Welcome to Los Gatos
Living in Los Gatos, California
Set against the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos combines a distinctive small-town atmosphere with the energy and convenience of Silicon Valley. Historic architecture, tree-lined residential streets, highly regarded schools, acclaimed restaurants, local boutiques, parks, trails, and a lively downtown give the town a character all its own.
North Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street form the center of Downtown Los Gatos, where cafés, restaurants, shops, wine tasting rooms, and community events keep the area active throughout the week. Beyond downtown, neighborhoods offer an impressive range of architecture and character. Almond Grove and Glen Ridge are known for historic character and easy access to town, while Blossom Manor and Downtown offer established residential streets close to parks and everyday amenities. Farther toward Belgatos, Belwood, Kennedy Road, Shannon Road, Rinconada, and the surrounding Los Gatos foothills, larger properties, mountain views, and a closer connection to open space shape a very different lifestyle.
With Highway 17 leading toward Santa Cruz and Highway 85 connecting throughout Silicon Valley, Los Gatos also occupies a unique position between the South Bay and the coast. Few Silicon Valley towns balance a walkable historic downtown with such immediate access to trails, parks, reservoirs, and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
What We Love
- The walkable shops, restaurants, cafés, and gathering places of Downtown Los Gatos
- Quick access to Fortune 100 tech companies and other Silicon Valley employers as well as Santa Cruz and the coast
- A strong calendar of community events and traditions including Fantasy of Lights, Jazz on the Plazz, Taste of Los Gatos, Halloween, the Wine Walk and so many more
- Distinct neighborhoods, including Almond Grove, Glen Ridge, Blossom Manor, Belgatos, Rinconada, and the foothills, each offering its own setting and architectural character
- Award winning schools and a community deeply committed to education. We’re proud supporters of One Community and the Los Gatos Education Foundation.
- Exceptional access to the outdoors, including the Los Gatos Creek Trail, Vasona Lake County Park, Oak Meadow Park, Belgatos Park, Lexington Reservoir, and the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains
Local Lifestyle
With nearly 300 sunny days a year, Los Gatos is the kind of place where community is felt in the everyday rhythm of life. Downtown Los Gatos stays lively with neighbors meeting for coffee, strolling North Santa Cruz Avenue, dining outdoors, and gathering for local events, while nearby parks, preserves, schools, and foothill trails make it easy to stay connected to the outdoors. From the historic homes of Almond Grove and Glen Ridge to the established streets of Blossom Manor and the scenic Los Gatos foothills, each neighborhood brings its own character.
At the same time, Los Gatos remains closely connected to the greater Silicon Valley, with convenient access to Cupertino and major technology and employment centers throughout the South Bay. It is that balance of small-town character, strong community ties, and connection to the broader Silicon Valley that makes Los Gatos such a special place to call home. What ties it all together is a strong sense of community, local pride, and the feeling that Los Gatos is more than just a place to live.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Downtown Los Gatos is one of those places locals actually use every day, not just on weekends. North Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street are lined with restaurants, cafés, wine bars, bakeries, boutiques, galleries, and local businesses, making it easy to stop for coffee, meet friends for lunch, browse a few shops, and stay for dinner. Old Town Los Gatos adds another open-air shopping and dining destination just steps from downtown.
There are plenty of local favorites woven into the routine. Los Gatos Cafe is a longtime go-to for breakfast and brunch, Manresa Bread is hard to pass up for pastries and fresh bread, and Testarossa Winery offers wine tasting in a setting that feels distinctly Los Gatos. The surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains add even more wineries and vineyard experiences just a short drive away.
Shopping is equally local in feel, with independent fashion boutiques, home stores, specialty shops, and everyday services mixed throughout downtown. On Sunday mornings, Town Plaza fills with the Los Gatos Certified Farmers’ Market, one of those weekly traditions that brings the whole community out for produce, flowers, fresh food, and a slow stroll through town.
Things to Do in Los Gatos
Los Gatos makes it easy to spend time outdoors. Follow the Los Gatos Creek Trail through town, spend an afternoon at Vasona Lake County Park or Oak Meadow Park, hike St. Joseph’s Hill and nearby open-space preserves, or head toward Lexington Reservoir and the Santa Cruz Mountain foothills. Trails range from easy walks and bike rides around Vasona to more challenging climbs, giving runners, hikers, and cyclists plenty of ways to stay active.
Family-friendly activities are woven throughout the community. The Los Gatos Library offers storytimes, STEAM activities, crafts, and programming for children and teens, while Oak Meadow Park is home to the beloved Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad and carousel. Neighboring Vasona Lake offers expansive lawns, picnic areas, trails, seasonal boating, and the Youth Science Institute.
Beyond the trails, Los Gatos offers fitness studios for everything from yoga and Pilates to strength and cycling. Golfers can spend the day at La Rinconada Country Club, while arts and culture can be found at NUMU and throughout the historic streets of Downtown Los Gatos.
The town also comes alive through a busy calendar of community events. Jazz on the Plazz brings live music to Town Plaza during the summer, while Music in the Park has been a Los Gatos tradition since 1988. Seasonal celebrations, downtown events, arts programming, and other community gatherings continue throughout the year.
For a relaxed Los Gatos weekend, it is easy to pair a morning hike or walk along the Los Gatos Creek Trail with the Sunday farmers market, lunch and shopping along North Santa Cruz Avenue, an afternoon at Vasona or Oak Meadow, and dinner or wine tasting downtown later in the day.
