Lunar New Year at Santana Row

This year, Santana Row will welcome the Year of the Snake on Saturday, February 1st from 11am-1pm in Santana Row Park. The family-friendly event will be hosted by NBC Bay Area and feature a large number of performances. You can find the list of performers below along with dining and shopping specials.

Fleurs de Villes San Jose LUNAIRE

From January 29th to February 2nd, visit Westfield Valley Fair for Fleurs de Villes LUNAIRE, a free 6-day immersive exhibition celebrating San Jose’s floral artistry, inspired by Lunar New Year traditions and the Zodiac focus on the Year of the Snake. 

• This stunning showcase of local floral talent will be freely open to the public from January 29 - February 2, and will feature over 15 incredible fresh floral installations, including Fleurs de Villes’ iconic mannequins.
• Visitors are also invited to extend their LUNAIRE experience by visiting another incredible floral mannequin on display at Hotel Valencia (Santana Row). 
• Each floral display will honor Lunar New Year traditions and the spirit of the Year of the Snake, offering a breathtaking fusion of culture and floral artistry created by the Bay Area’s talented floral artists.

Valley Fair is open from 10am-9pm 

Source: Westfield Valley Fair

 

Shopping in San Jose

Visit San Jose has just released a video promoting shopping in San Jose  It's less than 90 seconds long, and highlights Santana Row, Valley Fair, Downtown San Jose, and Japantown. 

Santana Row and Valley Fair have become shopping ground zero for the entire Bay Area. While many malls around the country are closing, "Uptown" continues to reel in exclusive brands and experiences. Anyway, check out the short video embedded below.

524 new apartments proposed near Santana Row

A site previously entitled for a 882,000 SQFT office and retail project has pivoted to housing. This proposal by Holland Partner Group is at the intersection of Stevens Creek and Saratoga Ave., just a few minutes drive away from Santana Row and Valley Fair.

The project would have two eight-story residential buildings, both of which would wrap around a central courtyard. Of the 524 proposed units, 5% would be designated as affordable to very-low-income households.

The ground floor would be able to accommodate two fitness centers and plans also include a co-working space. One of the goals would be to enhance the pedestrian experience for the areas fronting Stevens Creek and Saratoga Ave., and part of that would be creating brand new public gathering spaces.

While it may not be as lucrative as an office building long-term, this proposal would be a major improvement for the corner at 3896 Stevens Creek Boulevard.

Source: The Mercury News

Santana Row has a Tesla CyberCab

San Jose has the first Tesla Store in the world. It has been significantly expanded since it's inception and is still tremendously popular after more than 12 years. As a flagship store, it also has been one of the first if not the first store to show off upcoming products. These included the Model X prototype, the Model 3, and Cybertruck in the past. 

Right now the Tesla Store at Santana Row has a working prototype of the Cybercab, Tesla's first vehicle that is exclusively designed for autonomous driving. It has no steering wheel or pedals. The craziest part is that consumers will be able to purchase it (estimated to be around $30k) and rent it out like an uber when not in use.

San Jose has a very high density of EVs, especially Teslas. When these start hitting roads in 2026 I think we'll see quite a lot of them. Tesla plans to build about 2 million Cybercabs per year, which is equal to all of the cars Tesla makes today combined. It's very cool that we are one of the first cities in the world where you can get up close and personal to one of these futuristic models (the production version will be nearly identical).

Source: X

Santana Row Fall Wine Stroll

Santana Row is hosting a Fall Sip & Stroll on Thursday, November 14th from 5pm-7pm.

Stroll The Row while enjoying wine and lite bites inside 12+ Santana Row shops & restaurants. Tickets are $50 and include a signature Santana Row wine glass, wine tastings from Livermore Valley wineries, lite bites, exclusive shopping incentives, live music and more.

Participating shops and eateries include Tesla, New Balance, Yeti, Vuori, Dumpling Time, Suspiro, Paige, Marine Layer and more.  

For more information, you can contact the Santana Row Concierge at 408-551-4611.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Augustine will be Santana Row's newest high-end restaurant

Bacchus Management Group has run several Michelin-starred restaurants including The Village Pub in Woodside, Selby's in Atherton, and Spruce in SF. They also launched one of the most popular restaurants in Santana Row two decades ago--Pizza Antica. Now they are opening a second restaurant at Santana Row called Augustine.

The new restaurant will focus on family-style Mediterranean cuisine and encompass 8,000 SQFT along with a 3,000 SQFT patio space. They actually tore down the front of the building and moved the entrance back 25 feet to make the patio even larger and give the restaurant an indoor-outdoor feel.

It will have a cocktail lounge, a large bar, two dining rooms, a reservation-only cocktail bar (could it be another speakeasy?) and options for private dining. Pricing will be around $80 for a two-person dinner, but I'm assuming that is without alcohol.  

The goal is to open by end of the year at 377 Santana Row, a spot formerly occupied by Sino that has been vacant since 2020. I can't wait to try it out!

Source: SVBJ

Cisco is consolidating San Jose offices at Santana Row

After acquiring Splunk in 2024, Cisco is now working on consolidating office space. While the company has 30 buildings across its North San Jose campus, you could argue that their flagship building is sitting at the end of Santana Row. 

Cisco is planning to close four buildings at 3750 Zanker Road and 260, 300, and 350 East Tasman Drive and moving those lucky employees to the former Splunk headquarters at the Row in mid October.

The space--which I'm assuming was already pretty nice to begin with--is also undergoing a renovation. The best way to encourage people to head back into the office is to make the office an amenity. The location will certainly help here.

Source: SVBJ

Porsche is setting up shop at Santana Row

Santana Row made history as the very first location for a Tesla Store. It disrupted the entire auto market with a direct-to-consumer model and a buying experience similar to an Apple Store--perhaps because the person responsible for Apple Stores was behind the initial Tesla Store concept. Several auto makers followed suit including Lucid and Polestar which have similar stores across the street in Valley Fair. The Santana Row Tesla Store has also become so popular that it significantly expanded it's original square footage into a neighboring retail pad a few years ago. 

Now traditional automakers are getting in on the action. Porsche is opening their very first Porsche NOW concept at Santana Row.

The store will enable visitors to interact with the Porsche brand in a lounge-like environment and tinker with one of Porsche's electrified models such as the Taycan or Macan Electric. This would make sense given San Jose is the largest market for electric vehicles per capita of any large city in the US.

The Porsche NOW store is located near Hotel Valencia at 355 Santana Row and had their soft opening last week.

Source: SVBJ

International video company opens first US office near Santana Row

Oslo-based Neat has nabbed a 10,887 SQFT space at 2880 Stevens Creek Boulevard, just beside the entrance to Santana Row and facing Valley Fair. 

The space will be used as both a worksite for 30 employees and a place where clients can try out Neat's products. The office will have conference rooms, huddle spaces, an R&D lab, and an open-seating theater space.

While most tech companies are pushing for employees to return to the office, Neat is taking a different approach where it does not have in-person requirements and the company believes employees should have a workday that suits their needs. If that sounds appealing, the company is hiring.

Source: SVBJ

Couchbase takes the ground-floor at Santana West

Santana West has just leased another tenant across from Santana Row. Couchbase has leased 23,680 SQFT on the ground floor and plans to move in Q1 2025. There will also be a fitness center, golf simulator, and cafe on that floor.

Couchbase will join PWC and Acrisure as major tenants of the building, which is an easy walk to Silicon Valley's top shopping and dining destinations.

Source: SVBJ

Suspiro Paella Party

Paella is a delicious Spanish rice dish that you almost always have to order for two people or more. Suspiro at Santana Row is doing Paella Parties where you can commit to a smaller portion for $16 a plate along with discounted Sangrias. 

You can find Suspiro all the way at the end of the Row next to Meso and Barry's Bootcamp. (Shh, it also has a hidden Speakeasy in the back).

Santana Row ends free parking

Well, it finally happened. I think the writing was on the wall as soon as Valley Fair started charging for parking. After 20 years, Santana Row will start charging for parking. The first two hours will still remain free, but each additional hour will cost $2 with a daily cap of $10. Workers can park for $20 each month or $2 per day.

This is not just a money grab. Valley Fair employees and patrons started parking at Santana Row and walking across the street. The silver lining is that it will likely be much easier to find a parking space, especially during weekends and holidays where it can take a significant amount of time to find a spot. Paid parking tend to improve security as well in garages.

The parking system will be ticketless. Instead it will track license places and calculate time spent at the Row. It has been implemented in one garage so far, but the rest will soon follow. 

Source: San Jose Spotlight

Mother's Day at Santana Row

It's not too late to book Mother's Day lunch or brunch. Below are several easy options at Santana Row:

Left Bank: Nothing says "je t'aime" like a truly great meal, oui? Indulge the special mother figure in your life with a delightful and authentic French dining experience at Left Bank Brasserie.Treat her to a delightful array of dishes curated with her in mind, featuring both our beloved brunch classics and new spring-inspired brunch additions, available from 10 AM to 3 PM. For dinner, savor our exceptional Braised Lamb Shank alongside our regular dinner menu, served from 3 PM to 8 PM. All Left Bank locations will be open from 10 AM to 8 PM. Click here to see Mother's Day Specials.

LB Steak: This Mother's Day, honor Mom with an unforgettable dining experience at LB Steak! We'll be serving the below Brunch menu additions, as well as the regular Brunch menu, from 10 AM-2:30 PM. We'll also be featuring Dinner menu additions from 3 PM to 8 PM. Our regular Dinner menu will also be served all day, from 10 AM to 8 PM, along with our special Peach Bellini for Mom. Relax and enjoy the beauty of family as we attend to every detail. It's never too early to start planning for reservations! Book your table online or by calling us at 408-413-3939 today. Click here to see Mother's Day Specials.

Meso Modern Mediterranean: Join us at Meso this Mother's Day to treat your mother, grandmother, aunt, or any other special mother figure in your life to a delicious brunch out at the beautiful Santana Row! On Sunday, May 12th, we will be serving the below brunch menu additions from 10 am-2:30 pm in addition to our regular brunch menu. A reduced all-day menu will also be served from 10 am-4 pm, and our regular dinner menu will continue from 4pm-close, along with the below special dinner addition. Reserve today on our website or by giving us a call! We are excited to be offering extended hours on Mother's Day, and will be open from 10 am-9 pm. Click here to see Mother's Day Specials.

Hotel Valencia: Join us at Hotel Valencia for a delightful Mother's Day Brunch Buffet! Enjoy a spread of gourmet treats and celebrate in style. Mother's Day Brunch Tickets, Sun, May 12th, 2024 at 11AM. Click here to purchase tickets. 

Fitoor is now open, bringing high-end Indian cuisine and late-night music to Santana Row

The San Jose food-scene continues to evolve and reach new heights. Fitoor (which is the word for passion in Hindi) is brining Indian food back to Santana Row in the same space that housed Amber India for years. However, Fitoor is a much higher-end concept than Amber and is run by serial entrepreneurs that also own the Michelin-recommended Rooh in Palo Alto.

Fitoor's ambiance and food look exquisite and I can't wait to try it for myself in early May. For now, I'll just have to savor these photos from The Merc.

Another twist on traditional Indian cuisine is their take on nightlife. On Friday and Saturday nights the lounge portion of the restaurant features DJs, fire dancers, and a more clubby vibe. It's certainly a unique addition to the Row and seems like a step up from what was there before (and I really liked Amber).

In other restaurant news, the expanded Elyse featuring French Vietnamese cuisine--and a local San Jose chef--has their official ribbon cutting tonight. More on that later this week.

Source: The Mercury News

Eye-catching residential towers could rise near Valley Fair and Santana Row

If there ever was an area ripe for high-rise development outside of Downtown it would be right around our shopping mecca of Valley Fair and Santana Row. While it has limited transit, the area is flush with shopping, dining, and jobs.

A two-tower project has been proposed to replace a dilapidated building at 826 North Winchester Blvd. The project would consist of 135 residential units (70 one-bedroom and 65 two-bedroom units), 20 of which would be affordable. There would also be 13,000 SQFT of open space, 6,000 SQFT of terrace space, and 7,500 SQFT of amenity space.

The top floors would have amazing views in all directions, including views of neighboring Downtown San Jose. Another impressive feature is a sky bridge connecting the two towers and likely featuring outdoor and amenity space with views.

If this comes to fruition, it'll be the new standard for development going forward in "uptown" San Jose.

Source: The Mercury News

Santana Row has a Speakeasy now!

Today I finally got to try Suspiro, the new Spanish & Peruvian restaurant at the end of Santana Row facing Meso. They just opened three weeks ago and have a few kinks to work out, but the ambiance was outstanding and the food was solid. My favorites were the Paella, Ceviche, and Lomo Saltado. However, this restaurant hides a secret...

In the very back past the unisex restrooms there is a black curtain that reveals a Ms. Pac-Man arcade cabinet. Behind the arcade is a locked door that takes you to S.Suspiro, a secret speakeasy! You can only get in with a reservation and have to be escorted by staff.

The Speakeasy has a completely separate food and drink menu from the restaurant, and even has it's own hidden patio on the other side of the building (last photo)! I don't have a lot of other info except for the house rules:

- No standing at the bar

- No flash

- No name dropping

- No smoking

- Please be patient, our drinks are labor intensive

- Please exit quietly

I can't wait to try it out. Previously, the closest thing Santana Row had to a secret bar was Cielo--a rooftop wine bar where you have to take two separate elevators up to reach in Hotel Valencia.

To make reservations for S.Suspiro and experience the first actual Speakeasy at Santana Row, click here.

Plans to convert medical office to housing near Santana Row

This is a relatively small project, but an interesting one due to it's location and density for the surrounding area. There is a proposal in play to demolish three single-story commercial buildings at 2881 Hemlock, 376 Baywood, and 384 Baywood and replace them with a six-story mixed-use building.

The structure would have 18,825 SQFT of commercial space on the ground floor (potentially commercial condos) and 75 "high-end" residential condos on the upper floors. The condos would be a mix of 1-3 bedroom units. There would also be 100 parking spaces in two underground parking levels.

In terms of location, it is a two-block walk to Santana Row and short walk to Valley Fair. This is a prime area for redevelopment.

Source: SVBJ

PwC coming to Santana West

PwC has leased 141,000 SQFT of office space at One Santana West, right across the street from Santana Row. The decision was led by the modernity, efficiency, and amenities the office offered. PwC plans to occupy the space in early 2026.

That now makes 3.5 floors leased in the building, with 4.5 floors and 198,000 SQFT to go. Acrisure is the only other tenant in the building.

Source: SVBJ

Santana Row Spring Fling Wine Stroll

Walk down the Row while enjoying an assortment of wines in select shops and restaurants. The two hour event runs from 5-7pm on April 18th and includes a Santana Row wine glass to keep and wine tastings from local Bay Area wineries.

The cost is $50 per person, and you can also get a complimentary flower bouquet if you spend more than $100 while strolling down the Row. You can order tickets here.