Luxury brands at Stanford Shopping Center

Palo Alto has fewer than 70,000 residents, yet the lineup of luxury houses at Stanford Shopping Center would fit a much bigger city. The center sits on university land at El Camino Real and Sand Hill Road. Its open-air walkways put French leather goods, Italian cashmere and Swiss watches within a few minutes' walk of each other, with two department stores that carry designer collections of their own.

This guide lists the luxury boutiques that have verified listings in our directory and groups them by where they sit in the center. Each has a neutral description and a link to its listing for hours and contacts. We do not rank brands or discuss prices. The center's own directory has a few more designer names. For its history, dining and general layout, start with our Stanford Shopping Center guide.

Finding your way

The luxury stores fall into a few clusters. Several sit near Neiman Marcus and The Plaza, the area between Neiman Marcus and Macy's. A long line runs along the Garden Walk, the planted promenade through the middle of the center. A few more are near the Center Pavilion. Cartier and Loro Piana are close to Apple. The nearest parking for the first two clusters is in the two garages on Quarry Road and the lots off Arboretum Road.

The luxury department stores

• Neiman Marcus: a luxury department store, at the center since August 1985, with personal shopping, a salon, alterations and NM Cafe upstairs.
• Bloomingdale's: a three-level store with fashion, beauty and home, plus stylists, tailoring and spa services.

Both carry designer labels across several floors. They are useful when you want to compare many brands in one place or need alterations done in the same building.

Near Neiman Marcus and The Plaza

• Hermès: the French house's Palo Alto boutique, with leather goods, silk, ready-to-wear, home, fragrance and Apple Watch Hermès products.
• Rolex Boutique Palo Alto: an Official Rolex Jeweler presented by Shreve & Co., on The Plaza between Neiman Marcus and Macy's.
• Cartier: jewelry, watches, bridal, leather goods and fragrance, near Apple, with the brand's Care Service and watchmaking.
• Loro Piana: the Italian house's cashmere and fine-fabric clothing, between Brunello Cucinelli and Apple, with private appointments.

Hermès is closed on Sundays, unlike most of its neighbors. Its store page offers online appointment booking but says an appointment is not required. Cartier's closest entrance is Orchard Lane off Arboretum Road, near the two-level garage.

Along the Garden Walk

• Louis Vuitton: the French fashion house's boutique, with leather goods and fashion, near Frette and Sephora.
• Brunello Cucinelli: the Italian house's cashmere and men's and women's collections, with appointments.
• ZEGNA: the Italian house's ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories, across from Macy's, with Su Misura made to measure.
• Max Mara: the Italian house's main-line boutique with coats, suits, dresses and eyewear for women.
• Vince: women's and men's clothing, with an on-site tailor, same-day alterations and private appointments.
• Tory Burch: the designer's handbags, shoes and ready-to-wear, with personal styling and a gift concierge.
• David Yurman: the New York jeweler's bracelets, rings, necklaces and men's jewelry, across from lululemon.
• Breitling: the Swiss brand's watches and straps, next to L'Occitane en Provence and across from Alo.
• Frette: luxury bed linens, towels, robes, throws and home accessories.

The Garden Walk is the center's main promenade, so these stores see the most foot traffic. Brunello Cucinelli's closest entrance is Plum Lane off Sand Hill Road. ZEGNA's is Sand Hill Road at Clarion Court, near Sigona's. Max Mara and Vince both sit near Aritzia and Gleim the Jeweler. Note that Weekend Max Mara is a separate store elsewhere in the center.

Near the Center Pavilion and Sand Hill Road

• Tiffany & Co.: the New York jeweler's rings, necklaces and gifts, with engraving, repairs and ring consultations.
• Panerai Boutique Palo Alto: the brand's watches, with strap changes, cleaning and pickup, next to Tiffany.
• Hästens: the Swedish maker's handcrafted beds, with private guided bed tests by appointment, along Sand Hill Road.

Hästens' bed tests, which it calls Sleep Spa Sessions, run 60 to 90 minutes. Book ahead and allow the time.

Multi-brand and Italian clothiers

• Wilkes Bashford: the Bay Area luxury clothier's flagship of about 25,000 square feet, with designer fashion and in-house alterations.
• Peserico: the family-owned Italian fashion house, founded in 1962, selling tailored clothing and knitwear for women and men.

Wilkes Bashford was founded in San Francisco in 1966 and has been owned by Mitchell Stores since 2009. Its Palo Alto flagship opened in November 2024. Because it carries many designers under one roof, it works like a smaller, more personal department store. For watches and fine jewelry in more depth, see our jewelry and watches guide.

How luxury came to the center

Stanford Shopping Center opened in 1955 and 1956 with two San Francisco names as anchors, The Emporium and I. Magnin. I. Magnin was an upscale specialty store. Saks Fifth Avenue arrived in 1962 and stayed until 1994. Nordstrom opened in November 1984 and Neiman Marcus followed in August 1985. The Emporium became Bloomingdale's in 1996 and a new three-level Bloomingdale's opened in 2014. Since then the single-brand boutiques have filled in around them, most recently Wilkes Bashford's flagship in 2024. The university still owns the land under every store. Our visiting Stanford guide covers the campus across the road.

Services worth knowing about

Luxury boutiques compete on service as much as product. These are services the stores themselves list:

• Made to measure. ZEGNA offers Su Misura. Brunello Cucinelli lists its Sartoria Solomeo service.
• Alterations. Wilkes Bashford has in-house alterations. Vince has an on-site tailor with same-day alterations. Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's both alter clothing.
• Appointments. Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, ZEGNA, Vince, Rolex, Breitling and Panerai list appointments.
• Gifting. Tory Burch lists a gift concierge with gift wrapping and shipping.
• Care and repair. Cartier, Tiffany and Panerai list care or repair services for their pieces.

Planning a visit

Weekday mornings are the calmest time at the center. If you have specific pieces in mind, book appointments at two or three boutiques in the same afternoon and park once in a Quarry Road garage. Stop for lunch at one of the center's restaurants between visits. If you are making a weekend of it, our guide to luxury hotels compares the high-end stays nearby, including Rosewood Sand Hill a short drive up Sand Hill Road. You can also compare hotels near Stanford Shopping Center for your dates. For dinner afterward, see our fine dining guide.

Frequently asked questions