Welcome to Palo Alto
An affluent, quiet community with a relaxed, healthy lifestyle.
As the core of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto is a vibrant, gorgeous tech hub in northwest Santa Clara County, comprising dozens of neighborhoods with an eclectic real estate mix. The main residential and commercial destinations are nestled between the magnificent Menlo Park and beautiful Mountain View along San Francisco Bay. Palo Alto's northern portion is highly populated and characterized by trendy restaurants, high-end shops, and serene residential streets.
The community's incredible boundary stretches through a narrow strip across Interstate 280, extending into sparsely populated enclaves of rural hillsides and south to the Santa Cruz Mountains. In addition, Palo Alto features various neighborhoods and is home to the headquarters of several high-tech companies, including HP, Space Systems/Loral, VMware, Food Research and Innovation Center, PARC, IDEO, Skype, Houzz, SAP Labs, and Lockheed Martin.
What to Love
- Michelin-starred restaurants
- Breathtaking elevated views of the Bay
- Silicon Valley tech hub
- A highly educated community
Local Lifestyle
Palo Alto offers residents a laid-back lifestyle and peaceful tree-lined neighborhoods within walking distance of fine dining options, shopping districts, and major tech firms. The community is home to several elite figures and top talent in tech and academia. Residents enjoy a friendly and inclusive vibe, especially with its vibrant downtown and the world's leading universities. You will also find multiple startups and residents strolling downtown's attractive streets, embracing the neighborhood's unique nightlife.
Dining, Entertainment, & Shopping
The central commercial districts in Palo Alto are concentrated on California Avenue and University Avenue, which feature the Bay Area's two best high-end restaurants across both streets on California Avenue.
Protégé is one of the best eateries serving pre-fixe New American-style dishes and wine, while
Baumé's experimental atmosphere is an excellent spot to discover the cozy and chic modern French diner offering multicourse fixed-price menus. You will also find laid-back coffee shops, fashion boutiques, grocery stores, and charming family-owned shops along California Avenue.
University Avenue is an acclaimed Palo Alto's main downtown area, boasting a varied collection of shopping, dining, and entertainment areas. Several restaurants artistically combine global influences with contemporary Californian-style cooking.
Bird Dog is a stylish, minimalistic dinner bistro with California takes on Japanese and French cuisine.
Evvia Estiatorio is a Greek-styled restaurant serving classic Greek dishes in lively surroundings. French-inspired
Zola and Vietnamese-influenced
Tamarine are two other great options.
When shopping around Palo Alto,
Stanford Shopping Center is an excellent shopping destination, featuring an open-air, garden-lined mall with high-end department stores and boutiques, specialty retail shops, and great dining spots. It is anchored by
Bloomingdale’s, an upscale department store offering choice apparel, accessories, and cosmetics. You will also find
Neiman Marcus with an unparalleled collection of the highest quality clothing, shoes, handbags, and cosmetics.
Things to Do
Palo Altos offers plenty of things to do and see, including exploring the famed
Stanford University. The university is one of the oldest and most distinguished high education institutions in the country and worldwide. Its Palo Alto campus consists of the historic
Cantor Arts Center, comprising over 400 works from famed French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Stanford owns
8,180 acres of land, including
the Dish, a 3.7-mile loop trail approaching Stanford’s giant satellite dish, a radio telescope still in use. Keep an eye out for the California tiger salamander in its natural habitat.
If you love ice skating, visit
Winter Lodge to discover seasonal indoor and outdoor skating, with public sessions, lessons, and party rentals.
Kepler's Books along El Camino Real is another excellent destination to explore, featuring several titles and magazines, a range of book clubs, and author events. Palo Altos is also home to Stanford University football and the most beautiful tailgate destination in all college football.
Schools
Palo Alto schools are highly ranked and operated by the Palo Alto Unified School District. Students may attend:
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