Palo Alto Sol

About Palo Alto Sol

Palo Alto Sol is a family-run Mexican restaurant on California Avenue. It belongs to a small group of three restaurants run by the same family. The others are Vive Sol on El Camino Real in Mountain View and Quinto Sol on Broadway in Redwood City.

The family says its mission is to bring to California the best of the Cocina Barroca Poblana, the distinctive cooking of the city and state of Puebla in central Mexico. The family describes the restaurants as part of who they are and says it wants to bring the community back to the table. Its website sums up the idea with a line: "When you set a beautiful table, friends will gather."

The food and drinks

Alongside the Puebla focus, the restaurant's own description on its reservation listing names a familiar lineup of tacos, taquitos, burritos, enchiladas and several other entrees. It also describes the place as fun and upbeat, with bright, festive decor. Margaritas are a big part of the draw. The listing mentions pitchers and a 64-ounce fishbowl size for sharing.

The Sol Group website links a menu for the Palo Alto restaurant. Check it before you go if you want a specific Puebla dish, since menus change. If you are new to Puebla cooking, ask your server which dishes reflect the family's home region.

Hours and reservations

Palo Alto Sol is a dinner restaurant. It lists hours from Tuesday to Sunday starting at 5 p.m., closing at 8:30 p.m. most nights and at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It is closed Monday.

Reservations work a little differently from most restaurants:

• Online reservations are available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights.
• Reservations are for groups of fewer than 10.
• The Sol restaurants do not take reservations on Friday or Saturday, so weekend tables are first come, first served.
• For a large party, the group asks you to email the address on its website.

The reservation link on the Sol Group site runs through DoorDash's reservation system. You can also call the restaurant at 650-328-8840.

The Sol family of restaurants

If Palo Alto Sol is full, or you live closer to one of the other branches, the family runs two more restaurants under the same approach:

• Vive Sol: 2020 West El Camino Real, Mountain View. Phone 650-938-2020.
• Quinto Sol: 2201 Broadway, Redwood City. Phone 650-365-5765.

All three share the same reservation rules, with online bookings for groups under 10 and no reservations on Friday or Saturday. The group sells gift cards through its website that can make an easy present for a fan of the restaurants. There is also an email newsletter sign-up on the home page for news from the family.

Who it suits

Palo Alto Sol works for a casual dinner with friends, a margarita night or a family meal on a weeknight. Pitchers and the fishbowl margarita point to groups that like to share. Because it closes relatively early, it is better suited to an early or mid-evening dinner than a late night out. On weekends, plan to arrive early or be ready to wait, since tables are not reserved on Friday and Saturday.

California Avenue has many other restaurants within a block or two, so the street is also a good place to wander after dinner. Our California Avenue guide covers the district.

Tips for visiting

• Book weeknights. Reserve online for Tuesday to Thursday or Sunday, when reservations are taken.
• Check the address. The group's website writes the address as 408 N California Avenue with the 94306 zip code. The restaurant is on the California Avenue shopping street near the Caltrain station, not on North California Avenue in north Palo Alto.
• Try the sister restaurants. Vive Sol in Mountain View and Quinto Sol in Redwood City share the same family and approach.
• See more. Our Mexican and Latin food guide lists other options. Our food and drink guide covers the wider dining scene.

Location and getting there

Palo Alto Sol is at 408 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.

The California Avenue 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 30, 2026.

What is nearby

• The Cobblery, store, under 0.1 mi
• Summit Bicycles, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• Victoria Ballet, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• Massage Therapy Center, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
• California Paint Company, store, under 0.1 mi
• Bowden Park, 0.3 mi
• College Terrace Library, 0.3 mi
• Peers Park, 0.4 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Sun of Wolf (under 0.1 mi); La Bohème (under 0.1 mi); Sekoya (under 0.1 mi); Lotus Thai Bistro (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 30, 2026 against Palo Alto Sol page on the Sol Group website; Sol Group official website; Palo Alto Sol on OpenTable (restaurant description). How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions