Kids and toys: shopping in Palo Alto

Shopping for children in Palo Alto takes a little planning. The city has lost several toy shops over the years and our directory has no dedicated independent toy store inside city limits today. What it does have is plenty of the pieces: a department store with two floors of toy sections, a bookstore that stocks games and toys, a tabletop game store with a huge play library, several children's clothing brands and more bike shops than most cities this size.

This guide groups those stores by area so you can plan one trip instead of three. Each store named here has a verified listing in our directory with hours and contacts, except Cheeky Monkey Toys in Menlo Park, which we confirmed on its own website. For things to do with children once the shopping is done, see our guide to Palo Alto with kids.

Stanford Shopping Center: clothing, shoes and toys

The open-air center is the most efficient stop for clothing and the closest thing to a toy department in town.

• Macy's: a three-floor department store with kids' clothing and shoes, toy sections on two floors and a family restroom on Floor 3.
• Nordstrom: a department store with a kids' department and a shoe department that runs a kids' shoe-tying class once a month.
• Janie and Jack: the San Francisco-founded brand's dressy children's clothing, from baby sizes to kids.
• Gap: a store carrying GapKids and babyGap alongside adult clothing, with in-store pickup and returns.
• J.Crew: women's and men's clothing plus crewcuts for kids.
• Crate & Barrel: a home store whose Crate & Barrel Kids collection covers baby and kids' furniture, nursery items and toys.

Macy's is the practical choice when one trip has to cover a birthday toy, a pair of school shoes and something for the adults. Janie and Jack suits holiday outfits and special occasions. For nursery furniture, Crate & Barrel's kids' collection is a few minutes' walk from Pottery Barn, whose directory listing notes that Pottery Barn Kids has its own store at the center.

Getting around the center with children

The center lists family restrooms in the corridor between Max Mara and David Yurman and on the second floor of the building with Alo and Vuori. Walkways are outdoors and flat, which is easy with a stroller, but bring a layer on cool days. Parking surrounds the stores, with two garages on Quarry Road. Our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers food stops that work for families.

Town & Country Village: books, toys and activewear

• Books Inc.: a bookstore selling books of all sorts plus gifts, games and toys, with a busy event schedule.
• Faherty: the family-run brand's beach-inspired clothing for men, women and kids.
• Athleta: women's and girls' activewear, with in-store pickup and free returns and exchanges.

Books Inc. is the anchor for families. Its children's books, games and toys make it the closest thing to a toy shop on this side of town. It also keeps a busy event schedule, so check what is on before you visit. The center's lunch counters and ice cream shop make it easy to turn an errand into an outing. Our bookstores guide covers children's sections across the city.

Downtown: plush, blind boxes and shoes

• Miniso: a lifestyle and variety store on University Avenue with plush toys, blind boxes, stationery and character collaborations.
• KEEN Garage: KEEN's own store, selling hiking, casual and kids' footwear with fittings.

Miniso appeals to older kids and teens who collect characters and blind boxes. KEEN's in-store fittings help with growing feet. Both are a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station.

California Avenue: games and bikes

• Gamelandia: a tabletop game store with an open play library of more than 600 games, trading card events, kids programs and party rooms.
• The Bike Connection: a bike shop on El Camino Real that sells children's bikes sized from balance bikes up to 24-inch wheels, with repairs and rentals.
• Summit Bicycles: a California Avenue bike shop whose range includes kids' bikes, with repairs and trade-ins.

Gamelandia is more than a store. The open play library lets families try games before buying. Its card game events cover Magic, Pokemon, Lorcana and One Piece. It also rents two party rooms, which makes it a rainy-day birthday option. See our birthday party ideas for other venues.

South Palo Alto: more bikes

• Mike's Bikes: the south Palo Alto store of the Mike's Bikes chain, selling road, mountain, kids and electric bikes, with a service department open daily.

Palo Alto is flat and has a network of bike boulevards, which makes cycling practical for children. Bring the child to the shop so staff can check the fit. Ask about a helmet at the same time, since California law requires riders under 18 to wear one. Our guide to bike boulevards shows the calm routes. Our bike shops guide compares the shops in more detail.

The nearest dedicated toy store

For a classic toy shop, families drive a few minutes north or south. Cheeky Monkey Toys opened in downtown Menlo Park in 1999. Its store is at 640 Santa Cruz Avenue, about a block from El Camino Real. In 2022 it added a second store at 173 Main Street in Los Altos by buying Adventure Toys & Teaching Supplies. The shop sells toys for newborns through adults, including baby and toddler toys, arts and crafts, games, puzzles, LEGO and science kits. Its website advertises free gift wrap on most items. Hours are on its store locations page. Pair a visit with our guides to Santa Cruz Avenue or downtown Los Altos.

Gift ideas by age

If you are shopping for a child you do not know well, these store pairings are a reasonable place to start.

Planning a kids' shopping trip

1. Make a list by category. Clothing and shoes point to Stanford Shopping Center. Books and small toys point to Town & Country. Games and bikes point to California Avenue.
2. Combine with a treat. Both shopping centers have ice cream and dessert shops, which helps with tired legs.
3. Time it around school. Town & Country sits across from Palo Alto High School, so traffic picks up around the start and end of the school day.
4. Save receipts. Children's sizes change fast. Keep tags on and receipts handy for exchanges.

On a rainy afternoon, Gamelandia's play library or a stop at Books Inc. can fill the time. Our rainy day ideas list more indoor options.

Frequently asked questions