Hidden Gems of Silicon Valley - Local Eats & Activities by Nabi Cat Cafe
Silicon Valley might be world-famous for tech giants and startups, but beyond the hustle and coding is a world of amazing food, unique shopping, and fun things to do. Whether you're planning a weekend adventure, a family outing, or just want to try something new in the Bay Area, this curated list of businesses could help you find your next favorite hangout spot.
Here are some of our favorite hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems around Silicon Valley!
☕️ Activities We Love
Nabi Cat Cafe storefront with added images of a latte with cat latte art and the cat lounge
🐱 Nabi Cat Cafe (Cat Lounge & Cafe - Santa Clara)
Of course, we had to start with our own happy place! Nabi Cat Cafe is a Korean-inspired cat cafe in Santa Clara, founded by two sister-in-laws (hi, that's us – Christine & Ailee!). Here, you’ll find a cozy cat lounge filled with adorable rescue cats and a cafe serving specialty Korean-style drinks and pastries.
You can enjoy the cafe without visiting the cats, or reserve a visit to the cat lounge (which includes a complimentary drink!). Lounge reservations are $28 per person for one hour, and we highly recommend booking ahead - especially on weekends when spots fill up fast.
Nabi Cat Cafe is also conveniently located 10 minutes away from San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) for a quick cat or sweet drink fix before or after your flight ✈️
Perfect for: families, couples, solo cat lovers, and anyone looking for a peaceful little escape in the Bay Area.
📍 Santa Clara, CA | [Reservations Required]
🛍️ Soso Market (Vintage Pop-Up Market - Various Locations)
Obsessed with vintage finds or handmade goods? Soso Market is your dream weekend activity. This traveling pop-up showcases curated vintage fashion, artisan accessories, and one-of-a-kind collectibles. While not exclusive to Silicon Valley, they appear sporadically in Downtown San Jose, Oakland, and Santa Cruz.
Follow their Instagram for the latest schedule drops - they move around, but the vibe is always ✨immaculate✨.
Perfect for: weekend wanderers, gift shoppers, aesthetic lovers.
📍 San Jose/Oakland/Santa Cruz, CA
The Christmas decor section of Montebello Road
🕰️ Montebello Road (Antique & Vintage Shopping – Campbell)
Treasure hunters, this one’s for you. Montebello Road is a family-owned antique shop that feels like walking through someone’s magical attic. You'll find everything from retro electronics to Christmas decor, vintage clothing, jewelry, and timeless collectibles. We stumbled upon this gem while walking around in the neighborhood and definitely plan to return for more cafe decor.
A great stop for anyone who loves browsing unique finds or decorating with character.
📍 Campbell, CA
🥾 St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve (Hiking - Los Gatos)
If you’re looking for a scenic and dog-friendly hiking trail, St. Joseph’s Hill is a fantastic pick. The trail is beginner-friendly and offers beautiful views of Lexington Reservoir and wildflower-dotted hillsides.
Pack some snacks, bring your furry friend, and enjoy a peaceful nature break close to the city.
📍 Los Gatos, CA
🍜 Food & Drinks We Keep Going Back To
Specialty cocktails (End of The Valley - left, Blush Spritz - right) and restaurant main dining area
🐐 Valley Goat (Sharables & Cocktails – Sunnyvale)
Valley Goat in Sunnyvale is perfect for a cozy, grown-up night out. With a beautiful indoor/outdoor patio that's also pet-friendly, it’s great for dining with both your human(s) and fluffy best friend(s). The small plates are delicious but a bit pricey (worth it, would return). Don’t miss the disco fries, sticky pork shank, and the crispy quinoa + tuna poke salad. Cocktail lovers should try the Blush Spritz (think fruity margarita vibes) or the End of The Valley for a crisp, clean finish.
📍 Sunnyvale, CA | [Reservations Recommended]
🍲 House of Pho (Comfort Food – San Jose)
A true Bay Area staple: House of Pho is beloved for its large portions, comforting flavors, and consistently great service. Our baristas swear by it for lunch on a cold day. The pho broth is on the cleaner, lighter side, and the crispy egg rolls are an absolute must.
📍 San Jose, CA
Pastry display case at Croissante (main), sogeumbbang and raspberry cream croissant (right)
🥐 Croissante (French-Korean Bakery – Santa Clara)
This adorable bakery fuses French pastries with Korean twists - an absolute must if you are in the area. From crunchy yet soft caneles, flaky raspberry marshmallow cream croissants, to buttery sogeumbbang (salted butter rolls), every pastry satiates the need for sweet cravings. We recommend visiting earlier than later! We went around 2PM on a Friday and the cafe was bustling with a good amount of pastries already sold out.
📍 Santa Clara, CA
🍚 Obok Soondae (Korean Street Food – Santa Clara)
Soondae is a classic Korean dish made with glass noodles and rice stuffed into a natural casing, usually enjoyed in soup or lightly salted on its own. Obok Soondae makes theirs in-house, and you can really taste the difference. All types of gukbap (hot soup with rice) hits, but soondae gukbap at Obok hits a certain type of way especially as as hangover soup. To enjoy like a true Korean, dump your bowl of rice into your piping hot bowl of soup and add lots (I mean, LOTS) of chives or radish kimchi. Mix and enjoy! If you’re not feeling soupy, they also have soondae in a spicy stir-fried version as well which is equally as delectable.
📍 Santa Clara, CA
