San Jose is not only home to the big companies in Silicon Valley, but it is also one of the best shopping cities in California. The best fashion brands from around the world are present in this city and we will tell you where to find them. There are very good malls in San Jose and here you can find out which are the best and what you can find in each one. We will also mention where to eat and have fun in these shopping centers as well as the best brands in the outlets in San Jose.
Best Malls in San Jose
Westfield Valley Fair
Among all the malls in San Jose, Westfield Valley Fair is the largest. It is also considered one of the best in Northern California as it has a great selection of fashion brands including both luxury and fast fashion brands. The best designer name brands in the world are here including stores like Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Gucci or Saint Laurent, among others. You can also go to Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom department stores that stand out for their wide selection of premium and luxury fashion brands as well as accessories and body care products.
But as we said before, Valley Fair is a shopping center for everyone, since there are also cheaper fashion brands. Some of these are Zara, GAP, Forever 21 or the Japanese fast fashion brand, Uniqlo. There are over 200 stores and you can also go to Superdry, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sandro, John Varvatos or the Lego Store. For such a large shopping center, there should be no shortage of eating options. Valley Fair is no exception as it has several restaurants that will amaze you. If you want a dessert, an excellent option is to go to Salt & Straw to eat an ice cream with incredible combinations of flavors.
- Address: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA
- Other Stores: Anthropologie, APM Monaco, Christian Louboutin, CH Carolina Herrera, Ecco, Indochino, JD Sports, Lacoste, Longchamp
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 11AM to 9PM, Friday & Saturday 10AM a 9PM, Sunday 11AM to 8PM
Stanford Shopping Center
As its name suggests, Stanford Shopping Center is located very close to Stanford University, in the Silicon Valley area. Not only is it one of the most beautiful malls in San Jose, but it is also one of the oldest and one with the best stores. Fashion fans will love this mall as there are not only four department stores (Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s), but there are also several premium and luxury fashion brands.
The best of national and international fashion is here in stores like AllSaints, Hugo Boss, Tory Burch as well as high end stores like Brunello Cucinelli, Zegna and the iconic French brand Hermès. But that’s not all, as there are also stores like Untuckit, The North Face, Weekend MaxMara, the Samsung Store and Anthropologie. Girls will love the American Girl store where they can shop for customizable dolls as well as books inspired by each doll’s story. There is no shortage of good restaurants in Stanford Shopping Center like Pacific Catch (a good seafood restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere), The Melt, and True Food Kitchen.
- Address: 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA
- Other Stores: Apple Store, Brooks Brothers, J.Crew, Louis Vuitton, Lucky Brand, Tiffany & Co., Urban Outfiters
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 11AM to 7PM, Sunday 11AM to 6PM
Santana Row
Santana Row is a mixed-use complex (in addition to shops, it includes offices, apartments, and even a hotel) with an open-air design. If you are going to go to Westfield Valley Fair, do not forget to stop at this place and discover why it is one of the best malls in San Jose. This, in part, is thanks to its design with an elegant architecture without equal that makes it ideal for walking and shopping. There are no department stores, but there are several interesting shops selling clothing, electronics, shoes, jewelry, and more.
Some of the best are Bonobos, Kate Spade, Ted Baker, Lululemon and Nike. You can also go shopping at Tommy Bahama, Sephora or Brandy Melville. There are also beauty salons, yoga studios and several furniture stores including Crate & Barrel and BoConcept. Santana Row is also famous for its many high quality restaurants. There are quite a few options for different types of cuisine (and also for different types of budgets) in this mall. We highlight Amber (an excellent Indian food restaurant), Oveja Negra, Meso and Left Bank (if you want to try authentic French food).
- Address: 377 Santana Row, San Jose, CA
- Other Stores: Best Buy, Chico´s, Kendra Scott, Le Labo, Paige, Suitsupply, Tumi, Vince, Warby Parker
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 10AM to 9PM, Sunday 11AM to 7PM
Westfield Oakridge
With more than 100 stores, Westfield Oakridge is one of the malls that you should take into account if you go to San Jose. The anchor stores of this mall are quite varied since they include a department store (Macy’s), a discount store (Nordstrom Rack) and a supermarket (Target). The rest of the stores are not left to duty and include the Apple Store and various fashion brands such as Old Navy, Michael Kors, H&M and Hollister. But that’s not all, you can also go bowling, kids can customize a teddy bear at Build-a-Bear or you can even go for mixed martial arts training at the UFC gym.
- Address: 925 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, CA
- Other Stores: Aldo, Daiso Japan, Famous Footwear, FYE, G by Guess, Hallmark Store, Sephora
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 10AM to 8PM, Friday & Saturday 10AM a 9PM, Sunday 11AM to 8PM
Westgate Center
Westgate Center is called The Outlets in The Neighborhood as it offers similar prices to outlets without having to travel as much. Although the number of stores cannot be compared with the outlets in the city (which we will talk about later), it is one of the malls in San Jose with the best options to get discounts on clothing and accessories. This is because it has several famous discount stores, as well as outlet stores for various fashion brands. Several of the most famous discount chain stores in the United States have a presence at Westgate Center such as Nordstrom Rack, Ross, Burlington and T.J.Maxx.
In these stores you can buy clothes and accessories from premium brands such as Coach, Kate Spade or Michael Kors at good prices. But there are also outlet stores from brands like J.Crew, Nike and GAP as well as Old Navy and a Target. If you want cheap shoes don’t forget to visit Famous Footwear. In front of this mall there are movie theaters and a Trader Joe’s.
- Address: 1600 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA
- Other Stores: Carter´s, Gamestop, Michaels, Sephora, Skechers, Torrid
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 10AM to 9PM, Sunday 11AM to 7PM
Eastridge Center
Perhaps its range of stores is not as good as other malls in San Jose, but when it comes to its entertainment options, Eastridge Center is one of the best. This is because not only does it have movie theaters, but you can also go bowling and play video games in Round 1. If you like to skate, there is a roller rink and the children can spend a fun afternoon in the indoor playground at Luv 2. Play.
Although it does not have as many stores, there are several well-known brands. Its anchor stores are Macy’s and JCPenney, although there are also H&M, F21 Red (the Forever 21 outlet store), The Children’s Place and Aeropostale. As a curious fact, this mall that opened in 1971 was for a time the largest shopping center on the entire west coast.
- Address: 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA
- Other Stores: Bath & Body Works, Champs Sports, Daiso Japan, G by Guess, Hollister, Victoria´s Secret
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 10AM to 8PM, Friday & Saturday 10AM a 9PM, Sunday 11AM to 7PM
Best Outlets in San Jose
The Great Mall
If you want to take advantage of the best clothing deals, there is no better option than going to The Great Mall. This gigantic Outlet in San Jose (located in the Milpitas area) is the home of more than 100 outlets stores of the most recognized retailers. Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Michael Kors are some of the fashion brands you can find here, all with good prices and discounts. Kohl’s department store is also present, as well as some discount stores such as Saks Off Fifth, Burlington and Marshalls.
In addition to all these stores, something that makes this outlet in San Jose special is the Legoland Discovery Center. This is a small indoor amusement park where children can perform various activities ranging from building whatever they imagine with Lego blocks to a 4D movie or having fun on an interactive ride. If you prefer to watch a movie there are also movie theaters, you can also go eat and have fun at Dave & Buster’s.
- Address: 447 Great Mall Dr, Milpitas, CA
- Other Stores: American Eagle, Asics, Coach, Eddie Bauer, Forever 21, GAP, Levi´s, Puma, Under Armour, Uniqlo
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 11AM to 8PM, Friday & Saturday 10AM a 9PM, Sunday 11AM to 7PM
Gilroy Premium Outlets
The Great Mall is in the north of the city, but if you are in the south there is also another excellent outlet: Gilroy Premium Outlets. Although it does not have the entertainment options that the other outlet and it is not as big, the brands that are here are first class. Some examples of this are stores like Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, Brooks Brothers, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Lucky Brand. If you are looking for sportswear it is also a great place as there are the Adidas, Reebok and Lululemon stores, and if you want official sports equipment products you should go to Fanatics by Lids.
Another store that you cannot miss is ECCO where you can buy shoes (at a discount!) for men and women with a modern design as well as being extremely comfortable. Something you should know is that the outlet is divided into two buildings, but you only have to cross the street if you want to see all the stores.
- Address: 681 Leavesley Rd, Gilroy, CA
- Other Stores: Calvin Klein, Chico´s, Champion, J.Crew, Kate Spade, New Balance, Polo Ralph Lauren, White House Black Market
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 11AM to 8PM, Friday & Saturday 10AM a 9PM, Sunday 12PM to 6PM
Other Places to Go Shopping in San Jose
Gilroy Crossing: In case you are going to go to Gilroy Premium Outlets, you can complement your shopping day in this small mall in San Jose. It is made up of several large-format stores, the most important being Target and the department store, Kohl’s. But there are several more like Ross, Michaels and the bookstore: Barnes & Noble. There are also dining options like Panera Bread, Popeyes and The Habit. Nearby there are other similar strip malls with various stores including Burlington, Best Buy or Guitar Center, among others.
The Pruneyard: This is a small outdoor mall located in Campbell. It stands out above all for its several restaurants, including Rock Bottom, Kyoto Palace, Luna or Buca di Beppo. There is also the Marshalls discount store, a Trader Joe’s and small local stores. In its facilities you can also find beauty salons, movie theaters and even a hotel.
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