Photo: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1 · Landmark · 40 min northwest
Jack London Square
A waterfront district in Oakland with restaurants, a Sunday farmers market and ferry views.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Free to visit
Heads-up: Check market days.
Day Trippin' › California › From San Jose › Best food and wine stops
Best Food & Wine Stops near San Jose
Our picks for the best food and wine stops within 3 hours of San Jose: 19 places, 3 under an hour away, 9 between 1 and 2 hours and 7 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 95112.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Jack London Square, 40 min northwest of San Jose.
Map: food and wine stops within 3 hours of San Jose
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Our top 15 food and wine stops near San Jose 19 in all
Photo: Daderot, CC0
#2 · Food town · 1 hr 23 min north
Oxbow Public Market
Food hall by the Napa River in downtown Napa with cheese, oysters and coffee.
- 1-2 hrs
- Open daily (confirm before you go)
- Free entry
Heads-up: Weekends are busy.
Photo: Flickr user MiguelVieira, CC BY 2.0
#3 · Town · 2 hr 6 min northeast
Sutter Creek
A small, well-kept Gold Rush town with balconied buildings, antique shops and wine tasting along Highway 49.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Main Street parking is limited on weekends.
Photo: Original uploader was MCB (talk) at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
#4 · Landmark · 2 hr 56 min southeast
Madonna Inn
Eye-popping pink roadside inn, with a famous bakery.
- 1 hr
- Year-round
- Free to visit
Heads-up: Busy on weekends.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
#5 · Family fun · 54 min northwest
Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf
Sea lions, street food, an arcade and a carousel on the busy waterfront.
- 2-4 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Crowds and car break-ins at lots. Use transit if possible.
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
#6 · Food town · 1 hr south
Moss Landing
Working fishing harbor with antique shops, seafood stands and sea otters in the water.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Big power plant sits on the shore; the harbor is still lovely for wildlife.
Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0
#7 · Landmark · 1 hr 12 min south
Cannery Row
Former sardine cannery street, now shops, restaurants and tide pool views.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Busy on summer weekends.
Photo: User:Jiang, Public domain
#8 · Food town · 1 hr 40 min northwest
Point Reyes Station
A small ranch town with cheese, bakeries and book shops on the way to the beaches.
- 1-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Free to visit
Heads-up: Weekends get busy.
Photo: Missvain, CC BY 4.0
#9 · Food town · 1 hr 52 min northwest
Healdsburg Plaza
A food and wine town with a tidy plaza, shops and tasting rooms.
- 2-4 hrs
- Year-round
- Free to walk
Heads-up: Weekends are busy.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
#10 · Food town · 1 hr 53 min northwest
Bodega Bay
A fishing harbor with seafood shacks and a long beach nearby.
- 2-4 hrs
- Year-round
- Free to visit
Heads-up: Check tide times for beach walks.
Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California Republic, CC BY 2.0
#11 · Family fun · 1 hr 24 min north
Napa Valley Wine Train
A scenic dining train ride through the Napa Valley.
- 3-4 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Book ahead. Many tours are for adults.
Photo: DimiTalen, CC BY-SA 3.0
#12 · Winery · 1 hr 49 min northwest
Castello di Amorosa
A winery shaped like a medieval castle in Calistoga with tours and tastings.
- 1-3 hrs
- Open daily (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Reservations help. Stairs inside the castle.
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
#13 · Winery · 1 hr 22 min south
Carmel Valley Village
Wine tasting rooms and cafes in warm, sunny Carmel Valley.
- 3-5 hrs
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Plan a designated driver. Official Monterey County tourism page; wine tasting rooms and Garland Ranch Regional Park nearby
Photo: Steveozone, CC BY-SA 3.0
#14 · Winery · 1 hr 30 min northeast
Lodi Wine Country
Rustic tasting rooms in a Zinfandel region with old vines.
- Half day
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Heads-up: Designate a driver.
#15 · Food town · 2 hr 27 min east
Tower District
A lively Fresno neighborhood with restaurants, theaters and shops.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Free
Heads-up: Weekend evenings are busy. Historic Fresno arts and dining district around Olive Ave and the Tower Theatre.
More food and wine stops near San Jose, by drive time
Amador Wine Country (2 hr 15 min), Paso Robles Wine Country (2 hr 28 min), Lake County Wine Region (2 hr 39 min), Anderson Valley Wine Region (2 hr 42 min)
Questions about food and wine stops near San Jose
What are the best food and wine stops near San Jose?
Our top picks are Jack London Square (40 min), Oxbow Public Market (1 hr 23 min), Sutter Creek (2 hr 6 min), Madonna Inn (2 hr 56 min) and Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf (54 min). The page lists 19 places in all.
How many food and wine stops are within 3 hours of San Jose?
19: 3 under an hour away, 9 between 1 and 2 hours and 7 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 95112.
What is the closest of these to San Jose?
Jack London Square, about 40 min northwest of San Jose.
Are any of these free?
9 need no pass or fee, including Jack London Square, Point Reyes Station and Madonna Inn. Fees change, so check each place.
Are these food and wine stops open all year?
16 of the 19 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
More about San Jose
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.