Our Favorite Spots To Eat, Stay And Play In Menlo Park And Atherton

Two gems on the peninsula continue to surprise visitors and locals alike.

Rosewood Sand Hill

There are two especially dazzling jewels in the crown of Silicon Valley: the adjacent communities of Atherton and Menlo Park. These enclaves sparkle with charisma, innovation and pure luxury. Located on the eastern edge of San Mateo County and ideally situated near metropolitan hubs of San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose and the serene redwoods and stunning coastline, the area is as well-positioned as it is exclusive.

“Menlo Park and Atherton have always had an intellectual draw with Stanford as its neighbor,” says Kristin Cashin of the CashinGroup at Christie’s International Real Estate/Sereno MP. “As the decades progressed and business opportunities grew, so have the allure and draw of the place. If your neighbor didn’t invent or innovate the technology, they probably funded its creation and growth. Living here isn’t just a financial statement of wealth; it’s a statement of intellect and success.”

The three-room Presidential Villa at Rosewood Sand Hill

MENLO PARK: Shopping & Dining

Bustling Santa Cruz Avenue offers an abundance of boutiques and cafes. Alys Grace (alysgrace.com) is a must-shop stop downtown. With locations in San Francisco, Los Altos and San Ramone, the clothing boutique has a long list of fashionista devotees. Clients build their wardrobes from the unique and stunningly stylish items the boutique curates. Family-owned and operated, the atmosphere at Alys Grace is delightful and pampering.

Luxury home furnishing store ANTHEM San Francisco (anthemsf.online) opened its Menlo Park location in 2016. “We didn’t see any stores with our vision for the home in Silicon Valley,” says spokesperson Caitlin Sorensen. Staff helps clients find the furnishings, accessories and bedding that turn homes into sanctuaries. The shop also expanded to include an adjacent bedding and bath store.

Flea Street (cooleatz.com) is a neighborhood gathering spot and upscale eatery. Since 1980, the owners of the beloved restaurant have focused on local, organic food and wine. “The ethics of respecting local food and the people growing, harvesting, preparing and serving ingredients has driven the cuisine at Flea Street,” says chef and owner Jesse Ziff Cool.

Tomato soup at Flea Street

Another gem: Bistro Vida (bistrovida.com), opened by Ali El Safy 25 years ago. Both Safy and his restaurant have become Menlo Park institutions. Sometimes called the unofficial mayor of Menlo Park, Safy’s commitment to the community makes his bistro feel like a home. Following the pandemic, he created the Bon Marche farmers market adjacent to Bistro Vida. It serves as a meeting place for grateful visitors of all ages. Next for Ali is opening a cocktail lounge serving small plates and bringing nightlife to downtown Menlo Park.

For residents, Draeger’s Market (draegers.com) is a cornerstone of the community. The market is a go-to destination for everyday grocery shopping and special occasions. For novice home chefs, comfort food connoisseurs and folks preparing full haute cuisine in their kitchens, Draeger’s is the place to shop for the best quality and culinary advice from the well-informed staff.

Perfectly prepared trout at Flea Street

San Francisco-founded St. Frank (saintfrankcoffee.com), with two locations in Menlo Park, has taken the art of the perfect cup of coffee to celestial levels. Its brews and other beverages are pilgrimage-worthy. Coffee Bar (coffeebar.com) serves beautiful drinks and lovingly made menu items. The avocado toast, available in a gluten-free option, is Insta-worthy and delicious. Decadently unique sweets, such as a tahini brownie, make it acceptable to have dessert first at the relaxed and vibrant cafe.

Chef Greg Kuzia-Carmel’s Canteen (canteen.studio), a Spanish-inspired cocktail and tapas bar, is a love-at-first-bite eatery. Can’t-miss dishes include seasonally changing croquetas and garlic shrimp a la plancha. Look for a well-rounded wine list (including those from Spain), craft beers and inspired cocktails. Don’t miss Burma Love (burmalove.co) and Proper Food (properfood.com) for grab-and-go fare. Other standouts with legions of fans include artisanal coffee and bakery Andytown Coffee Roasters (andytownsf.com), San Francisco-based Barebottle Brewing Company (barebottle.com) and Robin (robinomakase.com), offering a thoughtfully personalized omakase experience.

Springline (springline.com), an award-winning 6.4-acre mixed-use development in Menlo Park, is home to local culinary favorites, convivial outdoor spaces, modern offices and designer residences. Talented restauranteurs, brewers and baristas are a part of the mix, bringing new energy and culinary excellence to Menlo Park.

ANTHEM, an SF-based luxe home furnishing boutique, has been in Menlo Park since 2016.

Where to Stay

Guests will find a glorious home away from home environment at The Stanford Park Hotel (stanfordparkhotel.com). Priding itself on its style and service, the hotel has been a part of the Menlo Park community for decades.

The Park James (parkjames.com) embodies Menlo Park’s history and future, with hints of the area’s equestrian and Irish heritage throughout the stunning property. Designers Parisa O’Connell and Clinton Miller selected interior elements that make the hotel feel more like a luxury Atherton residence than a typical Silicon Valley hotel.

The hotel’s speaker series, curated by creative director Hooman Khalili, brings the Bay Area’s best and brightest together for evenings of personal growth, community connection and positive impact. The Park James celebrates holidays in a big way (especially New Year’s Eve and Cinco de Mayo), and the venue hosts many philanthropic events.

The vibe is always friendly and chic at the Park James.

Locals luxuriating on a staycation and discerning business and leisure travelers flock to the 121-room Rosewood Sand Hill (rosewoodhotels.com). The property is a popular destination in Menlo Park for Bay Area entrepreneurs and executives because of its proximity to the high-tech hub, Stanford and some of the nation’s foremost venture capital and private equity firms. Interiors are classic Northern California, mixing European elegance and tradition with the quintessentially casual yet sophisticated vibe of the West Coast.

Canteen, a Spanish-inspired cocktail and tapas bar

At the property’s signature restaurant, Madera, award-winning chef and culinary personality Seamus Mullen offers a refined menu with dishes that honor the culinary traditions of the Bay Area. He uses sustainable products coupled with the rich harvest of the surrounding farming communities.

Look for an eclectic mix of inspiring dishes at Canteen.

Guests at Rosewood also love Sense, a spa with treatments that range from deep tissue massage to a revolutionary facial treatment using QMS’s award-winning skincare products. Resort day passes are also available for those who want to experience the relaxing setting of the property’s pool, where guests can order from a special poolside menu. We also love guest perks on wheels: BlueJay (bluejaybikes.com) electric bikes are available to explore the region, and Lucid Motors (lucidmotors.com) provides a test-driving experience of the Lucid Air.