Fodor's Expert Review Castro Street
The heart of Downtown Mountain View, this constantly bustling street runs from the Caltrain station (where a few blocks are pedestrian-only for outdoor dining because of the COVID-19 pandemic) to the City Hall complex that includes the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Fast-casual restaurants and ramen shops tend to be the main destinations during the daytime, while the bar scene in the evening is livelier than in any other city between San Jose and San Francisco.
A pair of excellent coffee shops anchor the ends of Castro Street: Red Rock Coffee ( 201 Castro St.) and 1 Oz Coffee ( 650 Castro St.). Once you’re caffeinated, make sure to try downtown’s two premier French bakery/pastry shops: Alexander’s Patisserie ( 209 Castro St.) and Maison Alyzée (... READ MORE
The heart of Downtown Mountain View, this constantly bustling street runs from the Caltrain station (where a few blocks are pedestrian-only for outdoor dining because of the COVID-19 pandemic) to the City Hall complex that includes the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Fast-casual restaurants and ramen shops tend to be the main destinations during the daytime, while the bar scene in the evening is livelier than in any other city between San Jose and San Francisco.
A pair of excellent coffee shops anchor the ends of Castro Street: Red Rock Coffee ( 201 Castro St.) and 1 Oz Coffee ( 650 Castro St.). Once you’re caffeinated, make sure to try downtown’s two premier French bakery/pastry shops: Alexander’s Patisserie ( 209 Castro St.) and Maison Alyzée ( 212 Castro St.). Doppio Zero ( 160 Castro St.) is the best restaurant of the crowd directly on the street, serving superb Neapolitan pizzas with an irresistible soft, lightly charred crust. Just off Castro Street are a pair of dramatically different establishments, both worth a visit: Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant ( 895 Villa St.) and longtime fine-dining icon Chez TJ ( 938 Villa St.), where the careers of many top Bay Area chefs began.
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