Guidebook for Portola Valley
Food Scene
Amigos Grill Cocina Mexicana y Cantina
3130 Alpine RdNice casual meal
Great but usually requires a reservation for dinner.
94 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Evvia Estiatorio
420 Emerson StGreat but usually requires a reservation for dinner.
Nola
535 Ramona StFun, casual place with lots of outdoor seating
A great drive up to Skyline Boulevard through the trees. Lots of outdoor seating. An old place with lots of charm that's frequented by cyclists and bikers.
65 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline BlvdA great drive up to Skyline Boulevard through the trees. Lots of outdoor seating. An old place with lots of charm that's frequented by cyclists and bikers.
Oldest operating road house in California. Reopened in August 2018 to rave reviews. Great beer, wine, cocktails, pizza, California cuisine, darts, and corn hole. Most of the space is an outdoor area next to Los Trancos creek so it's a great spot for a sunny day.
13 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Alpine Inn Beer Garden
3915 Alpine RdOldest operating road house in California. Reopened in August 2018 to rave reviews. Great beer, wine, cocktails, pizza, California cuisine, darts, and corn hole. Most of the space is an outdoor area next to Los Trancos creek so it's a great spot for a sunny day.
Thomas Fogarty Winery
19501 Skyline BoulevardRidge Vineyards
17100 Montebello RdClosest snobby, 3rd wave coffee with a nice place to sit outdoors. The coffee at Bianchini's market is probably your best bet if you don't want to leave Portola Valley.
24 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Verve Coffee Roasters
2101 Market StClosest snobby, 3rd wave coffee with a nice place to sit outdoors. The coffee at Bianchini's market is probably your best bet if you don't want to leave Portola Valley.
Great, authentic italian pizzas, salads, wines, and seafood. Great outdoor space.
598 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StGreat, authentic italian pizzas, salads, wines, and seafood. Great outdoor space.
Parks & Nature
Reserva Natural Windy Hill
Great playground and picnic tables. Thursday evenings there is a great farmer's market with prepared food for a picnic. There are a lot of picnic tables near the park.
Little People's Park
765 Portola RdGreat playground and picnic tables. Thursday evenings there is a great farmer's market with prepared food for a picnic. There are a lot of picnic tables near the park.
This is a destination trail system that you can access in about 5 minutes on foot from the cottage. Just walk down Bonita, take a left on Los Trancos Circles, left on Lake. The Lake trailhead will be on your right.
From there a nice loop is down Old Spanish and back on Coal Mine Ridge or Toyon. You'll see a view of the Bay on Old Spanish and a view of the woodsy area uphill of Corte Madera Creek from Toyon.
If you'd like a longer hike that takes most of the day, you can take Old Spanish all the way to Alpine Road and cross over Alpine Road to Hamms Gulch and get to Windy Hill Open Space Preserve from there.
Hybrid view in Google maps is the best map we know of for this trail system.
Coal Mine Ridge
This is a destination trail system that you can access in about 5 minutes on foot from the cottage. Just walk down Bonita, take a left on Los Trancos Circles, left on Lake. The Lake trailhead will be on your right.
From there a nice loop is down Old Spanish and back on Coal Mine Ridge or Toyon. You'll see a view of the Bay on Old Spanish and a view of the woodsy area uphill of Corte Madera Creek from Toyon.
If you'd like a longer hike that takes most of the day, you can take Old Spanish all the way to Alpine Road and cross over Alpine Road to Hamms Gulch and get to Windy Hill Open Space Preserve from there.
Hybrid view in Google maps is the best map we know of for this trail system.
Parque Foothills
11799 Page Mill RoadArts & Culture
There is a room dedicated to local history near the front door of the library. The library also has a conference room, wifi, and lots of great places inside and out to sit.
Portola Valley Library
765 Portola RdThere is a room dedicated to local history near the front door of the library. The library also has a conference room, wifi, and lots of great places inside and out to sit.
The Anderson Collection is a brand new modern arts wing. Free admission!
143 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Centro de Artes Visuales Iris & B. Gerald Cantor
328 Lomita DrThe Anderson Collection is a brand new modern arts wing. Free admission!
Shopping
Just 15 minutes away. It has most of the major department stores, restaurants, shops, and lots of outdoor space.
526 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Stanford Shopping Center
660 Stanford Shopping CenterJust 15 minutes away. It has most of the major department stores, restaurants, shops, and lots of outdoor space.
This street has lots of boutiques, restaurants, and a few chains like Apple, Restoration Hardware, and American Apparel.
62 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
University Avenue
University AvenueThis street has lots of boutiques, restaurants, and a few chains like Apple, Restoration Hardware, and American Apparel.
If you're on your way out to the coast this is an interesting, quick stop. It's a quirky little historic store with souvenirs, books, local food items, and a bar that occasionally has live music.
32 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
San Gregorio General Store
7615 Stage RdIf you're on your way out to the coast this is an interesting, quick stop. It's a quirky little historic store with souvenirs, books, local food items, and a bar that occasionally has live music.
City/town information
Sweet little town near the coast with essentially just one street that's fun to stroll down.
Downtown Local
Fantastic coffee shop with Beetles and 60s centric styling.
Duartes
Classic diner style place with amazing pies often made with local berries and fruits.
Archangeli Grocery
Famous for its artichoke (local, of course) bread and deli sandwiches.
Mercado & Taqueria De Amigos
Famous taqueria at the gas station.
On your way to/from you might stop at Bean Hallow Beach especially at low tide. The tide pools have anenomes, urchins, hermit grabs, star fish, and mussels.
42 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Pescadero
Sweet little town near the coast with essentially just one street that's fun to stroll down.
Downtown Local
Fantastic coffee shop with Beetles and 60s centric styling.
Duartes
Classic diner style place with amazing pies often made with local berries and fruits.
Archangeli Grocery
Famous for its artichoke (local, of course) bread and deli sandwiches.
Mercado & Taqueria De Amigos
Famous taqueria at the gas station.
On your way to/from you might stop at Bean Hallow Beach especially at low tide. The tide pools have anenomes, urchins, hermit grabs, star fish, and mussels.
One of the nearest coastal towns. Charming downtown to stroll around.
The feed store is kind of old timey and fun to walk through. Pasta Moon is great italian.
280 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Half Moon Bay
One of the nearest coastal towns. Charming downtown to stroll around.
The feed store is kind of old timey and fun to walk through. Pasta Moon is great italian.
Biking
Great mountain biking destination within spitting distance of the cottage. Here's one of Colin's favorite routes https://www.strava.com/routes/2848347741916008226
14 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Russian Ridge Preserve
Great mountain biking destination within spitting distance of the cottage. Here's one of Colin's favorite routes https://www.strava.com/routes/2848347741916008226
Portola Valley Loop Road Bike Route.
This is a local favorite for road riders.
https://www.strava.com/routes/104584
Portola Valley
Portola Valley Loop Road Bike Route.
This is a local favorite for road riders.
https://www.strava.com/routes/104584
Trail Head Cyclery
20301 Stevens Creek BlvdMountain bike rentals
Bike Connection
2011 El Camino RealRoad bike rentals