Shopping in Palo Alto

Palo Alto shops the way it eats. It is a small city with big purchasing power, so a short drive covers everything from Hermès and Cartier to a family grocery that has made its own sausages for decades. Shopping here is spread across a handful of districts rather than one main street. Each has a different personality and a different parking situation, which matters more than you might expect.

This hub explains where those districts are, what Palo Alto does well and the practical details on parking, sales tax and bags. Every store we name across this section was confirmed as operating in 2026 through its own website, its shopping center's directory or recent local news. Stores open and close often, so check before you make a special trip.

The shopping districts at a glance

Almost every store in town sits in one of six areas. Knowing which one fits your errand saves a lot of driving back and forth along El Camino Real.

Stanford Shopping Center

The big one. Stanford Shopping Center opened its first store in 1955 on land the university still owns. It remains an open-air mall with walkways, gardens and fountains instead of an enclosed concourse. Four department stores anchor it: Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Around them are more than 140 shops and restaurants. Our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers the history, the store mix, dining and parking.

Town & Country Village

Town & Country opened in 1953, two years before the Stanford center. It still feels like the older sibling. Low buildings with tile roofs and heavy wood beams sit among mature oaks across El Camino Real from Palo Alto High School. The shops lean toward apparel boutiques, home goods and stationery, with Books Inc. and Trader Joe's as the two names most locals visit weekly. Read the full Town & Country Village guide.

Downtown and University Avenue

Downtown is where shopping and dining blend together. University Avenue runs from the Caltrain station toward Middlefield Road and the side streets of Emerson, Ramona, Bryant and Hamilton hold much of the character. Apple has a flagship store at 340 University Avenue. Bell's Books on Emerson Street has sold new, used and rare books since 1935. See shopping University Avenue for a street by street breakdown.

California Avenue, Midtown and Edgewood

The south side of the city shops for daily life. California Avenue has Mollie Stone's, Country Sun Natural Foods and a car-free promenade. Midtown along Middlefield Road has Safeway, pharmacies and services. Farther south, the Charleston Shopping Center holds Piazza's Fine Foods. Edgewood Plaza in the north is the only shopping center Joseph Eichler ever built. Our Midtown and Edgewood Plaza guide ties these together.

What Palo Alto is good for

Some categories are unusually strong here and worth planning around. Others are thin and you will do better in San Jose or San Francisco.

• Luxury and designer goods. Stanford Shopping Center carries a lineup you would normally expect in a much bigger city, from Hermès, Louis Vuitton and CHANEL to Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli.
• Home furnishings. RH, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Arhaus and Williams-Sonoma are at Stanford. Serena & Lily, Hudson Grace and Sur La Table are at Town & Country.
• Books. Bell's Books, Books Inc., the Stanford Bookstore and Kepler's just over the line in Menlo Park make a strong set for a city this size. See bookstores.
• Bikes. The city is flat and bike friendly, so the shops are serious. Palo Alto Bicycles has been on University Avenue since 1930. See bike shops and outdoor gear.
• Specialty food. Family grocers, two year-round farmers markets and a strong natural foods tradition. See groceries and specialty food.
• Stanford gear. Sweatshirts, caps and mugs from the Stanford Bookstore are the souvenir most visitors take home. See gifts and Stanford souvenirs.

Discount and outlet shopping is the weak spot. There is no outlet mall in town and no big box cluster. For those, locals drive to San Jose or to the larger centers in Mountain View and Sunnyvale.

How to plan a shopping day

The two big centers sit about a mile apart on El Camino Real. Downtown is a short walk from Stanford Shopping Center. That makes an easy loop on foot or by car.

1. Morning at Town & Country. Start with coffee and a pastry, browse the boutiques and pick up anything perishable last.
2. Midday at Stanford Shopping Center. Park once and walk the open-air center. Lunch at one of its 14 or so restaurants.
3. Late afternoon downtown. Walk or drive to University Avenue, browse Bell's Books and the side streets, then stay for dinner. Our food and drink guide has ideas.

On a weekend, flip the order and start downtown at the Saturday farmers market on Gilman Street, which runs from 8 a.m. to noon year-round.

Parking in general terms

Parking rules differ by district and they change from time to time.

• Shopping centers. Stanford Shopping Center and Town & Country Village both have large surface lots of their own. They fill on weekend afternoons and in December, so arrive before noon when you can.
• Downtown. The city runs public garages and lots. Short visits are generally free with posted time limits and longer stays need a permit. Check the City of Palo Alto parking page before you go.
• California Avenue. City lots sit behind the shops on both sides. On Sunday mornings during the farmers market they fill early.
• Midtown and Charleston. Surface lots beside the stores make these the easiest places to park in the city.

Caltrain is a realistic alternative. The Palo Alto station sits at the foot of University Avenue and the California Avenue station is steps from Cal Ave. Stanford Shopping Center is roughly a 15 minute walk from the Palo Alto station. Our getting around guide covers the train, buses and the free Marguerite shuttle.

Sales tax, bags and returns

Price tags in the United States do not include sales tax. It is added at the register. Palo Alto's combined rate is 9.75 percent, effective October 1, 2026, which is on the high side even for California. Rates are set by the state, the county and voter measures, so check the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration for the exact current rate.

Most grocery food is exempt from sales tax in California. Hot prepared food, restaurant meals, alcohol, clothing and electronics are taxed. International visitors should know there is no VAT style refund at the airport. What you pay at the register is final.

California bans single-use plastic checkout bags and stores charge for the paper bags they offer instead. Bring a tote, especially to grocery stores and the farmers markets.

Return policies are set by each store. Department stores and chains are generally generous. Small independents may offer store credit only, so ask before you buy a gift.

Opening hours and seasons

Regular hours at Stanford Shopping Center are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Individual stores and restaurants set their own hours within that and the center extends them in the holiday season. Town & Country tenants each keep their own schedule. Grocery stores open early and close late. Whole Foods on Emerson Street, for example, posts hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The calendar shapes the crowds. Late November through December is peak season at both big centers. Stanford move-in week in September fills the bookstore and the home goods stores. Commencement in June brings families looking for Stanford gear. Summer weekends are relatively quiet because many residents travel.

Staying close to the shops

Several hotels sit along El Camino Real within walking distance of both Stanford Shopping Center and Town & Country. The Sheraton, the Westin and The Clement are clustered near University Avenue. Our where to stay guide compares the areas. You can also compare hotels near Stanford Shopping Center if you plan a shopping weekend. If you arrive by train with luggage and want to shop before check-in, luggage storage can hold your bags for a few hours.

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