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Palo Alto is one of the easiest places on the Peninsula to eat without a car, because two of its stations open straight onto restaurant districts. The Palo Alto station at the foot of University Avenue leads into downtown. The California Avenue station sits at the end of the city's second main street. A third station, San Antonio, lies just over the line in Mountain View and serves south Palo Alto.
This guide groups places by station and by walking time. Every business linked here appears in our business directory, which lists hours and booking methods as each place published them in October 2026. Hours vary, so check before you plan around a train. For schedules and fares, see our guide to riding Caltrain.
The three stations at a glance
| Station | Food within 5 minutes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto (University Avenue) | A dozen or more places | The most choice, early coffee, dinner before a late train |
| California Avenue | Several on the first block | A calmer lunch, patio tables, the Sunday market |
| San Antonio | Mountain View's San Antonio Center | Palo Alto's south El Camino strip, 15 to 20 minutes on foot |
All three stations are in Caltrain fare zone 3. Stanford Stadium station is a special-event stop and will not open for 2026 football games, so it is left out here.
Palo Alto station: University Avenue
The Palo Alto station at 95 University Avenue is the busiest stop in the city. Walk out the east side, past the bus plaza and you are on the first block of University Avenue. Our Palo Alto station guide covers the platforms, bike parking and bus connections.
Within two or three minutes
- MacArthur Park: barbecue and California comfort food in a 1918 Julia Morgan landmark right beside the tracks.
- Coupa Cafe on Lytton Avenue: espresso and arepas across from the station, opening at 6 a.m. Monday to Saturday as listed.
- Arya Steakhouse: a Persian steakhouse with an all-halal menu and continuous hours from 11:30 a.m. daily.
- Sweet Maple: a San Francisco brunch brand serving breakfast until 2:30 p.m. daily.
- Onigilly: Japanese rice balls, bowls and bento that travel well on a train.
- Verve Coffee Roasters: the Santa Cruz roaster's downtown cafe at 162 University Avenue.
Five to ten minutes
- Philz Coffee: custom drip coffee at 101 Forest Avenue near Alma Street, opening at 4:30 a.m. on weekdays.
- Evvia Estiatorio: a long-running Greek restaurant on Emerson Street with a wood-fired grill and online reservations.
Past Emerson Street the full downtown opens up, with Ramona and Bryant streets close behind. Our downtown guide explains the blocks.
California Avenue station
The California Avenue station at 101 California Avenue sits where the street meets Park Boulevard. Walk west from the platform and you are on the first block. The car-free stretch of California Avenue begins a few minutes on and runs to El Camino Real, with tables set out in the roadway. Our California Avenue station guide covers the platforms and shuttles.
On the first block
- The Farm: an all-day cafe on Park Boulevard by the station, with organic coffee, brunch and New York-style pizza.
- Imperial Treasure: a Chinese restaurant with a roast Peking duck dinner that must be booked ahead.
- Rara: a Nepalese restaurant for momo and dal bhat, with OpenTable booking.
- Vitality Bowls: acai bowls and smoothies, opening at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays.
Five to eight minutes, on the car-free blocks
- Protégé: Palo Alto's Michelin-starred New American restaurant, booked only through Tock 30 days ahead.
- Bar Underdog: a cocktail bar from the Protégé team that takes no reservations.
- ZombieRunner Coffee: a coffee shop that grew out of a trail running store.
- Zareen's: halal Pakistani and Indian food, open until nearly midnight with take-out only after 11 p.m.
On Sunday mornings the California Avenue Farmers Market fills the street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round. Our California Avenue guide has the full picture.
San Antonio station
San Antonio station, at 190 Showers Drive in Mountain View, sits beside San Antonio Center, a large shopping district with its own restaurants. Our San Antonio station guide and Mountain View food guide cover that side. For Palo Alto riders, the closest Palo Alto restaurants are on the 4200 block of El Camino Real, about 0.7 to 0.9 mile from the platform. That is a walk of 15 to 20 minutes.
- Dinah's Poolside Restaurant: the all-day restaurant at Dinah's Garden Hotel, with breakfast, lunch and dinner beside the pool.
- Hobee's Restaurant: the Palo Alto branch of a Bay Area breakfast and lunch chain dating to 1974; closed Mondays.
- Kitchen at Palo Alto: the restaurant and bar inside the Hilton Garden Inn, with OpenTable booking.
- The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse: a dinner-only seafood and steak house that books through SevenRooms.
Eating between trains
If you have 20 minutes, stay on the first block of University Avenue or Park Boulevard. Counters such as Onigilly and Vitality Bowls, plus the coffee shops, can turn an order around quickly. If you have an hour, walk into downtown or onto the car-free blocks of California Avenue for a sit-down meal. Allow time to walk back, buy a ticket and reach the right platform. Our Caltrain guide explains Clipper cards and other ticket options.
Parking and timing
Station lots are meant for Caltrain riders and are paid through ParkMobile. The Palo Alto station lists 389 spaces, California Avenue 185 and San Antonio 199, shared with housing. If you are driving in just to eat, use city parking instead.
- Downtown: street spaces and surface lots are free for two hours. City garages are free for three hours outside permit areas.
- California Avenue: the main city garage is at 350 Sherman Avenue, a block from the street.
- El Camino Real: this stretch is built for cars, with off-street lots at the hotels and strip centers. Read the posted signs before you leave the car.
Our parking guide lists permit zones and garages.
Good to know
- Many downtown and Cal Ave kitchens close between lunch and dinner, roughly 2 to 5 p.m. A 3 p.m. arrival may find only cafes and counters open.
- Express trains stop at Palo Alto but pass through California Avenue and San Antonio. Check the timetable before planning a meal around a train.
- Protégé, Evvia and Imperial Treasure take reservations. Bar Underdog takes none.
- Hours vary by season and holiday. Our directory shows hours as published in October 2026.
Tips for riders
- Eat near the Palo Alto station for a late train. It has the most places open after 9 p.m., including late counters a few blocks up University Avenue. Our late-night food guide lists them.
- Order ahead. Coupa, Verve, Philz and several counters take online or app orders, so you can collect on the way to the platform.
- Carry a bag? If you are between check-out and a later train, you can store your luggage near downtown and walk to lunch hands-free.
- Sunday trip. Ride to California Avenue for the farmers market, then eat on the car-free blocks.
Frequently asked questions
What restaurants are near the Palo Alto Caltrain station?
MacArthur Park sits beside the station in a 1918 Julia Morgan building. Coupa Cafe on Lytton Avenue faces the station. The first block of University Avenue has Arya Steakhouse, Sweet Maple, Onigilly and Pho Ha Noi. The rest of downtown is within a ten minute walk.
Where can I get coffee before an early Caltrain from Palo Alto?
Philz Coffee at 101 Forest Avenue near Alma Street lists a 4:30 a.m. opening on weekdays. The Starbucks at University Avenue and High Street opens at 5 a.m. daily. Coupa Cafe on Lytton Avenue opens at 6 a.m. Monday to Saturday.
Is there food near the California Avenue Caltrain station?
Yes. The station sits at the end of California Avenue. The Farm cafe is on Park Boulevard next to the station and Imperial Treasure, Rara and Vitality Bowls are on the first block. The car-free part of California Avenue starts a short walk away.
What can I eat near the San Antonio Caltrain station?
The station is in Mountain View next to San Antonio Center, which has its own restaurants. On the Palo Alto side, the 4200 block of El Camino Real is about 0.7 to 0.9 mile away and has Dinah's Poolside Restaurant, Hobee's, Kitchen at Palo Alto and The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse.
Can I park at the Caltrain station and eat downtown?
Station lots are for Caltrain riders and are paid through ParkMobile. For a meal, use downtown street parking, which is free for two hours, or a city garage, which is free for three hours outside permit areas.