In the spotlight
The best places to eat, drink and play this holiday season

Soon holiday lights will be twinkling and friends and family will gather to celebrate, so this is the perfect time to shine a light on what our readers say are the best places to eat, drink, shop and spend time with family and friends in and around Palo Alto.

More than 1,600 locals cast 23,340 votes in 85 categories to create the Palo Alto Weekly's Best Of list for 2023. This year's list of winners includes some familiar favorites as well as some new places we're eager to explore.

Also, check out the businesses that have won their categories five years in row and are included in the prestigious Hall of Fame.

Here's your crowd-sourced guide to the very best of Palo Alto.

Arts & Entertainment

Best Classes/Lecture Series
Kepler's Literary Foundation

1047 El Camino Real, Ste. 201, Menlo Park; Keplers.org

Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra – Best Concerts/Theater Performances

Best Concerts/Theater Performances (TIE)
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra

4000 Middlefield Road # M1, Palo Alto; PacoMusic.org; (650) 856-3848

Best Concerts/Theater Performances (TIE)
Stanford Live

Live.Stanford.edu; (650) 724-2464

Best Gallery
Palo Alto Art Center

1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto; CityofPaloAlto.org; (650) 329-2366

Best Museum
Cantor Arts Museum

328 Lomita Drive, Stanford; Museum.Stanford.edu; (650) 723-4177

Best Outdoor Escape
Foothills Nature Preserve

11799 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills; CityofPaloAlto.org; (650) 329-2423

Food & Drink

Best Bagels
Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels

477 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; IzzysBrooklynBagels.com; (650) 329-0700

Best Bakery/Desserts
Douce France

855 El Camino Real #104, Palo Alto; CafeDoucefrance.com; (650) 322-3601

Best BBQ
Armadillo Willy's

1031 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos; ArmadilloWillys.com; (650) 941-2922

Best Boba Tea
Boba Guys

Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #120, Palo Alto; BobaGuys.com

Best Breakfast
Joanie's Cafe

405 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; JoaniesCafePaloAlto.com; (650) 326-6505

Best Burgers
Kirk's Steakburgers

Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #75, Palo Alto; Kirks-Steakburgers.com; (650) 326-6159

Best Burrito
LuLu's Mexican Food

Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real # 49, Palo Alto; LuLusMexicanfood.com; (650) 327-8226

Best Deli/Sandwiches
Driftwood Deli and Market

3450 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; DriftwoodDeliandMarket.com; (650) 493-4162

Best Dim Sum
Tai Pan

560 Waverley St., Palo Alto; TaiPanPaloAlto.com; (650) 329-9168

Best Frozen Yogurt
Scoop Microcreamery

203 University Ave. #1712, Palo Alto; ScoopMicrocreamery.com; (650) 384-6939

Best Grocery Store

Namaste Indian Cuisine – Best New Food/Drink Establishment

Piazza's

Charleston Shopping Center, 3922 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; PiazzasFineFoods.com; (650) 325-5933

Best Happy Hour
Sundance The Steakhouse

1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; SundancetheSteakhouse.com; (650) 312-6798

Best Ice Cream/Gelato
Rick's Rather Rich Ice Cream

3946 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; RicksIceCream.com; (650) 493-6553

Best Milkshake
Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill

566 Emerson St., Palo Alto; PaloAltoCreamery.com; (650) 323-3131

Best New Food/Drink Establishment
Namaste Indian Cuisine

447 California Ave., Palo Alto; NamasteIndiaBistro.com; (650) 272-6941

Best Pizza
Terùn

448 California Ave., Palo Alto; TerunPizza.com; (650) 600-8310

Best Produce
Sigona's Farmers Market

399 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto; Sigonas.com; (650) 329-1340

Best Salad
Sweetgreen

581 Ramona St., Palo Alto; Sweetgreen.com; (415) 212-7385

Best Take Out
Chef Chu's

1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos; ChefChu.com; (650) 948-2696

Restaurants

Best Ambience
La Bodeguita del Medio

463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; LaBodeguita.com; (650) 326-7762

Best Bar/Lounge
La Bodeguita del Medio

463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; LaBodeguita.com; (650) 326-7762

Best California Cuisine
St. Michael's Alley

140 Homer Ave., Palo Alto; StMikes.com; (650) 326-2530

Chef Chu's – Best Chinese Restaurant, Best Take Out

Best Chinese Restaurant
Chef Chu's

1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos; ChefChu.com; (650) 948-2696

Best Coffeehouse
Coupa Cafe

538 Ramona St., Palo Alto; CoupaCafe.com; (650) 322-6872

Best French Restaurant
Zola

585 Bryant St., Palo Alto; ZolaPaloAlto.com; (650) 521-0651

Best Fusion Restaurant
Tamarine Restaurant & Gallery

546 University Ave., Palo Alto; TamarineRestaurant.com; (650) 325-8500

Best Indian Restaurant
Zareen's

365 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; ZareensRestaurant.com; (650) 600-8438

Best Italian Restaurant
Café Pro Bono

2437 Birch St., Palo Alto; CafeProBono.com; (650) 326-1626

Best Kids Menu
Hobee's Restaurant

4224 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; Hobees.com; (650) 856-6124

Best Latin American Cuisine
La Bodeguita del Medio

463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; LaBodeguita.com; (650) 326-7762

Best Meal Under $20
Coupa Cafe

538 Ramona St., Palo Alto; CoupaCafe.com; (650) 322-6872

Best Mediterranean Restaurant
Evvia Estiatorio

420 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Evvia.net; (650) 326-0983

Best Mexican Restaurant
Palo Alto Sol

408 California Ave., Palo Alto; SolRestaurantsCA.com; (650) 328-8840

Telefèric Barcelona – Best New Restaurant

Best New Restaurant
Telefèric Barcelona

855 El Camino Real #130, Palo Alto; TelefericBarcelona.com/Palo-Alto; (650) 321-0512

Best Outdoor Dining
La Bodeguita Del Medio

463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; LaBodeguita.com; (650) 326-7762

Best Restaurant to Splurge
Evvia Estiatorio

420 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Evvia.net; (650) 326-0983

Best Romantic Restaurant
La Bodeguita del Medio

463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; LaBodeguita.com; (650) 326-7762

Best Seafood
Pacific Catch

711 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto; PacificCatch.com/locations/Palo-Alto; (650) 384-6430

Best Solo Dining
La Bodeguita Del Medio

463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; LaBodeguita.com; (650) 326-7762

Best Steakhouse
Sundance The Steakhouse

1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; SundancetheSteakhouse.com; (650) 312-6798

Best Sunday Brunch
Joanie's Cafe

405 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; JoaniesCafePaloAlto.com; (650) 326-6505

Best Sushi/Japanese Restaurant
Fuki Sushi

4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; FukiSushi.com; (650) 494-9383

Best Thai Restaurant
Lotus Thai Bistro

425 California Ave, Palo Alto; LotusThaiBistro.com; (650) 289-0907

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine
True Food Kitchen

180 El Camino Real, #1140, Palo Alto; TrueFoodKitchen.com; (650) 272-5157

Retail

Best Beauty Supply
LaBelle Day Spas & Salons

855 El Camino Real Suites 95 & 33, Palo Alto; LaBelleDaySpas.com; (650) 327-6964

Shady Lane – Best Boutique, Best Gift Shop

Best Bicycle Shop
Palo Alto Bicycles

171 University Ave, Palo Alto; PaloAltoBicycles.com; (650) 328-7411

Best Bookstore
Kepler's Books

1010 El Camino Real #100, Menlo Park; Keplers.com; (650) 324-4321

Best Boutique
Shady Lane

325 Sharon Park Dr, Menlo Park; ShadyLaneGallery.com; (650) 321-1099

Best Children's Store
Cheeky Monkey Toys

640 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park; CheekyMonkeyToys.com; (650) 328-7975

Best Eyewear
Cambridge Optometry

2307 Birch St., Palo Alto; CambridgeOptometry.com; (650) 323-6772

Cheeky Monkey Toys – Best Children's Store

Best Flower Shop
Mills the Florist

2134 Old Middlefield Way Ste. A, Mountain View; MillsFlorist.com; (650) 326-3443

Best Framing
Richard Sumner

628 Emerson St., Palo Alto; SumnerFrames.com; (650) 322-3330

Best Gift Shop
Shady Lane

325 Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park; ShadyLaneGallery.com; (650) 321-1099

Best Hardware Store
Hassett Ace Hardware

875 Alma St., Palo Alto; HassettHardware.com; (650) 327-7222

Best Jewelry Store
Gleim the Jeweler

111 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto; GleimJewelers.com; (650) 325-3533

Best Nursery/Garden Supplies
SummerWinds

725 San Antonio Road Palo Alto; SummerwindsNursery.com; (650) 493-5136

Best Shoe Store
The Cobblery

410 California Ave., Palo Alto; TheCobblery.com; (650) 323-0409

Best Stationery Store
Letter Perfect

384 University Ave., Palo Alto; LetterPerfect.com; (650) 321-3700

Best Women's Apparel
Leaf & Petal

439 S California Ave., Palo Alto; LPetal.com; (650) 329-8070

Services

Best Auto Care
Palo Alto Bimmer

799 Alma St., Palo Alto; Bimmershops.com/california; (650) 325-3818

Best Chiropratic Office
Stanford Chiropractic Center

489 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; StanfordChiropractic.com; (650) 326-7000

Best Community Services Resource
Second Harvest Food Bank

1051 Bing St., San Carlos; Shfb.org; (650) 610-0800

Best Day Spa
Watercourse Way

165 Channing Ave., Palo Alto; WaterCourseway.com; (650) 462-2000

Best Dentist
Dr. Christine Hansen

416 Waverley St., Palo Alto; DentistPaloAlto.com; (650) 326-3290

Best Dry Cleaner
California Avenue Norge Village

240 S California Ave,, Palo Alto; ; (650) 327-3168

Best Gym
Oshman Family JCC

3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto; PaloAltoJCC.org; (650) 223-8700

Best Hair Salon
Hair International

232 Stanford Shopping Center Palo Alto; HairIntl.com; (650) 324-2007

Best Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel

2050 University Ave, East Palo Alto; FourSeasons.com/SiliconValley; (650) 566-1200

Best Manicure/Pedicure
LaBelle Day Spas & Salons

855 El Camino Real Ste. 95 & 33, Palo Alto; LaBelleDaySpas.com; (650) 327-6964

Best Massage
Massage Therapy Center

368 S. California Ave.,Palo Alto; MassageTherapyPaloAlto.com; (650) 328-9400

Best Men's Haircut
LaBelle Day Spas & Salons

855 El Camino Real Ste. 95 & 33, Palo Alto; LaBelleDaySpas.com; (650) 327-6964

Best Orthodontist
Mid-Peninsula Orthodontics / Stacey Quo

965 High St., Palo Alto; Orthoquo.com; (650) 328-1600

Best Personal Trainers
Oshman Family JCC

3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto; PaloAltoJCC.org; (650) 223-8700

Best Plastic Surgeons
Hessler Plastic Surgery

320 Lambert Ave., Palo Alto; HesslerPlasticSurgery.com; (650) 799-9009

Best Plumber
Guy Plumbing & Heating

1265 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; GuyPlumbing.com; (650) 323-8415

Best Shoe Repair
The Cobblery

410 California Ave., Palo Alto; TheCobblery.com; (650) 323-0409

Best Skin Care
Hessler Plastic Surgery

320 Lambert Ave., Palo Alto; HesslerPlasticSurgery.com; (650) 799-9009

Best Veterinarian
Adobe Animal Hospital

4470 El Camino Real, Los Altos; Adobe-Animal.com; (650) 948-9661

Best WiFi Hotspot
Coupa Cafe

538 Ramona St., Palo Alto; CoupaCafe.com; (650) 322-6872