Where to find the best music shops in Los Altos? Top-14 options

Excellent lovely pianos with all kinds of selections. Enjoy the music especially the SPIRIO. Fantastic!!!

Chrissy is the best!

I had visited several Steinway stores/dealers in the Western region, but I decided to purchase a brand new Steinway Model M Spirio r from this gallery with assistance from Chrissy Huang during the 2021 holiday season. In summary, it was the most customer oriented service and personalized shopping experience I have ever received. Additionally, everything promised by Chrissy was delivered, on-time, flawlessly.

I walked into the gallery on a very short-notice appointment with some detailed questions initially, then learned from Chrissy that a Steinway piano with further specifications are available (not everything is listed on the online catalogue); Chrissy provided some detailed insights to clarify my decision. In the end, a few weeks later, I took a delivery of a piano that personally speaks to me. Highly recommended.

These are nice but very expensive, the Mercedes of pianos. No bargaining!

They won’t let you touch the pianos. Funny…

I agree with Sarah Chan the salesperson talks a lot! In fact, she talked too much and it was annoying. She was complaining about how other customers wanted to try the pianos and not buying one. She kept talking and talking and we told her we had to leave, but she won’t stop. Yikes!

Ok they shouldn’t have advertised themselves offering $59 rental on pianos. When I put in my info on the website, the manager Chrissy Huang emailed me to ask a bunch of questions about me but rental options/pricing and after I emailed her back about my needs which is on the low budget side she just never responded to me again and I wonder why? After I looked at the rest of reviews, I guess she may only be willing to serve people who is ready to pay hugely. Then why bother advertising it that way? Not that I don’t understand the value of Steinway cuz I’m also a professional musician. Can’t believe this

Good app

As far as know, this is the only store which sells professional grade brass intruments in the silicon valley. I tried several cornets and bought a Getzen Eterna here. I have been quite satisfied with both the intruments and thestore.

This place is good if you have a high end musical instrument. I went in to repair my sons trumpet and they basically told me that they wouldn’t service it because it wasn’t a high end thousand dollar instrument. Too bad, I was actually looking to buy him a new intermediate trumpet for his birthday here in the next few months but they will not be getting my business.

Steve Boughman went out of his way to degrade and mistreat me. The man was incredibly rude and condescending when he tried to sell me a saxophone in poor condition. Worst experience I have ever had in a music store. Disappointed and ashamed as a local musician that these are the types of repair people we have to deal with. Take your business ANYWHERE else.

Excellent range of sheet music and books. Helpful staff.

Great service and quality by very knowledgeable staff and at a very affordable price. I got my guitar fully strung. They helped me with choosing strings (I’m a learner), and were quick in getting the guitar strung and ready while I was checking out the store.

Friendly & Knowledgeable staff. My son is taking ukulele Lessons here one night a week. They have several rooms for instructing all kinds of musical instruments. These rooms are so quiet that you can barely hear any sound in the hallway. Truly amazing.
I would recommend this place for buying musical instruments and / or taking lessons.
Aurel

I stopped in to buy new strings for my electric guitar and was surprised to find a good selection of accessories in addition to the brass and woodwind instruments they have on hand. They have a few guitars covering a decent price range, but they are definitely not what I would consider a guitar shop. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful, and I know that I’ll be going back for any other music related purchases in the future.

Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff.

cool little music store in downtown mountain view. private lessons and practice rooms in the back.

Took my flute collection in for a possible tune up. Was told that all but one of the flutes were unplayable. Guess my looks or money weren’t what they accepted there. Took my ‘non playable’ flutes, and commenced to use them to busk, there in downtown Mtn View. Odd that they were declared unplayable, yet I was playing at least one of them not 30 minutes later. Care to explain West Valley Music staff ?

Loved the service and the instrument I got from there 🙂

This is an excellent choice for instrument rentals. Couldn’t be happier. We rented a viola from them for my daughter. Excellent quality instrument, a lot of choice, reasonable prices and above all, very helpful and knowledgable staff! I recently had the pleasure to work with Connie for a violin rental and she went above and beyond. Thank you! Highly recommended.

I went in to get a string replaced on a violin. The owners welcomed me as soon as I stepped in the door and got me taken care of promptly. They only charged for the string itself, no service fee for stringing it on, and I was given very helpful advice on proper storage and maintenance of the instrument.

Bad quality violin!!!! We rented a 1/8 violin but wanted to cancel our 3-month contract the same day we rented due to violin quality issue (black paint all over my child’s fingers with strong chemical smells on the surface of the strings and the string board, never happened on her own violins we bought before).

But the Asian female staff there refused, we ended up paying over $90 without playing for a single day!! She was also angry that we have rented another violin from elsewhere without going to them first. But we are very disappointed with the quality and do not want to bother exchanging for another one. And she kept asking for my current address and also read aloud my address from my driver’s license as if to threaten me. Horrible experience!!

The female staff also refuse to give me information of the owner and insisted that she contact the owner directly and would not give me a call if the owner refused to give me back my deposit.

We returned our violin after three months but they refused to give the deposit back to us 🙁

I went to gryphons last week five minutes after they closed in the evening to ask if I could drop off my guitar for a string change. Paul opened the door for me and took my guitar. I was able to pick it up right the next day at noon. I was really glad!

Nice vintage selection and a great place for repairs!

This place is pretty awesome! I hadn’t been here for years, but they have a great selection of instruments and can actually get someone to help you. I had my Taylor acoustic warranty serviced for a string height adjustment. They knew exactly what to do and it was completed ahead of the estimated time. I really wish I had purchased my Taylor here.

There is no place for hateful ideology at Gryphon Strings.

Good selection of acoustic guitars, lots of high end Martins and Taylors, both new and vintage – one is priced at $45.000, which is fun and rare to see. The staff was not super friendly or helpful last I was there, but they were about to close. They don’t have many electric guitars or basses unfortunately.

Needed a Martin repaired. Good diagnosis and explained options. Guitar delivered 3 weeks before promised. Fair price. Job well done. I recommend them.

Funny how Yelp helps businesses that fire someone who spoke her mind, which the constitution allows and all the right wingers applaud….Yelp may close my profile but I am going to have my say. Yelp does not help business that get unwarranted reviews that they leave up for 11 years, while the great reviews get hidden as NOT RECOMMENDED. Face facts Gryphon…you caved into right wing pressure and do not pretend it is ANYTHING else…funny how all the right wingers on your reviews spouting their nationalist views do not get their reviews removed but those of us calling you out on your hypocritical decisions, have your supports send us vile messages. Good luck…you are going to need it. Just wondering…if Yelp is removing the bad reviews over this controversy, are they also removing the GOOD reviews related to this issue from right wingers applauding your stepping on the constitution?

Racist place, never go their. To much hate!

Terrible people. A friend even tried to warn me not to try and shop there but, I didn’t listen. I won’t be going back after the rudeness that I had to endure when asking just a simple question. There are better alternatives nearby.

Gerardo is a really awesome instructor! I started learning guitar with him last year and he gave a lot guidance on how to practice and make the music pieces sound better. Really enjoy the time playing guitar together 🙂

It was wonderful experience learning to play the guitar with Gerardo. He is very talented and more importantly is patient and understanding. Thank you Gerardo and wish you the very best!

Our daughter has been studying guitar with Gerardo for the past year. Gerardo is a fantastic teacher. Our daughter had no guitar experience, and Gerardo taught her the fundamentals of playing guitar, including the guitar parts and string names, how to play and hear notes, how to read music, how to keep an even tempo, and how to play several basic songs. He is patient with our daughter and keeps her motivated and interested in improving her guitar playing skills.

Gerardo is a fantastic instructor! He is patient and encouraging.
He shares his passion for guitar by helping the student develop their skills and confidence. I plan to continue my lessons for a while.

Belinda has been an inspiration to my family for decades. When so look at the little treasures I have gotten from BK, my heart just oohs and ahhs!

Fantabulous Gift Store with items you will find nowhere else! Exquisitely crafted Home decor, Serve Ware, ultra reasonably priced Jewelry, One of a Kind Christmas Ornaments, Gloves socks, travel ware, Purses, Handcrafted ceramics such as tea sets and tea cups, Hand crafted Rice bowl sets, Antique Asian Netsuke and ornamental statues, hand crafted cards,the list is almost endless!
The owner is incredibly kind, charming, and understated. You will never feel pressure. This is better than most stores in Carmel, Aspen, or any other destination resort.
Did I mention amazingly reasonable price points?
Check it out! While you are in downtown Los Altos, take the kids to Adventure Toys, and Lindentree Children’s book store, then have a fabulous meal in Downtown Los Altos, the best kept secret on the Peninsula.

A hidden gem! I came across the shop when walking in downtown and decided to hop in. Walked away with an amazing wedding gift for my friend thanks to the help of the lovely lady at the store. The shop has a myriad of unique items and is fairly priced imo. Check it out!

Nice and modern coffee shop in the middle of a quiet and slow Los Altos downtown.

I told the worker that I’m new and she took the time to explain the differences of their coffees and which beans she recommended.

I chose the Latte from PT’s Coffee Roasting.

After 3 minutes, the barista made sure my order belonged to me.

It tasted just like another latte, but it was a nice clean place to hang out. There was also a second floor where it looked like many people were studying.

Free Wifi cards can be picked up where you pick up your drink.

Delicious pour-overs.

Coffee made with love.
The croissants are the best – rumors say the dough is flown in from France

Great coffee, wish it opened earlier

I discovered a nice coffee shop.

Ok coffee. They use beans from different highly regarded roasters.

Coffee is getting worse and worse here.

Service was OK, didn’t like the taste of the espresso, the cake was dry.

The slowest service ever!

Very nice place. Good coffee and avocado toast is yammy.

Bluestone overall is yummy but this location is my favorite. I have been to SF and Santa Monica but much rather come to Los Altos. I come here at least once a month with my family for brunch. My go to is the Avo smash or the banana bread with an iced vanilla oatmilk latte. The staff is polite and attentive and the food is consistently delicious.

Vegetarian options: Tons of veg friendly options

Kid-friendliness: High chairs are offered along with a kids menu

Wheelchair accessibility: They have a ramp and wide swinging doors

Great food, healthy fresh options.

Coffee: 5/5
Food: 2/5, quality is ok but we had to wait for more than 30 minutes for our food (one avocado smash and one green egg)

Nice digs and it was great to order from our table via QR code. But the coffee and cookie were good, not great, while the prices were higher than any I’ve seen in the Bay Area.

There were 7 of us rating 2 3s, 4 4s, and 1 5 so the average was a 4. My 5 was for the service and presentation of the Banana Bread plate. There certainly should have been more banana bread for the price. Another surprise when I got a printed bill was the Health Surcharge. I was not sure if that covered me or the employees if I got sick that day. Almost all of the lunch entrees were $14. Not cheap but a nice dining experience.

I don’t understand the hype. The food is average and the service is poor.

I had suggested this place for a post-pandemic reunion brunch with friends and let’s just say I could have provided better options. We weee out here for Sunday brunch at about noon. They weren’t that busy – quite a few empty tables even after you consider pandemic seating options and we had to wait for 40 minutes! You do get in, order on the app- which is a standard experience till you get to the “Claim my coffee” option. Be prepared to not just make an account after navigating the clunky browser experience , but store you card information- and who even knows if that was the last step because I gave up after that- all this for coffee. Not worth it.
The only saving grace for the terrible service experience was the food and I didn’t know if it was that good or I was just super hungry at that point

Not like the Bluestone Lane in New York. I’ve never waited this long for a coffee. They lost half the order. And the coffee tastes like trash. I asked for them to just make the other half of the order and they couldn’t figure it out. The interior decoration is great.

They have 12 shelves of adult books. Very calming place.

Such a great selection of books!

What a wonderful book store, best one I’ve been to in ages. Great books for adults, teens and small children. My grandkids love going here!

I take the kids for a book buy everyfew weeks or so. Nice store, nice staff, cute. Good location, amazing bakery next door.

Great selection of books, the people always nice and helpful

Great downtown bookstore. A true gem for Los Altos.

Normally I would give them a five star review. However, a staff member was particularly rude to my wife and child who purvey this store on a regular basis. Apparently, children are not welcome to explore and be entertained in a children’s books store as noted by one of the miserable member of staff. Sufficed to say, I will be looking else where for my children’s books, Hopefully, another children’s store and not Amazon.

I know that covid is taking its toll on small businesses so when my 2 y/o son lost his ABC book that we read everyday the linden tree was the obvious choice to find a replacement! Especially considering I’m a life long Los Altos hills resident since 1979 and have been purchasing books from them since I was in grade school at Bullis and they were located at their old location down on 3rd and State street. Unfortunately, I think I will now be purchasing my books online as it seems they have forgotten their local small business roots.

Today I showed up with my 2 year old in tow both mask up per SCC recommendations and opened the unlocked front door only to be met by a woman stating that the store was closed.

I stated “No worries, Is there anyway you could grab me literally any kids ABC book for my son and I’ll give you cash at the door here and you can even keep the change.” I was shocked to be told no and that the person I was speaking with was building a display. Ok, no biggie, but there were at least two other folks floating around behind her that might have been able to help out. I guess I’ve been spoiled by the other small businesses here in town like Henry’s Los Altos Hardware or Rick’s, you know places that always seem find a way to make you a customer or keep you a customer by providing excellent small business customer service!

It’s the little thing that keep a small businesses customers loyal especially with online and big box store options. I mean I’m at your door in the middle of a pandemic with a mask on my kid and myself because I’m trying to support my Los Altos businesses. I would have been way less effort for me just to sit in my living room and punch a few buttons and have book delivered to my door in three day or less but alas there I was! Anyhow, I digress. I guess I’m just trying to echo that age old parental sentiment…

I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

Very knowledgeable and personable staff…

We bought a flugelhorn mouthpiece from Eric, and although there were some issues with the order, he stepped up and went out of his way to resolve the situation. We would definitely do business with him again.

Large brass inventory. Parking a bit tight.

Stefen did a wonderful job getting my Strat set up. Plays better than it has in years. Looking forward to continuing to have my guitars worked on here and I highly recommend Stefen for any work you need done.

They have a great selection, and a very clean store, however their customer service over the phone is lacking.

Tl;dr -If you need something from them, go in because they will hang up on you whenever they feel like it.

I brought my instrument in for maintenance and was told I would receive a call later that day about the details. I never got the call, and when I called back, no one knew my request.

Also when I was talking with the repair person, the receptionist hung up on me before I could ask another question. When I called back, she claimed that I seemed finish, even though I hadn’t said good bye or stated I was done asking questions.

I do not think I will go back, and instead do my repairs else where.

The instruments are great. The attitude and service are not so much. Maybe it was just a bad day.

Waited 3 weeks for a trumpet mouthpiece for it never to ship. I called to get assurance I’d get it before my gig and when I called back they told me it still never left the store so I had to cancel the order. They didn’t even care to contact me to give me details about the issue. Save your time and buy elsewhere.

Park Avenue sells defected/used items as ‘new’. Do not buy an item from here and expect to return it if you find a problem with it. They tried to charge me over $500 in a ‘restocking fee’ for an item that they shipped. Claimed they had photos of it undamaged but they never provided them. Had to file a credit card fraud report against them to recover the funds they decided to keep.

Called to inquire about a violin study book. Was on hold for over 20 min. Had to hang up.

Our favorite place to go n hang out bc Associates are very friendly n helpful n not pushy!

Super cool, play anything before buying..staff are mostly musicians so they know what’s up and can normally help you with anything. They do tuning of most instruments too for a fair price too.

Super friendly and helpful staff. My child had a great time trying out some instruments and getting guidance on options

A great musical instruments store. No fancy guitars though

Cool staff, big store but inventory was all over the place.

Cool but they need some Guilds

The worst place for to take music lessons. they are racists ( Samantha N Conlon and Zachary loses)

The guitars is nice.

Most of the employees are very rude and disrespectful. One little guy comes up and tells me, you need to turn down..I’m like it’s not even loud what’s up with that? He then says well, your playing isn’t any good so.. unbelievable arrogance, and an unprofessional representation of Guitar Center to say the least.