Experience the Best of Palo Alto: Top 5 Must-Do Activities for Your Next Trip
- Brianna Hatcher
- Oct 29, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 23, 2024
Last month we took a trip to Palo Alto, CA and although I have been many times and used to live in the Bay Area, during this trip I saw the town with a different lense. Now that I am emersed in design everyday, everything around me is a source of inspiration. We had an amazing trip and wanted to share the experiences we think were top notch:
EAT
I can't say enough about Bar Zola. Because my husband is an Executive Chef, it is very hard to please him and find restaurants that truly impress him -- but not this time! He and I were both thoroughly impressed by everything; the drinks were amazing, food was stellar, and the design felt fresh but storied. I love the mix of modern and vintage elements such as the bold green wall color and bar shelves full of old books
For food we highly recommend: 1) the Bretzels, 2) Ricotta Gnocci, and 3) the Pistacchio Cake. Our favorite drinks were the Pensamientos (gin, blueberry, pisco, jasmine, gran classico, lime, bitters) and the Jai Alai (mezcal, charanda, apricot, turmeric, pineapple gomme lemon, pepper melange). The other part about this experience that set Bar Zola apart from other restaurants was the service. The entire staff was friendly, helpful and genuinely happy that we were there. We asked our server for her favorites on the menu and tried all of her recommendations (all fabulous). Once it was time for dessert, we had a hard time deciding between two options and when she came back she had both desserts and said the other was on the house! Such a nice touch and we were left feeling special.This is one of our new favorite spots in the Palo Alto area and we can't wait to go back.
STAY
We stayed at el PRADO Hotel while visiting Palo Alto and believe it provides incredible value for the nightly rate. Compared to other hotels I have stayed at, el PRADO hotel was extremely clean and well designed. The rooms were spacious and tastely done with rich blues and whites and felt like we were staying not in a hotel, but in someone's home in the Hamptons. In the mornings right outside of our door was a full coffee station setup which was exactly what we were needing each morning.
In addition to the rooms feeling luxurious, the snacks and drinks in the rooms were a pleasant surprise as well. Usually when the minibar is full of drinks we never partake because the prices are outrageous, but here the prices were extremely reasonable and so we were able to have some drinks in our room each night and enjoy the posh environment. We even shared a few snacks! The hotel is also around the corner from University Ave where many of the shops and restaurants are located so lots to see and do only walking distance away! Overall the hotel was a five star experience and a wonderful place to stay while in Palo Alto.
SHOP
Stanford Shopping Mall is a MUST everytime we go to Palo Alto. It is hard to beat an upscale, outdoor mall in a place where temperatures hover around 70 degrees year round. It has all of the luxury stores like Louis Vuitton and Hermes, a Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales, but it also has one of my all time favorite places Terrain in Anthropologie. With Halloween days away, I had to share the most creative "plantscape" graveyard from our visit to Terrain. If you are a plant lover like me, there is nothing like Terrain.
The ingenuious ways they use plants to create beautiful arrangements is so inspiring to me. I think it is one of the most inspiring places for me as a designer because nature and organic elements can take a well designed space and bring it to the next level.
design inspiration
If you are a fan of maximallism in design (as I am), you MUST stop into the Graduate Hotel while in Palo Alto. Walking through the main entrance, I was immediately immersed in so much design inspiration it put a huge smile on my face! I am a sucker for a gallery wall, and the gallery wall at the Graduate Hotel is a doozy!!
We did not have a chance to stay or eat here, but we were told by the very friendly staff that the President's Terrace has a beautiful view of Palo Alto in a relaxing environment with fun food and drinks. We will definitely try this next time we are here.
5. OLD PALO ALTO
afternoon stroll
Nothing excites me more than homes built in the early 1900s and Old Palo Alto is full of homes from this era. Taking a stroll down these gorgeous tree-lined streets in perfect Palo Alto weather is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Homes of this era are full of history, charm and detailed architecture and if you are a fan of this like I am, it is a must see while you are here. Fun fact, Edwin Percy Gamble of Proctor & Gamble built one of the first homes in this neighborhood in 1902. So much history!
I hope you feel inspired to take a trip to Palo Alto, CA and I promise what I have shared will not dissappoint! Coming home from this trip I was reinvigerated and ready to get back to work on my design business and our own home renovation. I want to infuse all of these exerience into my creative process to help create beautiful spaces people love.
Safe Travels!
Brianna
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