Overview
Menlo Park is a suburban, tree-lined community in San Mateo County midway between the major cities of San Francisco and San Jose. Menlo Park offers visitors easy access to Stanford, Palo Alto and Silicon Valley. It is best known for its old-fashioned train station and downtown, and for being the home of venture capital and Meta (formerly Facebook). It also encompasses the USGS Headquarters, Veterans Administration Hospital, SRI Campus, and portions of the Stanford University campus, including the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC).
6 sights · 6 things to do · 28 places to eat · 15 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Menlo Park
Historic Railroad Station
The Menlo Park train station depot was built in 1867 and expanded with Victorian-era decorative features in the 1890s to serve the opening of Stanford University. This is the oldest railroad passenger station in Californ…
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
A state-of-the-art physics research faculty, SLAC is run by Stanford University for the Office of Science of the US Department of Energy. SLAC is also home to the world's longest building. SLAC offers public and private …
United States Geological Survey – Menlo Park Campus
The USGS has a large office in Menlo Park where visitors can see various geology-related exhibits. Allow one hour for the self-guided tour. See this page for additional information. You can also obtain detailed maps befo…
Allied Arts Guild
More than just a scenic art and craft shop, the Allied Arts Guild is a historic and architectural gem. Founded in 1928, it is a complex of 20+ artist studios, fine art galleries, shops, a restaurant, and several beautifu…
Downtown Menlo Park
Enjoy a walk (between the historic railroad station and the equally historic Camp Fremont Park) along Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park's old-fashioned commercial district. You can shop, have a coffee and a snack, or a meal at …
Meta Headquarters
A stronghold squeezed between the freeway and the Bay, Meta's headquarters neighbor the less-privileged Belle Haven area of Menlo Park. The large, iconic thumbs-up sign has been replaced by the Meta logo. On the other si…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 39°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Palo Alto)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 6 mi away. Directions
- SJC Mineta San Jose International Airport, San Jose — 15 mi away (major hub). Directions
Downtown Menlo Park is accessible by automobile, rail, bus and plane from San Francisco (30 miles or 50 km away) and San Jose (25 miles or 40 km away).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $120–$350 a night (typical $280), from 5 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$160, mid-range ~$360, comfortable ~$520.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Downtown Menlo Park, Menlo Park Farmers Market, Camp Fremont Park
- Lunch Bagel Street Cafe
- Afternoon Summer Concert Series, The Guild Theatre
- Dinner Subway
- Evening Starbucks
Day 2
- Morning Meta Headquarters
- Lunch Back A Yard Caribbean Grill
- Afternoon Hike Bedwell Bayfront Park
- Dinner Cafe Borrone
- Evening Saint Frank Coffee
Day 3
- Morning Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
- Lunch Flea Street
- Dinner Draeger's Bistro Cafe
- Evening The Dutch Goose
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Menlo Park is relatively small (36,000 residents) 19 sq mi, nestled between the San Francisco Bay (and US 101) in the north, and the Pacific Coast Mountain Range (and I-280) in the south. The town is divided in half by El Camino Real (CA 82), the Caltrain railway and the downtown commercial center. The academic and business hubs of Stanford and Palo Alto are to the east, while East Palo Alto and Redwood City are to the north and east. To the west, Menlo Park it is bordered by the estates of Woodside and Atherton.
Leafy, suburban and with a mild year-round climate, Menlo Park is often considered to be one of the most pleasant towns on the San Francisco Peninsula. Northern portions of Menlo Park, north of US 101 tend to offer fewer attractions to visitors. In the south, Sand Hill Road is home to dozens of venture capital firms, which manage tens of billions of dollars for financing Silicon Valley technology companies that have become the economic backbone of Silicon Valley.
This article is primarily about Menlo Park's downtown area which is active during business hours. Since many businesses close by 8 or 9PM, visitors often turn to neighboring Palo Alto and Redwood City for late-night dining, beverage and entertainment options.
Get in
Downtown Menlo Park is accessible by automobile, rail, bus and plane from San Francisco (30 miles or 50 km away) and San Jose (25 miles or 40 km away).
By automobile
Primary access by car is via CA-82 (El Camino Real), US-101 (Bayshore Freeway) or the more scenic I-280 (Junipero Serra Freeway). Access from the East Bay, is via CA-84 and the Dumbarton Bridge. Menlo Park is served by local ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.
By rail
Perhaps, the easiest way to get to and from downtown Menlo Park is by using Caltrain.
Go Menlo Park Station
Served by Caltrain. Local and semi-local trains, including some express trains, stop in Menlo Park. From the historic railroad station it's a short walk to downtown. Trains tend to run every hour and at higher frequencies during commute hours. The train station is also a connection point to the local SamTrans bus service.
By bus
- SamTrans is San Mateo County's regional bus system. It provides routes which service areas north of Menlo Park toward San Francisco.
- Stanford runs a free shuttle called Marguerite that makes stops in Menlo Park. It's best suited for traveling between Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Stanford.
- VTA is Santa Clara County's regional bus and light rail system. It provides transportation from Palo Alto's train station to areas south of Menlo Park toward San Jose.
By plane
Menlo Park is roughly equidistant (about a 30-minute drive) to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the San Jose Mineta Airport (SJC). San Francisco's status as a major airline hub means that travelers are more likely to come through SFO.
- From San Francisco International Airport, it's possible to get to Menlo Park via public transit: take the BART train from the San Francisco Airport to the Millbrae station, then connect to Caltrain heading south and get off at the Menlo Park station. The combined BART/Caltrain trip will likely take 1 to 2 hours, depending on timing and train connections.
- From San José Mineta International Airport, take the free shuttle bus #10 to get to the Santa Clara Caltrain station. From there take a Caltrain north to the Menlo Park station.
Go Palo Alto Municipal Airport (Palo Alto Airport)
Palo Alto Airport is the nearest option for private air travel.
Get around
Menlo Park has an appealing and very walkable downtown area that is centered along Santa Cruz Avenue. It extends for about 10 blocks south (a 15- to 20-minute walk) from the Caltrain railroad station, across El Camino Real, and down to Camp Fremont Park.
Biking is a good option for exploring beyond downtown Menlo Park. Biking can also be combined with the train or bus. Caltrain and the regional SamTrans or VTA bus systems can get you to further destinations. Ride sharing apps, like Uber and Lyft are also good, but more expensive options.
Most Menlo Park residents drive a personal automobile when they are not walking or biking.
See
See Downtown Menlo Park
Enjoy a walk (between the historic railroad station and the equally historic Camp Fremont Park) along Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park's old-fashioned commercial district. You can shop, have a coffee and a snack, or a meal at an outdoor table, do some thrifting at the second hand stores, admire the boutique furniture shops and art galleries along the way.
See Historic Railroad Station
The Menlo Park train station depot was built in 1867 and expanded with Victorian-era decorative features in the 1890s to serve the opening of Stanford University. This is the oldest railroad passenger station in California.
See Meta Headquarters (formerly Facebook)
A stronghold squeezed between the freeway and the Bay, Meta's headquarters neighbor the less-privileged Belle Haven area of Menlo Park. The large, iconic thumbs-up sign has been replaced by the Meta logo. On the other side of the sign, cloaked by the trees, you can still find the rusting logo of Sun Microsystems—the defunct tech company, once hailed for its advocacy of open-source software, which used to be headquartered here until its acquisition by Oracle in 2010. Back then, the offices used to be nicknamed "Sun Quentin", due to their resemblance with the prison of San Quentin in the North Bay.
See Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
A state-of-the-art physics research faculty, SLAC is run by Stanford University for the Office of Science of the US Department of Energy. SLAC is also home to the world's longest building. SLAC offers public and private tours of the facility. For public tours, there is a signup sheet online. For private tours contact the public affairs office.
See United States Geological Survey – Menlo Park Campus (USGS)
The USGS has a large office in Menlo Park where visitors can see various geology-related exhibits. Allow one hour for the self-guided tour. See this page for additional information. You can also obtain detailed maps before setting off on an expedition to a remote location.
See Allied Arts Guild
More than just a scenic art and craft shop, the Allied Arts Guild is a historic and architectural gem. Founded in 1928, it is a complex of 20+ artist studios, fine art galleries, shops, a restaurant, and several beautiful formal gardens. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, it is used as a venue for both public and private events. A portion of sales proceeds are donated to a local children's hospital.
Do
Do Ride a Bike
As a biking hub, Menlo Park has excellent rail and bike trail connections with other cities or destinations in the region. Bike rides can be combined with CalTrain or taken from Menlo Park to Stanford (2 miles), Palo Alto (3 miles), Woodside (6 miles), Mountain View (8 miles), Los Altos (8 miles), or the classic and more hilly Portola Valley Loop (16 miles).
Do Summer Concert Series
During the summertime Menlo Park puts on a series of free concerts in the park. Local bands play a variety of music. A gourmet grocery across the street, Draeger's, sells sandwiches and picnic fare. Pizza restaurant Amici's is also a popular choice for take-out among summer concert attendees.
Buy
There are many shops in downtown Menlo, the ones listed here are unique or especially popular.
Shop Discovery Shop (American Cancer Society)
A non-profit thrift shop featuring furniture, art, clothing, housewares, books, DVDs and other household items.
Shop The Shop
The Shop offers used clothes, housewares and accessories, with all proceeds benefiting the Junior League
Shop Oriental Rugs
Menlo has an abundance of specialty rug shops along Santa Cruz Ave: Stephen Miller Gallery, The Rug Center, Istanbul Rugs or The Oriental Carpet.
Eat
Budget
Eat Subway
National sandwich shop chain. Offers good low cost options.
Eat Posh Bagel
A bay area chain that serves bagels with cream cheese and eggs. The bagels are made onsite and are often fresh from the oven. The seating area is limited so it's better to get bagels to go.
Eat Bagel Street Cafe
Casual eatery serving a range of housemade bagels & toppings, coffee, bagel sandwiches, salads & drinks.
Eat Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is perhaps the least expensive option for buying a meal in Menlo Park.
Eat Mami Cheli's
Serves Salvadoran style tacos, pupusas, quesadillas, burritos, and tortas. The freshly made pupusas are worth the trip. Limited seating, mostly it's a grab-and-go kind of place.
Eat Mountain Mike's Pizza
Casual pizza chain offerings.
Eat Chef Kwan's
Longtime favorite for Chinese take out food.
Eat Round Table Pizza
National pizza chain founded at this restaurant location in 1959.
Mid-range
Eat Cafe Borrone
A Menlo Park favorite for coffee, breakfast and lunch. It has a big indoor/outdoor seating area that spills out onto the plaza and El Camino Real. The food is a California-style and tends towards being healthy.
Eat Stacks
Hearty American breakfast foods with generous portions in a family-style atmosphere.
Eat Mama Coco (Cocina Mexicana)
Family run, relaxed and colorful setting with indoor or outdoor seating.
Eat Jason Cafe
Generous portions and classic breakfast plates like omelets, scrambles, eggs Benedict, waffles and pancakes are available all day.
Eat Draeger's Bistro Cafe
Serving coffee drinks, pastries from the bakery and special breakfast plates.
Eat Jeffrey's Hamburgers
A 1950s style hamburger joint. It has big booths, a counter, neon signs and car references. There's lots of seating so even when it's busy it's easy to find somewhere to sit down. The food is American staples- hamburgers, grilled cheese, milk shakes, and french fries.
Eat Sultana Mediterranean
Great Mediterranean food with an emphasis on Turkish cuisine. The falafel and hummus are local favorites.
Eat La Stanza Cucina Italiana
Family run restaurant serving Sicilian-style food in a comfortable and intimate setting.
Eat Roma
Fine Italian dining indoors or street side on the patio.
Eat Tilak Indian Cuisine
High quality Indian vegetarian and meat dishes, appetizers, breads and sides available for the dining room, patio or to go.
Eat Back A Yard Caribbean Grill
This is where to get your Jerk Chicken & Beef Oxtail, Curried Goat, Barbeque Spareribs, Jerk Tofu and Coconut Curried Tofu.
Splurge
Eat CoffeeBar
An upscale coffeeshop. Has a variety of espresso and pour-over coffee options and a selection of breakfast treats and lunch options. During the day it can be hard to find a spot and there are a lot of people working on laptops.
Eat Mademoiselle Colette
A Parisian patisserie serving coffee, breakfast, lunch and very fancy French pastries. The food is rich and the atmosphere cozy. There's outdoor seating for warm afternoons. It's a good spot for a special treat, a date or an intimate conversation.
Eat Kyosho Sushi
Upscale sushi restaurant close to the Menlo Park train station.
Eat Draeger's Market
High end supermarket with gourmet hot and cold deli items, sandwiches, salads, sushi, barbecued meats, and other delicacies. Can be taken to go, or eaten in Camp Fremont Park.
Eat Amici's East Coast Pizzeria
Thin crust pizza is the main attraction here, but salads, pastas and sides are also offered.
Eat Bistro Vida
One of the two great French restaurants in town. It has a dark, cozy vibe with a large bar. It can get very busy and sometimes there's a wait. Has outdoor seating.
Eat Camper
California comfort food. The name is a portmanteau of California (CA) and Menlo Park (MP). If you want to eat at somewhere that's uniquely Californian, this is the place to do it. The food is fresh Californian fare and is accordingly expensive. Has outdoor seating.
Eat Left Bank
The other French restaurant in Menlo Park. It's bigger than Bistro Vida and has a more lively bar. The atmosphere is friendly and bright. Has outdoor seating.
Eat Flea Street
Local star chef, Jesse Cool, has been serving local and sustainable California cuisine here since 1980.
Drink
Coffee and tea
Menlo Park has many coffee and tea shops. Local favorites are:
Drink CoffeeBar
An upscale coffeeshop. Has a variety of espresso and pour-over coffee options and a selection of breakfast treats and lunch options. During the day it can be hard to find a spot and there are a lot of people working on laptops.
Drink Saint Frank Coffee
Serving pour over and espresso drinks with pleasant outdoor seating.
Drink Cafe Borrone
Classic European cafe serving breakfast, brunch and lunch with indoor and outdoor seating.
Drink Philz Coffee
Famous for their custom hot and cold, pour over coffee options. Baked goods and light lunch fare are also available.
Drink Canteen Coffee
Local coffee shop serving Sightglass coffee. Relaxed ambiance inside with plenty of seating. They have your typical coffee and espresso drinks as well as pastries and a music collection on vinyl LPs.
Drink Andytown Coffee Roasters
Offering freshly roasted beans, coffee, espresso and snacks in a relaxed and pleasant space.
Drink Starbucks
Worldwide coffee chain offers signature drinks, beans and light meals as well as convenient bathrooms and wifi. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
Drink Peet's Coffee
A California-native chain of a coffee places. This shop on Santa Cruz Ave was the 2nd store established by Mr. Peet after founding the company in Berkeley in 1966. It's a good place to get a snack and people-watch with big windows that look out onto the street in one direction and onto a park in the other.
Alcohol
Most restaurants in Menlo Park close by 9PM, so a late night drink can be a challenge. While nearly all restaurants in town serve wine and beer, and some have a bar, there are several places that stand out for liquor and cocktails.
Drink British Bankers Club
If you're looking to have a drink somewhere nice British Bankers Club is hard to beat. They have two bars, one inside and one of the roof. The inside one is a long wooden bar with big windows surrounding it. California is a casual place but it's not uncommon to see men in a tie or women in a dress. The rooftop bar serves oysters and ismore relaxed. Even when Menlo Park is hot the rooftop bar is still an oasis of cool.
Drink Causewells Menlo Park
Craft cocktails, wine and local beers are served along with burgers, pasta and vegetarian options.
Drink Barebottle Brewing Company
Fresh, innovative craft beer styles available from 24+ taps.
Drink Bistro Vida
A French bistro with a dark and cozy vibe. Has extensive street-side seating outdoors.
Drink Camper
Upscale contemporary California-style cuisine and cocktails with pleasant indoor and outdoor seating options.
Drink Oak+Violet (In the Park James Hotel)
Cozy hotel bar with a beautiful indoor/outdoor patio.
Drink The Dutch Goose
Family friendly sports bar and restaurant serving sandwiches, burgers and fries. Features many TVs and a casual patio strewn with peanut shells. Open late.
Sleep
Go next
Menlo Park is a good base of operations for visiting both Silicon Valley and San Francisco. It's close to Stanford, Palo Alto, and the Stanford Shopping Center.
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