Are you familiar with the phrase: bloom where you’re planted? My waiter tonight at Three Degrees restaurant is a perfect example of what this phrase means. Hector grew up in the restaurant business and ran several restaurants before immigrating from Guatemala, hoping for a better life in the United States. He has worked at Toll House for 16 years and considers the Los Gatos, California-based hotel to be his second family.
“I learned in my restaurant training to give 110% to what I do,” smiled Hector.
In my years of reviewing hotels and restaurants, I have seen that it is the people that make the property. A hotel is just an empty box without people inside.
Toll House Hotel
Opened in 1983, Toll House Hotel offers 115 rooms with three different lodging categories; deluxe, premiere and suites – from junior suites to parlor suites. I was drawn to the Toll House Hotel for their unique “Sips and Saddles” package. Offered at $489. (check the website for details) the Sips and Saddles package includes:
Deluxe hotel accommodations for two (upgrades to higher room categories are available)
Breakfast for two at Three Degrees restaurant
Horseback riding at Garrod Farms
Picnic and wine tasting at Cooper-Garrod Vineyards in Saratoga
This hotel package is only available on Friday and Saturday nights and requires one week advance reservations.
Three star hotel sees green
With a nod to the environment, the Toll House Hotel offers 100% biodegradable hotel keys (they look the same to me) but I support any green efforts. The hotel offers recycling receptacles throughout the property, uses bulk soap, shampoo and conditioner dispensers in the combination bath/shower (bye bye tiny plastic bottles) and ozone machines in the laundry. As is standard operating procedure in water-challenged California, hotel sheets and towels remain in place for multiple nights, unless fresh linens and towels are requested.
Kid-friendly Toll House
While there is no connection between Toll House cookies and the Toll House Hotel, the hotel has embraced the concept of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies at the reception area and milk and cookies are featured on the dessert menu at Three Degrees restaurant. For the health conscious, there are fresh apples and infused water by reception and I had Fuji apples waiting in my hotel room, along with a small bag of pretzels, caramel gourmet syrup, tea and Carmel Valley Roasting Co. coffee next to the in-room coffee maker.
There isn’t a swimming pool at Toll House Hotel, there is an onsite fitness room and for those who prefer, guest passes are available at Los Gatos Fitness Club. Finally, there are s’more kits for the courtyard fire pit located via the second floor of the property.
Three Degrees restaurant
I sampled the butter lettuce salad with blue cheese, pears, candied walnuts, pear-walnut vinegarette $9.50 and the boneless short ribs, with garlic mashed potatoes, brocollini and shallots $19.00. A glass of Testarossa Winery Pinot Noir paired well with the short ribs.
Insider Tip
Three Degrees restaurant offers daily Social Hour specials with value-priced food and drink offerings from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. They also offer Toll House cookies and milk on the dinner menu!
For additional insider tips follow Luxury Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown on Twitter .
If You Go:
Toll House Hotel (408) 395-7070
140 South Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos, California 95030
Article written by, video and photos courtesy of Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip, Travels from Northern California. I was a guest of Toll House Hotel.
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Beautiful 🙂
Love it! What a cool place to stay!
@Laura
Yep, I look forward to staying at Toll House Hotel when it is not work-related and I can simply sit back and enjoy the place and this quaint downtown.