The 13 best hotels in San Jose

This sophisticated hotel towers above Santana Row, San Jose’s chic outdoor shopping district. The Valencia is drenched in Old World Spanish style: accented in terracotta, hardwood and textured finishes. Colour and pattern playfully pull together the hotel’s 215 guest rooms, each containing custom-made mattresses. Hotel Valencia has three lounges with very different vibes: The Terrace, an al fresco patio wine bar; Vbar, a swanky, moodily lit cocktail bar; and Cielo, a seasonal rooftop bar. 

Where is it? On Silicon Valley’s Santana Row entertainment district, which is packed with shops, restaurants and cinemas. 

Which room? The deluxe balcony rooms offer extra space and a place to look out over the Santana district with a Californian mountain breeze flowing through your hair. 

Time Out tip: Don’t miss a visit to the Oveja Negra, the Valencia’s laid-back tapas restaurant which serves up global cuisine with an “unruly twist.” 

This freshly renovated hotel is a paragon of chic, Japanese simplicity with organic touches like bamboo mat showers and rock gardens. Minimalism reigns in the hotel’s 77 guest rooms and luxury rooftop suites. The Epiphany is also home to the Bay Area’s only Nobu restaurant, an intimate space decorated with elegant paper screens, wooden walls and dim lighting. Feel like staying in? Nobu also offers an in-room dining menu for its guests 24 hours a day. 

Where is it? Just north of San Jose in stylish Palo Alto. 

Which room? We love the zen suites with private balconies giving beautiful views over downtown Palo Alto, space for up to three guests and luxury touches like Natura Bissé toiletries, linen yukata robes and complimentary Ikaati tea. 

Time Out tip: If you’re headed out for the day (or night), the hotel offers free bike cruisers and a house car for destinations within a five-mile radius. 

Hotel Los Gatos captures the simple sophistication of a Tuscan villa with sweeping staircases, dramatic balconies and fairy-lit patios. Inside the hotel lobby, earth-toned chairs and couches create intimate sitting areas while upstairs, guest rooms are fashioned with pops of colour in the drapery, linens and bathroom tiles. The hotel’s spa offers therapeutic massage, as well as sauna and steam rooms, and the outdoor pool and jacuzzi sparkle welcomingly in warmer months. 

Where is it? In the quaint district of Los Gatos, which though it’s just a few miles south of San Jose is worlds away from the city’s hustle-and-bustle. 

Which room? The one-bedroom suite is bright and light with plush furnishings, as well as a parlour room with a sofa bed, a fireplace and a balcony. 

Time Out tip: For a bite and a pour head to the on-site restaurant Dio Deka where the menu is a Hellenic-inspired mash-up of Greek and Mediterranean delights which you can wash down with the award-winning wine list that includes over 1500 wine labels.

Housed in one of San Jose’s few remaining ‘Zigzag Moderne’ Art Deco buildings, this boutique hotel is a Silicon Valley icon. Inside, the De Anza weaves together Spanish colonial style with elements preserved from the early 20th century, especially in the vintage Hedley Club Lounge where the ‘diving diva’, an image that once advertised the hotel’s swimming pool, is now emblazoned on the fireplace mantel. King-sized beds, plush linens and a 43” HD flat screen come standard in each of the De Anza’s 114 rooms. Back in the lounge, cosy up to a roaring fire with seasonal cocktails, Mediterranean-influenced small plates, and a nightly soundtrack of live jazz. 

Where is it? Slap bang in the middle of San Jose’s business district just blocks away from San Pedro Square Market, SAP Center and plenty of other downtown San Jose landmarks. 

Which room? Feeling plush? Opt for the parlour suite, which has a living area with a pull-out sofa bed, a desk, a king-size bed with luxury linens, Nest toiletries and luxe robes and towels. 

Time Out tip: Make sure to ask the staff for their recommendations for the best things to do in downtown San Jose. You’ll find attractions like the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, Children’s Discovery Museum, Luis Maria Peralta Adobe, San Jose Museum of Art and the Tech Museum just a stone’s throw from the hotel.

When it was built as a multi-generational family home at the turn of the 20th century, the 64-room Hayes Mansion lay at the center of 700 acres of fruit orchards, vegetable gardens and exotic plants. Almost a century later, the residence, with its white-washed walls and red-tiled roofs, has been converted into an elegant hotel. Surrounded by oceans of pristine green lawn, the hotel and event space now has 214 guest rooms and suites decorated with hand-carved wooden furniture and imported marble. Outside, there’s plenty to keep guests entertained, from an outdoor pool and hot tub to tennis, basketball and beach volleyball courts. 

Where is it? Tucked away in leafy south San Jose in the park-dotted district of Hayes. 

Which room? The duluxe guest rooms have everything from cosy bedding to sweeping Calfironian mountain vistas, plus plenty of charm and character. 

Time Out tip: The Hayes Mansion has two restaurants on-site, but definitely don’t pass up a visit to the Palm Plaza Lounge with a dreamy patio dressed in plush couches and miniature fire pits where cocktails and small plates are served daily from 4pm–6pm. 

This classic luxury hotel on San Jose’s central Plaza de Cesar Chavez is refined and elegant. Recently rennovated by the Hilton group, its full of earthy tones and natral textures but still exudes and old Calfironian glamour. On warm days, the rooftop pool and gazebo is the place to see and be seen, a serene oasis above the din of the city with a full menu for al fresco dining. For more formal diners choose from: Fountain Restaurant, a breakfast and dinner spot serving California fare and Aji Bar & Robata serving Japanese-Peruvian fusion dishes. 

Where is it? Opposite Plaza de César Chávez Park and a quick wak from San Jose Convention Center. 

Which room? All the rooms here are kitted out with huge windows, so grab one with a mountain view to get the most out of them. 

Time Out tip: Head to Aji Bar & Robata on Saturday nights when there are live band sets from 7.30pm to 11pm featuring local artists and special guests.

The low-slung shaker-style Toll House Hotel has long been a Silicon Valley favorite. Inside, the lodge is simple with wood floors and earth-toned furnishings. Outside, a modern enclosed courtyard is set with green-cushioned couches, fire pits and festive lights. Just over a hundred guest rooms and suites are elegant and understated, dressed in a neutral palate with marble-topped counters in renovated bathrooms. At the hotel’s restaurant, Due Dieci, chef Nicko Moulinos cooks up regional Italian delicacies. 

Where is it? On the southern edge of downtown Los Gatos, at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains. 

Which room? If you can, book a room with one of the chunky wood balconies for glorious views of the leafy surroundings. 

Time Out tip: Get out into the great outdoors by exploring some of the near-by trails and hikes like the scenic Los Gatos Creek Trail or Seven Spring Trail Loop. 

One of Silicon Valley’s most high-styled hotels, the Juniper is all swirling colors, modern art and statement furnishings. Rooms are fairly standard, with WiFi, 55-inch HDTVs and jewel-toned accents, but downstairs, the hotel’s living room, restaurant and outdoor lounge are oozing with glamour. Settle into intimate al fresco booths at the Parkview Kitchen & Spirits or nestle into high-backed chairs in front of the drawing room fire. If you need to get a sweat on, the fitness room comes well stocked with Peloton bikes and other high-quality equipment.

Where is it? In the city of Cupertino, aka where you’ll find the Apple headquarters. Despite the techy surroundings, it’s just a short drive from various wineries and upscale shopping at Santana Row. 

Which room? Opt for one of the high-floor rooms for optimum views of the mountain surroundings. 

Time Out tip: Keep an eye out for the subtle honey bee theme woven throughout the hotel in homage to the Juniper’s rooftop hives and the Silicon Valley’s early agricultural years.

Sleek and modern, there’s an Ibizian air to this 4-star hotel just three miles from downtown Palo Alto. The rooms are comfortable and elegantly minimal with crisp, white furnishings and plenty of charging ports and connectivity stations for those who need to work. However, it's the outdoor courtyard and lobby where this place really comes into its own. Relax in front of the fireplace in the wood-panelled lobby with a glass of wine, or tuck into a cheeseboard in the twinkling courtyard with trickling water features. Pets are also allowed and there’s a fitness suite and complimentary continental breakfast and coffee. 

Where is it? In the Bay Area, just minutes from Stanford University and around the corner from Facebook headquarters. 

Which room? The King room is perfect for working and relaxing with extra room, a desk and a reading chair. 

Time Out tip: Visit the hotel’s Fire & Wine Bar to sip some sweet Californian vintages with charcuterie and bar bites. Look out for complimentary wine tastings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30pm to 7pm. 

From the terrazzo tiles to the statement lighting, the 4-star Hotel Citrine oozes style. Each of the 150 Beleco-designed bedrooms has a sophisticated flair with Midcentury modern mirrors and bathroom fittings, boucle-covered chairs and Scandi furnishings. If you can bring yourself to leave, there’s an alfresco pool with an inviting sundeck to lounge on, ping pong tables, the Wild Onion Bistro & Bar serving Californian cuisine and craft cocktails, a state-of-the-art fitness suite and a beautiful terrace with a fire pit. 

Where is it? Minutes from Stanford University and the shops and eateries of downtown Palo Alto. The Shoreline Amphitheatre is also nearby. 

Which room? The standard King has everything you need from a good hotel room, from sustainable terry bedding to a work desk and beautiful furniture and furnishings. 

Time Out tip: Hotel Citrine takes its eco credentials seriously. Even it’s room keys are made from reclaimed wood and it uses eco-friendly laundry bags to reduce plastic waste. Take advantage of the hotel’s public bicycles to reduce your carbon footprint during your stay. 

Wild Palms is a dopamine dream. Every inch of the place is filled with sunny, pastel colours from the candy-stripped awnings over the terrace around the outdoor pool, to the brightly painted dining room with royal blue accented chairs. The tropical feel is continued in the bungalow-style bedrooms which have dramatic murals, handcrafted furnishings and other cheery touches like the Hollywood mirrors in the bathrooms and colourful accessories. 

Where is it? In Silicon Valley’s Sunnyvale, minutes away from Main Street Cupertino and Downtown Mountain View. 

Which room? The king bedrooms have everything you need for a great stay, from cheery furnishings to writing desks and Jonathan Adler bath products. 

Time Out tip: Look out for the hotel’s wine hour – the perfect place for an aperitif before heading to the foodie destinations nearby. 

Located in Sunnyvale, the Residence Inn in Sunnyvale is a great place to call home while on vacation or staycation in San Jose not least for the decent-sized outdoor pool, terrace, and tennis court. Suites are modernly furnished with comfy beds, a satellite TV, an en suite, dining area, and a workspace, all strategically laid out to make the space feel snazzy and open – less like a claustrophobic hovel and more like a cozy, contemporary studio. You'll be pleased to know there's a good breakfast selection here too, including a niche ramen station for our fellow savory snackers. Slurps up. 

Where is it? Stewart Drive, Sunnyvale. 

Which room? We guess the only way to go is to go big or go home with the only suite available, the Bi-Level Penthouse. It's got all the creature comforts including a dishwasher. 

Time Out tip: This place also has a hot tub, whaaat?! If we were you we'd get a little charcuterie action going, some champs, and call dibs on the tub for the evening. 

So you want a pool with a view, but it also needs to be a pet-friendly location, and oh, secluded but not too far away? The icing on top would of course be free bike rentals. Desirable, but not a dealbreaker. We're no Chat GPT, but we think we've nailed this one with the Residence Inn by Marriott. A stone's throw from Levi's Stadium for the concertgoers and surrounded by a ton of natural beauty, including The Mallard Slough Trail less than two miles away. Rooms benefit from heaps of sunlight and the breakfast also gets rave reviews too. Can't fault it for the price. 

Where is it? America Center Court, San Jose. 

Which room? The views from both the studio and the suite are incredible, but if you like it a little more roomy, we'd suggest going for the suite for a little extra. 

Time Out tip: A must-try in the neighborhood has to be the family-friendly, Peruvian Rotisserie Limón on Mountain View. Their menu is a delicious fusion of Latin and Asian flavors.