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Outdoor dining is one of the things Palo Alto does well. The mild climate lets restaurants seat diners outside for much of the year. Two streets that closed to cars during the pandemic are now permanently car-free, with tables in the roadway. Downtown has a heated taco parklet, a sports bar named for its patio and a Greek restaurant with a covered terrace. El Camino Real adds garden seating and a patio lounge.
Every restaurant named here was confirmed as operating in October 2026 through its own website or a verified page in our business directory. Patio seating can change with the season and the weather, so ask for an outside table when you book.
The car-free streets
California Avenue
In June 2020, early in the pandemic, the city closed California Avenue to through traffic between El Camino Real and Birch Street so restaurants could serve outside. On November 6, 2023 the City Council directed staff to keep it car-free. On March 10, 2025 the council voted unanimously to make the closure permanent and created a new "community street" classification. Since then the city has added planters, bollards and colored paving. Most restaurants on the stretch now set tables in the roadway under umbrellas or in parklets.
The Sunday California Avenue farmers market fills the same blocks from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round. Many diners combine the two: market in the morning, lunch on the street afterward. Visitors to California Avenue businesses get two hours of free street and garage parking, according to restaurants on the street. Our California Avenue guide has the full story of the street.
Ramona Street
Downtown, the half block of Ramona Street between University and Hamilton avenues is permanently closed to cars. The city made that closure official in March 2025 along with the one on California Avenue. The block works as an outdoor room, with restaurant tables spread across the pavement among the street's Spanish Colonial Revival buildings. Our downtown guide covers the surrounding streets.
Places to try on California Avenue
- Terún, 448 S. California Ave. Neapolitan pizza with a patio, a veranda and The Terrace, a covered patio that seats up to 49.
- La Bodeguita del Medio, 463 S. California Ave. A Cuban-inspired restaurant and rum bar. Its website invites diners to relax outdoors on California Avenue. A back patio is part of its private event spaces.
- Lotus Thai Bistro, 425 S. California Ave. A family-run Thai restaurant offering indoor dining, outdoor dining and takeout. Closed Sunday.
- Zareen's, 365 S. California Ave. Halal Pakistani and Indian food with patio seating on the car-free street and hours until nearly midnight.
Places to try downtown
- NOLA, 535 Ramona St. A two-story New Orleans-themed restaurant and bar on the car-free block, with a patio and a balcony level. Seating is first come, first served, except for large groups in its private spaces. It is closed Monday and serves weekend brunch.
- Tacolicious, 632 Emerson St. A covered, heated parklet and sidewalk tables, plus a full dining room and bar. It takes walk-ins and reservations.
- The Patio, 412 Emerson St. A restaurant and sports bar named for its large outdoor seating area. No reservations.
- Evvia, 420 Emerson St. A covered patio that seats up to 40 for dinner, quieter than tables near the open kitchen.
- Ettan, 518 Bryant St. A courtyard patio at an upscale Cal-Indian restaurant. Ask for it on a warm evening.
Places to try along El Camino Real
- Howie's Artisan Pizza, Town & Country Village. A heated patio with about 30 seats, plus common seating on either side. No reservations.
- Yutori, 3375 El Camino Real. A Japanese cafe, market and dinner restaurant with a shaded garden patio out back.
- INDO Restaurant & Lounge, 3295 El Camino Real. An Indonesian restaurant with a bar, lounge and patio used for drinks and happy hour.
Heaters, shade and the weather
Palo Alto's weather is mild, but outdoor diners still need a plan. Summer days are warm and dry, while evenings cool off quickly once the sun drops. Most rain falls between November and March. Our weather guide has the month-by-month picture.
| Season | What to expect outside | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Pleasant afternoons, some showers | Book a lunch table outside |
| Summer | Warm, sunny days and cool nights | Ask for shade at lunch, bring a layer at dinner |
| Fall | September is the warmest month on average | A comfortable time for patio dinners |
| Winter | Mild days, cold evenings, rain storms | Choose a covered or heated spot |
Covered or heated seating listed by the restaurants themselves includes Tacolicious's heated parklet, Howie's heated patio, Terún's covered Terrace and Evvia's covered patio. Heaters are not guaranteed to be running, so ask when you book on a cold night.
Dogs on patios
California's retail food code lets restaurants decide whether to allow dogs in outdoor dining areas, with conditions such as keeping the dog leashed and off seats and tables. Whether a dog is welcome is the restaurant's call, not yours. A few places state a policy on their own sites. Fambrini's Cafe on El Camino Real near California Avenue describes its garden seating as dog friendly. Gott's Roadside at Town & Country Village welcomes leashed pets on its patio. Most restaurants post nothing, so ask the host before you sit down.
Palo Alto requires dogs to be leashed on public streets, sidewalks and other public places, which covers the car-free blocks. Keep water handy on warm days and choose a table at the edge of the seating area where your dog will not block servers. Our dog parks guide covers leash rules and places where dogs can run.
Outdoor tables with children
The car-free blocks are some of the easiest places in town to eat with young children. There is room for a stroller, no traffic passes the tables and a restless child can take a short walk without disturbing a dining room. Howie's patio at Town & Country Village and Tacolicious's parklet downtown are both at restaurants with menus that work for families. Our kid-friendly restaurants guide lists kids' menus and ice cream stops.
Booking and practical tips
- Ask for outside when you book. Online systems do not always let you choose. Add a note or call.
- Go early on warm weekends. The Patio, Howie's and NOLA do not take regular reservations, so outdoor tables go to whoever arrives first.
- Plan around Sunday mornings on Cal Ave. Market stalls take over the street until 1 p.m.
- Bring sun protection at lunch. Umbrellas do not cover every table.
- Check accessibility. Parklets sit on platforms and some patios have steps. Howie's notes accessible spaces on both sides of its patio. See accessible travel.
Nearby in Menlo Park and Mountain View
Menlo Park's Santa Cruz Avenue has wide sidewalks and outdoor seating along several blocks of cafes and restaurants. In Mountain View, many restaurants on Castro Street have sidewalk seating within a few minutes of the train station. See our Menlo Park and Mountain View guides for parking and transit.
Good to know
- The California Avenue Caltrain station is a short walk from the car-free blocks.
- Some business owners on Cal Ave say the closure hides them from drive-by traffic, so storefronts change. Check before a special trip.
- Bring a jacket for dinner outside in any month.
- For drinks outside, see our bars and wine guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is California Avenue in Palo Alto still closed to cars?
Yes. The stretch from El Camino Real to Birch Street closed to through traffic in June 2020 so restaurants could serve outside. The City Council voted unanimously on March 10, 2025 to make the closure permanent. Restaurants set tables in the roadway under umbrellas and in parklets.
Which part of Ramona Street is car-free?
The half block of Ramona Street between University and Hamilton avenues downtown is permanently closed to cars. The city made that closure official in March 2025 along with California Avenue. NOLA at 535 Ramona Street has a patio on that block.
Can I bring my dog to a restaurant patio in Palo Alto?
Only where the restaurant allows it. California's food code lets restaurants choose whether to allow dogs in outdoor dining areas. Two places say so on their own sites. Fambrini's Cafe on El Camino Real near California Avenue calls its garden seating dog friendly. Gott's Roadside at Town & Country Village welcomes leashed pets on its patio. Elsewhere, ask before you sit down and keep your dog leashed and off the furniture.
Which Palo Alto restaurants have heated outdoor seating?
Tacolicious on Emerson Street has a covered, heated parklet. Howie's Artisan Pizza at Town & Country Village has a heated patio with about 30 seats. Terún on California Avenue has a covered patio called The Terrace. Check with each restaurant on cold or wet nights.
Can you eat outside in Palo Alto in winter?
Often, on dry days. Winter afternoons are mild, but evenings turn cool and most rain falls between November and March. Covered or heated seating makes winter dinners outside more comfortable. Bring a layer even in summer.