I Know a Spot

Holder's Country Inn

Hidden on the back side of Cupertino Main Street, at the corner of North Wolfe Rd and Vallco Parkway, lies Holder’s Country Inn. Open until 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 p.m. on all other days of the week, Holders is a fantastic late-night spot. With high-quality breakfast at all operating hours, along with American classics, Holder’s has a comforting but lively atmosphere.

Voyager Craft Coffee

For an aesthetic sit-down coffee shop with an intricate menu, Voyager Craft Coffee is a Cupertino gem. While there are four Voyager locations in the area, the Stevens Creek location, situated next to Panera Bread, is the newest. Some of their special drinks include the Horchatte and the Manila, and they also serve classic lattes and matcha drinks.

Big Mug Coffee Roaster

Big Mug Coffee Roaster is a true haven for coffee enthusiasts seeking a truly exceptional experience. The ambiance of Big Mug Coffee Roaster adds to its charm. With rustic decor, comfortable seating, and soft background music, the coffee shop provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It's the perfect spot to catch up with friends, dive into a good book, or simply enjoy a moment of solitude with a steaming cup of joe. One of the highlights of Big Mug Coffee Roaster is the knowledgeable and friendly staff. They are always ready to engage in conversations about coffee, share their expertise, and recommend new blends and brewing methods. 

Sterling Barnhart Park

Despite its modest size, Sterling Barnhart Park is a neighborhood park that offers a variety of amenities and activities for visitors to enjoy. Its well-maintained playground features a variety of equipment suitable for children of all ages. There are picnic tables and benches throughout the park, making it a great spot for families to enjoy a picnic lunch or snack. There is also a paved walking path that runs down Lawrence Expressway, making it a great spot for a walk or jog. Overall, Sterling Barnhart Park’s well-maintained facilities and peaceful atmosphere make it an enjoyable place to spend time.

7 Leaves Cafe

As you walk into 7 Leaves Cafe, you are immediately greeted by the warm and inviting atmosphere. The decor is modern and minimalist, with plenty of natural light streaming through the large windows. The staff is friendly and always willing to help you choose from the extensive menu of drinks and food items. Whether you're in the mood for a classic latte or an inventive herbal tea blend, you're sure to find something to your liking. Overall, 7 Leaves Cafe is a must-visit study destination for anyone looking for a cozy spot to work and enjoy a delicious beverage or snack.

Berraco Colombian Coffee

Donut Wheel

Donut Wheel is a popular donut shop that is open 24/7, making it a convenient spot for those looking for a sweet treat any time of day or night. They have a wide variety of donut flavors and styles. In addition to their donuts, Donut Wheel also offers a selection of other baked goods, as well as coffee and other beverages. Their prices are reasonable, and their portions are generous, making it a great spot for a quick snack or to satisfy a sweet tooth craving.

Nirvana Soul

Located in Main Street, Nirvana Soul is a cozy, inviting space that offers a variety of delicious coffee and tea drinks, as well as a selection of baked goods and light snacks. Their menu includes classic coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, as well as unique creations like their signature Nirvana Soul latte, which features a blend of spices and honey. One of the standout features of Nirvana Soul is their commitment to using high-quality, organic ingredients in their products. They also offer a variety of dairy-free and vegan options, making it a great spot for those with dietary restrictions. The atmosphere at Nirvana Soul is warm and welcoming, with plenty of comfortable seating and a laid-back vibe. Whether you're looking to catch up with friends, get some work done, or just enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, Nirvana Soul is definitely worth a visit!

Barnes & Noble

Although a little further out of Cupertino, Barnes & Noble is a fantastic destination for anyone looking to read books, study in the Starbucks area, or simply spend some time browsing through the latest titles. Barnes & Noble is one of the largest booksellers in the world, with hundreds of stores across the United States. Their stores are known for their vast selection of books, magazines, and other reading materials, as well as their welcoming atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. Their commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all readers leads to frequently hosting author events, book clubs, and other community gatherings, making it a great spot for book lovers to connect and engage with others who share their passion.

Mr. Sun

Mr. Sun Tea is a popular boba shop offering a wide variety of milk teas, fruit teas, and smoothies, with customizable sweetness levels and a variety of toppings, including boba, jelly, and pudding. The shop has a trendy and modern interior, with ample seating for customers to enjoy their drinks and snacks. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, providing recommendations and guidance to customers who are new to bubble tea. Overall, Mr. Sun Tea is a great spot for anyone looking to quench their thirst with a refreshing and flavorful drink.

Apple Park Visitor Center

The Apple Visitor Center is a stunning architectural marvel that showcases the company's innovative design and cutting-edge technology. The center’s cafe offers a variety of food and drink options for visitors to enjoy, from freshly brewed coffee to sandwiches and pastries. The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating areas, with the outdoor seating area providing stunning views of the surrounding landscape. In addition to the cafe, the Apple Visitor Center has a vast amount of study spots and seating areas for visitors to use. The center's modern design and natural lighting create a bright and welcoming atmosphere that is conducive to studying, making it a great spot for students and professionals alike.

Top Cafe

Though not located in a large shopping plaza, Top Cafe is definitely a spot to visit for late-night eats. This Asian-fusion spot features dishes like Hong Kong-style spaghetti and Yin Yang fried rice, perfect comfort foods for after a night out. Open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1 a.m. all other days of the week, Top Cafe is a spot to keep in mind if you want something other than fast food after 9 p.m.

Maywood Park

Picnic potential: 3/5 Although Maywood Park features lots of nice grass and a few benches, the shade is not always ideal. The fields are also pretty flat, which is perfect for picnics! If not having shade doesn’t bother you, this could be a great destination for a picnic.

Cleanliness: 3.5/5 With a few trash cans around the park, mostly new benches, there was not a lot of trash to be found at the time of the visit, which meant having a nicer view of the park. However, the bathrooms had graffiti and were littered with toilet paper.

Bathrooms: 3/5 Even though there was graffiti in the bathroom, there was also an obvious effort to keep the bathroom relatively clean; it smelled strongly of detergent or other cleaning fluids. The location of the bathrooms was not ideal; there was only one bathroom found, and it was very far from the playground. Additionally, the mirror was dirty, blurry, and warped.

Peacefulness/Noise Level: 2/5 If trying to get to a more peaceful location, Maywood Park may not be the place for you. Located next to a few main roads, the noise of cars, pedestrians and even from the school it is next to the area common.

Amenities/Fun: 2/5 One pro of Maywood Park is that it offers relatively flat fields, so visitors will be able to play volleyball or other sports that prefer flat ground. There is a small playground, but there is not much offered other than that, not even a basketball court, so be sure to bring your own activities or something to do. A sign stated that dogs are not allowed except on leashes, but a dog was running around without a leash at the time of the visit.

Portal Park

Picnic Potential: 2.5/5 Portal Park has its charm with nice grass in certain areas, although it may not be ideal everywhere, especially beneath the trees where shade is desired. While there are several benches available for seating, they are mostly fully or semi-exposed to the sun. Additionally, the only shady spots in the park are quite sloped. Regardless of these drawbacks, many families still choose to have picnics at this park because it allows them to closely supervise their children while they enjoy the playground.

Cleanliness: 4/5 The park overall is relatively clean, with there being several trash cans maintaining tidiness. The bathrooms were found to be in pristine condition during the visit. However, it is worth noting that the cleanliness of benches and tables may vary depending on the day, but if bird poo, pinecones or dust do not bother you, the place is almost pristine!

Bathrooms: 3/5 The park provides a conveniently located bathroom that is relatively close to the playgrounds and grassy areas. However, it is important to note that the bathroom does not offer a mirror.

Peacefulness/Noise Level: 2.5/5 There are usually many children and families at the park, particularly during the afternoon, as it is a popular spot for picnics and family outings. Towards the evening, however, the number of visitors decreases significantly, which does decrease the noise level. One precaution worth noting is that the park is located close to the road, which may be dangerous to walk across and causes some noise during times when there is higher traffic. However, this is not too much of an issue as the traffic levels are considerably low compared to Maywood Park.

Amenities/Fun: 2.5/5 Unfortunately, for those who own pets, dogs are not allowed within its premises. While there are no courts for games available, the park compensates by providing two separate playgrounds; one being suitable for younger children and the other for slightly older children. In addition to the playgrounds, there are a few pleasant spots within the park for visitors to relax, such as a high ledge located near one of the playgrounds that are perfect for stargazing or sitting with a few friends. However, one may quickly run out of things to do in the park.

Raynor Park

Picnic Potential: 4/5 Raynor park includes large grass fields with shade mostly found along the perimeter of the grassy areas. There are numerous cement tables grouped together, but there is a lack of shade, so bringing an additional shade structure is recommended but requires a permit if it is larger than 10’ by 10’. An alternative would be to bring a towel to sit in the tanbark or dirt areas under the shade. Additionally, it is recommended to bring something to do or accompany someone as the park’s view may not be the most captivating. Be sure to acquire a permit if you want to bring a speaker or reserve the picnic tables.

Cleanliness: 4/5 At first glance, the park appears to be well-maintained and clean. However, the bathroom falls short as there are signs of rust, dirty toilet seats, and a grimy, squeaky metal window and door.

Bathrooms: 1.5/5 The park has significant drawbacks when it comes to restroom facilities. There is only one working bathroom available, which can be inconvenient for visitors due to the park’s larger size. The bathroom does not provide a sense of security or privacy, as the windows fail to fully block out sounds or sight, no mirrors and overall rusty toilets, negatively impacting safety and cleanliness concerns. Despite having a normal floor-to-ceiling length metal door, visitors have to rely on a separate smaller door similar to those found in school bathrooms because the floor-to-ceiling door cannot lock. peacefulness/noise level: 4.5/5 Aside from the areas close to the playground, the park has a pleasantly quiet atmosphere. While the park is situated adjacent to a road on one side, the overall ambiance remains peaceful, but it is important to note that venturing near the side of the park may lead to increased noise levels because of activities from the nearby kids’ summer camp, especially during drop-off and pick-up hours.

Amenities/Fun: 4/5 The park offers several recreational activities, including a few tennis and basketball courts as well as a playground for kids. Additionally, the park’s expansive size provides a fun and enjoyable environment for exploration. There are various charming and interesting features of the park, such as a dinosaur statue or dinosaur-themed drawings on the trash bins near the picnic tables, adding a touch of whimsy to the overall experience.

Memorial Park

Picnic Potential: 4.5/5 With its expansive size, Memorial Park provides ample space for picnicking, although the grass quality might vary in certain areas. One minor drawback is that the park may occasionally be booked for events which may limit picnic availability. However, for those opting to picnic, there are a few pleasant grassy spots to choose from, such as the small hill between the first field and the road, or next to a tree in the larger field. Additionally, visitors have the option to sit in the charming gazebo or near the playground located in the back of the park.

Cleanliness: 4.5/5 The park is well-equipped with trash cans that can sometimes be found every few feet. However, despite the abundance of trash cans, there is still graffiti near the playgrounds and the occasional litter left behind, which is why it is important to take responsibility and contribute to the cleanliness of the park by properly disposing trash and encouraging others, especially children, to do the same.

Bathrooms: 3/5 Among the bathrooms in all the parks featured, Memorial Park’s stood out as the cleanest option. This particular restroom featured two stalls, offered free pads and tampons, a sink – though with a slightly warped metal mirror – and a baby changing station. However, other than the bathroom found inside the Quinlan Community Center, this restroom was the only one found within the entire park, which is a huge drawback due to the park’s size.

Peacefulness/Noise Level: 5/5 While there may be occasional passing cars on the roads near or within the park, the overall atmosphere is peaceful, especially when there are no ongoing events. Although there may be instances of children or pets playing and making noise, it is almost always possible to find quieter areas, such as in the area near the Cupertino Senior Center.

Amenities/Fun: 5/5 The park offers a variety of amenities such as tennis and softball courts. Dogs can be seen frequently, though not all are accompanied by leashes. Adjacent to the bathrooms, there is a playground where children can often be seen enjoying themselves. The park, in general, is scenically beautiful, especially in the spring, when cherry blossoms can be found. Exploring the Quinlan Community Center and engaging with the abundance of small daisies scattered across the grass can also be a fun experience. Additionally, the statues in the art installation “The Guardians” are worth admiring during a visit to the park.

San Jose Rose Garden

With a fountain and rows upon rows of roses, the San Jose Rose Garden is very appealing to the eye when it blooms mid-May. However, when not in bloom, the garden may look a little plain. Additionally, the bathrooms were not the cleanest and did not feature a mirror, so if you are coming for prom pictures, be sure to bring your own mirror and time the visit for when the roses are all blooming! If you are hungry, there may be someone selling chips and other snacks for a few dollars, so do make sure to bring cash or your own food. If you are just wandering, it may be nice to take a walk outside the garden; it is only a few feet away from the San Jose Public Library, and the houses around the area also feature lots of unique designs.