Imagine a weekend escape where you luxuriate in a top-floor suite with glamorous city skyline views, dine at premier restaurants, enjoy a shopping spree at chic boutiques, and explore local museums. If you’re picturing San Francisco, think again. This is San Jose, the Bay Area’s other “San,” offering big city energy, without the freneticism and without the traffic. San Jose’s dynamic atmosphere makes for an ideal overnight or weekend getaway. Go solo, bring your partner, or the whole family. There’s something for everyone in this “Capital of Silicon Valley.” 

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Photo courtesy Visit San Jose

STAY: Signia by Hilton offers perhaps the region’s most gracious hospitality. Enjoy stunning views of the city skyline and the picturesque Santa Cruz Mountains from your spacious room or suite. Signia is especially fun during these summer months when the rooftop, 4th floor swimming pool beckons. And, thanks to Resort Pass, the chaises lounge-lined pool can be experienced whether an overnight guest or not. With a Resort Pass reservation, guests can reserve full day access to the pool, chaises, towel service, a locker, the steam and sauna rooms, and the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center. Food and drink are available from Signia’s on-site restaurants. For an additional fee, reserve a daybed, which comes with complimentary snacks and drinks. But, for the full Signia effect, stay the night in order to enjoy aperitif or dinner at lobby-located Aji Bar & Robata where Peruvian/Japanese-influenced Nikkei cuisine by Hawaiian-born Executive Chef Joe Derla is not to be missed. Derla’s culinary career began at Hilton Waikoloa Village, and his delicious dishes are influenced by his home island’s farm-to-table ethos. Aji also features crafted, Instagram-worthy cocktails, like the Smoked Old Fashioned, the purple-hued Murasaki Empress, and the blush-colored Pomegranate Gimlet.

Signia's expansive lobby is home to Aji Bar & Robata. Photo courtesy of Signia by Hilton

Enjoy Nikkei cuisine crafted by Executive Chef Joe Dera, and Instagram-worthy cocktails at Aji Bar & Robata. Photo courtesy of Signia by Hilton

DINE: Between Aji Bar & Robata, Fountain (for yummy breakfasts and brunch), and The Grill on the Alley steakhouse which shares a lobby entrance with the hotel, one has plenty of dining options while staying at Signia. But for additional culinary adventures, head to nearby Santana Row and its leaf-canopied promenade for a panorama of global flavors. Enjoy Latin cuisine and atmosphere at El Jardin, traditional dishes from various culinary regions of Mexico at Zazil, Indian specialties at Fitoor, and Spanish/Peruvian items at Suspiro, where a light and bright dining room hides a secret speakeasy found behind a back corner black curtain. At Suspiro, the talented Yerika Muñoz Rodríguez weaves the rich flavors of Spain and Peru into an exceptional menu featuring fresh seafood, grilled meats, and curated beverages that makes for a vibrant and delicious dining experience.

Suspiro's dining room features a wall of windows that open for indoor-outdoor seating. Photo courtesy of Suspiro

Suspiro's Ceviche Mixto: white fish, shrimp, scallops, octopus and leche de tigre. Photo courtesy of Suspiro

DO: Visit historic Japantown and the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Hike urban streets or state park trails, and play a round of golf. San Jose’s rolling hills and year-round sunshine make it a golfer’s paradise. Road trip to the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk, just 45 minutes south. Sniff, swirl, and sip at a variety of local wineries. Browse the world-class stores at Stanford Shopping center or Westfield Valley Fair, and partake in some retail therapy at Santana Row. Visit the Children’s Discovery Museum, the Tech Museum of Innovation, or the San Jose Museum of Art, all just outside Signia’s doors. Or scan SAP Center’s schedule of events and plan your stay around the appearance of your favorite performer. 

Santana Row features a car-free, walkable promenade. Photo courtesy of Visit San Jose

Cesar Chavez Plaza offers a central San Jose gathering spot, directly across from Signia. Photo courtesy of Visit San Jose

Discover what the world’s tech industry insiders already know: San Jose is happening. Don’t miss the fun.