Midtown Milpitas - Milpitas, CA Area Guide

Milpitas got its origin as a farming community that grew after becoming a watering hole for travelers journeying between Oakland and San Jose. Midtown was the first neighborhood to be built in the city, and is the only commercial district in the city today built before 1945. Sadly, many of the historic buildings have been lost over the years to the broadening freeways and related development.

Today Midtown is a prosperous and affluent community that boasts an excellent arts scene. Kids gain confidence while entertaining family and friends at Center Stage Performing Arts. It is home to the Phantom Art Gallery - a public space that displays works from local artists. And for other types of art or cultural enterprises, groups and individuals can apply for funding from the Milpitas Arts and Culture Grant Program.

When it comes to nightlife in Midtown Milpitas, you're more likely to find casual family dining or intimate date spots in quaint, family-owned restaurants than any kind of clubbing or bar-hopping scene. You can find a selection of chain restaurants and fast-food joints within the Great Mall, Milpitas's biggest tourist draw. In addition to the Subways and the Red Robins, Filipino food lovers come for beloved fast-food chain Jollibee, and diners can enjoy fresh seafood at the Great Mall Mayflower Seafood Restaurant.

Head south to Milan Indian Cuisine for some of the best samosas and pakodas in town. Save room for dessert; Milan shines in the variety of its bhindis, lassis and more. For a high-end dining experience, bring your date to Zahir's Bistro for white tablecloth service and organic, locally sourced cuisine. The chef and the owner serve Italian and European classics such as prime rib and sea bass.

Most residents and visitors in Midtown get around in private cars. With two major freeways cutting north/south through town, as well as two smaller highways running east/west, Milpitas's Midtown is a key gateway from the South Bay to the East Bay.

For those traveling locally, Milpitas is actually quite bicycle-friendly. Most major roads have dedicated bike lanes, particularly around the technology campus area and in the roads leading up to the Great Mall. Don't expect to see a lot of pedestrians though, except those walking to and from their cars through the few blocks of downtown.

Many commuters heading into San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose choose to take one of the excellent public transportation options. Midtown is served by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which runs buses and light rail trains throughout the South Bay and connects with other local transit systems.

Only a few miles from the bay waterfront to the west and the hills to the east, Milpitas is a fantastic place for people who love the outdoors. Within Midtown itself, you and your family can bike over to 8-acre Pinewood Park. Let the kids romp on the playground or join a game on the basketball or tennis courts. You can relax at a picnic table, fire up lunch on the BBQ pits or just doze under the trees.

A short drive to the east will land you in the expansive open spaces of Ed Levin County Park. This park draws everyone from families of hikers to hang gliders leaping off the foothills.

The community offers several annual events including a Tree Lighting in December, a Veterans Day ceremony in November and the popular city-wide Spelling Bee every January.

Thanks to its central location near Silicon Valley businesses, combined with its distance from concentrated urban areas, there's quite a demand for property in Midtown. The average one-bedroom apartment goes for $1,866 per month.

Being so close to two major freeways that see a lot of through traffic, you have to look pretty hard to find cheap gas. On the average, gas prices in Milpitas run 23% higher than the national average, and even discount spots are significantly higher.

Food and drink costs range depending on where you are. A beer in a chain restaurant inside the Great Mall starts at $6 or $7, while a beer in a dive bar in the north part of town goes for $4 or $5.

Midtown is home to the Great Mall, one of the largest indoor outlet malls in the whole state. For bargain hunters and teens, the Great Mall is destination shopping worth a drive into town. Locals, however, often do their shopping in one of the several mini-malls and stretches of commercial property interspersed throughout the north part of town.

In addition to chain grocery stores such as Vons, Lucky, and Walmart, Midtown hosts several specialty markets. Restock your spice cabinet with garam masala at Namaste Plaza, an Indian grocery store with international food and fresh local produce as well. Check out the local mini-chains such as 99 Ranch Market, which specializes in Korean and other Asian delicacies. This market is a thriving center of the community, sponsoring everything from medical outreach to food festivals.

For those looking for a special, one-of-a-kind gift or hobby item, the south part of Midtown contains several quirky independent shops that make a big impact in this small town. Treasure Hunters Headquarters can set you up with metal-detecting gear, gold-panning equipment, or even a fully-planned day adventure for your group or your family. Get yourself on the road in a tuned up vehicle from Blacktrax Performance: a high end mechanic shop delivering high performance custom solutions for both international and domestic vehicles. Pick up a few accessories or bring your car in for a top-to-bottom overhaul.