Palo Alto offers new hotels, great nightlife venues and plenty of diversions for the weeks ahead.
Hotel Citrine beckons with a thoughtfully appointed interior.
Hotel Citrine
Glass doors whoosh open to the refreshing whiff of Tuscan oranges. Bicycles trimmed with wicker baskets await. Outside, a swimming pool and fire bowls summon respite. Together, with the new Wild Onion Bistro & Bar, this 150-room, miniresort celebrates luxury with wellness. Fave details? In-suite pink designer kettles and bone china teacups. Custom swivel chairs with nubby fabric are available to hug in every room. 750 San Antonio Road, 650.424.8991
The AC Hotel Palo Alto
AC Hotel Palo Alto
Masculine with a capital M defines this sultry property touting charcoal robes and dark, modular headboards. These 144 rooms work and play hard as evidenced by minimalist desks, high-tech lamps and flat-screens with channels galore. Post work, gather for drinks and tapas at the voluminous AC Lounge. The informal meeting room surprises with soft couches and work surfaces that morph into Ping- Pong tables. 744 San Antonio Road, 650.565.8100
El PRADO
Sip espresso inside the sun-drenched solarium while overlooking a terracotta-tinged courtyard. The owners have created a 62-room sanctuary reminiscent of an opulent Spanish manor festooned with wrought-iron balconies and fireplaces. Graced with romantic alcoves and lavish seating, this bespoke hideaway nails the aesthetic with trailing philodendrons, palladium windows and jewel-tone furnishings. For a special occasion, reserve the fairy-tale penthouse suite that opens to two patios and a fountain. 520 Cowper St., 650.322.9000
Sam Richardson, “Most of that Iceberg is Below the Water” (1969)
Anderson Collection
At first glance, the sculpture looks like a piece of white tissue peeking out of a navy blue Kleenex box. But upon closer inspection, visitors realize that Sam Richardson’s resin and fiberglass work is actually an iceberg emerging from the ocean. On the second level, gaze upon geometric paintings trimmed with pendulum shapes from Eamon Ore-Giron. In his Infinite Regress series, he relies heavily on gold mineral paint on linen canvas. The Los Angeles resident is the current Stanford Presidential Visiting Artist. Through March 13, 314 Lomita Drive, 650.721.6055
Jeremiah Jenkins, Functional Series, “Platter”
Cantor Arts Center
A soulful image of freshly fallen snow in Yosemite is juxtaposed with a photograph of horizontal icicles purposely affixed to a rock. Is it right for man to disrupt nature or to leave it as is? Paper Chase: Ten Years of Collecting Prints, Drawings and Photographs at the Cantor invites guests to consider our complex relationship to nature, space and the environment. More than 100 works from renowned artists have been excavated from Cantor’s archives for this major reveal. Through Jan. 30, 328 Lomita Drive, 650.723.4177
Malick Sidibé, “On se regarde! Hum?” (2008)
Palo Alto Art Center
Art can raise spirits and refocus energies, especially during hard times. Creative Attention: Art and Community Restoration shines the uncomfortable spotlight on recent anxiety and stress while pointing to hope and perseverance. See how the artists have each charted personal paths through adversity and pain. Ponder themes of mending, healing and resiliency. Some sculptures, videos and paintings were created in response to COVID-19, but not all. This is one component of an initiative that includes art therapy workshops and community programs. Through May 21, 1313 Newell Road, 650.329.2366
BarZola’s cheerfully designed space aptly complements its menu.
BarZola
Aphrodite may be the Greek goddess of beauty, but she’s also the latest beauty in the pageant of flirty cocktails at BarZola, which debuted earlier this year. Cocktail mavens give a hearty thumbs up to the menu organized by “citrusy and refreshing,” “stirred and boozy” and other useful headings. Manager Duncan Harrison oversees artful libations imbued with housemade syrups, shrubs and cordials. Come for a feisty take on a hot toddy this winter. Check out BarZola’s alcohol-free, sophisticated concoctions. The vibe within these forest green walls shifts from chatty to intimate as lights dim come nightfall. 585 Bryant St., 650.521.0651
The Coupe de Ville cocktail from BarZola
Quattro Restaurant & Bar, Four Seasons Hotel
Nothing beats a hot drink warming your hands after a day on the slopes. No snow? No problem. At the pop-up Après Village, the idea is to imbibe on the Swiss Alps on Quattro’s patio. Snuggle with a partner, swirling a spiced cinnamon margarita or Scotch Old-Fashioned by a flickering fire. Populate that Instagram page with snaps inside the life-size snow globe or skating in the tiny ice rink. The village features chalets, Alpine-inspired cuisine and outdoor movies. Scarf up s’mores and more through Feb. 27. 2050 University Ave., 650.566.1200
Ettan
This design-forward temple honoring Cal-Indian cuisine is nothing short of extraordinary. From the neck-arching sight of the celestial indigo door to the kaleidoscope umbrellas suspended upside-down in the patio, Ettan dominates among the city’s most glamorous restaurants. Delectable dishes with an East-meets- West flair include Japanese eggplant with mint and goat cheese as well as the Sukka braised beef short rib with stir-fried pumpkin and curry leaves. 518 Bryant St., 659.752.6281
San Agus Cocina Urbana & Cocktails
“If I were to die soon, my last meal would be the chicken tingas quesadillas,” reports chef-owner Manuel Martinez. The casual dining spot introduces patrons to street fare from his hometown, San Agustin, Mexico. Dive into quesabritas, gorditas de chicharron and chapulines (fried crickets). No one leaves without sampling cocktails derived from an insane array of tequilas, mezcals and Mexican whiskeys from small-batch vendors. 115 Hamilton Ave., 650.847.1334
Photography by: HOTEL PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KLEINBERG; MUSEUM PHOTOS COURTESY OF MUSEUMS; BARZOLA PHOTOS BY EDEN KIRYAKOS; PHOTO BY EDEN KIRYAKOS; FOOD PHOTOS, FROM TOP: PHOTO BY: DELIGHTIN DEE/UNSPLASH; PHOTO BY: JAY WENNINGTON/UNSPLASH
