Family-friendly residential cities with top-notch schools shares Main Street with the scenic and idyllic Los Altos Hills.
The official birthplace of Apple Inc., Los Altos is a quaint and family-friendly residential neighborhood perched on the land bordering Palo Alto Hills, Cupertino, and Mountain View. Los Altos connect with its affluent neighbor Los Altos Hills at the center of the peninsula, more recently known as Silicon Valley. Apart from the larger lots and more expensive homes, Los Altos Hills, differs most from Los Altos because it is a strictly residential town with a ban on commercial zones. Those seeking a scenic, rural, and ultra-private place to live appreciate the tranquility of Los Altos Hills and its dedication to preserving the residential, agricultural lifestyle.
What to Love
Many highly-rated restaurants
Several gorgeous parks
Access to top-notch schools
Private, scenic, and rural
Beautiful Main Street
Access to major highways with minimal traffic
People & Lifestyle
Even though Los Altos doesn't have bans as strict as Los Altos Hills, commercial zones are still largely limited to downtown resulting in a quiet, slow-paced suburban city popular with families, retirees, professionals, and empty nesters. The absence of big businesses and commercialization has created a private, cozy enclave that retains its rich historical and agricultural roots.
Families appreciate the minimal traffic and easy access to top-notch schools. Many of the lots are relatively large and dotted with gorgeous natural redwood trees, particularly in Los Altos Hills. Homes are generally a mix of Ranch-style properties and custom new construction.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Los Altos is an exclusive community home to many highly rated restaurants. The warm and inviting Los Altos Grill serves classic American favorites and other down-home dishes, and at The Post local ingredients combine to make creative American comfort foods.
The acclaimed Manresa team brings Los Altos residents Manresa Bread, a neighborhood bakery centered around building a sense of community, and House on First rests inside a bright and colorful cottage offering farm-to-table fares. Vegans and gluten-free diners appreciate the wide selection offered by Sweet Diplomacy Patisserie.
Urfa Bistro is ideal for a quick lunch. Grab a classic Mediterranean entree, wrap, or salad to-go. Café Nur is a relaxed counter-serve offering falafel, kebabs, gyros, and more Mediterranean favorites. State of Mind Pizzeria allows guests to create any pie they can imagine with a range of creative toppings, plus local brews. Seafood lovers can't get enough of the cheerful Rustic House Oyster Bar & Grill, a modern-rustic bar for raw oysters and seafood dishes.
Italian cuisine doesn't get better than the upscale restaurant and wine bar Tre Monti or the trattoria BariBar Bistro. Elevated fare is on the menu at the chic ASA, which combines Italian and Spanish influences to make bold and flavorful meals.
The stylish upmarket bistro Hiroshi provides guests with an intimate dining event featuring the ultimate Wagyu steak experience. For a more laid-back dining experience, Chef Chu's is a local favorite for Chinese food classics and Chef Chu's specialty signature dishes. Satura Cakes specializes in traditional cookies, pastries, and custom cakes made to order with a Japanese-European fusion twist.
The long-running indie bookseller Linden Tree Books sells a range of titles, music, and gifts for all ages.
When you live in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips. Start your day with a cup of coffee, run to the dry cleaners, break a sweat at the gym, window shop boutiques, and grab late-night drinks without ever leaving the area.
Things to Do
Starting in May and running through September, locals and visitors alike frequent the Downtown Los Altos Farmers' Market on State Street. The market is ideal for finding unique gifts, fresh produce, and specialty food items. Come winter, celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with the annual Festival of Lights Parade, a magical event featuring local high school marching bands, floats, and the man of the hour himself: Santa Claus! The Mini Holiday Market, hosted by the Los Altos Village Association takes place annually, and you’ll find the perfect holiday gifts, artisanal bakery items, and fine chocolates as you explore.
Los Altos hosts the highly-regarded Los Altos Art & Wine Festival each year to showcase the works of artists and craftspeople from all over the country. It's a great event for the entire family, even featuring all-day free concerts and a child-friendly Kidzone.
Take your children to the Los Altos History Museum to learn more about the rich history of Los Altos, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley, including how the high-tech area transformed from agricultural land into the technological mecca it is known as today. The newly-opened Los Altos Community Center is another location ideal for families and individuals looking for indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces or anyone looking to utilize the playground, commercial kitchen, or bocce ball courts.
Hidden Villa Farm stretches across 1,600 acres of open space near the Santa Cruz mountains. This educational nonprofit offers unique programs to promote education and responsible agriculture. Thousands of visitors attend each year to explore the farm and gardens or hike the many beautiful trails.
Los Altos boasts a few gorgeous outdoor spaces like the six-acre Redwood Grove, a nature preserve featuring a boardwalk, a rose garden, and observation decks. Shoup Park is a popular community gathering place with playgrounds, large grass fields, and several picnic tables. The Adobe Creek runs adjacent to the park, where a trail leads to Redwood Grove.
Schools
Los Altos and Los Altos Hills are home to several top-notch public and private schools. The Los Altos School District has one of the highest average API scores in California.