Meyhouse

About Meyhouse

Meyhouse is a Turkish restaurant on Emerson Street in downtown Palo Alto. It takes its idea from the meyhane, the traditional Turkish tavern where friends share small plates and drinks over a long evening. The restaurant describes itself as an inviting and convivial meyhane and says its menu draws on contemporary Turkish cooking and the old culinary heritage of Anatolia.

The Palo Alto restaurant is part of a small Bay Area group. Sister restaurants operate on Murphy Avenue in Sunnyvale and at City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon. The company also runs a separate music brand, Meyhouse Jazz. The kitchen's stated approach is to start with good ingredients and handle them as little as possible so their quality comes through. In 2026 the restaurant announced that it had received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

What to expect on the menu

Meyhouse publishes several menus for Palo Alto: dinner, lunch, a lunch prix fixe, a bar tasting menu and a by the bottle wine list. The current Palo Alto dinner and drink menus were updated in October 2026 and are posted as images on the website, so read them there before you go.

The food follows the meyhane pattern. Expect meze, the small plates that open a Turkish meal, followed by grilled meats and seafood. Dishes shown on the restaurant's website include grilled octopus served over a creamy purée, grilled fish with greens and sliced radishes and roasted vegetables topped with tomatoes and herbs. The lunch prix fixe is a structured way to try several courses at midday. The bar tasting menu suits a lighter visit.

Wine is a real focus. Beyond the Wine Spectator recognition, the restaurant allows corkage for a fee per bottle, with a higher charge after the first two bottles. It will not open a bottle that already appears on its own list.

Private events and the Istanbul Room

Meyhouse is set up for groups. The Palo Alto restaurant's private space is the Istanbul Room, which also serves as its jazz room. It seats up to 38 guests, has a private bar and audio visual equipment and has a cellar setting. Larger groups can reserve part or all of the restaurant.

Event menus can be three, four or five course plated dinners, passed hors d'oeuvres or a custom menu planned with the executive chef and event director. The website has a Build Your Event tool that shows spaces and menus with an estimated total. Sending a request does not confirm a booking, so follow up with the events team. Meyhouse also offers catering and sells gift cards online.

Reservations, parking and dietary needs

• Reservations. Book through the reservations page on the website. Changes and cancellations are free until 24 hours before your booking. After that, the restaurant charges a per person fee.
• Walk-ins. Walk-ins are welcome but seating is limited. Weekends are usually fully booked, while weekdays and lunch are easier.
• Parking. There is street parking nearby and no valet.
• Dietary needs. The restaurant asks guests with vegetarian, vegan or gluten free needs to contact it before ordering.
• Children. There is no kids menu, but the kitchen makes kid friendly meals on request.

Tips for visiting

Meyhouse serves lunch every day and dinner every night, so a midweek lunch is an easy way in. Lunch is the easiest way to get a table without planning far ahead. If you want the full meyhane experience, book a weekend dinner well ahead and order a spread of meze for the table. Check the events calendar on the website as well, since the restaurant posts special events there and keeps a page of past events that shows the kind of evenings it hosts.

The restaurant is a short walk from University Avenue and the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Our fine dining guide covers other special occasion restaurants. The bars and wine guide has more places for a glass of wine. The live music guide lists other venues for jazz and concerts around town.

Location and getting there

Meyhouse is at 640 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Romi Boutique, store, under 0.1 mi
• YogaSource Palo Alto, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• Sephora Downtown Palo Alto, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
• Mendocino Farms, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
• MNT Studio, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• Pacific Art League, under 0.1 mi
• King Plaza and City Hall, under 0.1 mi
• Downtown Library, 0.1 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Tacolicious (under 0.1 mi); Buca di Beppo (under 0.1 mi); Pizzeria Delfina (under 0.1 mi); Palo Alto Creamery (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.

Before you go

• Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
• Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
• If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Meyhouse official website; Meyhouse Palo Alto page; Private events; FAQ. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions