Guidebook for Portola Valley
Food Scene
Parkside Grille
884 Portola RdThe food is excellent. It is a favorite of the locals.
This is a fixture in Portola Valley for around 150 years. It has good sandwiches and hamburgers. The atmosphere is a as funky on the inside as it is on the outside.
13 locals recommend
Alpine Inn Beer Garden
3915 Alpine RdThis is a fixture in Portola Valley for around 150 years. It has good sandwiches and hamburgers. The atmosphere is a as funky on the inside as it is on the outside.
Zagat's review: "Local legend” Jesse Ziff Cool works “her magic strong as ever” at this Menlo Park “favorite”, preparing “impeccable” organic ingredients with a “simple finesse” that yields seasonal Californian cuisine “of a very high level”; with a “charming” staff and “warm, inviting” atmosphere to complete the package, it's worth the “expensive” rates “for a special evening out.”
30 locals recommend
Flea Street
3607 Alameda de las PulgasZagat's review: "Local legend” Jesse Ziff Cool works “her magic strong as ever” at this Menlo Park “favorite”, preparing “impeccable” organic ingredients with a “simple finesse” that yields seasonal Californian cuisine “of a very high level”; with a “charming” staff and “warm, inviting” atmosphere to complete the package, it's worth the “expensive” rates “for a special evening out.”
Fair warning: This restaurant seems to have more bad reviews than good. I've only eaten there once when it first opened and didn't think it compared well to their original restaurant in Redwood City.
16 locals recommend
Old Port Lobster Shack
3130 Alpine RdFair warning: This restaurant seems to have more bad reviews than good. I've only eaten there once when it first opened and didn't think it compared well to their original restaurant in Redwood City.
This was the "go to" morning coffee shop for the Woodside crowd. The shop was forced to relocate recently to Sharon Heights and has since become the favorite bakery now for Menlo Park, Portola Valley & Woodside. Lucky, lucky us! The staff and owners are really nice too. There is limited seating inside, but they are in the process of expanding the shop to add more tables for dining.
21 locals recommend
Woodside Bakery & Cafe
3052 Woodside RdThis was the "go to" morning coffee shop for the Woodside crowd. The shop was forced to relocate recently to Sharon Heights and has since become the favorite bakery now for Menlo Park, Portola Valley & Woodside. Lucky, lucky us! The staff and owners are really nice too. There is limited seating inside, but they are in the process of expanding the shop to add more tables for dining.
Everything Else
The town site lists events and resources: http://www.portolavalley.net/home.
Portola Valley is a biker's paradise. The Alpine Road loop is a favorite of the biking clubs. There are also many hiking trails. Go to All Trails Web site to see what PV and the surrounding area has to offer. https://www.alltrails.com/us/california/portola-valley
Portola Valley
The town site lists events and resources: http://www.portolavalley.net/home.
Portola Valley is a biker's paradise. The Alpine Road loop is a favorite of the biking clubs. There are also many hiking trails. Go to All Trails Web site to see what PV and the surrounding area has to offer. https://www.alltrails.com/us/california/portola-valley
Parks & Nature
This site shows all PV open spaces and trails: http://www.portolavalley.net/about-portola-valley/open-space-in-portola-valley#Map
45 locals recommend
Windy Hill Preserve
This site shows all PV open spaces and trails: http://www.portolavalley.net/about-portola-valley/open-space-in-portola-valley#Map
Essentials
Upscale grocery store that has a deli for lunch and precooked food for dinner. The deli closes early at 7PM. The grocery store closes at 8 PM.
30 locals recommend
Bianchini's Market
3130 Alpine RdUpscale grocery store that has a deli for lunch and precooked food for dinner. The deli closes early at 7PM. The grocery store closes at 8 PM.
Another upscale grocery. It has better take away dinners than Bianchini's, but the deli sandwiches are not as good and more expensive. The meat department in both places is excellent. Veggies are expensive here.
11 locals recommend
Roberts Market
4420 Alpine RdAnother upscale grocery. It has better take away dinners than Bianchini's, but the deli sandwiches are not as good and more expensive. The meat department in both places is excellent. Veggies are expensive here.
This place is expensive, but if you need the cleaners to be close, this shop will suffice. Look on Yelp for alternate dry cleaning services.
Ladera Cleaners
3130 Alpine RdThis place is expensive, but if you need the cleaners to be close, this shop will suffice. Look on Yelp for alternate dry cleaning services.
Safeway has a better selection of products. It is a couple of miles past Bianchini's, but might have something the two groceries close by don't have and they are open 24 hours, whereas both Bianchini's and Roberts close at 8 PM. However, the prices are higher than the Safeway in Menlo Park.
26 locals recommend
Safeway
325 Sharon Park DrSafeway has a better selection of products. It is a couple of miles past Bianchini's, but might have something the two groceries close by don't have and they are open 24 hours, whereas both Bianchini's and Roberts close at 8 PM. However, the prices are higher than the Safeway in Menlo Park.
Shopping
Still one of the best shopping malls in the Bay Area. Most major stores are here, but not Target or discount department stores.
526 locals recommend
Stanford Shopping Center
660 Stanford Shopping CenterStill one of the best shopping malls in the Bay Area. Most major stores are here, but not Target or discount department stores.
Ladera Shopping Center has all the essentials: A grocery store, a UPS postal store, Ladera Garden & Gifts - a terrific garden center, dry cleaning, and some restaurants to grab a quick lunch or dinner.
Ladera Garden & Gifts
3130 Alpine RdLadera Shopping Center has all the essentials: A grocery store, a UPS postal store, Ladera Garden & Gifts - a terrific garden center, dry cleaning, and some restaurants to grab a quick lunch or dinner.
California Street, Palo Alto. Every SUNDAY, 9 am - 1 PM.
http://uvfm.org/palo-alto-sundays/
PORTOLA VALLEY FARMERS' MARKET is every THURSDAY, year-round 2-6 pm, (2-5pm in winter) rain or shine. 765 Portola Road, PV in front of the Historic Schoolhouse. For more information go to:
https://www.pvfarmersmarket.com
27 locals recommend
California Avenue Farmer's Market
400 California AvenueCalifornia Street, Palo Alto. Every SUNDAY, 9 am - 1 PM.
http://uvfm.org/palo-alto-sundays/
PORTOLA VALLEY FARMERS' MARKET is every THURSDAY, year-round 2-6 pm, (2-5pm in winter) rain or shine. 765 Portola Road, PV in front of the Historic Schoolhouse. For more information go to:
https://www.pvfarmersmarket.com
Year-Round
Sundays 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.
On Chestnut Street, between Santa Cruz Ave. & Menlo Ave., in Downtown Menlo Park.
From their Web site: "The money from the market goes back into helping the community and the extra produce at the end of the market is distributed to feed the homeless. The farmers offer a wide variety of California-grown and Organic fruits & vegetables, herbs, fresh fish, eggs, a wide variety of mushrooms, preserves, honey, flowers, nuts, dried fruit, organic olive oil & olives, plants and much more. Listen to the weekly music, as you stroll through the fragrant booths."
6 locals recommend
Menlo Park Farmers Market
Year-Round
Sundays 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.
On Chestnut Street, between Santa Cruz Ave. & Menlo Ave., in Downtown Menlo Park.
From their Web site: "The money from the market goes back into helping the community and the extra produce at the end of the market is distributed to feed the homeless. The farmers offer a wide variety of California-grown and Organic fruits & vegetables, herbs, fresh fish, eggs, a wide variety of mushrooms, preserves, honey, flowers, nuts, dried fruit, organic olive oil & olives, plants and much more. Listen to the weekly music, as you stroll through the fragrant booths."
Sightseeing
If you have never visited Stanford University, it is worth a tour.
537 locals recommend
Stanford University
450 Serra MallIf you have never visited Stanford University, it is worth a tour.
This is an estate that has magnificent garden to enjoy in the spring and summer. You can tour the main house as well as walk though the gardens at your own pace. Be sure to bring a camera.
141 locals recommend
Filoli Historic House & Garden
86 Cañada RdThis is an estate that has magnificent garden to enjoy in the spring and summer. You can tour the main house as well as walk though the gardens at your own pace. Be sure to bring a camera.
Entertainment & Activities
This is an independent theater located in an office complex that shows good, more intellectual movies. Note: there is no stadium type seating so "vertically challenged" people may have a problem.
27 locals recommend
CinéArts at Palo Alto Square
3000 El Camino RealThis is an independent theater located in an office complex that shows good, more intellectual movies. Note: there is no stadium type seating so "vertically challenged" people may have a problem.