Driftwood Deli and Market

About Driftwood Deli and Market

Driftwood Deli and Market is a family deli with a small grocery attached, at 3450 El Camino Real in Palo Alto. The business calls itself "an old style deli" for Palo Alto, Stanford, Mountain View, Menlo Park and nearby cities. Its website uses a few versions of the name, including Driftwood Sandwiches and Deli Market, but locals know it simply as Driftwood.

The owner, who is not named on the site, writes that he worked as an engineer before running the deli. His short note on the website says that the best part of the job is the people: getting to know regular customers and watching neighborhood kids grow up. The deli does not publish a founding date, so treat it as a long-running local spot rather than a new arrival.

Sandwiches and the menu

Sandwiches are the main event. Driftwood builds each one to order and says it is happy to take highly customized requests. Its website names a handful of house favorites:

• California Club: turkey, bacon, avocado, mayo, lettuce and tomato, with Dutch Crunch bread offered as a choice
• Vegetarian Delight House Special: avocado, artichoke, sprouts and cucumber
• Turkey and pesto: turkey with pesto, avocado, artichoke hearts and cheese on sourdough
• Pastrami sandwiches

The deli also mentions soup and salad. Menus change, so check the current sandwich menu on the website before you order for a group. Dutch Crunch, the crackly topped roll that is a Bay Area deli staple, is worth trying if you have not had it.

Espresso bar and ice cream

Driftwood is more than a sandwich counter. Its espresso bar uses a high-end Italian espresso machine and beans from San Francisco coffee specialists. The deli lists cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos, macchiatos and ristretto shots, each made to order with freshly ground espresso.

There is also an ice cream counter with about 10 flavors in a cup or cone, plus milkshakes. The deli will pour espresso over ice cream if you ask, an easy affogato for an afternoon break. For more coffee options around town, see our Palo Alto coffee guide.

The market side

The "market" in the name is a traditional neighborhood store. Driftwood describes it as small and old-style, stocked with everyday essentials and the things you forget until you need them. Shelves hold beer, wine and soft drinks along with sauces, olives, pickles, mustards, organic teas and a large range of chips.

This is not a full grocery store. Think of it as the place to grab a bottle of wine, a jar of pickles or a bag of chips to go with your sandwich. For a weekly shop, the big supermarkets in our groceries guide are a better fit.

Ordering ahead and catering

Driftwood takes pickup orders online through the Order for Pickup link on its website. A separate to-go register handles those orders. The deli says pickup sandwiches are typically ready in 15 minutes. That makes it a practical lunch stop on a workday.

The deli has a full catering menu built around sandwiches. It asks for 2 days' notice for medium orders of about 80 to 100 sandwiches and 5 days' notice for large orders of up to 500. Larger orders can be delivered with 24 hours' advance notice. The website lists the minimum order for delivery.

Who it suits and tips

The deli describes its space as cozy, with indoor tables, a patio and seats at the espresso bar. It says the room works for families with kids and for medium-size groups. That makes it a good fit for a casual lunch, a team order or an after-school ice cream.

• Order ahead at lunchtime on weekdays to skip the line.
• The website lists hours for Monday through Saturday only. Call before a Sunday visit.
• Give the catering team plenty of notice for big orders, especially around graduation and holiday parties.
• Vegetarians have at least one named house sandwich. The deli will also customize others.

Driftwood sits on El Camino Real in the Barron Park area, about 0.8 miles from the California Avenue Caltrain station. Our Barron Park guide covers the neighborhood around it.

Location and getting there

Driftwood Deli and Market is at 3450 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, in the Barron Park area of Palo Alto. Our Barron Park 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 20 minute walk or a short bike ride.

Parking: street spaces or a small lot nearby; check posted limits.

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Opus 1 Music Studio, school or studio, under 0.1 mi
• Yutori, cafe, under 0.1 mi
• Tie Mu Zhen, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Building Kidz of Palo Alto, Lambert Avenue, service business, 0.2 mi
• INDO Restaurant & Lounge, restaurant, 0.2 mi
• Boulware Park, 0.1 mi
• Bol Park and its bike path, 0.6 mi
• Robles Park, 0.7 mi

Other groceries and food shops nearby: Ernie's Liquors (0.3 mi); Grocery Outlet (0.6 mi); Vin Vino Wine (0.7 mi); Country Sun (0.7 mi). Browse the full groceries and food shops list.

Before you go

• California charges for paper bags at checkout, so bring a reusable bag.
• Weekend late mornings are the busiest time at most Palo Alto grocers. Early mornings and weekday evenings are calmer.
• Specialty items and prepared foods change often. Call ahead if you need something specific.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Driftwood official website; About Driftwood; The deli and market. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions