The Garlic Capital of the World
Gilroy's garlic is not a gimmick. It's the real thing — fresh-dug, intensely aromatic, and used with the confidence of a community that has been growing it for generations. If you love garlic, this is your city.
Gilroy's Garlic Festival (held every July) draws over 100,000 visitors for garlic ice cream, garlic bread, garlic wine, and every imaginable garlic preparation. But the garlic culture exists year-round in local restaurants that use fresh local garlic as a foundational ingredient rather than an afterthought.
The city's Mexican-American community has established excellent restaurants that take the local garlic seriously. Mainstream restaurants, food stands, and specialty shops in downtown Gilroy all celebrate this remarkable local ingredient.
Garlic Capital of the World
Gilroy grows a significant portion of America's garlic — fresh-dug, aromatic, and used with abandon in local restaurants.
Annual Garlic Festival
The Gilroy Garlic Festival in July is California's most beloved food festival — garlic in every form from July through harvest.
Mexican Community Food
Gilroy's Mexican-American community has established excellent restaurants with a particular talent for garlic-forward cooking.
Gilroy Wine Country
The Santa Clara Valley wine country surrounding Gilroy produces Petite Sirah, Cabernet, and Zinfandel that local restaurants pour enthusiastically.
Must-Try Dishes
Whole heads of local garlic slow-roasted until caramelised and sweet — the essential Gilroy experience.
Local garlic-rubbed sourdough with extra virgin olive oil from Gilroy's garlic-celebrating restaurants.
Marinated grilled steak with roasted Gilroy garlic on corn tortillas — local flavour maximised.
Simple spaghetti aglio e olio with fresh local garlic — when the garlic is this good, nothing more is needed.
The Garlic Festival's most famous dessert — vanilla ice cream with actual garlic. More delicious than it sounds.
Bold, inky Petite Sirah from the Santa Clara Valley — full-bodied, peppery, and garlic-friendly.
Neighborhoods & Food Districts
The historic downtown with garlic-celebrating restaurants and specialty food shops.
The Christmas Hill Park area where the annual festival transforms into California's greatest food celebration.