Shopping University Avenue and downtown

Downtown Palo Alto is the city's oldest shopping district and still its most walkable. University Avenue runs from the Caltrain station toward Middlefield Road. The parallel and cross streets around it hold shops, cafes, bookstores, banks and some of the best restaurants in town. Nothing here is a mall. You park once, walk a loop of a few blocks and mix errands with lunch.

The trade-off is turnover. Rents are high. National brands and tech showrooms come and go. Small shops that cannot cover the rent move to cheaper streets or close. This guide focuses on how the district works and on long-running stores we confirmed are open in 2026. For the sights, history and architecture, see our downtown neighborhood guide.

How the shopping streets fit together

Think of downtown as a short spine with ribs. University Avenue is the spine. The cross streets, in order from the station, are High, Emerson, Ramona, Bryant, Waverley, Kipling, Cowper, Tasso and Webster. Lytton Avenue runs parallel one block north and Hamilton Avenue one block south. Most shops sit between High Street and Webster Street, a walk of about 15 minutes end to end.

University Avenue itself

The avenue has been Palo Alto's main street since the 1890s, when it was a dirt road lined with a handful of wooden storefronts serving the new university. Today the ground floors hold a rotating mix of clothing and shoe stores, beauty brands, eyewear, banks, phone stores and car and gadget showrooms. Upper floors are mostly offices, many of them startups.

The anchor most visitors notice is Apple at 340 University Avenue. The glass-fronted store opened in 2012 and is one of the company's best known shops, partly because Apple's headquarters is a short drive away in Cupertino. It posts hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., longer than most of its neighbors. Book a Genius Bar appointment online if you need a repair.

At the station end, Palo Alto Bicycles at 171 University Avenue has been in business since 1930 and is still run by the founding family. It sells bikes, e-bikes, apparel and gear and runs a repair shop. Its separate E-Bike Annex is around the corner at 365 Alma Street. Our bike shops guide compares it with the city's other shops.

Between those two you will find cafes on almost every block. Philz Coffee is a block south at 101 Forest Avenue. See the coffee guide for the rest.

Emerson Street and Bell's Books

Emerson Street runs parallel to the tracks one block in from High Street. Its storefronts are smaller and older, which keeps rents a little lower and gives the street more independent character.

Bell's Books at 536 Emerson Street is the standout. The family-owned store has sold new, used and rare books since 1935 and describes itself as the oldest and only bookstore in downtown Palo Alto. Its stock of roughly 350,000 titles includes signed first editions and fine bindings alongside everyday reading. It posts hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days and stays open until 8 p.m. on Fridays. More in our bookstores guide.

Farther south, Whole Foods Market at 774 Emerson Street is downtown's full-service grocery, open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Along the way, the Palo Alto Creamery at 566 Emerson is a classic diner stop for a milkshake.

Ramona Street

The 500 block of Ramona Street, between University and Hamilton avenues, is the Ramona Street Architectural District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Its Spanish Colonial and early California buildings have arches, wrought iron, tile roofs and small courtyards. The half block nearest University Avenue is closed to cars. The city made that closure permanent in March 2025.

Ramona is now more about eating and lingering than shopping. Nola at 535 Ramona and Coupa Cafe at 538 Ramona are on the street. Tables fill the roadway in good weather. The block also shows how downtown retail has shifted. University Art, the art supply store whose sign appears in the photo above, opened in Palo Alto in 1948. It announced in 2026 that it had closed after 78 years. Its last store was in Redwood City. Palo Alto now has no full art supply store. The nearest large one is Blick in San Jose, at 3430 Stevens Creek Blvd., which opened in February 2026. Our art supplies guide covers it and other options.

Hamilton Avenue and the side streets

Hamilton Avenue runs one block south of University and carries City Hall at 250 Hamilton, the Cardinal Hotel at 235 Hamilton and a line of restaurants and cafes. The garage under City Hall is one of the most convenient places to park for downtown shopping.

Bryant Street is a designated bike boulevard with calmer traffic. It and Waverley Street hold several of downtown's best restaurants, plus salons, small boutiques and service businesses. Lytton Avenue, one block north of University, is quieter still and mostly offices. Lytton Plaza at University and Emerson is the place to meet a friend or rest on a bench.

The Saturday farmers market

Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, year-round, the Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market sets up on Gilman Street between Hamilton and Forest avenues, behind the downtown post office. It is a certified market run by a volunteer nonprofit board with proceeds going to Avenidas, the local nonprofit for older adults. Expect produce, flowers, eggs, bread and honey. Pair it with a morning walk along University Avenue before the shops open. Our farmers markets guide has details.

Parking and getting there

The city runs about 20 public garages and lots downtown, including garages on Bryant Street, High Street and Webster Street and the garage under City Hall. Short visits are generally free with posted time limits on streets and in many garage areas. Longer stays need a daily or monthly permit. Color-coded zones and time limits change, so read each sign and check the City of Palo Alto parking page.

The train is often easier. The Palo Alto Caltrain station sits at the foot of University Avenue, so you can step off and start shopping. See getting around Palo Alto.

A simple shopping loop

1. Park under City Hall on Hamilton Avenue.
2. Walk to Ramona Street and through the car-free block to University Avenue.
3. Head west on University to Palo Alto Bicycles near the station, browsing as you go.
4. Cross to Emerson Street and walk south to Bell's Books.
5. Finish at a cafe or restaurant on Hamilton or Bryant, or continue to Whole Foods for groceries.

Allow about two hours. If you want the stories behind the buildings as you walk, a self-guided audio walk adds context. To stay within walking distance of the shops, our downtown hotels guide compares the options.

Frequently asked questions