Gilroy

Gilroy is a friendly and family-oriented city located close to San Jose and Silicon Valley at the southern end of Santa Clara County. Known as the Garlic Capital of the World, Gilroy offers a relaxed country lifestyle with historic agricultural land and beautiful mountain views. Gilroy’s garlic production is celebrated in the popular annual Garlic Festival. Many downtown restaurants also offer an eclectic area of garlicky eats. Gilroy is part of the Santa Clara Valley American Viticultural Area, with a wine trail taking in many fine local vineyards.

 

Homes in Gilroy are generally more affordable than those in nearby Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley communities. The eastern half of the city features quiet suburban neighborhoods with spacious single-family homes. There are also numerous newer townhouse and condominium developments close to Gilroy’s downtown amenities. The largest properties include gorgeous estates rising into the Santa Clara Mountain foothills on the west side of the city.

• Friendly and family-oriented city
• Agricultural land and mountain views
• Diverse housing options
• Gilroy Garlic Festival
  

Gilroy offers a captivating balance of proximity to the high-tech industries of Silicon Valley and the traditional agricultural lifestyle of California’s past. The city features several attractively landscaped parks, while the surrounding mountains offer lots more opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Gilroy is home to a diverse dining scene with many popular local restaurants. The Westside Grill is a stylish family-run favorite for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch specials. Entrees include mouthwatering Angus beef steaks and elegant seafood dishes. The Westside Grill also offers a fine choice of wines and happy hour cocktails. The menu at Garlic City Café includes lots of specialties showcasing Gilroy’s famous garlic harvest. Garlic City Cafe also has a wide choice of breakfast omelets and delicious Italian pasta dishes. Victoria’s Mexican Restaurant is a colorful spot pairing tasty Mexican staples with great margaritas. The Milias Restaurant features an elegant old world dining room serving contemporary New American cuisine from brunch through dinner. This classy eatery also offers great cocktails. With 145 stores offering steep discounts on top brands, Gilroy Premium Outlets is the largest outlet shopping center in California. Retailers at Gilroy Premium Outlets include Adidas, Aeropostale, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Chico’s, Coach, Forever 21, H&M, Hugo Boss, J. Crew, Kate Spade New York, Loft, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger.

Gilroy Garlic Festival is a hugely popular celebration held every year over the last weekend in July. Locally grown garlic is the star attraction in cooking contests, celebrity chef demonstrations, and inventive specialty foodstuffs, including garlic ice cream. The festival also offers family-friendly fun with carnival rides, games, crafts, and three stages of live performances. Gilroy Gardens is a year-round attraction with more than 40 rides and the Water Oasis play area. Attractions at this family theme park include the historic living artworks of the Circus Trees. The first of the Circus Trees were grown in the 1920s with careful grafting and shaping, producing an incredible variety of unusual shapes. Twenty-five of the original Circus Trees have survived and are now a unique Gilroy Gardens landmark. In downtown’s historic 1910 Carnegie Library, the Gilroy Museum displays fascinating exhibits on the community’s past. Gilroy Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Golf Club, and Gavilan College Golf Course each offer great public courses with charming country views. The beautiful surrounding mountain range provides trails and lots more opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are more than 34 family-owned wineries and tasting rooms around Gilroy. Explore the Gilroy Wine Trail to sample some of the region’s finest varietals.

Gilroy operates its own Gilroy Unified School District. Highlights include: