The San Jose guide

A woman-owned corner cafe on The Alameda for flavored lattes and breakfast sandwiches before a Diridon day.

A vinyl-themed cafe inside San Pedro Square Market for matcha, coffee, and an easy downtown pause.

A polished downtown cafe known for its Valencia iced coffee and easy indoor-outdoor seating.

A SoFA roaster pulling espresso from its own beans, with latte art and a steady downtown crowd.

A lively downtown gastropub with an easy weekend brunch of elevated comfort plates in a handsome old building.

A long-running Alameda breakfast spot known for huge from-scratch breakfast burritos.

A lively hacienda-style Mexican brunch spot on The Alameda with a warm weekend feel.

An all-day Lincoln Avenue cafe for sweet crepes, savory crepes, benedicts, and pancakes.

A taqueria and bar on The Alameda for tacos, seafood, and mole with a neighborhood feel.

A downtown Oaxacan dining room for house moles, mezcal, and a proper sit-down Mexican meal.

A family taco truck in SoFA serving handmade corn tortillas from a no-fuss downtown corner.

An SJSU rite of passage since 1998. People line up for the burritos and the cult orange sauce. Open late.

Fifteen-plus stalls under one roof, from tacos to pho to sushi, with a patio and live music. The move when nobody can agree.

A fast-casual downtown stop for gyros, bowls, and fries, with late hours on weekends.

The original downtown location for Vietnamese banh mi, iced coffee, and a quick takeout lunch.

A build-your-own halal bowl counter inside the SJSU Student Union for a quick campus meal.

Handcrafted ice cream in creative flavors like ube and pandan, plus boba, open late.

An artisan gelato counter in San Pedro Square Market with Italian-style scoops and house-made waffle cones.

Made-to-order warm-cookie ice cream sandwiches for a couple of dollars, with strong vegan options. The easy post-dinner treat.

A bubble tea and Asian bar-food stop steps from SJSU for a casual sweet drink run.

Old-school BBQ ribs and steaks in a casual room. The reliable pre-Sharks-game or pre-concert dinner near the arena.

Proper wood-fired Neapolitan pizza inside the San Pedro Square Market. Easy and good before an event downtown.

An upscale downtown steakhouse for prime steaks, classic cocktails, and a more formal night out.

A downtown seafood classic since 1986 for oysters, fresh fish, and a grown-up dinner near the theaters.

An open-air beer garden with rotating food trucks and games, a block from the station. The pre-game meetup near the arena.

A patio taproom above Whole Foods pouring 20-plus house IPAs and clean lagers. A walkable craft stop before events.

A New Orleans-style spot near Diridon with a big beer list, live blues, and a relaxed pre-event feel.

A San Pedro Square taproom with rotating drafts and a deep bottle selection for beer people and mixed groups.

A neighborhood Italian tasting room pouring about 30 wines by the glass with sommelier flights. Early-evening only, it closes at 7.

A San Pedro Square bar with cocktails, a broad wine list, and a patio in old horse stables.

Craft cocktails plus one of the Bay Area's largest whiskey lists, in an upscale lounge.

A speakeasy-style cocktail lounge behind a DJ bar, from the Paper Plane team and built for a later night.

A docent-led look at San Jose's oldest adobe and an 1855 mansion near San Pedro Square.

San Jose's hands-on science and tech museum, with an IMAX dome. The easy call for a rainy afternoon or curious kids.

A compact, well-chosen modern and contemporary museum right on the plaza. An hour or two, and open late some evenings.

A small SoFA museum devoted to quilts and textile art, good for a quiet culture stop.

San Jose's oldest park, with downtown lawns, fountains, and Christmas in the Park in winter.

A landmark 1877 basilica on the plaza with an ornate dome and stained glass. Free to step into during limited weekday hours.

An 1848 downtown park on the National Register, surrounded by historic churches and civic buildings.

San Jose's walkable arts strip of galleries, theaters, and bars along South First. Liveliest on the monthly First Friday art walk.

A paved riverside path linking downtown to Diridon and the SAP Center. Handy for a run or a quick stretch. Stick to the northern riverpark stretches.

A free 5.5-acre garden with about 3,500 rose bushes, at its best spring into early summer. Once voted the country's best. No pets.

A serene garden of koi ponds and tea-house lines in Kelley Park, modeled on Okayama's Korakuen. Free entry, small parking fee.

A free 47-acre urban farm park with barn animals, a rare-fruit orchard, and plenty of room for kids.

A big kids' museum along the river with 150-plus hands-on exhibits. The WaterWays water-play area is the star.

An indoor trampoline park with foam pits and basketball lanes, useful for a rainy-day energy burn.

A gentle combo of small zoo, kiddie rides, and playgrounds built for the under-7 crowd.

A family-friendly history village with old San Jose buildings, a trolley, and room to wander.

Take the train and skip the parking entirely, then wander the Ferry Building, Golden Gate Park, and the waterfront.

A classic California beachfront amusement park, free to walk into, on Monterey Bay. The Highway 17 Express bus leaves right from Diridon.

Old-growth redwood hikes at Big Basin and Henry Cowell, plus low-key hillside wineries tucked above Silicon Valley.

The world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, 17-Mile Drive, and the storybook village of Carmel-by-the-Sea.