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About Palo Alto Cafe
Palo Alto Cafe is a neighborhood coffee shop at 2675 Middlefield Road in Midtown, the shopping strip that serves the middle of the city. It opened in 1996 and is family-owned. Its website lives at a Palo Alto Roasting Company address, a hint at what sets it apart: the cafe roasts its own coffee beans in house rather than buying from an outside roaster.
The cafe says it set out to serve high-quality coffee with friendly service. It describes its staff as diverse and friendly. It calls the room cozy, bright and friendly, a place to drink coffee and eat, get some work done or catch up with friends. It is a local place first, the sort of cafe people drop into on the way to work or between errands on Middlefield Road.
It opens early, at 6:30 a.m. every day of the week. It closes at 5 p.m.
Coffee and roasting
Roasting in house lets the cafe control freshness and consistency, the two reasons it gives on its about page. Its tagline promises coffee from around the world. The menu lists several origins and blends by name, including Colombia Supreme, Ethiopian Mocha Harrar and Mocha Java, plus an organic Mexican coffee. The menu lists these under a coffee beans heading, so you can take a bag home as well as order a cup.
If you are comparing cafes around the city, our guide to coffee in Palo Alto covers the downtown roasters and chains alongside neighborhood spots like this one.
The food menu
Palo Alto Cafe is more than a coffee counter. Its menu has six sections. The dishes are the kind of everyday food a neighborhood relies on:
- Breakfast: omelets, including a ham and cheese omelet and a veggie omelet.
- Bagels: a veggie bagel and a lox bagel among the choices.
- Fresh juice bar: pressed juices such as a super green juice, plus lemonade.
- Sandwiches: cold choices like a veggie sandwich, a B.L.T. and tuna salad. Hot sandwiches include grilled chicken.
- Smoothies: named blends including Berry Rush, Tropical Passion, Mangana and Power Punch.
The menu does not label dishes as vegetarian or vegan. Several items are meat-free, but the veggie omelet and bagel include egg or cheese. Some smoothies list frozen yogurt. Ask at the counter if you need a dairy-free drink. Menus change over time, so check the website for the current list.
Ordering
The cafe takes breakfast orders by phone. Its website encourages customers to call ahead. It does not mention online ordering or delivery on the pages we read. For most visits you simply order at the counter.
Quick guide to the menu
| If you want | Look for |
|---|---|
| A hot breakfast | The omelets, such as ham and cheese or veggie |
| Something quick to carry | A bagel, including the lox bagel |
| A cold drink without caffeine | The juice bar or a smoothie like Berry Rush |
| Lunch | A cold sandwich or the grilled chicken hot sandwich |
| Coffee to brew at home | Beans roasted in house, such as Mocha Java |
Prices are not posted on the menu pages we read, so ask at the counter.
Who it suits
This is a practical, everyday cafe. It suits Midtown residents who want coffee and an omelet without driving downtown, parents with a few minutes after drop-off and remote workers looking for a bright room close to home. The juice bar and smoothies make it a good stop after a run or a session at the park. It is less of a destination for visitors on a tight schedule, since it sits away from the train and the main sights.
Tips for visiting
- Come early. The cafe opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., so it is a morning and lunch place.
- Call ahead for larger breakfast orders.
- Buy beans to take home if you like what you drink. They are roasted on site.
- Our Midtown guide covers the neighborhood. The Midtown and Edgewood shopping guide lists nearby stores. For dessert later, Rick's Ice Cream is farther south on Middlefield Road.
Location and getting there
Palo Alto Cafe is at 2675 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the Midtown area of Palo Alto. Our Midtown guide covers what else is around.
The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.8 miles away. That is roughly a 19 minute walk or a short bike ride.
Parking: street spaces or a small lot nearby; check posted limits.
Hours
| Monday to Sunday | 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
|---|
Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.
What is nearby
- RockSalt Pilates, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- My Gym Palo Alto, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- School of Rock Palo Alto, school or studio, under 0.1 mi
- Luna Dance Studio, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- The UPS Store Middlefield Road, service business, under 0.1 mi
- Hoover Park, 0.3 mi
- Seale Park, 0.6 mi
- Bowden Park, 0.7 mi
Other cafes and coffee shops nearby: Teaspoon (under 0.1 mi); ZombieRunner Coffee (0.9 mi); Starbucks West Bayshore Road (1.0 mi); UMe Tea (1.0 mi). Browse the full cafes and coffee shops list.
Before you go
- Weekday mornings bring a rush of commuters and students, so expect a line between about 8 and 9:30 a.m.
- Some cafes limit laptop use at busy times or have few outlets. Ask before settling in for a long work session.
- Hours often change with the school calendar and holidays. Check the cafe's site or map listing before a special trip.
About this listing
Checked October 29, 2026 against Palo Alto Cafe website; Palo Alto Cafe menu; Palo Alto Cafe about page. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palo Alto Cafe in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto Cafe is at 2675 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the Midtown area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.8 miles away.
Does Palo Alto Cafe roast its own coffee?
Yes. The cafe says it roasts its coffee beans in house for freshness and consistency. Its menu lists beans such as Colombia Supreme, Ethiopian Mocha Harrar and Mocha Java.
Can I order breakfast ahead at Palo Alto Cafe?
The cafe takes breakfast orders by phone at 650-322-8644. Its website does not mention online ordering, so calling is the way to order ahead.
How long has Palo Alto Cafe been open?
The cafe was founded in 1996 and is family-owned, according to its website. It is at 2675 Middlefield Road in Midtown.
What are Palo Alto Cafe's hours?
Monday to Sunday: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m..