Buena Vista - San Jose, CA Area Guide

Buena Vista was once a census-designated place in Santa Clara County. Covering less than one-tenth of a square mile, the area sits right next to downtown San Jose. The close proximity gives residents easy access to the Tech Museum of Innovation, the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose and the San Jose Museum of Art.

Annual events close to the neighborhood include the Rose, White, and Blue Parade and Festival, a revival of the historic Rose Carnival of 1896. Another favorite event, the Color Run, celebrates happiness and health with fabulous bursts of color and a post-5K festival.

A concentration of restaurants along San Carlos Street provides nearby dining options for hungry residents. Nearby Burbank, Arcadia and Downtown San Jose fill in the dining gaps when necessary. Numerous family-owned ethnic restaurants match the diversity of San Jose.

Nestled in an unassuming shopping center on San Carlos Street, Pho Lynn serves authentic Vietnamese dishes, with a menu that ventures far beyond pho. Pho Lynn opens for lunch at 11 a.m. and stays open through 9 p.m. for dinner. Regular patrons recommend the generous portions of chicken or tai pho. Round out your meal with spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee. Parking can be found in front along the street, or in the parking lot in the back.

Gulzaar Halaal has been serving Middle Eastern cuisine to the Bay Area for over six years. The family-owned and operated restaurant prides itself on excellent hospitality and great food. Start your meal with a chicken samosa and follow it up with Chicken Tikks Masala. Adding an order of tandoori naan will help soak up all the delicious spices.

Burger lovers congregate at Sliders Burgers for a menu that displays a variety of meats such as ostrich, bison and wild boar. Diners can customize their burger with mushrooms, avocado and fried egg and pair it with regular or sweet potato fries. Located on San Carlos Street, the diner opens daily at 11 a.m.

When in the neighborhood, you can try to carry a karaoke tune at the Red Stag Lounge. Also located on San Carlos Street, the dive bar attracts crowds from Buena Vista and surrounding neighborhoods. When looking for a holistic nightlife experience, head one mile west to Santana Row. The high-end outdoor mall mixes boutique stores, hotels and restaurants. Business partners enjoy the fine dining options, while friends enjoy the hip urban lounges.

The streets of Buena Vista feature mature trees and meticulously landscaped lawns. Sidewalks make the streets easy to walk. Streets are a little narrow and do not contain bike lanes, so care should be taken when bicycling. Most commuters prefer their personal vehicles to access Interstates 280 and 880 as well as Highway 87, which runs through downtown San Jose.

Residences in Buena Vista have private parking, and street-side parking can also be found. However, parking at businesses along San Carlos Street is often limited. It won’t be possible to hail a cab along the streets of the neighborhood. If you find that you don’t want to drive, consider calling one of the local cab companies or use your smartphone to request a ride from Lyft.

Commuters have several options for public transportation. Regular bus stops along San Carlos Street can make for a short trip to downtown San Jose. If you are headed to San Francisco, the San Jose Caltrain station can make the 2-hour trip easier.

Centrally located within the neighborhood, Buena Vista Park consists of 2 acres of grassy area with picnic tables, a barbecue and a large playground. Families come here to toss a ball, play Frisbee and fly kites. The park is dog-friendly, but they must remain on-leash. The closest off-leash dog park, Discovery Dog Park, is located less than 2 miles to the east in downtown San Jose.

The cost of living in Buena Vista lands 27 percent lower than San Jose proper, but that still runs 34 percent higher than the national average. Residents trade the high cost of living for quick commutes to the top-of-the-line tech companies in the area. An average one-bedroom apartment will run around $1,910.

If traveling to San Jose via Santa Clara Valley Transportation, expect a commute time of approximately 20 minutes. One-way fare costs approximately $2. Gas prices in San Jose can rise as high as 25 percent above the national average, which may explain the popularity of public transportation. You can expect to pay around $7 for a pint of beer.

A Safeway one block to the east makes for easy grocery shopping in Buena Vista. The San Jose Farmers Market opens Friday mornings at 10 a.m. from early May until late November. When you need a pair of 1970s bellbottoms or 1980s moon pants you want to stop by Moon Zoom. The low-key vintage store gives shoppers a place to find vintage items from all the popular decades. The shop is organized by decade, so no matter what decade interests you, it should be easy to find. If your style is more country than city, stop by Winchester Western Wear for a pair of cowboy boots, chaps or a shiny new belt buckle. The sales people here go out of their way to make sure that you get the best product for your needs. When you need the latest handbag from Kate Spade New York or Gucci, head to Santana Row. Shoppers enjoy the fresh California breezes while window-shopping stores such as Diesel, Boutique Harajuku and Maido.