Visit California l August 23, 2023
The Northern California Show
Levi’s Stadium boasts plenty of Silicon Valley flair, from its solar-power roof to its incredible WiFi, the latter vital for posting your concert pics. It has Bay Area—or perhaps Bey Area—flavor in the concessions too, from the Gilroy-made Silva Sausage, spicy chicken buns from San Francisco’s The Chairman, and slices from local favorite Blue Line Pizza. The stadium has its own art collection and a 49ers Museum where you can see photos and memorabilia from the storied NFL franchise.
Getting There
If you’re driving to Santa Clara, streamline your trip by prebooking your parking spot through the Levi’s Stadium site, or from online resources like Park Whiz, Vivid Seats, or Seat Geek.
It’s easy to take mass transit to the show, whether you go by Caltrain from San Jose and San Francisco, or VTA light rail (Valley Transportation Authority) from around Santa Clara County. The Levi’s Stadium stop serves VTA’s orange, green, and blue lines, which connect to towns such as Mountain View and much of San Jose.
Before you head out, get acquainted with Levi’s Stadium’s bag policy so you know what you can and cannot bring inside. (Need a fun, stadium-friendly clear bag? Check out Travel + Leisure’s favorites.)
Where to Stay Near Levi’s Stadium
When Beyoncé played the Super Bowl in 2016, she reportedly bunked in nearby Los Altos; for a similarly regal vibe, you can spend the night at Enchanté in Los Altos, a boutique hotel modeled after a French chateau and outfitted with antiques. Overall, though, Santa Clara, San Jose, and all of Silicon Valley make a good home base for seeing the show. Levi’s Stadium offers nearby hotel suggestions—such as the Hilton Santa Clara, which is a five-minute walk from the venue and neighbors the California’s Great America theme park. If you’re taking mass transit to the show, consider staying in downtown San Jose, near the Convention Center, or in nearby Japantown, so that you can walk to blue or green line VTA stations. Convenient downtown options include the art deco Hotel De Anza, the Westin San Jose, and the San Jose Marriott.
Beyhive–Style Things to Do Around Santa Clara
If you want to prep for the show by putting a ring on it and boosting your own bling factor, browse the jewelry shops in Grand Century Mall in San Jose’s Little Saigon, or check out Three Sisters in Willow Glen, which has tiaras and unique Bakelite jewelry. While you’re there, pay tribute both to the song “Honey” and Beyoncé’s designer bee costume by picking up some Willow Glen Honey, made by local bees.
Certainly, just watching Beyoncé and her dancers for nearly three hours will make anyone start thinking about where to eat. Beyoncé has reportedly admitted that pizza is her go-to comfort food, and San Jose’s diverse culinary scene is a hotbed for creative pies. Start with the acclaimed Neapolitan pies at Pizza Bocca Lupo in downtown’s San Pedro Square Market, then try the thin-crusted delights at Pizza Antica on Santana Row and head to Evergreen for Indian-style Tasty Pizza, topped with butter chicken.
Bey and husband Jay-Z have embraced a plant-based vegan diet at various points too—a good excuse to check out Good Karma Artisan Ales & Cafe, the San Jose vegan restaurant with pulled “pork” street tacos and a chocolate Mayan pie. You can also easily plan a weekend of meals and shopping in San Jose around these Black-owned businesses, including a wide range of Ethiopian restaurants and spots such as Back A Yard Caribbean and Nirvana Soul Coffee.
To extend the concert into a dance party, head to beloved LGBTQ+ dance club Splash in downtown San Jose, check out the Oakland to All ballroom events around the Bay Area, or plan ahead for San Jose’s Queer Afro Latin Dance Festival, which will be part of Pride festivities in June 2024.
