Guidebook for Palo Alto
Getting Around
This is the train station closest to the house. Easy access to San Francisco, San Jose, and all parts in between.
83 locals recommend
California Avenue Caltrain Station
101 California AveThis is the train station closest to the house. Easy access to San Francisco, San Jose, and all parts in between.
Note that this train station is not the closest to the house. This is downtown Palo Alto, with access to University Avenue shops and restaurants, and Stanford University.
41 locals recommend
Palo Alto Transit Center station
University AvenueNote that this train station is not the closest to the house. This is downtown Palo Alto, with access to University Avenue shops and restaurants, and Stanford University.
Food Scene
Just a 2 block walk from the house. Enjoy delicious coffee, latte drinks, and snacks in this quiet neighborhood location. Great seating indoors and outdoors.
189 locals recommend
Starbucks
2000 El Camino RealJust a 2 block walk from the house. Enjoy delicious coffee, latte drinks, and snacks in this quiet neighborhood location. Great seating indoors and outdoors.
A short walk from the Caltrain station on California Ave., this Starbucks is located in the California Avenue shopping district. Enjoy great people watching while you sip your afternoon coffee.
189 locals recommend
Starbucks
2000 El Camino RealA short walk from the Caltrain station on California Ave., this Starbucks is located in the California Avenue shopping district. Enjoy great people watching while you sip your afternoon coffee.
Exceptional, handmade ice cream creations such as Coffee Molasses Chip, Rose, White Chocolate Ginger, Salty Caramel, Industrial Chocolate and Macapuno (baby coconut).
9 locals recommend
Rick's Ice Cream
3946 Middlefield RdExceptional, handmade ice cream creations such as Coffee Molasses Chip, Rose, White Chocolate Ginger, Salty Caramel, Industrial Chocolate and Macapuno (baby coconut).
For those who like to break away from the Starbucks crowd, Peet's is so popular on weekend mornings that the line runs out the door and along the sidewalk. Well worth the wait!
97 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
22350 Homestead RdFor those who like to break away from the Starbucks crowd, Peet's is so popular on weekend mornings that the line runs out the door and along the sidewalk. Well worth the wait!
Just a short walk from the house, Baskin Robbins offers 31 seasonally changing flavors of ice cream to please your sweet tooth.
6 locals recommend
Baskin-Robbins
2615 Middlefield RdJust a short walk from the house, Baskin Robbins offers 31 seasonally changing flavors of ice cream to please your sweet tooth.
Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels
477 California AveBest bagels in town!
Ramona's Pizza
2313 Birch StDelicious, thick crust pizza.
Self-service frozen yogurt with a huge selection of toppings. They have the best price per ounce of any competitor. A delicious treat anytime of the year!
7 locals recommend
Yogurtland
494 University AveSelf-service frozen yogurt with a huge selection of toppings. They have the best price per ounce of any competitor. A delicious treat anytime of the year!
Really good food in a cozy dining environment just a 2 block walk from the house.
11 locals recommend
Mike's Palo Alto
2680 Middlefield RoadReally good food in a cozy dining environment just a 2 block walk from the house.
Howie's Artisan Pizza
855 El Camino RealAmazingly good pizza!
Fresh and tasty Mexican food to go or to eat at small tables on the patio. No indoor dining available, but the food is worth a visit!
64 locals recommend
Town & Country Village
855 El Camino RealFresh and tasty Mexican food to go or to eat at small tables on the patio. No indoor dining available, but the food is worth a visit!
Sancho's Taqueria
491 Lytton AveRumored to be some of the best burritos in the Bay Area.
A neighborhood favorite for quick, delicious Mexican food. Outdoor dining or take out only.
7 locals recommend
Como Esta Taqueria
2605 Middlefield RdA neighborhood favorite for quick, delicious Mexican food. Outdoor dining or take out only.
Philz Coffee
101 Forest AveMore great coffee in Palo Alto.
Bill’s Cafe
3163 Middlefield RoadGreat for breakfast and lunch just a short walk from the house.
Amazing Burmese and Chinese food in a family run, local restaurant.
8 locals recommend
Green Elephant Gourmet
3950 Middlefield RdAmazing Burmese and Chinese food in a family run, local restaurant.
Terún
448 California AveAuthentic Italian with a fresh approach.
Cafe Brioche
445 California AveGreat French food with a friendly atmosphere.
Cafe Pro Bono
2437 Birch StDelicious Italian food in a beautiful setting.
Yummy crepes and much more. Good for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
19 locals recommend
Crepevine
367 University AveYummy crepes and much more. Good for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Wonderful traditional Mexican food, like your Abuela makes!
27 locals recommend
CinéArts at Palo Alto Square
3000 El Camino RealWonderful traditional Mexican food, like your Abuela makes!
Essentials
Need to mail a package, make copies, send a fax? UPS store has full business services, and a Notary Public onsite, along with their package shipping services.
9 locals recommend
The UPS Store
2625 Middlefield RdNeed to mail a package, make copies, send a fax? UPS store has full business services, and a Notary Public onsite, along with their package shipping services.
Need a snack, but don't want to go to a restaurant or cafe? Need a bouquet of flowers or a card for a friend? Safeway has what you need.
199 locals recommend
Safeway
2811 Middlefield RdNeed a snack, but don't want to go to a restaurant or cafe? Need a bouquet of flowers or a card for a friend? Safeway has what you need.
Fine foods and general groceries available here, as well as a great hot buffet for a quick take out meal.
14 locals recommend
Piazza's Deli
3922 Middlefield RdFine foods and general groceries available here, as well as a great hot buffet for a quick take out meal.
Very nice store right across the street from the California Avenue CalTrain station.
65 locals recommend
Mollie Stone's Markets
164 California AveVery nice store right across the street from the California Avenue CalTrain station.
Trader Joe's
855 El Camino RealHoliday Cleaners Midtown Palo Alto
2685 Middlefield RdTarget
555 Showers DrTarget has everything you could possibly need.
Shopping
CVS has all your health and wellness needs covered, as well as 1-hr photo processing and anything else one might need while away from home.
85 locals recommend
CVS
325 Sharon Park DrCVS has all your health and wellness needs covered, as well as 1-hr photo processing and anything else one might need while away from home.
Walgreens is another drug store nearby, offering similar products and services as CVS.
31 locals recommend
Walgreens
2605 Middlefield RdWalgreens is another drug store nearby, offering similar products and services as CVS.
Considered one of the most beautiful shopping centers in the Bay Area. Famous department stores, fine boutiques, and world class dining, all in a beautifully landscaped outdoor setting.
526 locals recommend
Stanford Shopping Center
660 Stanford Shopping CenterConsidered one of the most beautiful shopping centers in the Bay Area. Famous department stores, fine boutiques, and world class dining, all in a beautifully landscaped outdoor setting.
Where it all happens in downtown Palo Alto. Shop, dine, people watch.
62 locals recommend
University Avenue
University AvenueWhere it all happens in downtown Palo Alto. Shop, dine, people watch.
Arts & Culture
Hoover Tower
550 Jane Stanford WayA great place to begin your visit to Stanford.
One of the world’s most outstanding private assemblies of modern and contemporary American art.
27 locals recommend
Anderson Collection
314 Lomita DrOne of the world’s most outstanding private assemblies of modern and contemporary American art.
One of the country's top universities, and a beautiful campus to visit.
537 locals recommend
Stanford University
450 Serra MallOne of the country's top universities, and a beautiful campus to visit.
Computer History Museum
1401 N Shoreline BlvdSee where it all began.
The Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, formerly the Stanford University Museum of Art, and commonly known as the Cantor Arts Center, is an art museum on the campus of Stanford University.
143 locals recommend
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts
328 Lomita DrThe Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, formerly the Stanford University Museum of Art, and commonly known as the Cantor Arts Center, is an art museum on the campus of Stanford University.
Sightseeing
Because you can't come to Palo Alto without at least doing a drive-by to see the famous search engine headquarters. Art and sculptures sprinkled about the property. Don't miss those colorful bikes!
313 locals recommend
Googleplex
1600 Amphitheatre PkwyBecause you can't come to Palo Alto without at least doing a drive-by to see the famous search engine headquarters. Art and sculptures sprinkled about the property. Don't miss those colorful bikes!
Check out where Mark Z set up shop! This used to be the headquarters of Sun Micro before the bubble burst.
190 locals recommend
Facebook
1 Hacker WayCheck out where Mark Z set up shop! This used to be the headquarters of Sun Micro before the bubble burst.
Take a drive up Page Mill Road and see the Palo Alto offices of HP.
9 locals recommend
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Executive Briefing Center
6280 America Center DrTake a drive up Page Mill Road and see the Palo Alto offices of HP.
A great place for a hike, with terrific views of the entire Bay Area. Wear your sneakers and exercise clothes. It's approximately 4 miles of paved, hilly hiking.
41 locals recommend
Stanford Dish
400 Reservoir RdA great place for a hike, with terrific views of the entire Bay Area. Wear your sneakers and exercise clothes. It's approximately 4 miles of paved, hilly hiking.
Bounded by Mountain View and East Palo Alto, the 1,940-acre Baylands Preserve is one of the largest tracts of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. Fifteen miles of multi-use trails provide access to a unique mixture of tidal and fresh water habitats.
Many consider this area to be one of the best bird watching areas on the west coast. The preserve has a substantial resident population of birds as well as being a major migratory stopover on the Pacific Flyway.
49 locals recommend
Baylands Nature Preserve
2500 Embarcadero RoadBounded by Mountain View and East Palo Alto, the 1,940-acre Baylands Preserve is one of the largest tracts of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. Fifteen miles of multi-use trails provide access to a unique mixture of tidal and fresh water habitats.
Many consider this area to be one of the best bird watching areas on the west coast. The preserve has a substantial resident population of birds as well as being a major migratory stopover on the Pacific Flyway.
Everything Else
Need a manicure, pedicure, or a hair cut? Classy is a lovely salon just 2 blocks from the house. Prices are very reasonable, and the service is outstanding. Try the pedicure with hot stone massage!
Classy Salon
2685 Middlefield RdNeed a manicure, pedicure, or a hair cut? Classy is a lovely salon just 2 blocks from the house. Prices are very reasonable, and the service is outstanding. Try the pedicure with hot stone massage!