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Filoli
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Tue-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- None
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
110 reviews for Filoli
I'm not much of a romantic gardening kind of guy, but this place is a true hidden treasure.
See other people's comments about how great this place is, but just my 2 cents from a photographer's stand point.
- All open season = As far as I know, you are allowed to photograph just about anything and there are lots of flowers to shoot.
- Tripod is a no go = because of human traffic + narrow walkways, tripod is not allowed. If you can sneak one in, make sure you use it when staff aren't around.
- Macro lens is preferred = You can get up very close to pretty plants. If you have a macro lens or you can rent it, you should definitely bring it along. Other than that, walk around zoom lenses with a reasonable f-stop range will come in handy.
- Come back every season = They swap out their plants all the time. If you are into plants/flower photography, visit often.
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A beautiful and romantic English lady is just seen by the public for a short season during the year plus visitor's admission fee is required.
She is not a XL size, compared with those in New Port. But her garden excels, dressing her up in the most splendid way anytime you meet her.
You'd better to have a tour guide if you'd like to know more about her anecdotes and if you want to name some of her favorite blooms in the end of the trip.
And the little café, where you can relax and enjoy an English tea afternoon...
Filoli is one of the best kept secrets in NorCal, which is unfortunate because they survive on the entrance fees coupled with private donations. If you have never been to Filoli, you must go now. Spring is an amazing time as all the bulbs are blooming and the air is still a little chilly. Summer is great too and wait! Winter is outstanding because they have the mansion decked out for the holidays.
If you aren't into pastoral views, walking into a time warp of wealth and beauty, art, nature, baby deer (who ISN'T into baby deer?!), colors, peaceful quiet and romance, then go for the gift shop! The gift shop is the most reasonably priced treasure trove ever - anywhere! I'll trek all the way to Filoli just to get pumpkin spice malt balls and honey.
You can also get a cup of coffee and sit amongst the trees and do nothing at all if you don't feel like it. It's a perfect first date kind of place. You'll get points galore for thinking it up. The gardens change from formal to wild, to shade to roses to hills upon hills upon hills. It is the single most stunning man made place I have been. Rich people pay me a lot to try to capture gardens like these. Alas, you can't capture 100 year old garden charm, I'm sorry.
I love Filoli.
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I wanted to love this place based on the rave reviews from my family and friends. I wanted to give it a 10, but after visiting, I'd give it an 8. But keep in mind, Filoli's main draw is the gardens, and I visited in early September. I am told Spring is the optimal time to visit, as everything is in full bloom.
I like that they offer both self-guided tours (we opted for this) as well as docent-led tours. There were plenty of employees/volunteers around to lead you in the right direction or answer any questions you might have.
Although certain areas of the house are blocked off (including the entire upper floor), I was surprised at how many open access areas there were. Beautiful rugs and tapestries, handcrafted marble/Italian wood furniture, a walk-in safe the size of a small bathroom dedicated solely to the impressive silverware collection, and a massive fireplace that nearly engulfed the entire wall of the ballroom are all sights to be seen here.
I love how they hired someone to play the grand piano in the ballroom. Couples actually started waltzing. Awesome.
The gardens were nice and made for some good photo ops, but I wasn't blown away. Again, perhaps late summer/early fall isn't the ideal viewing time.
The estate itself was huge and a pleasure to stroll around on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Not a bad way to spend $12 - only $5 with student ID.
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Strolling around Filoli's grounds is like stepping into the set of a black and white French film, like Rules of the Game or Last Year at Marienbad.
Or, as it were, Dynasty.
I suppose when at Filoli, we dream in color.
I went today for the first time. August means eye popping Dahlias, intoxicating roses, humongous hydrangeas, bumbling bees, and fornicating chickens in the vegetable garden. All in all, a perfect visit.
I plan to return to see what the other seasons hold (though not in winter; the estate is closed.)
The gardens are the draw; the mansion itself is underwhelming. Spend your time walking around in your favorite dignified summerware, soaking in the sun, and gawking at (but not groping) the immaculate botanical specimens that abound.
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My visit to Filoli really captured my heart. I loved how beautiful this estate is. I wandered through the gardens and through the mansion estate and got lost in its beauty.
I'd like to come back here when the weather's not too hot. I happened to visit on the hottest day of the week when temperatures reached in the 90s. (I know.) Good thing, I wore sunblock!
Words cannot express how much I enjoyed my visit to Filoli Gardens.
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I don't think any of my words will do this place justice. Cindy C. and I had been planning to go here for maybe a year now, and finally last Sunday we just did it. We only had an hour left, but it was worth it. It was so beautiful, lush and well kept. I love going to beautiful places and this was one of them, and I had no idea it was in the bay area.
Actually I'll be honest, but I hadn't read a lot about the place before we went. I just saw the pictures on yelp and thought the gardens looked beautiful. Then on the website I only saw the flowers.
To my amazement, there was a lavish estate that I happily ran about taking pictures of anything and everything. Then there was an amazing pool, so blue and clear.
Then finally came to the mansion. By this time I was already dehydrated because outside it was about 100 degrees that day and I was running around like crazy trying to get everything in since we only had 1 hour left.
The mansion was all sorts of amazing. It's been in several movies too, Joy Luck Club and The Game. I wish I got to see all the rooms here. The artwork was spectacular and the furniture design was so awesome. I want to live there for sure.
I want to go back already and I just was there on Sunday.
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My parents have visited numerous famous gardens all over the world, and even they were pleasantly surprised. Don't be fooled by the simple view from the parking lot. Inside the brick wall is a tree- and flower-lover's paradise. And when we entered the house ballroom, we were even treated to live music performed on the grand piano by a very talented docent (?).
Good tip from Caitlin H. If you're taking a group or planning to visit Filoli more than once a year, consider the National Trust for Historic Preservation membership and save some extra bucks.
Very accessible location right off I-280.
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Wear sunblock!!! There isn't that much shade so if you go on a sunny day, which you should, then make sure you have sun protection because my exposed skin is quite toasty right now.
Entrance fee is $5 if you have a student ID and $12 if you don't. That's a pretty hefty discount of almost 60% off so find your old student ID, borrow one, whatever.
If you want to do a guided tour, you can make reservations in advance. It takes 2 full hours which I find is kind of long for this property but a self-guided tour was good enough for us. At the visitors center, you can watch an intro video on the place. The main attraction is the extensive garden area which includes a very pretty wedding ceremony location! There is a diverse collection of flowers, fruit trees, and the like and they're all labeled. You can also do a tour of the house which is kind of nice and scary in that old kind of way. We were walking around and bumped into a tour guide hanging around and she gave us tidbits of information for part of our time. I found that very nice of her!!
Overall, this is a once in a while kind of place. Great for tourists and visitors since this is also where they filmed Wedding Planner (J. Lo & Matthew McConaughey) I suggest you calling ahead of time to make sure there aren't any special events going on because they'll either charge you more for admission or not let you go in at all.
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This is a beautiful place to visit. I learned of it from someone in a Yahoo group I belong to. I have lived in the Bay Area a year. I just took a friend there yesterday. it was her first time and my second time. She has lived in the Bay Area 30 years and is astonished to have learned about Filoli through me who has only lived here a year. We enjoyed our experience there.
However, on my way to the car at closing time, I happened to find an umbrella left on a bench near the parking lot. With painful feet due to bone spurs, i thought it important enough to turn it in. I strained to go back with it and turn it in. Nobody was at the information desk, but there were two ladies seated at a table nearby counting money in a till. I approached them with the item to be turned into lost and found. The lady with the till did not respond and the other lady sitting across from her said something like, "uh, you probably could leave it on the counter." I kind of slammed it down and sort of stomped off in disgust at the seeming lack of graciousness for my trouble.
I seem to remember a similar experience my first visit when I learned the hard way that no picnicking is allowed on the grounds when I bothered to pack a lunch and somehow overlooked the signs. It was an awkward moment.
Also, it appears there is no reduced price for seniors. Kind of surprised, although maybe for memberships only. I was surprised to find that the garden closes rather early, 3:30 PM. I would have expected it to stay open later during the peak season(s).
But this time we did eat lunch and found it reasonably priced and and the food was very good.
As for the mansion, it was dark in many of the rooms. I would have preferred more light, but it certainly was beautiful and I enjoyed the kitchen(s) the most. The upstairs is roped off. I was curious what it looked like.
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Our group of chamber singers was invited to sing at the Filoli mansion around late fall or early winter. Although I got in for free, I wouldn't call the mansion very exciting in the winter, as all of the trees and flowers are pretty much dead.
Although I respect the beauty that lies within quiet reflection in the realm of nature, I don't think that that is possible during half of the year. Since the trees were all dead and the skies were dark grey every year I went, the tour was mostly focused on the inside which was a dusty little mansion. The rooms that did impress me were the ballroom and the foyer with the staircase. They both looked like rooms from a movie, and I found out later that they both have been used for various productions. (I think "RENT" the movie had part of a scene on that staircase?)
Extra points for the nice docents that were super friendly, gave us free cookies, and thanked us 1,000,000 times for singing. They made the trip really pleasant.
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I dedicate my 200th review to my first good Yelper friend Carole G.!
I met Carole at the Computer History Museum Yelp event and was immediately taken by her warmth and friendliness. She is easily one of the most interesting and bubbly Yelpers ever! After finding out that we have similar interests, we began hanging out which eventually led to our get-together for Filoli.
Lucky me, I got to tag along as Carole has an annual pass and can bring another person with her for free. I think tickets are $12 or so.
Having never even HEARD of this place (and I've lived in the Bay Area my whole life), I was surprised that such a quaint landmark existed so close by. If you've been to Hearst Castle like I have, think of this as a more classy version with incredibly beautiful gardens.
-You MUST stay for the little 10 minute looped video about the history of the place in the admission center. You will learn some interesting things about how Filoli came to be and the people who lived there.
-You MUST bring your camera because it's just so gorgeous, especially when flowers are in bloom! Even when it gets "crowded" there are plenty of opportunities to take some great photos.
-You MUST check out their website to plan your visit a bit. It really makes you look forward to your visit.
-You MUST give the Cafe inside a try. The quiche and salad were so fresh and deliciously excellent. I normally HATE carrots, but the salad has SO MANY and they were really really really tasty with the vinaigrette they had. I also had a ginger ale sweetened with pure cane sugar that was so tasty.
Please take a look at my photos of the beautiful tulips and sakura (cherry blossoms) in bloom! But be aware that it is all much more beautiful in person. Pictures cannot convey the serenity you feel when you're there. The fresh nature and floral scents surround you as you walk around, and you are easily transported back to the early 1900s.
Exploring the house is in itself a treat. I was fascinated by the Asian antiques and all the little archways and cabinets. The wine/gold cellar in the Study was really interesting and my favorite rooms had to be the Kitchen and the Library.
Filoli also has hiking trails that I would love to check out on another visit on a nice day. I won't spoil anymore because you really need to go if you've never been and grew up in the Bay Area.
Thank you Carole for taking/introducing me to this gorgeous gem hidden away in the hills! I hope to go with you again sometime and will definitely bring my own friends and family to experience the loveliness and rich history Filoli contributes to our wonderful state of California.
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It's hard for me to articulate this killer day trip destination escape.
FILOLI stands for Fight, Love and Live - I won't say anymore, the mystery of the estates name reveals itself as you tour and learn about the family that occupied the residence.
Most people would recognize it by the quick fly over screen shot of the mansion in the 80's TV series Dynasty, and it has been in many movies BUT the estate is only half of the charm, the gardens are the proverbial cherry on top.
If you are into Irish folklore, antiques, landscaping or botany you are in for one hell of a treat, bring your camera and walking shoes. I took one day for the gardens and another to explore the mansion.
There is a small/casual and yummy gourmet cafe on the premises which sells locally harvested honey....which I splurged on and am glad I did.
Gorgeous flowers. A swimming pool fit for royalty. A secret passage in the lounge. Walking the grounds, you are enveloped in the sweet scent of roses and lavender, both of which earn their own sections of the garden. As you enter the inviting cool of the estate house, you feel like you are stepping on to the set of Gosford Park. A genteel murder could indeed take place here among the leather-bound books of the library, or the behind the heavy steel door of the silver safe. Worlds away from the teeming Bay Area, Filoli is definitely worth a visit.
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Five of us women took the tour (free). 1 hour touring the house and another for the gardens. Joni was our tour director. This place is the opening scene for "Dynasty".. also plays a part in "Wedding Planner"
Outrageously beautiful - made me purchase flowers to plant that evening. They have over 1000 volunteers that help to make this place a "must see".
They also have jazz concerts.
It's not reality, so everyone should get a dose of Filoli and come away feeling special.
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How a place so beautiful and serene can still remain so unknown is curious to me. My husband and I go to Filoli at least once a year, and every time we mention it to friends and family, they're like, "Filoli? What the heck is that?"
Well regardless of the fact that it seems we are the only people in our close circle of friends who knows and visits Filoli, it usually seems pretty busy whenever we are there. But don't let the full parking lot discourage you. The estate is very large and it never feels too crowded to us.
Our last visit in April 09 was my favorite because I LOVE tulips and the tulips at Filoli are simply breathtaking. It's also very nice to visit in late summer to see all the roses in bloom. There are many paths and places to walk, and for us, it usually takes about an hour to walk the entire garden (my husband likes to take a lot of pictures).
Bottom line: If you think flowers are pretty, you will love Filoli. I would say even people who aren't into plants or gardening will still find beauty and serenity at Filoli. The cafe is nice, but we prefer to stop at Robert's Market in downtown Woodside for sandwiches (though you can not picnic at Filoli). Don't forget to wear sunscreen and bring a camera.
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Thinking that this would be a good place to go on a nice day, expected to tour the house, the garden, do a little hiking around, and maybe a picnic. However, it is basically just a tourist spot. The place was filled with people, and it was basically a museum attraction. The place is kept really well and the place is nice. The garden is pretty and has some awesome flowers and fruit trees. This place seems like it would be great for weddings but unfortunately they do not allow weddings there.
It just wasnt what i expected though as they do not allow any food in the house or garden and you are not allowed to eat anywhere except in the visitor center cafe, Picnicing is not allowed anywhere. The website said there were many hikes that you can go on, but everything was gated off and not available to the public. The place just did not seem very welcoming. It seemed very restrictive and was not what i expected or hoped it would be.
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Filoli puts on a fun Christmas market around December. Often a sellout. This event for the budget minded, though there are items in a wide range of prices. Numerous rooms of the main house are turned into fancy boutiques. One will find all sorts of irresistible goodies (clothing, candles, home decorations, etc.) to bring home. Great for gifts. The live singers serenading the shoppers make for a most festive shopping experience. The lunch, however, is so-so and over priced. Served by volunteers. Go for the ambiance.
Just did the 2 hr Nature Hike. You have to sign up for this, even when you already a member. Our Tour guide, she's a fast walker. I thought we would have some time to eat a little but no. It's a pure straight hike. It's a beautiful walk. I wish they could've start the hike a little earlier than 10am, but the weather was really nice, I'm grateful. My next trip would be going around the house and learning about the history.
I sign up for the Dual Membership for $75/yr. So I could bring my friend or family with me everytime I come here.
During my Nature Hike, some people on my group talked about the Panini in the Cafe, until my next review. I shall just keep wondering how good it is. Ciao..
Yes, it's a pretty estate. Yes, it's a cool looking house. But breathtaking? Heaven on earth? Umm....not so much. I think I came in expecting way too much based on these five-star reviews....I thought it was just "okay."
My in-laws were in town and I decided to bring them by this place, remembering that they enjoyed the Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia (where they are from). We were too early to take advantage of a guided tour, so we wandered around on our own. While there were parts of the garden that were beautifully landscaped and interesting to look at, there were many parts that just looked like a regular backyard garden. We tried to find different flowers and trees based on the little pamphlet they give you, but it was too difficult to figure out what was what. I wish there were more small signs in the garden to detail what different things were.
We made it through the garden, walking slowly....in roughly fifteen minutes. We spent another fifteen wandering through the mansion. My in-laws said kind things about the experience, but I'm pretty sure they were bored. They jumped at the opportunity to leave a half-hour later, despite spending $48 for the half-hour walk.
I'm not exactly sure how people were able to spend more than two hours in this place, unless they wandered around the lot several times and then had an hour picnic. Now don't get me wrong - if it's good weather, it's a nice place to relax and maybe read a book on a bench. But if you're looking for a gasp-worthy experience, you might be disappointed.
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Filoli IS dreamy, as other reviewers have noted...like, hypnotically dreamy. It's out in the middle of nowhere, I mean Woodside, and when you go up the long drive to the gardens you feel like you are entering another world. Go on a stifling August afternoon and sit under an oak tree... feel yourself becoming verrrry sleepy... wake up on the other side of the rabbit hole.
But seriously, when I visited it was incredibly hot and still and the place was deserted except for buzzing honeybees... the mysterious cypress hedges and maze of garden paths were otherworldy... too bad I was here with someone completely inappropriate. Romance, foiled again.
Oh, the gift shop is great when you're in that mood-to-make-purchases-you-will-later-regret that museums, etc., always inspire in me.
Delicate foxglove
Mysterious Pamela
Dreamlike garden path.
LOL, no Pam
The "Filoli family"
Is not Italian.
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They really made this look like it was Wine Country when they used this gorgeous backdrop in "The Wedding Planner".....apparently tons of other movies in the past too! The original "Dynasty" house.....
I thought it was a great spot on the Peninsula to check out and walk around, the mansion is interesting.....takes you way back to another era. The cafe is so-so but at least they offer one. Great place to take visitors when you have a group of all ages. I would go back on a leisurely weekend if stuck on the Peninsula.
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Hearst Castle on a budget, minus the castle, tourism, wildlife, the slopes and of course the higher prices.
Tucked away off 280 south of Crystal Springs, is an unassuming plot of land that is a humongous estate consisting of acres and acres of beautifully kept and maintained grounds and gardens in addition to a very very large house (a mansion rather).
Your $12 (per adult) admission price is a reasonable contribution that goes towards the upkeep of the place. It appears that most or all employees here are volunteers who love what they do. If you have a student ID, whip it out at the ticket office and receive a mini discount off the adult price.
Even the proceeds from the cafe go towards maintaining Filoli. They offer the standard sandwiches, coffee, various cakes/pastries, bottled drinks and juices, and tea bags.
You can easily spend 2 hours at Filoli just taking a stroll through the estate, and marvel at the garden and the flowers and plants in season. As other yelpers have suggested, take those allergy meds well in advance in case you end up being snotty nose and wet and itchy eyes. Even if you are not entirely allergic, thinking about it makes you wanna break out, as the garden is breathtakingly stunning to say the least. Bring your camera and a buttload of memory, as this is a great place to hone those photography skills.
The rose garden alone supposedly has over 200 varieties of roses, some sporting French like and European names. Never have I seen so many bright vibrant colors in my life, and some might argue this place is more colorful than your local Pride Parade.
There are even apple and pear trees and you may even get to see fruit in their infant stages.
The website mentions cameras are welcome, but no tripods. Wedding photography is supposed not allowed, so don't come here garbed in wedding attire to try and pull it off in secret. There is an area on the grounds called the wedding place as a tease though (and could be the perfect backdrop for that).
It is no surprise that many big screen films, commercials, and TV shows have used Filoli as part of their sets.
http://www.filoli.org/...
The one that makes me laugh is "Lolita". See Nobu K's review on Delica RF1 for the chuckle reference.
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This place is beautiful, it's a estate garden that sits on 654 acres. The formal garden is 16 acres.
Contrary to popular belief the volunteers do not do all the work in the gardens, they only do a little gardening. There are about 14 great horticulturist on staff that grow, plant, prune, mow, move heavy pots and maintain the grounds. There are also four or five awesome maintenance men who repair and take care of maintenance issues from the house to the lawn mowers. The volunteers run the tours, the cafe, the store and do a little planting or pruning but the horticulturist do 98% of all the horticulture work.
The best time to go is spring, the wisteria are blooming and the tulips are beautiful. If you can't go during the spring any other time is also ok. There is a big holiday sale that starts the weekend of Thanksgiving and runs until Christmas, the volunteers do a lot of work with the sale but the horticulturists and maintenance have to string the lights on the trees and bring a bunch of boxes down from the upstairs.
The mansion is pretty cool and you can only go on the main level because the upstairs are used for offices and one of the horticulturist lives in part of the upstairs.
The gardens are beautiful and the area around the house (area 1) is awesome and my favorite place and the sunken garden (area 2) is my second favorite place. The pool is also awesome and it is great to swim in, I know this for a fact as I have swam in it many times.
You need to be careful when you are on a docent lead tour because sometimes they don't have their facts straight. Again the horticulturist do 98% of the work in the gardens. Also the gardeners are not just gardeners they are horticulturist that have Bachelor's degrees (some have had masters) in horticulture. Also you can not take picnics at FILOLI. You must stay off the grass. If you are on the grass one of the horticulturist that work there will come nicely ask you to take your picnic somewhere else.
If you have family visiting take them to FILOLI and they will love it, even if they are not a flower fan. I spent a lot of time at FILOLI and I'm not a huge plant/flower fan but it is beautiful.
Hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m.-3:30. The last admission is at 2:30 p.m. Parking is free and admission is $12 for adults $5 for students (5-17 with valid student I.D.) and free for children under 5. FILOLI opens in Mid-February and closes to the public at the end of October. Horticulturist are working full time 12 months a year.
A brief history for those who care: The mansion was built in 1915-1917 by William Bowers Bourn II, he ran the Empire Mine, a hard-rock gold mine in Grass Valley, California and he was the president of the Spring Valley Water Company. The Bourns sold it to Mr. and Mrs. William P. Roth in 1937, the Roth's owned the Matson Navigation Company. It is called FILOLI because Mr. Bourne loved the credo FIght, LOve, LIve; Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.
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So, I've lived in San Carlos my entire life. And everytime I get off at Edgewood Road from 280, I noticed the sign that said "FILOLI"- I never thought twice about it... even when I heard they were filming part of "The Wedding Planner" there... I still didn't think about it much.
My mother even told me it was the house they used in the beginning of the soap, "Dynasty." ok... cool.
This summer my friend and I decided we needed to be more cultural, so we started scoping the pink pages, checking out local art shows, museums, etc.... one day while getting off at Edgewood Road we said, "Let's go to Filoli."- and we did.
Awesome.
The older man at the gate who welcomed us...I would officially like to adopt as my grandparent. He was SO sweet, kind, and seemed honestly interested in our attendance at Filoli that afternoon.
It's a beautiful place, and the experience is unmatchable. My friend and I wandered around for what felt like no time at all, and ended up being over 2 hours. We ate at the little cafe and scoped out the art gallery. Little did I know that this gem of a place was seriously just a few miles up from my house.
I can't wait to go back. Students, bring your ID's, you get a discount! =)
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My uncle lives near Half Moon Bay so for 19 years I drove past the signs for this place. Then finally a friend decided we need to take a mini photography trip here (we were both taking photography in college).
What a beautiful day! The gardens were lovely and i got some amazing photos with both my digital and film camera. The grounds are well kept, and the whole experience was very peaceful. The house is also amazing and it funny to say that I've been in the room where they filmed the garden scenes in "The Wedding Planner" including the little "gym" room when the guys are doing the pull ups. Needless to save it looks very different in person (see photos). We went on a Tuesday during the day so it was not crowded and very peaceful. I would love to go again.
Stunning is the only word I can use to describe Filoli. The main draw here is the expansive Gardens. I have to say I was originally expecting to enjoy the mansion itself more than the gardens but found myself less interested in the house. Although the it's a self guided tour, there are many guides walking around the house and gardens with great details and stories. I learned a great deal during my visit. It's a great place to come relax and enjoy the beauty. I recommend Filoli to anyone who enjoys the whole mansion and garden thing as well as anyone who just wants to get out and lose yourself in a vast garden for a day.
Christmas events we're amazing. We had a great time exploring the gardens and then into the main house.
Cafe food was OK, not great.
Just a fantastic place to spend time with your family, your honey, or by yourself.
I came here two years ago with my husband, and I was in awe. I came here again today to spend some quiet time alone, and that was the best way to spend some alone time amidst beauty. Nature sucks me in here... even the lil bee makes me smile.
Admission for non member adult: $12. Opens at 10am. Last admission at 2:30. Ground closes at 3:30. I think they are closed Mondays.
This place has a cafe. Food isn't too outrageously priced. You can get a grab-and-go sandwich / salad for about $7 to $8. They have soup and baked goods also.
There's also a gift shop and a nursery for those who want to shop a bit. I know i did browse for quite a while.
The grounds are kept superbly. Plenty of benches around... many in shades. I went around with my camera taking picture; when I get tired / feel like I've got too much sun, I find a bench to sit down, then read my book. I breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birds churp and the bees buzz.. I love this place.
I wish this place was closer to home (milpitas). If I live nearby, I would totally become a member and come at least once a month... Membership for one adult is $50, and for dual is $75.
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Every spring, my husband (who is NOT the gardener in the family) asks when we are going to visit Filoli.
Every spring, thousands of bulbs come up at Filoli, planted by the entirely-volunteer staff in late fall in our mild-California weather.
Every spring, while we wander the well-manicured paths at Filoli, I wonder why my bulbs, planted just as lovingly in late fall in our mild-California weather look nothing like theirs.
Every spring, I count my blessings that we are able to live in such a temperate climate...gallivanting around in a tshirt, jeans, and flip flops in the beginning of April.
Every spring, I remind myself that we are lucky to have an estate like Filoli where we can pay $12 just to feel inferior about my own gardening skills.
Every spring, we can't wait for NEXT spring...so we can come back and do it all over again.
It's a blowsy type of colorful beauty that everyone should experience at least once...if not multiple times...like every spring.
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This is the perfect place to come for a sunny and relaxing day! The gardens are incredibly beautiful so don't forget your camera :p
I wish I could have gone swimming in the pool but "settled" for lounging in the cabana area overlooking the tulips and pool-side lemon trees.
I recommend having a low-key lunch on the back patio, especially if you do what I did and enjoy a great pastrami panini sitting under the shade of an umbrella. So relaxing!
If you have a bike, go on Cycling Sundays when the road leading to Filoli is dedicated to cyclists ... it's flat!
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Who knew a place this special and lovely had existed all this while! Thanks to our friend Sofi O (a member of Filoli), my sister and I got to step inside this uniquely gorgeous garden for the first time.
We were really mesmerized by the abundant beauty. After a pleasant lunch at the cafe, we explored the mansion that had previously been occupied by two families and had been used for several movies over the years. Next we leisurely walked through the flower gardens that made us wonder in envy what it'd be like to grow up on a property this grand. Our last stop was the gift shop that was filled with Easter arts and gifts. Their homemade honey is also sold here.
A hidden gem that we should all experience and be proud of.
NOTES:
Open from mid-February thru October.
Admissions: $12 for adult, $5 for student, free for children under 5.
Special events and tours are available, and space may be rented for private events.
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One of the most beautiful places in the Bay Area. I just went here for the first time and felt like I was swept away to a time when we didn't have to worry about the fuss of the dot com generation. The gardens took my breath away as we walked up and down the secret paths. The bathroom located near the pool is super neat, it used to be the pool bath house, with a shower. I wish that I could live here but alas I can't.
The house is big, but you can't walk up to the 2nd floor to get a true feeling of how big this place really is. We are thinking of getting a membership here and maybe they'll allow for us to see the hanky panky rooms. Oh last thing, the deers as you enter the gateway are so cute as they lay under the shady trees. This place is very relaxing and not that far from civilization.
Hidden gem in our area, I spent a lovely day there with Mum for Afternoon tea and the annual Flower show as part of her weekend long party for Mom's Day.
Tea was served on a beautiful eclectic collection of donated china, and the finger sandwiches, scones, pastries etc were YUM. But the tea itself was weak as heck and for $65 I kind of expected more. Ah well, the place is not a restaurant, they used an outside caterer.
The gardens were indeed impressive and there are huge sections one can easily miss out on if you don't walk the entire loopy path routes. The sunken garden was a true vision of spring blooms & the mansion was filled with arrangements for the flower show.
I am SO glad we were here for the show as the gardens and mansion alone may not have been worth spending the entire day. Harpist and pianist on site were lovely.
Garden shop was delightful, everything from little trees, tomatoes, shade plants etc. The gift shop is super-duper cute but very over priced...what the heck, it's a non-profit, but still, do you really need floral paper napkins & candles too expensive to burn? Volunteer staff were all quite friendly and helpful.
A very nice place if you are interested in gardening, antique furniture, quiet garden walks. Gave me lots of ideas for my own garden and most importantly, Mum was thrilled at the end of the day.
This Filoli exterior is what was used for the show Dynasty and in other movies, shows and advertisements...
Impressive estate, inside and out. Each season there's different things to see in the gardens. The docent's lead good tours, but you may find yourself quite allergic to some of the flowers if you get too close, whether it's jasmine or some trees! It's so tempting to smell the beautiful blooms. So you've been warned.LOL
Evidently there's a small staff and a huge amount of volunteers needed to keep this place going and looking so good. Missed a lot of the earlier blooms if you go in late June, but there's still a lot to see.
The orchard tours have started. Cool tour inside. About seven miles of trails too, about 2 1/2 hrs... but you have to pay the admission fee and arrange ahead of time. Check the dates/times, they can be more limited than you'd think!
Please check this page, they want you to arrange as much as possible ahead of time, but we've come there on a whim, so hopefully that could work for you too: http://www.filoli.org/...
If you're thinking about Filoli for weddings, you're out of luck. This from their website:
"The facility is not available for weddings, evening events, or private parties."
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My god - this place is gorgeous. I came here because I had seen pictures online and it looked like a photographer's paradise.
The place is a mansion with one of the nicest gardens I have ever seen.
It would be a mistake to come to Filoli without a camera of some sort.
I would recommend coming here to take a nice stroll or simply to take portraits and landscape pictures.
The only downside in my opinion was the cost. It was $12 to get in, which was well worth it.
See my pictures:
http://flickr.com/phot...
It has plenty of parking and is only a 30 minute drive from SF.
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Well worth the admission price! History, beauty, and serenity all wrapped into an estate. This is the kind of place that you would only see on a movie set, it's pretty amazing! From the ball room, to the secret vault in the kitchen and my favorite part was the outdoor fountain area. There's also a very interesting collection of Ivory displayed in the house along with other amazing portraits.
All these years in the Bay, I never discovered this hidden gem that's conveniently located in Woodside. It's also very appropriate for all ages.
No food or drinks allowed but there is a small cafe located inside with a very nice staff. They sell cookies, sandwiches, drinks, coffee, and cakes.
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Flowers, flowers, everywhere! And trees, and bushes, and lawns!
We visited Filoli on a warm, sunny holiday weekend. Admission was $12 per person. First we toured the house, a beautiful brick Willis Polk mansion. Only the first floor was open to the public, but it was very elegant and nicely decorated. The ballroom alone was more than twice the size of our home. The pool bath and carriage house extended the architecture beyond the main house into the gardens.
The 16 acres of gardens, of which over 15 have names, were excellently maintained. The gardening was world-class! Formal English gardens, fantastic lawns, a rose garden, a woodland garden, orchards, and more, demonstrated a mind-boggling array of gardening styles.
The gardens and the Filoli Cafe closed at 3:30 pm. Before that, we stopped for a couple of gourmet sodas, a brownie, and an apple berry crisp, for just under $10, and then we headed home.
Yelp has four listings for Filoli right now. It's a pleasure to browse all the pictures that have been uploaded. A Google satellite view gave us a better impression of how the estate fit into the natural landscape, as well as how massive it was.
It was nice to walk through the estate and get a feel of how it would be to live an extremely wealthy lifestyle.
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So I'm in random review mode at the moment. All because of clicking on ROTD, then-- as I have ADD-- barely skimming the review that won today's popularity contest, when I noticed the "You might also like" list. (Although, what Rosewood Bar has to do with this place, I have no clue.)
Ah, Filoli! Really a gorgeous spot in the Bay Area. Let's tout its wonders today!
And it really is a wondrous spot. Dynasty-heads (yes I was one) will know it from the aerials in the opening shot of the show, but aside from playing the Carrington compound, Filoli is a beautiful, elegant estate with of course the requisite formal garden.
Like those grand houses and park grounds you might visit when you are on vacation, it harks to a time of lavish summer homes in the old money'd areas of the east coast or antebellum south. Newport, Rhode Island, or Charleston, South Carolina. Or.. Ireland.
Filoli's design was actually inspired by Muckross House, an Irish country manor in Killarney. And if you can imagine, Muckross is even more spectacular. I say so because I've been there.
You know the name on that water bottle you see everywhere: "Crystal Springs"? Yeah, the man who had Filoli built was that guy. A California water czar who leased Muckross and was so enamoured of it, he actually bought the Killarney estate for his daughter. Whaddya expect, she was an only child and was marrying an Irish dude anyway, so they had a lovely place to call home. Her dad still wanted his own little Muckross in the bay area.
Filoli Garden is an exquisite, peaceful reprieve from town. Because even if you go to parks or arboretums or museums in your city, once you step outside again, you can't help but hear all the traffic, the noises of industry and increasing cacaphony of suburban life.
Here, you are in a nature preserve. While you admire the manicured grounds and brilliant flowers, only sounds of nature and gardening might distract. Visually, it is stunning when all the roses, daffodils and whatever's been planted en masse, are in bloom.
FiLoLi is a quasi-acronym for "fight, love, live"... taken from "Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life."
This credo that the owner so admired is just as timeless as Filoli itself.
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