Burlingame

Burlingame, California, is a charming and affluent city nestled within San Mateo County. Renowned for its picturesque streets, lush greenery, and upscale amenities, Burlingame offers a tranquil suburban lifestyle within close proximity to the vibrant energy of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. It;s good, but I want to change affluent to something else.

With its tree-lined avenues and beautifully manicured neighborhoods, Burlingame exudes a timeless elegance that appeals to discerning homebuyers. The city boasts a diverse array of architectural styles, ranging from historic Craftsman and Victorian homes to modern luxury estates, ensuring there's something to suit every taste and preference.

Beyond its stunning residential properties, Burlingame features a thriving downtown district brimming with boutique shops, gourmet restaurants, and upscale cafes. Residents can indulge in a leisurely stroll along Burlingame Avenue, exploring a myriad of charming storefronts and dining establishments.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Burlingame offers an abundance of recreational opportunities. The city is home to numerous parks, including the expansive Washington Park and the scenic Shorebird Park, providing ample space for picnics, sports, and relaxation amidst nature's splendor.

Commuters will appreciate Burlingame's convenient location, with easy access to major transportation hubs such as San Francisco International Airport and Caltrain stations, facilitating seamless travel throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

With its idyllic setting, top-rated schools, and affluent community, Burlingame embodies the epitome of California coastal living, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a quintessential West Coast lifestyle. Discover the perfect blend of luxury, convenience, and charm in Burlingame, where every day feels like a retreat.

From its earliest days, when 19th-century power brokers sought to make it a weekend paradise for wealthy San Franciscans, Burlingame has been one of San Mateo County’s most desirable addresses. The Peninsula is full of great, livable towns, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one as charming as the “City of Trees.”

Burlingame’s origins date back to 1893, when Francis Newlands decided that his father-in-law William Sharon’s dairy lands would make a great setting for the development of country homes and a country club. The Burlingame Country Club was named after Anson Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln’s Ambassador to China, who ironically had only visited the area once, as the guest of Bank of California founder William Ralston. That the five “cottages” Newlands built sat unsold for years didn’t seem to matter. By 1904, Burlingame had a reputation as being “where San Francisco (had) its country headquarters.”

Burlingame grew quickly, and as a result, has more of a traditional architectural feel than many of its Peninsula neighbors. You’ll find plenty of examples of English, Arts and Crafts, and Mediterranean architecture, but not much from the second half of the 20th century in its quaint, tree-lined neighborhood streets, and its two downtown centers, Burlingame Avenue and Broadway, have the classic “Main Street U.S.A” feel of a long-established town. Maybe this is one reason why Burlingame is so popular, but it’s only one. Burlingame is so much more than just another pretty face.

Burlingame came to have two downtowns when the city absorbed its northern neighbor, the town of Easton, a century ago. Each has a distinctive character. Broadway, located in the former Easton, is where you’ll find traditional “mom and pop” businesses, grocery stores, and pharmacies, along with classic restaurants like the Broadway Grill and Preston’s, a candy store and local institution that has fed the local sweet tooth for 60 years.

Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame’s “original” downtown, has over time evolved into a high-end shopping and dining district. Whether your fancy is unique children’s clothing from Janie and Jack, Baby Couture, or Zoli, the latest from Banana Republic or J. Crew, a tailored suit from Sam Malouf, or a new iPad from the Apple Store, “The Ave” has you covered.

Burlingame Avenue restaurants range from taquerias to fine dining – and everything in between. It’s difficult to resist the allure of longtime Ave. favorite Copenhagen Bakery and just as hard to pass up the fusion fare at Straits, the casual vibe at the Steelhead Brewery, or the elegance of Il Fornaio. Though they live only 20 minutes from San Francisco, Burlingame locals have little reason to leave their town to dine out.

Of course, there’s more to life than restaurants and retail; there are also parks and schools, festivals and fairs, outdoor living, and the warmth that comes from living in a close-knit community. Burlingame’s schools are a major draw for families, among the region’s most highly rated. Each fall, the football stands at Burlingame High overflow for the school’s annual “Little Big Game” versus rival San Mateo. Many of the same locals come out in September to watch local dogs, cats, birds, lizards, and a few other exotic animals parade down Broadway – some in costume — at the annual Burlingame Pet Parade, a month after joining 125 artists and musicians on The Ave. for the Burlingame Artzfest.

Burlingame has many neighborhood parks, plus Coyote Point, a one-time waterfront amusement park converted into green space, with trails, beaches, a marina, and the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education.

It’s no mystery why Burlingame is so popular among families, and Silicon Valley and San Francisco workers. Who wouldn’t want to join a friendly, attractive community with beautiful residential neighborhoods and two thriving downtowns? Francis Newlands was a just little bit off in his original vision for Burlingame, but locals wouldn’t have it any other way.