If you haven't been in since the change, everyone needs to go check it out. This is a massive improvement for Saratoga's nightlife scene. I can't wait to see what they do to it next!

My friends and I came here for pre-dinner drinks before a late reservation at La Fondue. I was…read moresearching for a place that offered Veuve Cliquot by the bottle, and The Bank fit the bill. The inside is very cute and offers a cozy library vibe, and the service was quick. We ended up getting both the bottle of veuve and a few additional drinks. If we ever find ourselves in Saratoga again looking to get a drink, I'm sure we'll be back.

My first local show was seeing the muckruckers break the microwave CD release show. 5606, Mall…read moresecurity were the bands that opened. This place was essential when I was in my early teens back in the early 2000s. I remember seeing yellow card there touring their one for the kids record what a great time to be alive and be a teenager

After SJPD took it upon themselves to shut down San Jose Skate's thriving music scene, this place…read morebecame the reigning champion of local all ages music for the south bay. While I've never been much of a fan of this venue in general it was certainly improved when Andrew Kutsenda of Pinup Productions fully took over this place and brought his SJ Skate PA and mixer to give a greater sound experience. The Venue now hosts regular shows of both local and national touring acts to crowds of 50-250 people. The place is small enough that 50-60 people seems like a good turnout, 100 seems strong, 150 seems packed, and over 200 seems downright uncomfortable. They serve pizza, water, and soda, as well as have pool tables to play on for free when you don't feel like watching the music. It is billed as a "place for teens" which certainly comes off as the general vibe with the bright colors, strict no ins and outs policy, and young staff working the concessions. Although I have played at and seen shows at better places than the venue, it definitely deserves a lot of respect for being one of the few places holding it down for all ages shows in the south bay. If you haven't been here, check out the local listings at www.myspace.com/pinupproductionssj for shows at the venue and other all ages venues in the area!

My favorite summer music series! There's a lot of live music in and around the South Bay in the…read moresummer, and this is the one I always make a point to go to. No, jazz is not my favorite music, but the ambiance and atmosphere here is just so fun and relaxing. I love that you can bring your own food and drink and have a picnic with live music in the background. They also have a booth selling wine, and it's usually a local winery pouring. They used to be very strict about not having blankets on the grass, chairs only, but this past summer a lot of people had blankets and they weren't told to fold them up. While it can get crowded, you're usually able to find a spot in the park to set up camp fairly close to the music starting.

I think everyone should give Jazz a chance. Start here, at Jazz on the Plazz, as it is free…read more Pro tip: Get there at 1:30pm to set your own lawn chairs up prior to the show, no one will snag them. Another pro tip: Order from a local restaurant and pick up your dinner before the show. I am vegan and I highly enjoyed the new vegan cheese on the pizza at Pizza my Heart (Miyoko's made it, which is in my opinion the best vegan butter as well, so there is that). Other great options for vegans (and non-vegans) are Andale' and Oren's Hummus. Some local restaurants have specials - Oren's has a Jazz box, there are others so be on the lookout at the restaurants right near the venue. The musicians are fun - some quality talent lines the menu, which gets more star-powered as the weeks go on. Tony Lindsay + the Soul Soldiers are top shelf, that man has a boatload of Grammies. Jazz Mafia is sooo cool and blends it up good with R&B, classic soul, rock, even some punk tossed in, great stuff. OK now you know the music is good, and the food in town is good too. The one not-so-great thing is that this is one big boozy picnic. Imagine a bunch of houses in Los Gatos just emptying into the plaza, oldies with wine in hand, ready to sit and drink wine and talk talk talk. Yeah, that it what you get. You get a load of people just yakking and not even paying attention. People will stand right in front of you as if you are not even there, they don't care if you can see the band. So just be ready for that and meditate before you go and you will survive. Nothing is free. The noise is what you pay. The rest is cake. Enjoy!