Last Saturday, the long-awaited Third Annual Taste of Los Gatos experience began with attendees lining up to have wrist bands applied at noon along N. Santa Cruz Ave. Then, it was on with the sipping, munching and strolling.
As the Porsches and the tourists invaded downtown, it was time for a festival based around some of the best food and drink Los Gatos—and the surrounding region—has to offer.
Merchants were smiling at the crowd made up of local families and tourists wandered along the Avenue and Village Lane, which were closed to vehicles.
There was a lot going on: carnival games, a pop up “mountain” for climbing, lots of local vintages to try, yummy bites to be munched. Those attending “Taste of” had a chance to see what downtown looks like without so many cars—and no worries about beach traffic.
Now, onward to find the best bite. And what would be the best sip? A tasty, flavorful vintage? Or a cool one?
In the lead-up to the event, Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Lin said she was excited that this year’s gathering offers guests additional ways to explore downtown, including through the new Vintage on Village experience. “It’s really telling the story of Los Gatos as a culinary destination, I really do feel like we’re experiencing a culinary renaissance here,” she’d said in a release.
Based on what I saw this weekend, it seems the Chamber’s goal of making Los Gatos a premier gastronomical destination is coming to fruition. And there were so many unique bites!
Along the tasting routes
At the event attendees got a good sense of what the town has to offer: boutiques, bars, restaurants, cool-treats shops, a way to tan indoors, a dance studio, info about La Bahia—a new ultra-luxe resort-style hotel behind the roller coaster in Santa Cruz (with beach butlers —yes, beach butlers to plant your umbrella), skin treatment clinics (samples were offered), developers and local service organizations.
There was this cool alley to explore where water and shade was available and beach chairs-wow. A place to take a break provided by Good Samaritan Hospital. So much diversity in the restaurants and shops. And the best thing? It was perfect tasting weather!
2026 Golden Spoon winners
The Golden Spoon Distinction is the Chamber’s annual recognition of culinary excellence—celebrating leaders who make meaningful contributions to Los Gatos.
Last year, the first winners were The Pastaria & Market and Tasting House.
Congressman Liccardo appeared to help present the second annual “Golden Spoon” awards. He stood alongside Mayor Rob Moore, Teri Hope of Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., Deena Leroy from Chez Philippe and Lin, as they congratulated this year’s winners: Oak & Rye and Teleféric Barcelona.
“Los Gatos has an extraordinary restaurant community, and the Golden Spoon Distinction gives us an opportunity to recognize the restaurants that contribute not only to our culinary scene, but also to our business community and the broader community we share,” said Lin, in a release.
It is true that Los Gatos has quite the array of quality restaurants.
Closing a bit of Santa Cruz Ave. really works for this fest. Without cars, attendees can wander freely and check out deep downtown. And this year, they could even do so on Village Lane—where there were even Porches on display outside Beauté Bar. Hopefully we can expect more of the same next year.
A ‘vertical’ taste
David Bruce Winery offered a rare vertical barrel tasting of pinot noir, featuring three vintages served up directly from the barrel. Connoisseurs of fine wines delighted in this pallet treat.
The Chamber Cafe featured delicious grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks from Blvd Coffee. To those locals who ran to the hills during this event, you missed the adobo shrimp, fresh watermelon, salad skewers and fabulous local wines. A variety of beers were available as well as hard cider and non-alcoholic refreshers.
Plus there was live music on multiple stages including performances by The Freshmakers and Daze on the Green.
Beth Foley, the Chamber’s multimedia designer, mentioned that the event sold out.
Los Gatos is garnering a major reputation for being a place to eat and shop and also perhaps have a beauty treatment, an indoor tan, get pierced, shop for jewelry—or just enjoy a place that is walkable and charming.
This year’s edition was presented by Linda Lester of Lester Square.
The Chamber worked, I might add, tirelessly, with restaurants and other unique shops to make this Taste of the best one yet. There were more than 30 participating businesses—the majority of which were restaurants—and approximately 20 wineries in this year’s event.
This Taste event just might convince those tourists to return in the days ahead to enjoy a nice dinner, window shop at the boutiques and have a beauty treatment to acquire that “Los Gatos Look.”
