Guidebook for Los Altos
Food Scene
Chipotle Mexican Grill
3952 Rivermark PlazaOren's Hummus
261 University AveSuper yummy Israeli food
Every Sunday from 9.30 am - 1 pm.
Eat your way through the market, which has fantastic local produce, an Acme bread (my favorite) stand, and fresh flowers.
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Mountain View Farmers Market
600 W Evelyn AveEvery Sunday from 9.30 am - 1 pm.
Eat your way through the market, which has fantastic local produce, an Acme bread (my favorite) stand, and fresh flowers.
Excellent freshly baked bagels. Easy to reach from our home after a very short morning stroll. Has indoor seating and coffee as well (or you could get coffee from the Starbucks a few doors down in the same mall). Open from 5.30 am (Sundays 7 am).
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Bagel Street Cafe
1049 El Monte AveExcellent freshly baked bagels. Easy to reach from our home after a very short morning stroll. Has indoor seating and coffee as well (or you could get coffee from the Starbucks a few doors down in the same mall). Open from 5.30 am (Sundays 7 am).
Cafe Nur
280 Main StGood mediterranean fare. Low key. Right downtown Los Altos.
Sumika
236 Plaza CentralBest Japanese in town.
* Michelin 2017 recommended !
Smitten Ice Cream
4800 El Camino RealThe shop is inside Whole Foods, and has an outdoor patio.
A little gem within walking distance from our home (.5 mi).
The pizza from the wood-fired authentic Italian oven is the very best. There are only a handful of tables so often you'll find people waiting outside - so best go early.
It is easy to miss as it such as small joint and just left from World Market store. Limited menu but you can't go wrong ;)
* Michelin 2017 recommended (October 2016) !
Napoletana Pizzeria
1910 W El Camino RealA little gem within walking distance from our home (.5 mi).
The pizza from the wood-fired authentic Italian oven is the very best. There are only a handful of tables so often you'll find people waiting outside - so best go early.
It is easy to miss as it such as small joint and just left from World Market store. Limited menu but you can't go wrong ;)
* Michelin 2017 recommended (October 2016) !
Manresa Bread
271 State StArtisan bread, closes at 3 pm.
Very nice, not expensive lunch menu.
Great mediterranean food.
* Michelin 2017 recommended for under $25
Urfa Bistro
233 State StVery nice, not expensive lunch menu.
Great mediterranean food.
* Michelin 2017 recommended for under $25
Walking distance from our home. Small hole in the wall place, very good Japanese.
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Gochi Japanese Fusion Tapas
1943 W El Camino RealWalking distance from our home. Small hole in the wall place, very good Japanese.
sweetgreen
440 Castro StHealthy and yummie salads and bowls
Parks & Nature
Grab a map at the entrance. Hike up to the viewpoint for marvelous sights over Silicon Valley (look for Stanford tower, GooglePlex, Nasa, Dumbarton Bridge and downtown San Jose). If you have the time, then the PGE-trail is a strenuous & rewarding hike (3 + hours).
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Rancho San Antonio County Park
Grab a map at the entrance. Hike up to the viewpoint for marvelous sights over Silicon Valley (look for Stanford tower, GooglePlex, Nasa, Dumbarton Bridge and downtown San Jose). If you have the time, then the PGE-trail is a strenuous & rewarding hike (3 + hours).
Very scenic trails overlooking the bluffs just north of Santa Cruz. Beautiful for hiking and biking. Take a picnic with you and climb down to the hidden beach situated midway on the trail for a unique lunch.
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Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdVery scenic trails overlooking the bluffs just north of Santa Cruz. Beautiful for hiking and biking. Take a picnic with you and climb down to the hidden beach situated midway on the trail for a unique lunch.
Great flat trail along the East Bay, for running, biking/commute, or a quiet stroll. Access from Sleeper Ave (1.7 mi from our house) or from Shoreline Park behind GooglePlex (1.9 mi). The area around the lake gets busy on the weekends as it has as a cafe, boat rental venue and playground. The trail stretches from San Jose to San Francisco and has several entrances and water fountains along the way. You can get very close views on Nasa from the trail + great for birdwatching.
I use to do my early morning long runs on this gorgeous pathway - it's a meditation space !
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Stevens Creek Trail
Stevens Creek TrailGreat flat trail along the East Bay, for running, biking/commute, or a quiet stroll. Access from Sleeper Ave (1.7 mi from our house) or from Shoreline Park behind GooglePlex (1.9 mi). The area around the lake gets busy on the weekends as it has as a cafe, boat rental venue and playground. The trail stretches from San Jose to San Francisco and has several entrances and water fountains along the way. You can get very close views on Nasa from the trail + great for birdwatching.
I use to do my early morning long runs on this gorgeous pathway - it's a meditation space !
Very beautiful drive up in the hills and over Skyline Boulevard to get there. Multiple hiking trails to choose from. Take some layers as it can get foggy and cold up there. If you are lucky you will spot coyotes, deer, the ocean and the valley all in 1 trip !!
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Russian Ridge Preserve
Very beautiful drive up in the hills and over Skyline Boulevard to get there. Multiple hiking trails to choose from. Take some layers as it can get foggy and cold up there. If you are lucky you will spot coyotes, deer, the ocean and the valley all in 1 trip !!
Arts & Culture
Stanford art museum has the largest Rodin collection in the U.S.A. The adjacent Anderson Collection displays great contemporary west coast art. Both are free the public.
Take the elevator up in the Hoover tower (5 minutes walk from the museum) - it offers great views on clear days - and stop by the Church on the beautiful campus. Campus tours are free too.
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Stanford
Stanford art museum has the largest Rodin collection in the U.S.A. The adjacent Anderson Collection displays great contemporary west coast art. Both are free the public.
Take the elevator up in the Hoover tower (5 minutes walk from the museum) - it offers great views on clear days - and stop by the Church on the beautiful campus. Campus tours are free too.
Great collection, renovated and reopened in the summer of 2016. A must for any art lover visiting the SF Bay Area!!
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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StGreat collection, renovated and reopened in the summer of 2016. A must for any art lover visiting the SF Bay Area!!
Essentials
Hands down best take-out sushi in town.
High end supermarket for very nice grocery shopping. Sells ready-made cold and hot dishes, pizza, and customized dishes from their noodle counter. I never get tired of the salad and hot bar. Has an indoor an outdoor seating area.
You will find mostly organic foods and body products, and lots of local produce.
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Whole Foods Market
4800 El Camino RealHands down best take-out sushi in town.
High end supermarket for very nice grocery shopping. Sells ready-made cold and hot dishes, pizza, and customized dishes from their noodle counter. I never get tired of the salad and hot bar. Has an indoor an outdoor seating area.
You will find mostly organic foods and body products, and lots of local produce.
California's 'neigbourhood supermarket'. Sells own brand products only. Nice atmosphere.
Has a good selection of snacks, prepared meals, wines, beers, personal hygiene products, fruits, veggies and dairy.
Look for their reusable shopping bags with California themed design (they make a great souvenir for only $ 1 !)
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Trader Joe's
590 Showers DrCalifornia's 'neigbourhood supermarket'. Sells own brand products only. Nice atmosphere.
Has a good selection of snacks, prepared meals, wines, beers, personal hygiene products, fruits, veggies and dairy.
Look for their reusable shopping bags with California themed design (they make a great souvenir for only $ 1 !)
Blue Bird Cleaners
1049 El Monte AveDry cleaning, laundry and hemming services. Walking to our home.
El Camino Laundromat
1933 West El Camino RealClosest laundromat place to our place.
Drinks & Nightlife
Mervyn's Lounge & Restaurant
236 Castro StDive bar
Great selection of wines, cozy atmosphere, right in downtown Palo Alto.
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The Wine Room Palo Alto
520 Ramona StGreat selection of wines, cozy atmosphere, right in downtown Palo Alto.
Great concert agenda on summer weekend nights. Beautifully set in the Santa Cruz mountains in a georgeous winery.
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Mountain Winery
14831 Pierce RdGreat concert agenda on summer weekend nights. Beautifully set in the Santa Cruz mountains in a georgeous winery.
Downtown Mountain View station
Large cocktail & beer selection, and small plates.
My favorite hangout after a movie at Shoreline.
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Eureka!
191 Castro StLarge cocktail & beer selection, and small plates.
My favorite hangout after a movie at Shoreline.
HONCHO
235 1st StThe only wine bar in downtown ;)
Entertainment & Activities
Located in downtown, varied class schedule.
Can go to/from a downtown from to there.
Yoga of Los Altos
377 1st StLocated in downtown, varied class schedule.
Can go to/from a downtown from to there.
Getting Around
Hertz
510 E El Camino Real.3 miles from our home, easy to reach.
45 minutes express train to San Francisco.
You can put your bike in the first train wagon - great if you wish to bike over the Golden Gate Bridge (tip: take a ferry boat back!)
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Mountain View Station
600 W Evelyn Ave45 minutes express train to San Francisco.
You can put your bike in the first train wagon - great if you wish to bike over the Golden Gate Bridge (tip: take a ferry boat back!)
Uber/Lyft Waiting Lot San Francisco International