We flew into the impressively-named Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport, which actually turned out to be larger than we’d expected, considering that Santa Clara has a population of around 120,000, although I suppose as this is more or less in the center of Silicon Valley it is a much-used destination. The airport actually has two terminals and is served by several major airlines.
We’d chosen our starting point at Santana Row to be these pretty gardens on Olin Avenue, because this was just about the center of the complex of the 70 or so stores and restaurants that make up this modern shopping venue. Some folks refer to the place as the Rodeo Drive of Santa Clara or San Jose, as the stores here include prestigious names like Gucci, Tiffany’s, Burberry, Diesel and more. Because it spans a number of streets it doesn’t feel like a normal shopping mall, which I think is a major part of its appeal.
Coffees and cakes consumed, we decided next to walk to our hotel and drop off our small travel bags. Although we were still some three hours too early for the advertised check in time of 3:00pm, we decided to try our luck, so that we might – with luck – get on with shopping unencumbered by baggage. We‘d pre-booked into the Hotel Valencia, which was just a short walk further along the tree-lined Olin Avenue then left into Santana Row (street of the same name as the shopping center) and to the hotel.
As it turned out, the hotel was quite happy to let us leave our bags there, put away by the concierge until we returned to check in properly, so the baggage problem was solved. Our first impression of this elegant hotel was great! It’s fairly expensive to stay there, but so what?! This was a one-off trip so we’d agreed in advance to make the most of it and not hold back on the expense. We’d also taken the trouble beforehand to check out some reviews online and they were generally very favourable. Also, its location right in the middle of the Santana Row shopping area and within easy reach of a wide choice of restaurants and bars I think was the clincher.
So, having unloaded our luggage (albeit just two regulation aircraft cabin-size “wheelies”) we were free to begin the shopping experience in earnest. We exited the Hotel and out through the imposing entrance arch back onto Santana Row – a divided road flanked on either side every few feet by beautiful square flower tubs on the sidewalks and separated by a manicured lush grass median and immaculate flower beds down the center. Having no real itinerary or plan in mind, we then re-crossed Olin Avenue and decided to wander on down Santana Row, mainly window shopping, just to get the feel of the place. Although the first two stores we passed on the left side were Diesel and then Ted Baker of London, I have to admit that being quite interested in gardening, my eye was taken as much by the simply delightful hanging baskets, potted floral displays and the trees and shrubberies, which were down both sidewalks and in the now much wider central median that housed wine bars, cafés and the like. What a beautiful, beautiful place!
Then we came to the Village Wine Bar at number 378 Santana Row. Not only did it have neat little tables with white tablecloths ranged along the sidewalk out front, but a further row of tables stretched away into a wide, shady, arched passage (leading through to a car park) flanked on the other side by a similar row of tables belonging to the neighboring Yankee Pier bar. Well, we’d only been strolling for a few minutes, but what better time and place for a nice cool glass of white wine!
Without giving a blow-by-blow account of our further meanderings around the streets of the Santana Row complex, I’ll just say that although the spirit was willing, the poor old feet were beginning to protest after another two hours of mainly window shopping. Hence, finding ourselves at about 4pm just along the street from the Hotel Valencia, we decided to check in, take a refreshing shower apiece and then decide how to spend the rest of the day.
I must say our twin room in the hotel was great. We had a room with a balcony overlooking the inner courtyard; you’re able to enjoy the feeling of the outdoors atmosphere yet still having your privacy. The room was well equipped with a comfortable leather armchair and coffee making facilities. We also had a 42” flat screen TV and saw from the hotel information folder that we would have twice daily maid service.
Although the hotel of course had its own restaurant, plus a rooftop wine bar, we decided to choose from the numerous other restaurants in the immediate vicinity for our dinner that evening. In the end, partly on recommendation from a helpful guy at Reception, we decided to go for something at Yard House – a well-known place at the top end of Santana Row, looking across at the Macy’s store on the far side of Stevens Creek Boulevard.
On the hotel guy’s recommendation we ambled up there in their Happy Hour – not only are the prices better but it’s not so busy; he told us there can be up to a two-hour wait for a table at the busiest time in the weekends! Well I guess we were really lucky. When we walked in there was no wait whatsoever. The friendly young waitress showed us to a really comfy and spacious booth and offered us the drinks and food menus to browse. It was difficult to concentrate on looking at the menus though as there was so much to take in for a first-timer. There was a large screen TV in the bar area showing sports and rock and roll music thumping out, ensuring a high noise level as patrons tried to make themselves heard over it (or in spite of it!).
Within a few minutes we were able to place our orders, which – as we’d been told at the hotel – had good Happy Hour discounts, like $2.00 off wine and half price on cocktails and some tapas.
So to start off, I ordered my choice of drink, a pomegranate-based martini, which was both fruity and sweet. Next, I ordered glass noodles, chicken wings, calamari, and bbq fries. Each dish was delicious and they were good portion sizes too. I can honestly say I enjoyed every bit of the food, though there was a lot of it!
Finally, just as we were finishing our entrees, our server brought us the dessert menu. I chose one of their specialty ice cream sundaes. I must say that we thoroughly enjoyed our desserts while finishing off our drinks.
Then a short stroll back to the hotel and a nice comfortable bed to enjoy a good night’s sleep, before tomorrow’s cab ride back to the airport and then the flight home. Our visit to Santana Row has definitely been memorable, though if anything could be at least twice as long to see and enjoy more of the stores and maybe venture a bit further afield like to the nearby Valley Fair Shopping Center just across Stevens Creek Boulevard. It most certainly is somewhere I’d like to return to in the future.
References
Santana Row Store Map. (23 April 2012). Retrieved from http://www.santanarow.com/
