Guidebook for Palo Alto
Food Scene
A busy spot with great coffee, a great assortment of desserts and foods, and a place where VC's, S/W grunts, Stanford kids work and meet.
This is of Facebook fame. When Facebook was young and HQ on University Ave, Zuckerberg and team used to go here for their coffee. Later they supplied FB directly, and it's now in all FB buildings.
In the movie Social Network, the final scene the camera pans past a Coupa Cafe cup to Zuckerberg as he clicked refresh on his friends list.
63 locals recommend
Coupa Cafe - Ramona
538 Ramona StA busy spot with great coffee, a great assortment of desserts and foods, and a place where VC's, S/W grunts, Stanford kids work and meet.
This is of Facebook fame. When Facebook was young and HQ on University Ave, Zuckerberg and team used to go here for their coffee. Later they supplied FB directly, and it's now in all FB buildings.
In the movie Social Network, the final scene the camera pans past a Coupa Cafe cup to Zuckerberg as he clicked refresh on his friends list.
Locally sourced, farm fresh, breakfast, salads, sandwiches in an open, relaxed environment. Great food and place to eat.
17 locals recommend
Local Union 271
271 University AveLocally sourced, farm fresh, breakfast, salads, sandwiches in an open, relaxed environment. Great food and place to eat.
Nice contemporary Latin Tapas in a swanky, busy (and noisy) environment. A great place to eat and people watch.
31 locals recommend
JOYA Restaurant and Lounge
339 University AveNice contemporary Latin Tapas in a swanky, busy (and noisy) environment. A great place to eat and people watch.
Sprout Café
168 University AveGreat salads. Always fresh ingredients, reasonable prices.
A Michelin star!! Contemporary take on classic Pakistani & Indian fare. It's always packed, and food is delicious.
And it has a Michelin star rating!!
The the chicken tikka masala, the chicken memoni samosas, and the garlic Naan are to die for!!
Everyone gives it great reviews.
41 locals recommend
Zareen's
365 California AveA Michelin star!! Contemporary take on classic Pakistani & Indian fare. It's always packed, and food is delicious.
And it has a Michelin star rating!!
The the chicken tikka masala, the chicken memoni samosas, and the garlic Naan are to die for!!
Everyone gives it great reviews.
La Bodeguita del Medio
463 California AveGreat Cuban food.
Terún
448 California AveA great Italian place. Featured in a NYT food article.
A great breakfast/lunch restaurant across the street from both Stanford and Palo Alto HS
35 locals recommend
Mayfield Bakery & Cafe
855 El Camino RealA great breakfast/lunch restaurant across the street from both Stanford and Palo Alto HS
A very nice restaurant. Great food. The Grateful Dead got its start at the old place a block down the street.
27 locals recommend
Saint Michael's Alley
140 Homer AveA very nice restaurant. Great food. The Grateful Dead got its start at the old place a block down the street.
Inexpensive, but delicious wraps. A great place for a quick bite for lunch/dinner.
18 locals recommend
Mediterranean Wraps
433 California AveInexpensive, but delicious wraps. A great place for a quick bite for lunch/dinner.
A diner everyone goes to at one time or another. While having a burger with friends one night, Mark Zuckerberg came in with his wife and got a huge togo order. This was a couple years ago, and no one bothered him.
38 locals recommend
Palo Alto Creamery
566 Emerson StA diner everyone goes to at one time or another. While having a burger with friends one night, Mark Zuckerberg came in with his wife and got a huge togo order. This was a couple years ago, and no one bothered him.
Terrific NY style bagels with just about anything you could want on them. This place is a classic!
22 locals recommend
Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels
477 California AveTerrific NY style bagels with just about anything you could want on them. This place is a classic!
Joanie's Cafe
405 California AveGreat laid back breakfast place.
Palo Alto Sol has been around for years. They specialize in traditional Puebla cuisine.
I'm here every weekend for the Chicken Mole Poblano. It's absolutely the best.
I heard that it's so good that Zukerberg had one installed at the FB campus.
13 locals recommend
Palo Alto Sol
408 N California AvePalo Alto Sol has been around for years. They specialize in traditional Puebla cuisine.
I'm here every weekend for the Chicken Mole Poblano. It's absolutely the best.
I heard that it's so good that Zukerberg had one installed at the FB campus.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
4800 El Camino RealYour typical medium sized WF. A short walk down the street.
Safeway
2811 Middlefield RdThis is a Super Safeway, and probably has anything you might need.
Local Costco for goods. There's also a larger Costco in Redwood City.
31 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
1000 N Rengstorff AveLocal Costco for goods. There's also a larger Costco in Redwood City.
Arts & Culture
Newly remodeled, but still playing great, artsy, quirky, indi movies.
33 locals recommend
Landmark Aquarius Theatre
430 Emerson StNewly remodeled, but still playing great, artsy, quirky, indi movies.
You'll have to visit the Rodin sculptures.
143 locals recommend
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts
328 Lomita DrYou'll have to visit the Rodin sculptures.
Bing Concert Hall
327 Lasuen StCheck the Stanford web site for events at this concert hall.
Sightseeing
You have to stop by the Apple Store in Palo Alto, as it's only steps away from your studio! My kid camped out here overnight to be the first in line for one of the early iPhones.
38 locals recommend
Apple Palo Alto
340 University AveYou have to stop by the Apple Store in Palo Alto, as it's only steps away from your studio! My kid camped out here overnight to be the first in line for one of the early iPhones.
The birth place of Silicon Valley. HP bought it in 2005. Before that, it was an ordinary rental. Some friends lived here and were having a BBQ, I brought the boys, and took pictures of them in front of the garage!!
367 Addison Ave
367 Addison AvenueThe birth place of Silicon Valley. HP bought it in 2005. Before that, it was an ordinary rental. Some friends lived here and were having a BBQ, I brought the boys, and took pictures of them in front of the garage!!
A Cactus Garden on the Stanford Campus, of all places. A very strange place as some of them are as tall as trees!
7 locals recommend
Stanford Arizona Garden
A Cactus Garden on the Stanford Campus, of all places. A very strange place as some of them are as tall as trees!
Why this church? If you've ever seen the cult classic "Harold and Maude," this is where they first met. A marching band goes by. Maude hot wires the pastor's VW, says Hi to Harold, and spins around and takes off.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
751 Waverley StWhy this church? If you've ever seen the cult classic "Harold and Maude," this is where they first met. A marching band goes by. Maude hot wires the pastor's VW, says Hi to Harold, and spins around and takes off.
Within the Googleplex, misc desserts after which every version of Android is named: ie cupcape, eclairs, honeycomb, jellybean...as well as the surrounding Google area.
10 locals recommend
Google Android Lawn Statues
1981 Landings DrWithin the Googleplex, misc desserts after which every version of Android is named: ie cupcape, eclairs, honeycomb, jellybean...as well as the surrounding Google area.
A half day trip to Half Moon Bay. Check the tide tables and go during low tide sun set. It's an amazing sight.
76 locals recommend
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
200 Nevada AveA half day trip to Half Moon Bay. Check the tide tables and go during low tide sun set. It's an amazing sight.
This used to be the old Sun Microsystems campus. If you take a look at the back of the FB sign, you can see that they just covered up the old Sun sign.
Zuckerberg's not so subtle message to FB employees not to end up like Sun Microsystems!
190 locals recommend
Facebook
1 Hacker WayThis used to be the old Sun Microsystems campus. If you take a look at the back of the FB sign, you can see that they just covered up the old Sun sign.
Zuckerberg's not so subtle message to FB employees not to end up like Sun Microsystems!
Landmarks
An amazing place, if you can get inside. Winter holiday events in the evening are both free and breathtaking. Check the Stanford events calendar for details.
25 locals recommend
Memorial Church
450 Jane Stanford WayAn amazing place, if you can get inside. Winter holiday events in the evening are both free and breathtaking. Check the Stanford events calendar for details.