Destination Downtown – Palo Alto

Palo Alto, Home of the Tall Tree   

Downtown Palo Alto, served by Palo Alto Station, is a walkable enclave with a wide mix of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, museums and local businesses. With University Avenue beginning just across from the station, you can step off Caltrain and be in the center of downtown within minutes.  

Looking for a morning coffee? Downtown has plenty of options, including Good Thing Coffee, Verve Coffee Roasters and Blue Bottle Coffee, giving you no shortage of places to grab a cup before walking around. For breakfast, Sweet Maple is a popular brunch spot known for its Millionaire’s Bacon and extensive menu. With several coffee and food options concentrated in the surrounding blocks, it’s an easy area to start your morning.  

Continue down University Avenue, the heart of Downtown Palo Alto and its main stretch for dining, shopping and entertainment. The surrounding streets offer everything from Italian and Thai to ramen and quick bites. Osteria is a great option for Italian, while Ramen Nagi has become a popular ramen spot that regularly draws a crowd. If you’re looking for something quicker, Onigilly offers Japanese-inspired bites that are easy to grab while exploring.  

For dessert, Salt & Straw is located right along University Avenue. Grab a scoop and continue down the avenue, where you’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants and outdoor seating along the way.  

If books are more your interest, make a stop at Bell’s Books, an independent bookstore that has been part of Downtown Palo Alto for decades. Its shelves feature everything from contemporary titles to used, rare and collectible books. You can also visit the nearby Palo Alto City Library or check out some of the smaller specialty shops scattered throughout downtown.  

For a change of pace, take a short walk to the Museum of American Heritage, a free museum located inside the historic Williams House. Its collection highlights mechanical, electrical and technological innovations from the 19th and 20th centuries, with exhibits that show how technology shaped everyday American life before the digital age. Outside, the historic property is surrounded by gardens and greenery, making the grounds worth exploring as well.  

Want to catch a movie? Landmark Theatres Aquarius shows new releases in a smaller theater setting just off University Avenue. The theater has been a longtime part of Downtown Palo Alto and offers a more classic moviegoing experience than a large multiplex. If you’re feeling more old school, the Stanford Theatre on University Avenue plays classic films all year long.  

If you’re looking to grab a drink instead, The Wine Room offers a relaxed wine-bar setting with a selection of wines to try. It’s an easy evening stop after dinner or before making your way back toward the station.  

You can also stop by Palo Alto City Hall, where the surrounding plaza and green space provide seating and room to take a break. Its central downtown location also puts you within a short walk of many of the restaurants, shops and attractions along University Avenue.  

Whether you’re coming for breakfast, meeting friends for dinner, browsing for a new book, visiting a museum or simply spending an afternoon downtown, there’s plenty to do within walking distance of Palo Alto Station. With frequent Caltrain service and downtown just across the street, you can leave the car behind and make a day of exploring Palo Alto.

Insider Knowledge:

“The historic University Avenue Station is the gateway to Stanford University and Shopping Center, and the University Avenue downtown with famed restaurants, shops, and landmarks. Visitors stroll past the founding offices of Google, Facebook, PayPal, Pinterest, Stripe, the HP Garage, the birthplace of the Grateful Dead, or they can stop at cafes where the next generation of companies are being founded today." 

- Pat Burt, Palo Alto City Councilmember and Caltrain Vice Chair 

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Downtown Highlights