Northlake - San Jose, CA

As California’s first civilian settlement, San Jose — known then as San Jose de Guadalupe — housed its residents since 1777. In the years following, San Jose developed as a farming community and then as a Bay Area suburb. The technology boom in the 1990s led to rapid growth of San Jose and Silicon Valley. Today, diverse people from many different cultures make their home in a city that attracts tech hopefuls and families.

Northlake residents interested in history go to the nearby Winchester Mystery House, where Sarah Winchester built a massive home full of strange staircases and secret rooms. Aspiring artists can go to Vino Artist to learn painting skills while drinking a glass of wine. Northlake and other West San Jose residents go downtown for festivals and events, or to Campbell for happenings like Boogie on the Bayou.

Northlake locals mostly go out to eat and drink around Saratoga Avenue, but they also travel to Santana Row to check out the shopping center’s many culinary delights. With local music venues around, music fans can go out and travel just a few minutes to listen to some bands. Northlake locals mostly pride the restaurants in the area, and they benefit from the diverse fare in this part of San Jose.

Travelers looking for a quick meal love A Slice of New York off Stevens Creek Boulevard. The hole-in-the-wall pizza joint mostly serves to-go and pickup orders, so it works well as a takeout place. Order the white pizza for a fresh twist on New York slices and enjoy the large, flat slices reminiscent of New York City. Make sure to order the garlic knots, which locals love to eat as a side dish.

Northlake locals looking for more of an Asian fusion place choose Santouka, a Japanese restaurant known for its ramen. Located within the Mitsuwa Marketplace, Santouka always draws a crowd because of its high-quality dishes. Residents love the salty broth and tasty noodles, and pork fans especially laud the toroniku special pork plate. For authentic Japanese ramen, diners cannot go wrong with Santouka for their next food outing.

If pizza and ramen doesn’t quite do it, the high-end restaurant Le Papillon puts on a clinic as far as French steakhouses go. Restaurant patrons try everything from the slow-poached lobster appetizer to the red deer for the entrée. Le Papillon keeps the same fixed menu for all its customers, but the chefs make sure they cook the food to perfection. Finish with the Souffle Grand Marnier to top off the night.

Northlake residents can travel a bit into Santa Clara for drinks and karaoke at Woodhams Sports Lounge, where everyone enjoys cheap drinks. Vintage Wine Bar provides a different kind of atmosphere with its wine tasting in the center of Santana Row. Music lovers adore RockBar Theater’s shows and food. Others like to try some vodka at the venue’s vodka bar.

Locals in Northlake have to zip over to downtown San Jose or south to Campbell for some dancing. The Cardiff Lounge entertains crowds of dancers while featuring its awesome DJs.

Northlake’s prime location makes it a place where light rails and buses pass through, as well as other traffic. Though most Northlake locals choose to drive, many can walk to go shopping or to get to nearby restaurants. Pedestrians take caution on large streets like Saratoga Avenue, but they can still cross legally and get to where they need to go within the neighborhood’s borders.

Commuters take the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses through Northlake, which provides a few stops for residents. Still, driving proves to be the easiest way to get to work from Northlake — they can hop on Interstate 280 to go east and west of San Jose. Parking in Northlake can get a little tricky during busy times, but residents find easy parking on their own streets.

Cabs regularly drive through West San Jose, especially near Santana Row, so residents can call one to come quickly. Lyft and Uber give lifts to those who prefer to pay less than they would for a cab. Cyclists can ride on the flat roads, but Northlake does not provide them with many bike lanes, so it can become dangerous. Bicyclists should be careful while riding through West San Jose.

Northlake itself does not possess a neighborhood park, but residents travel north to Santa Clara to visit some of the recreational spaces there. The free-to-access Central Park, which hosts the Santa Clara Swim Club, features playgrounds and wide open fields for kids to play. Check out the pavilion and the exercise stations scattered throughout the area, and bring a dog along.

Northlake locals can also choose to go south to Starbird Park, located between Northlake and Campbell. Kids enjoy playing sports on the basketball courts and softball field, and the whole family can get together to play horseshoes. Adults mostly get their exercise at the free Starbird Park by shooting some hoops or playing other games. Two playgrounds allow children aged two to 12 to play, so many kids enjoy the equipment on the large and small play areas.

Santa Clara’s Central Park hosts a few festivals throughout the year that draw in residents from throughout the valley. The Art & Wine Festival displays both local art and wineries, which regularly pour wine during the day. Beer fans can also take advantage of the available microbrews.

Demand for housing in San Jose caused the cost of living rate to rise rapidly in the last several decades. Living in San Jose has a higher cost of living than the national average, and a one-bedroom apartment in Northlake costs about $1,829 per month on average.

Traveling on Santa Clara VTA light rails and buses costs $2 for most users who embark on a one-way trip. People who prefer to use their own cars to travel can expect to pay 23 percent more than the national average on gas.

Northlake locals have the pleasure of shopping at Santana Row, an upscale outdoor mall that looks like shopping centers in Europe. Shoppers experience the delight of looking at Santana Row’s architecture and amazing façade while shopping at places like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. High-end shoppers like to head into Gucci and other pricier boutiques.

Other boutiques around Northlake include Bombshell Boutique in Campbell. There, women can buy purses, jewelry, dresses and even lingerie. Some shoppers choose Bombshell Boutique to purchase a gift for a special occasion or for the holidays. Children love The Train Shop in Santa Clara, where they can get some books and check out model trains for all ages.

Northlake grocery shoppers benefit from a nearby Walmart and Lucky, where they can purchase some goods. Locals like a few ethnic groceries too, like Iran Bazaar Corporation, which features Persian groceries and kabobs to go.