Welcome to San Carlos
A small, walkable town with access to big cities and beautiful parks.
San Carlos is a small, quaint city in the Bay Area, approximately 30 minutes south of San Francisco. Though small, San Carlos has everything a growing city needs, including award-winning schools, beautiful parks, and many local businesses. San Carlos has a small-town vibe where locals know the people who live and work here, making it a great place to raise a family, have a business, and meet new people. With access to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, San Carlos has all the perks of a big city without the congestion and long commute.
The suburban city of San Carlos is in northern San Mateo County, California, known as the “City of Good Living.” It is also known for its tranquility, small-town feel, and beautiful parks. The community is in the San Francisco Bay Area, surrounded by flourishing cities like San Francisco, Belmont, Daly City, Emerald Hills, and Foster City. Many people in San Carlos make the daily commute to San Francisco for work. The San Carlos area offers various recreational and cultural opportunities.
What to Love
- Beautiful parks and open landscapes
- Small town feel, friendly locals, walkable communities
- Luxury living communities and high-end amenities
- Proximity to lively big cities
Local Lifestyle
San Carlos is ideally situated for enjoying the great outdoors: hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, and nature photography are just a few activities to do in the area. San Carlos is a sophisticated urban center with a vibrant downtown and excellent schools. Downtown San Carlos is home to a handful of quaint shops and restaurants, while the city’s main thoroughfares, San Carlos Street and Laurel Street, are lined with a magnificent array of old and new oak trees. It’s a great place to live, work, and play.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
San Carlos is a thriving community with many unique eateries and shops. Stamp Bar & Grill is a casual dining experience that serves a range of American and globally-inspired dishes from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Noelani’s Island Grill is a fun restaurant that serves Hawaiian cuisine in various seating arrangements from sofas, tables, high-tops, and indoor and outdoor seating. Cuisinett Bistro and Market serves French-inspired dishes in a quaint and cozy restaurant.
Blind Tasting Wine and Beer Bar is a rustic restaurant serving small plates to complement wine and beer tastings. Domenico Winery is an upscale venue that offers wine tastings and event space and serves delicious Italian dishes. Devil’s Canyon Brewing Co. is a certified sustainable brewery with an industrial décor, taproom, and beer garden.
While restaurants are plentiful in San Carlos, the shops are also a fun and walkable outing for locals. JoeyRae is a women’s clothing boutique with high-end American-made clothing, accessories, and locally sourced gifts and jewelry. Another popular shop is the Nordic Nest, which sells Scandinavian homeware, gifts, jewelry, décor, and more.
Things to Do
San Carlos has a small-town feel with the convenience of urban life and something for everyone to enjoy. The San Carlos Wine and Art Faire is a premiere festival with specialty foods, drinks, and vendors for the entire community to enjoy. Christmas Tree Lane is a festive and walkable event where two blocks of homes go all out for Christmas with lights and decorations.
The Hiller Aviation Museum is an aircraft history museum that highlights the history of planes and helicopters in San Carlos. Fox Theatre is a stunning, historic venue that hosts indoor and outdoor events, like concerts, speakers, festivals, and performances.
Schools
San Carlos School District serves preschool through eighth-grade students in the San Carlos Community. The district has preschool to third-grade schools, upper elementary (fourth and fifth grade), middle schools, and one Kindergarten to eighth-grade charter school.