Mountain View (California)

By train

Caltrain service connects Mountain View to San Francisco and San Jose (and Gilroy). Almost all Caltrains stop at the on Castro Street, including all local and limited-stop trains, and most Baby Bullet trains. All local trains and some limited-stop trains also service the , near the border of Mountain View and Palo Alto.
To get to Amtrak trains from Mountain View, connect at the San Jose Diridon or Santa Clara stations via Caltrain.
There is also a VTA light rail service that connects downtown to several suburban locations in the South Bay. VTA light rail can also be used to connect to the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train (to Sacramento) in Santa Clara.

By air

Mountain View is reachable from all three Bay Area airports:

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): The BART train has a stop directly at the airport, which you can ride to the Millbrae transit center. From Millbrae, leave BART and take Caltrain southbound service. If you are taking a taxi, note that San Francisco-based taxis may charge 150% of the normal fare when going more than 15 miles outside the city limit, and the fare is likely to be over $100.
• San Jose (SJC): Take a free shuttle to Caltrain's Santa Clara station and then take the northbound train service. Also, you can take a free shuttle to the VTA Metro/Airport station and take the VTA light rail. Taxi fare is likely to be in the $35-45 range.
• Oakland (OAK): Take a shuttle van service. This is the most distant of the three area airports. You can take BART from the new Oakland Airport BART extension, ride to Millbrae station, then connect at Millbrae to Caltrain southbound. Taxi fare from OAK is likely to be about $100.

For travel within Mountain View itself and the neighboring area, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates bus and light rail service. The Caltrain, which runs all the way from San Francisco to Gilroy stops in Mountain View as well. Caltrain also provides relatively easy access to both San Francisco and San Jose Airport, via BART or bus connections.
Mountain View is good for cycling: many streets have bike lanes or are wide enough to comfortably support bike traffic. There are several Bay Area BikeShare stations located in Mountain View, as well as in a few neighboring cities.
The downtown area is walkable.

• Computer History Museum

  phone: +1 650-810-1010
  address: 1401 N Shoreline Blvd
  The world's largest and most complete museum on computing history, documenting the area's primary industry. Be prepared for a massive collection of room-sized computers, vacuum tubes, entangled wires, and devices large and small. A geek's delight and a must-see in Silicon Valley.

• Castro StreetCastro Street is a charming district full of ethnic diversity and interesting local businesses. Although there is a strong Asian presence among restaurants and shops, many different cultures are represented along these blocks. There is a weekly farmers' market and on certain Thursdays it is home to a great street fair with vendors and a classic car show. Also convenient access from public transportation by way of several trains and buses. If you live near this area or in most of Mountain View, Google provides free Wi-Fi internet all over (though it is spotty in many locations).

• Google Headquarters

  address: 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy
  Drive around the large campus of buildings to see where all the geeks work and get a taste of the mischievious Google corporate culture. The campus is also a 10 to 30 min walk from the Computer History Museum depending on where exactly you want to go. Make sure to take a picture in front of the huge bunch of Android statues on the Google Android lawn on Landings Dr. They are located right next to the company store, which sells a wide range of rather affordable swag and has a Google bike to take pictures on. On your way, have fun spotting the colorful bikes (easy), the "Noogle" propeller hats bestowed upon new employees (less easy, but worth it!), and the various Android statues hidden between the buildings. Google is arguably the friendliest of all tech giants with tourists—the Googleplex's courtyard, complete with a dinosaur skeleton, is open for selfie takers—but, as with the rest of Silicon Valley, no public tours are available.

• Shoreline Wildlife Refuge Area and Trail

  phone: +1 650 903-6392
  Once the site for dumping trash, Mountain View closed this area as a dump and turned it into a park instead. Now it's a beautiful 700-acre park with a saltwater lake, golf course, rolling grassy hills, and bay trails.

• Hacker Dojo

  address: 599 Fairchild Dr
  Non-profit community center for geeks.

• Shoreline Amphitheatre

  phone: +1 650-967-3000
  address: 1 Amphitheatre Parkway
  Outdoor concert venue with huge tent cover, location for many large Bay Area concerts as well as community events.

• Century Cinemas 16

  phone: +1 650-960-0970
  address: 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd
  Large movie theater with ample parking showing recent big movies.

• Shoreline Aquatic Center

  phone: +1 650-965-7474
  address: 3160 N. Shoreline Blvd
  Water sports center with boating, windsurfing, and other aquatic activities. Equipment rental available.

• Stevens Creek TrailGood for walking or riding a bike.

• NASA Ames Research Center

  phone: +1 650 604-6497
  Founded in 1939, Ames Research Center has evolved into one of the nation's premier research labs. Ames provides the products, technologies and services that enable NASA missions and, in turn, expand human knowledge.

Mountain View has many big-box stores including REI, Best Buy, IKEA, and Costco near the Hwy 101 Rengstorff exit. And Walmart, Target, Ross, Kohl's, and Safeway are in the San Antonio shopping center.

• Farmers' Market

  address: Mountain View Caltrain Station, 600 West Evelyn Ave
  Features fresh produce and prepared foods from farmers and small food producers in the area. On '49ers game Sundays, the market is relocated to the corner of Bryant St. and California St. a few blocks away.

Castro Street is the main street in the downtown area with many restaurants and bars. East and South Asian food is available in abundance, but it is by no means the only choice. Watch the hours of operation; most restaurants in Mountain View are not open very late. There are some wonderful Mexican restaurants in the area serving Poblano style food.

Budget

• Gelato Classico

  address: 241 Castro St
  Italian ice cream. A local favorite, with long lines out the door during peak hours.

• The Posh Bagel

  address: 444 Castro St
  Bagels, sandwiches, crepes, and grilled panini.

Mid-range

• Amarin Thai Cuisine

  phone: +1 650-988-9323
  address: 174 Castro St
  Good Thai food. Also has branches in Santa Clara and San Jose.

• Amber

  address: 2290 W. El Camino Real
  Indian.

• Bangkok Spoon

  address: 702 Villa St

• Cafe Baklava

  address: 341 Castro St
  Turkish food

• Fiesta del Mar

  address: 1005 Shoreline Ave
  Serves delicious sea food dishes as well as the famous and elusive Enjococado chicken.

• Fiesta del Mar Too

  address: 735 Villa St

• Fu Lam Mum

  address: 153 Castro St
  Dim sum is the staple of this restaurant, so come here hungry! Most dim sum plates cost between $3–5, and with the endless parade of food being served, you're guaranteed to walk away full. The shrimp and pea sprout dumplings come recommended.

• Garden Fresh

  phone: +1 650-961-7795
  address: 1245 W El Camino Real
  Vegetarian (Vegan) Chinese.

• Hong Kong Bistro

  address: 147 Castro St
  Western-style food from Hong Kong, vestiges of a colonial era. One of the few restaurants in Mountain View open late; serving until midnight.

• Kirin Chinese Restaurant

  address: 485 Castro St
  Look past the fish tank crawling with lobsters outside and look in for some cheap and tasty Chinese food. Parking is accessible and the service is quick.

• Krung Thai

  address: 590 Showers Dr
  Thai.

• La Fiesta

  phone: +1 650-968-1364
  address: 240 Villa St
  Mexican food

• Napoletana Pizzeria

  phone: +1 650 969-4884
  address: 1910 W. El Camino Real
  Only certified authentic Italian pizza in the South Bay. An experience.

• New Mongolian BBQ

  address: 304 Castro St
  Relatively inexpensive all-you-can-eat Mongolian BBQ (fill a bowl with ingredients and sauce, and it will be cooked for you)

• Shezan

  address: 216 Castro St
  The location formerly occupied by Sue's Kitchen (and Godavari, in another incarnation) now holds a Pakistani restaurant with superb food full of subtle flavors.

• Shiva's

  address: 800 California St
  Shiva's has been reviewed as one of the top north Indian restaurants in the Bay area. Lunch buffet is a popular choice. Good for group dining.

• St. Stephens Green

  address: 223 Castro St
  Stiff drinks, good pub food and plenty of standing space available, St Stephens Green is perfect for happy hour drinks or just a casual meet up with friends. Although an Irish pub, it seems that hip hop is the vibe of choice here.

• Taquería Los Charros

  address: 854 West Dana St
  Mexican food. Excellent tacos, and many other choices. Very inexpensive for the Castro St. area.

• Tied House Cafe and Brewery

  address: 954 Villa St
  American.

• Vaso Azzurro

  address: 108 Castro St
  Italian food, served in a restaurant with substantially-Italian-speaking staff

• Vive Sol

  phone: +1 650-938-2020
  address: 2020 W. El Camino Real
  Specializes in cuisine from the Pueblo region of Mexico. An outdoor seating area makes this a great place to go on a warm summer evening.

• Chef Zhao Bistro

  phone: +1 650 262-9728
  address: 400 Moffett Blvd
  Sichuan Chinese food focused on fresh food in an unfussy setting. Try traditional dishes like pig's feet or goat, or American favorites like General Tao's chicken. Take out or dine-in.

Splurge

• Cascal

  address: 400 Castro St
  Excellent Latin American Tapas, particularly good for sharing food in groups.

• Chez TJ

  phone: +1 650 964-9647
  address: 938 Villa St
  Swanky, Michelin-starred restaurant.

• Scratch

  phone: +1 650-237-3131
  address: 401 Castro St
  Updated American comfort food. It has a great bar with unusual, craft selections of American distilled spirits. Also, good soups, salads, and appetizers. Main courses are inconsistent but many are quite good.

• Best Western Mountain View Inn

  address: 2300 W El Camino Real

• Holiday Inn Express

  phone: +1 650-967-7888
  address: 1561 West El Camino Real

• Hotel Strata

  address: 93 W El Camino Real

• Hotel Aria

  phone: +1 650-559-9115
  address: 2700 W. El Camino Real

• Hotel Zico

  phone: +1 650 969-8200
  address: 200 E. El Camino Real

• Quality Inn & Suites Hotel

  phone: +1 650-934-0155
  address: 5 Fairchild Dr

• Ramada Limited

  phone: +1 650-967-6856
  address: 55 Fairchild Dr

• Super 8 Mountain View

  phone: +1 650-969-9641
  address: 1665 El Camino Real

• Los Altos
• Palo Alto
• Sunnyvale