Often overshadowed by its larger neighbor Palo Alto, pint-sized Menlo Park is best known as the headquarters of tech behemoth Facebook. But with the arrival of Springline last year, a multi-use complex full of big-name restaurants hailing from San Francisco, the town is finally coming into its own.
Just 30 minutes south of the city by car or CalTrain (which stops right across the street from Springline), laidback Menlo makes for a quick little city escape. Make a day out of it with spa treatments and a pool pass at the charismatic Rosewood Sand Hill, a visit to two great indie bookshops, and a nice variety of eats to choose from at dinner.
The Best Restaurants in Menlo Park
(Courtesy of Burma Love)
Tiny Michelin-recommended SF omakase spot Robin spread its wings when it opened its second location in Menlo Park (1300 El Camino Real), filling the space with moody murals, modern art, and stylish seating. Their sliding-scale, sushi-rich tasting menu, which ranges from $109 to $209 per person, is exquisite at every price point—and even better with a whiskey highball in hand. // Burma Love (1302 E. El Camino Real), the vibrant spin-off of Burma Superstar, delivers rich, artfully-crafted Burmese dishes you won’t soon forget. You can’t go wrong here but the award-winning fermented tea leaf salad, creamy crab rangoon dip, and creative cocktails are absolute musts. // Drunken Monk (1438 El Camino Real) is an intimate little spot for all things Japanese, from izakaya and yakitori to sushi and udon. Friendly and approachable with a modern edge and an e-waitlist, it’s a great spot to spontaneously pop in. // Light-bright, sustainably-minded Camper (898 Santa Cruz Ave.) has a menu full of inventive contemporary American dishes (think buttermilk cornbread and green chili, Brentwood corn agnolotti, and smokey Petaluma chicken breast with lentils) and a substantial collection of wine and spirits. // Popular Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine’s Menlo Park location (1165 Merrill St.) is one of four across the Bay Area for flavor-punching favorites like spicy papaya salad, yellow curry, and noodles galore. // The tapas and craft cocktails at Spanish-inspired wine bar Canteen (550 Oak Grove) are an ever evolving mix of delicious pintxos, cheeses and charcuteries, slow-cooked seafood and meats, and more. // Che Fico’s first location outside SF, the much-lauded Italian restaurant’s Menlo outpost (1302 El Camino Real) has been designed by Jon de la Cruz with the same kind of charming-meets-modern vibes and serves the tasty housemade pastas and thin, crispy pizzas we've come to love from the OG location. Next door, shop Italian specialty goods, wine, and grab a gelato at the new Mercato di Che Fico. // Don’t be fooled by its name: Flea Street (3607 Alameda De Las Pulgas) has been a local fine dining favorite for more than 40 years. Expect a menu highlighting local, seasonal, farm-to-table fare like crispy Half Moon Bay sardines, pasture-raised pork chops, and honey lavender shortcake with an elegant but homey vibe. // A spacious restaurant with a large, nicely lit patio, Sultana Mediterranean (1149 El Camino Real) does delicious homestyle Turkish mezzes, kebabs and more with a welcome smile. // Kyosho (605 Santa Cruz Ave.) serves up fresh-from-Japan sushi and omakase in traditional and fusion forms. // Colorful, laid-backMama Coco (1081 El Camino Real) is a local go-to for classic Mexican fare served big plate-style. // Chic Madera (2825 Sand Hill Rd.), Rosewood Sand Hill’s refined Northern California restaurant, pairs fresh, local harvests with a wood-burning hearth and grill to create culinary masterpieces like octopus with heirloom spring potato salad and whole roasted duck.
Where to Get a Bite + a Drink in Menlo Park
(Courtesy of Barebottle)
Coffee, Breakfast, and Light Bites
Already a farmer’s market favorite, brick-and-mortar newcomer Little Sky Kitchen (1010 El Camino Real) delivers their eclectic combination of French, Italian, and Chinese pastries, baos, breakfast sammies, and more in a sweet sliver of a cafe across the street from sister-spot, Little Sky Bakery (506 Santa Cruz Ave.) // For healthyish breakfast and lunch options including soups, salads, and sandos made with top-quality ingredients, you can’t beat Sand Hill Kitchen (2400 Sand Hill Rd.), with its monochromatic minimalist vibe, soaring wood-beamed ceilings, and generous open air patio. // Head to cavernous Coffeebar (1149 Chestnut St.) for a pick-me-up and a bite any time of day. // In their first shop outside of SF, you’ll findAndytown Coffee Roasters’ (1302 El Camino Real) delicious Fairtrade coffee and pastries in the booming Springline complex. // Bright, airy Cafe Borrone (1010 El Camino Real) is Menlo’s go-to for weekend brunch scrambles, wraps, and waffles.
Beer, Wine and Cocktails
SF brewer Barebottle opened their Menlo Park location (550 B. Oak Grove Ave.) last summer, a chill spot with couches and pinball machines inside, outdoor seating, and a cozy parlor behind the mosaic tiled bar. In addition to a wide variety of citrusy hazies on tap (plus wine and coffee), their kitchen cooks up a handful of empanadas and flatbreads to share with friends. // The Dutch Goose (3567 Alameda de las Pulgas) is the kind of sports-loving dive where, if you lived here, everybody would know your name. Filling pints since 1966, this old-school joint has plenty of beer on tap, pizza and burgers, arcade games, and a large beer garden out back. // Fine weather calls for craft cocktails and light bites with a view on the roof at the swanky British Bankers Club (555 Santa Cruz Ave).
What to Do in Menlo Park
The inviting pool at Rosewood Sand Hill and its Ravi Kapur–made menu is all you need for a lovely daycation.
(Courtesy of Rosewood Sand Hill)
Indulgent Rosewood Sand Hill (2825 Sand Hill Rd.) isn’t just for overnight stays. With a soon-to-reopen luxuriously tranquil day spa and an alluring pool decked out with plush loungers and cabanas, it’s the Peninsula go-to for a restorative daycation (you can even get a monthly or annual lifestyle membership if you plan to visit regularly). This summer the full-service pool menu is features the Hawaiian-inspired creativity of chef Ravi Kapur (Liholiho Yacht Club, Good Good Culture Club), which includes poke, mango shave ice, and cocktails like the Kona mai tai (rum, amaro, macadamia nut, curacao, and lime). // Historic movie theater turned live entertainment venue The Guild (949 El Camino Real) plays host to acts like Old ‘97s, Steep Canyon Rangers, and The Samples, as well as tribute bands and comedy events. // Since 1955, indie shop Kepler’s Books (1010 El Camino Real) has been one of the Peninsula’s best spots to find your next great read. If you’re looking for a book of the used variety, head down the street to Feldman’s Books (1075 Curtis Ave.), which has a garden courtyard where you can peruse the pages before you buy.
