Guidebook for Palo Alto
Essentials
Our local supermarket. It is located in our neighborhood shopping area, within walking distance from our house. It has all of the essentials although it is not my favorite supermarket in town.
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Safeway
2811 Middlefield RdOur local supermarket. It is located in our neighborhood shopping area, within walking distance from our house. It has all of the essentials although it is not my favorite supermarket in town.
Great place for good products at decent prices. You have to drive there however.
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Trader Joe's
855 El Camino RealGreat place for good products at decent prices. You have to drive there however.
AJ's Quick Clean Center.
3175 Middlefield RdDry cleaning and laundromat
Local ATM and bank. There is also a Wells Fargo Bank nearby, and a Bank of America ATM. All within walking distance from our house.
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Chase Bank
749 W El Camino RealLocal ATM and bank. There is also a Wells Fargo Bank nearby, and a Bank of America ATM. All within walking distance from our house.
Everything Else
These businesses are in our neighborhood shopping area, within walking distance of our house.
CVS
325 Sharon Park DrOne of our two pharmacies.
Walgreens
2605 Middlefield RdOur other pharmacy
Our local coffee shop. Nice ambiance, and convenient. Philz has better coffee however.
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Palo Alto Cafe
2675 Middlefield RdOur local coffee shop. Nice ambiance, and convenient. Philz has better coffee however.
Restaurants
Here are a few restaurants, from some local ones within walking distance from our house to some of the most popular restaurants in town.
Mike's Café, close to our house, recently reopened after a long remodeling hiatus. In its new incarnation, it is an Italian restaurant with higher prices than before. The jury is still out on Mike's Café.
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Mike's Palo Alto
2680 Middlefield RoadMike's Café, close to our house, recently reopened after a long remodeling hiatus. In its new incarnation, it is an Italian restaurant with higher prices than before. The jury is still out on Mike's Café.
Great burritos and tacos
Good for a decent low budget meal
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Sancho's Taqueria
491 Lytton AveGreat burritos and tacos
Good for a decent low budget meal
Best rated Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto, per Palo Alto Weekly 2017
Jing-Jing Szechwan & Hunan Gourmet
443 Emerson StBest rated Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto, per Palo Alto Weekly 2017
Philz Coffee
101 Forest AveExcellent coffee there!
Pastis French Bistro. Best French Restaurant in town per Palo Alto Weekly 2017
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Pastis
447 California AvePastis French Bistro. Best French Restaurant in town per Palo Alto Weekly 2017
Sundance The Steakhouse
1921 El Camino RealBest steak in town per Palo Alto Weekly 2017
Rated best seafood restaurant in town (Palo Alto Weekly 2017)
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The Fish Market - Palo Alto
3150 El Camino RealRated best seafood restaurant in town (Palo Alto Weekly 2017)
Very French. Good for a quick, easy lunch or for an afternoon treat
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Douce France
855 El Camino RealVery French. Good for a quick, easy lunch or for an afternoon treat
We also like the True Food Kitchen at Stanford Shopping Mall. Healthy hearty food, with Vegetarian, Vegan and gluten free option
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True Food Kitchen
180 El Camino RealWe also like the True Food Kitchen at Stanford Shopping Mall. Healthy hearty food, with Vegetarian, Vegan and gluten free option
This South East Asian place is good of lunch. One of my guests enjoyed their pho on a chilly, rainy day.
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Indochine
2710 Middlefield RdThis South East Asian place is good of lunch. One of my guests enjoyed their pho on a chilly, rainy day.
My guests love this Pakistani/Indian food restaurant and rave about its food. They do not take reservations and there often is a long line of people waiting for a table.
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Zareen's
365 California AveMy guests love this Pakistani/Indian food restaurant and rave about its food. They do not take reservations and there often is a long line of people waiting for a table.
Getting Around
Main PA train station (Caltrain to San Francisco and to San Jose).
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Palo Alto Caltrain Station
95 University AveMain PA train station (Caltrain to San Francisco and to San Jose).
Caltrain University Circle station
95 University AveBus and shuttle hub.
The closest train station to our house, about a twenty minute walk, a quick bike ride, or a very short UBER/Lyft ride. Trains to San Francisco and San Jose. More trains stop at Palo Alto's main station, also listed, than at this one. This one is the most convenient location from our house, however.
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California Avenue Caltrain Station
101 California AveThe closest train station to our house, about a twenty minute walk, a quick bike ride, or a very short UBER/Lyft ride. Trains to San Francisco and San Jose. More trains stop at Palo Alto's main station, also listed, than at this one. This one is the most convenient location from our house, however.
Sightseeing
Here are a few of the worthwhile places to visit while in Palo Alto and its vicinity. Palo Alto is also close to San Francisco (50 km/ 35 miles). San Francisco is full of often famous places to visit as well. This guide, however, is limited to Palo Alto and its immediate surroundings, but you will find in it a link to San Francisco's official tourist office.
It is a world famous university on a large and beautiful campus. It is also part of Palo Alto's history as it was founded first and Palo Alto then grew next to the university. From the top of Hoover Tower you will have a great view of the whole area.
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Stanford University
450 Serra MallIt is a world famous university on a large and beautiful campus. It is also part of Palo Alto's history as it was founded first and Palo Alto then grew next to the university. From the top of Hoover Tower you will have a great view of the whole area.
It is a very interesting museum with a wealth of items on display and information on the history of computers from the very first computing machines to the latest developments.
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Computer History Museum
1401 N Shoreline BlvdIt is a very interesting museum with a wealth of items on display and information on the history of computers from the very first computing machines to the latest developments.
They will give you all the info you need about sightseeing in San Francisco
https://www.sftravel.com/
San Francisco Visitor Information Center
749 Howard StThey will give you all the info you need about sightseeing in San Francisco
https://www.sftravel.com/
Googleplex
1600 Amphitheatre PkwyParks & Nature
The Baylands have an incredibly rich variety of aquatic birds, from herons to ducks to avocets to white pelicans and more. There are trails along the bay and the mudflat for walking, biking, jogging.
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Baylands Nature Preserve
2500 Embarcadero RoadThe Baylands have an incredibly rich variety of aquatic birds, from herons to ducks to avocets to white pelicans and more. There are trails along the bay and the mudflat for walking, biking, jogging.
It is a hike in a variety of terrain and the summit offers breathtaking views of the bay and the ocean.
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Windy Hill Preserve
It is a hike in a variety of terrain and the summit offers breathtaking views of the bay and the ocean.
Shopping
Our wonderful little food market on Sunday mornings, with almost everything local, organic, in season and delicious.
The Stanford Shopping Mall is an upscale center with major department stores (Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, etc), gourmet food shops and luxury boutiques.
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Stanford Shopping Center
660 Stanford Shopping CenterThe Stanford Shopping Mall is an upscale center with major department stores (Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, etc), gourmet food shops and luxury boutiques.
California Avenue Farmer's Market
400 California Avenue