c'est beau chez toi x chesney style | a day at Filoli
I discovered Filoli when I first moved to California, and it remains one of my favorite escapes from San Francisco. The estate sits just off Highway 280 with spectacular views - this part of the Bay Area is wild and remarkably well preserved.
When I worked at Sunset Publishing, this is where we celebrated the magazine's centennial. The location made sense: Filoli represents exactly the kind of California living Sunset has always championed.
The Mansion
The architecture reminds me of Europe. Walking through the rooms feels familiar in a way that few American houses do, the scale, the way spaces connect, how rooms are displayed. The place is incredibly well maintained and offers a real window into how the owners lived.
I prefer going at opening. Having the mansion nearly to ourselves means you can move through the rooms at your own pace, noticing details without crowds. The experience feels more intimate that way.
The Gardens
The gardens are what keep me coming back. They have a European structure - formal layouts, clipped hedges, distinct garden rooms but the plant palette reminds you exactly where you are. Succulents and cacti appear among the manicured beds, that distinctly California mix that shouldn't work but does.
You can walk the grounds freely, discovering the vegetable gardens, exploring the many rose varieties. Each visit reveals something different depending on the season. It doesn't get old.
Making a Day of It
Filoli makes for a perfect half-day trip from San Francisco. If you want to extend it, head down to Woodside afterward. The town feels stuck in time, surrounded by beautiful oak trees.
Stop at The Little Store for coffee, a casual lunch, or to pick up flowers. It's the kind of place that makes you slow down.
On colder days, I sit at the bar at The Village Pub. The interior is impeccable, art collection, velvet seats, bistro marble tables. The old-school service makes you feel looked after, and the food is consistently good. Best burger and salad. This place is stuck in time in the most perfect way.
Why It Works
Filoli offers something rare, a beautifully maintained historic property that doesn't feel precious or untouchable. You can actually enjoy being there rather than just admiring it from a distance.
The combination of formal European design adapted to California's climate and landscape shows how transplanted ideas can work when they're done with intelligence and respect for place. It's a lesson in how to honor tradition while embracing where you actually are.
Getting There Filoli Estate
86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA
Check opening hours and book tickets in advance