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Local GuideWhere I live, and what I’d tell a friend.

“The details I’d tell a friend, not a client.”

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The Peninsula Letter

Vol. I · Sunday Edition San Carlos, California · Fall 2026 Last checked October 2026

The Local Guide

My San Carlos.

The places I actually go — and the ones I send friends to first.

By Elaine Li · REALTOR®, San Carlos

A pink and gold sunset over tall trees in San Carlos — Evening sky over San Carlos. Elaine Li

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Every relocation guide lists the same ten restaurants and calls the town a hidden gem. This isn’t that. San Carlos is where I live, and this is the list I send people the week they move here: where to get coffee, where to get a real workout in 30 minutes, where to run errands without moving the car, and which store to brace yourself for.

It’s personal and it’s opinionated. When a place closes or a deal changes, I update it.

If you’re only here for the short version, the Short Version box has it. If you’re thinking about moving here, skip to the Real Estate section — that’s where I’ve put the four things I tell everyone before they start touring.

Food & Drink

Where I actually eat and drink

Morning Coffee

Groovy Goose Coffee

1221 San Carlos Ave.

My coffee shop. The thing most people walk right past is the green juice — it’s the hidden gem on the menu. And if regular coffee is too acidic for you, order the americano. It leans bitter rather than sour, and it has the best flavor in town.

Order: the green juice. Low-acid pick: the americano.

Best Deal in Town

Paris Baguette

622 Laurel St.

Monday through Friday, from 7 to 9 p.m., it’s buy three, get three. Stop on the way home and tomorrow’s breakfast is handled — plus the day after’s.

When: weekdays, 7 to 9 p.m.

Store promotions change, so confirm at the counter.

Night Out

Town

Laurel Street

When friends ask where to hang out and eat well in the same evening, this is my answer. Town has the best vibe in San Carlos, and the food lives up to it.

Why: the best vibe on Laurel.

Weekend Brunch

Johnston’s Saltbox or Mints & Honey

1696 Laurel St. · 1524 El Camino Real

My weekend brunch is always one of these two, and both are true local favorites. Johnston’s Saltbox is the small, cozy one on Laurel with a seasonal menu; Mints & Honey is the bright café on El Camino for toast plates, waffles, and specialty lattes.

Before you go: check weekend hours.

Fitness & Outdoors

Thirty minutes, or a whole morning

Elaine's shadow on the wide green lawn at Crestview Park in San Carlos — Crestview Park — yes, that’s my shadow. Elaine Li

The 30-Minute Workout

Elevator Trail

Waterdog Lake Open Space, on the San Carlos–Belmont line

If you want a workout and only have 30 minutes, this is it. It’s only about half a mile, but it climbs roughly 330 feet — the name is honest. Up, catch your breath at the top, home.

By the numbers: half a mile, about 330 feet up.

Walk With a Friend

Crystal Springs Cross Country Course

Trailhead at the back of Hallmark Park, Belmont

Longer and much more scenic. This is the walk you take with a friend when you want to talk the whole way — just over the line in Belmont, and worth the short drive.

Maintained by the College of San Mateo; it can close after heavy rain.

Lift With a Group

Endure Fit Club

1494 Laurel St.

For people who take weight lifting seriously but want a coach and a group around them. Coached strength classes with real programming behind them — you’ll be pushed, and you’ll be taught.

Jogging & Birthday Parties

Crestview Park

1000 Crestview Drive

A nice park for a jog, and my pick for a kids’ birthday party. There’s a play structure, trails, a soccer field, and a small picnic area you can reserve through the city.

The picnic area holds 30 people; no grills or bounce houses. Book through San Carlos Parks & Recreation.

Errands

Handled on foot

Part of what makes San Carlos easy to live in is that the boring stuff is close together. Park once on Laurel and most of a Saturday list gets done on foot.

Banking. U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, and Citibank are all on Laurel Street, within about two blocks of each other. Whoever you bank with, you’re covered without a detour.

The post office. The friendliest post office staff I’ve dealt with anywhere — patient, and genuinely willing to help you work out the right way to send something.

Travel planning. Expedia Cruises — a travel agency that specializes in cruises, with the kind of personal service that’s hard to find booking online on your own.

Groceries. Trader Joe’s is the busiest store in town. Everyone in San Carlos knows it, and now you do too. Plan your timing accordingly.

Asian groceries. For Asian groceries, 99 Ranch Market and Marina Food are both a short drive away in Foster City. And for special occasions, the Costco stores in Redwood City and Foster City always carry a good selection of Asian foods.

Community

The small-town part

For the Dog

The Dog Park by the Adult Community Center

Next to the San Carlos Adult Community Center, 601 Chestnut St.

The dog park sits right next to the Adult Community Center — an award-winning center, and one of the things that makes San Carlos feel like a real community for every age.

A student jazz band playing at a park bandstand for a seated crowd — A summer concert at the park bandstand. Elaine Li

The Event I Never Miss

San Carlos Art & Wine Faire

Every October · Laurel Street and San Carlos Avenue

Once a year, downtown turns into one long street festival — artists, wine, and what feels like the whole town out on Laurel. If you’re deciding whether San Carlos is for you, come that weekend.

Halloween & the Holidays

Eucalyptus Street

Plus the Goblin Walk on Laurel

The most famous Halloween street in San Carlos — and come December, the same street lights up for the holidays. In the days before Halloween, the downtown Goblin Walk turns a few blocks of Laurel Street into trick-or-treat central for the little ones.

Real Estate

If you’re relocating, start here

The favorites above are the fun part. These four are what I tell anyone seriously considering a move. For prices, schools, and the latest numbers, see the San Carlos neighborhood guide.

Pick Flat or Hill Before You Pick a House

The flat streets near downtown, like Howard Park and Beverly Terrace, put Laurel within walking distance. The western hills trade that walk for views, bigger lots, and quieter streets. Walk both on a weekend before you decide — it narrows the search faster than any filter.

Do the Real Commute at the Real Time

San Carlos has its own Caltrain station downtown, and U.S. 101 and I-280 are both nearby. But “nearby” on a map and 8:15 a.m. on a Tuesday are different things. Before you write an offer, drive or ride your actual commute at the hour you’d actually do it.

Check the School by Address, Not by Town

The San Carlos School District runs TK through eighth grade, and high school is in the Sequoia Union High School District. Assignments follow the specific address, so confirm it for the house you’re considering rather than the ZIP code.

Spend One Day Like a Local

Use this page as a test drive: Elevator Trail in the morning, a green juice at Groovy Goose, errands on Laurel, dinner at Town. If you like how that day feels, you’ll probably like living here. If you don’t, that’s worth knowing too.

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The numbers and the stories

Neighborhood Guide

Ask the Local

New here, or thinking about it?

Text me. I’ll answer anything about San Carlos — which streets are flat, which trail to start with, what to order at Groovy Goose — whether or not you’re buying.

QR code: scan to text Elaine a question about living in San Carlos

Text me your San Carlos question.

Scan with your phone camera — the message is already written, just hit send. Or text (650) 866-9266.

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