Downtown Sunnyvale - Sunnyvale, CA Area Guide

The Ohlone Native Americans once inhabited the Santa Clara Valley. In 1777, the Mission Santa Clara was constructed by Christian Ohlone. The 19th century brought agricultural development and settlers from government land grants. The railroad was completed in 1860, linking the town with San Jose and San Francisco. Earlier large-scale wheat production was replaced during the last decades of the 19th century with fruit cultivation, due to topsoil degradation from monocrop production. Canning and fruit production became major industries for the valley. Sunnyvale was formally incorporated as a city in 1912. WWII changed the valley from an agricultural center to a high-tech mecca, producing steam engines, rocket launchers and more.

High-tech manufacturing serves as the base of Sunnyvale's economy. The Sunnyvale Heritage Museum showcases the history of the area. The annual Sunnyvale Art & Wine festival highlights local artists and home-grown California wines.

Restaurant options in the neighborhood remain abundant, with a wide range of culinary traditions to sample from. The Murphy Avenue area alone hosts over a dozen boutique eateries spanning Indian, Thai, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine.

Locals rave about Dishdash, an upscale yet casual Middle Eastern restaurant showcasing local produce, humanely-raised meats and sustainably harvested seafood. Begin your meal with a delicious appetizer called gambari, with grilled prawns, tomatoes, eggplant, jalapeños, garlic, onions, ginger, and cumin. Being properly appetized, move on to the main course of sabanekh, consisting of slow cooked lamb, spinach, black-eyed beans, and onions. Savor the authentic flavors in the midst of well-appointed Middle Eastern decor and music.

For Indian fine dining, look no further than Turmeric Restaurant, an elegant eatery featuring classically prepared dishes, and innovations from chef and owner Arvind Bhargava. Turmeric also features a full bar with specialty cocktails. For a taste of it all, try the economic dinner or lunch buffet, stocked with traditional Indian favorites. Those seeking new flavors do well to order the kathal biryani, with long grain rice, jackfruit, vegetables, and Indian spices slow-cooked in a traditional Indian dum. Continue the culinary exploration with a dessert of Rabri with grapes, a reduced form of saffron milk mixed with fresh grapes.

Nightlife centers on Murphy Street, which houses a number of great bars and pubs. Check out Murphy's Law for Irish Pub vibes and big-screen sports, and Office Bar and grill for snacks and karaoke.

Walkability scores high in Downtown Sunnyvale, with most errands and needs within walking distance. Biking serves as another popular way to get around, and bike lanes on some streets provide added safety.

Public transportation services ride to parts of the city and surrounding areas. Caltrain allows residents quick access to much of the Bay Area including San Francisco and San Jose.

Hailing a cab can be difficult in the neighborhood, but several local outfits provide service in the area. Uber covers the area as well for ride-share options. Public parking can be found in residential areas and in commercial areas during the week. Spaces remain mostly free, but you may see some parking meters as well.

Downtown Sunnyvale features several parks and recreation areas within the neighborhood boundaries and in adjacent areas. All parks remain free of cost and allow dogs on leashes, or off-leash at Las Palmas Park. Kids love Las Palmas Park and Washington Park for the play structures and sports amenities.

Las Palmas Park provides a Polynesian-themed 24-acre recreation area with a play area, tennis courts and off-leash dog area. Picnic sites come available for rent. Washington Park hosts basketball courts, a play structure, horseshoe pits, a swimming pool and tennis courts. Sunnyvale Heritage Parks hosts the Heritage Museum with native fruit plants and tree species in a natural environment.

Murphy Street transforms into Dixieland during the annual Jazz and Beyond event, with live music featured outdoors during July and August.

Cost of living hits higher than the city average, and significantly higher than the California average in Downtown Sunnyvale. Public transit to downtown costs $2, but this destination sits close enough to walk from the neighborhood. The average rent for a one-bedroom resident stands at $2,142.93. The typical price of a beer at a local pub costs between $4 to $6. Gas prices cost on average 21 percent more than the national average.

Shopping options can be found concentrated near the Caltrain station on Evelyn Avenue and along Highway 82. Some boutique and specialty stores mix in with every-day goods and services stores.

Purlescence Yarns touts itself as the premier fiber arts resource in the Bay Area, and with their great selection of yarns, looms, spinning wheels and more, they have earned that claim. Purlescence stocks only the finest yarn from Fair Trade certified suppliers in Latin America and Asia. The shop serves as one of the only locations to shop for spinning wheels, and also gives classes in spinning, crocheting and more. Stop in during an open-knit to chat with other creators and yarn fanatics.

Cyclists should check out Walt's Cycle, serving the South Bay Area since 1953. The shop features conventional styles including road, mountain and BMX bikes alongside kinetic wind trainers, adult trikes, trailer-hitch bike racks and more. Don't forget to check out the awesome folding bikes and electric bikes. With over 460 bikes in stock, assembled and ready to use, you can find the perfect bike for your needs and body type.

Healthy eats can be found in the neighborhood at Trader Joe's and Sprouts Farmer's Market, featuring organic and natural products. A farmers market runs year-round every Sunday morning on Murphy street.