NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDES

menlo park

In Menlo Park, the recently established Springline Shopping and Dining Area offers a fresh and vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike, seamlessly combining upscale shopping with diverse dining experiences.

Just a short distance away, the historic Allied Arts Guild weaves its own story into the fabric of Menlo Park. Established in 1929, this guild is a testament to the city's commitment to the arts. Its charming Spanish Colonial-style buildings house an array of artisan studios and galleries, fostering creativity and cultural appreciation. Notably, the Allied Arts Guild holds a special place in history as a location where renowned photographer Ansel Adams once taught photography, adding a touch of creative legacy to the Guild's enchanting surroundings.

Meanwhile, Menlo Park's downtown, with its tree-lined streets and historic architecture, further enriches the city's cultural tapestry, inviting residents and visitors to explore a blend of contemporary and traditional offerings. Together, the Springline Shopping and Dining Area, the Allied Arts Guild, and Menlo Park's downtown form a harmonious blend of the contemporary and the historical, reflecting the city's commitment to fostering a rich and diverse cultural landscape.

LoCAL SHOPS

Menlo Park’s local shops exude sophistication, featuring upscale boutiques and charming stores, contributing to the town's elegant and refined community atmosphere.

local recommendations

The Shop

Roxy loves this shop because it lowers our environmental footprint. At The Shop, you shop for a good cause. Established in 1970, The Shop, a resale store in downtown Menlo Park, sells gently used clothing, accessories and household items donated by League members, local retailers and the community at large. Savvy shoppers know to check here first for designer clothing, handbags, shoes, sparkling crystal, china and other home furnishings.

725 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park
@theshopmenlopark

Menlo Botanica (Allied Arts)

Floral Design Studio located in the historic Allied Arts Guild, in Ansel Adams’s former studio. MB serves the Peninsula & Silicon Valley communities. Roxy loves the studio's refreshing location. The beautiful gardens bordering the historic Spanish colonial buildings make it one of the most alluring wedding venues on the peninsula. Providing wedding and event flowers, local deliveries, fresh bouquets and arrangements for pickup on-site. In addition to florals, they source a wide variety of plants including succulents and orchids.

75 Arbor Rd STE J, Menlo Park
@menlobotanica

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Swirl Works

Swirl Works is a creative escape at Allied Arts in Menlo Park. They offer workshops led by master artisans in a beautiful garden courtyard. Shop their curated collection of unique, artisanal goods. Venture out and try something new. Lose yourself in the process of creating. Get connected and rediscover that feeling of endless possibilities. It's time to get out and breathe again.

75 Arbor Rd, Suite S, Menlo Park
@swirlworks

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Menlo Botanica

Floral Design Studio located in the historic Allied Arts Guild, in Ansel Adams former studio. MB serves the Peninsula & Silicon Valley communities. Roxy loves the studio's refreshing location. It is for flower lovers and event goers and is unexpectedly tucked into a garden complex in a residential neighborhood. The beautiful gardens bordering the historic Spanish colonial buildings make it one of the most alluring wedding venues on the peninsula. Providing wedding and event flowers, local deliveries, fresh bouquets and arrangements for pickup on-site. In addition to florals, they source a wide variety of plants including succulents and orchids.

75 Arbor Rd STE J, Menlo Park
@menlobotanica

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COFFEE & Tea shops

Chic atmosphere, expertly brewed coffee, and a community-centric space, providing a delightful experience for caffeine enthusiasts in the area.

local recommendations

Cafe Borrone

Voted Best Place To Meet People & Best Independent Coffee & Tea Place in 2023 in the Almanac by readers this stands out as a great people watching spot. Perched on a corner, it stands out as a great place to indulge in a slice of carrot cake and a cup of Earl Grey outside on an overcast day. They also serve food and their fare pleases all palates.

1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
@cafebarrons

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Andytown Coffee Roasters

Andytown Coffee Roasters, based in San Francisco, serves coffee beverages, cookies, pastries and Irish soda bread. Coffees include drinks like the "Snowy Plover," an espresso cream soda that can come in green tea and caffeine-free huckleberry variants, as well as traditional options like espressos and lattes. With multiple locations in San Francisco, it’s about time the peninsula got an outpost.

1302 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
@andytownsf

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Coffeebar

Coffeebar is the fuel that propels you throughout your day. Roxy loves that they are Inspired by the Italian coffeebar culture, - they believe they are Hospitalians first, baristas and chefs second. Making people feel good is their M.O. Founded in Truckee, CA in 2010, Coffeebar was built off of over two decades of coffee industry knowledge.

1149 Chestnut St, Menlo Park
@coffeebar

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LoCAL Restaurants

Menlo Park restaurants blend upscale ambiance with diverse cuisines, providing an enticing culinary experience in the heart of Silicon Valley.

local recommendations

Cafe Wisteria

Cafe Wisteria is a woman owned and operated restaurant and catering & event management company located on the 3.5 acre blossom-filled grounds of the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, CA. Roxy loves the classic ambiance, savory fares and locally sourced produce & meats.

75 Arbor Rd, Menlo Park
@cafewisteria

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Burma Love

Burma Love , Menlo Park offers a thoughtfully curated menu blending beloved Burma Love classics with fresh, inspired specialties. The chef crafts dishes rooted in Burmese culture, infused with contemporary flair influenced by Southeast Asian culinary traditions that have shaped Burmese culture and tradition. Roxy loves the award winning tea leaf salad and the Hawker garlic noodles. Go with friends for happy hour for a more casual evening out.

1302 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
@burmalove

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Che Fico Parco Menlo

Che Fico Parco Menlo takes inspiration from its critically acclaimed sister restaurant in San Francisco (Che Fico on Divisadero) while adding new creations to its menu of Italian fare with California influences. Dishes of hand-rolled pasta, naturally fermented sourdough pizza, antipasti, meat, and fish celebrate the team’s passion for Italian cuisine and their dedication to using the best seasonal products from farmers and purveyors in the Bay area.

1302 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
@cheficoparcomenlo

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