Father's Day in Palo Alto

Father's Day in Palo Alto lands at the start of summer, which shapes the day. Mornings are cool and clear, afternoons warm up into the high 70s or 80s °F and the evenings stay light until after 8:30 p.m. That makes it a good day to get outside early, eat well in the evening and fit a hike, a round of golf or a museum in between.

In 2027 Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 20. The day before is Juneteenth, Saturday, June 19. Stanford's commencement weekend wraps up the Sunday before, on June 13, so the campus is quieter by Father's Day. This guide covers what is open, where to eat, what to do and how the holiday weekend fits together. For the rest of the month, see our June guide.

The Father's Day weekend

Father's Day is not a public holiday. Juneteenth is a federal holiday, though. When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, federal offices usually observe it on the Friday before. Here is how the weekend looks:

The City of Palo Alto's 2026 holiday list did not include Juneteenth. Caltrain ran its regular weekday schedule on Juneteenth 2026, according to its holiday service page. Expect a normal weekend timetable on Saturday and Sunday. Our Juneteenth guide covers the celebrations that weekend.

Where to eat

Sunday dinner is the main Father's Day meal. Steak is the default. Book a week or two ahead for the most popular places.

Steakhouses

• Sundance the Steakhouse on El Camino Real is family run and has served prime beef and slow-roasted prime rib since 1974. It has semi-private rooms for bigger family groups.
• Arya Steakhouse at 140 University Avenue is a Persian steakhouse with an all-halal menu, steaks dry-aged in house and kabobs.
• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse at Stanford Shopping Center opens at 4 p.m. on Sundays and has private dining rooms.
• The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse on El Camino Real is an upscale steak and seafood house with Japanese touches and A5 wagyu.

Our steakhouses guide compares them.

Burgers and barbecue

For a more casual meal, Kirk's Steakburgers started in Palo Alto in 1948 and still cooks over an open charcoal flame. Gott's Roadside at Town & Country Village has a heated patio across from Stanford Stadium. MacArthur Park, in a 1918 Julia Morgan building next to the Palo Alto Caltrain station, serves barbecue and California comfort food.

Brunch and breakfast

Some families prefer a morning meal. Palo Alto Creamery on Emerson Street dates to 1923 and serves breakfast all day, along with burgers and milkshakes. Hobee's on El Camino Real is known for its coffeecake and opens at 8 a.m. on weekends. Expect a wait at both places after 9:30 a.m.

Outdoors

Golf

Baylands Golf Links at 1875 Embarcadero Road is the city's municipal course. It opened in 1956 and reopened in 2018 after a redesign by Forrest Richardson. Tee times on Father's Day go early. The Stanford Golf Course is for Stanford affiliates, members and guests only, but its driving range is open to the public. Our golf guide covers both.

A morning hike

The Stanford Dish loop is a paved loop of about 3.5 to 3.7 miles through the foothills with views across the bay. Go early, since there is almost no shade by midday in June. Foothills Nature Preserve and the Midpeninsula preserves along Skyline offer shadier, cooler trails.

The bay

The Baylands are flat and breezy, which suits a slow walk or a bike ride. Planes from Palo Alto Airport take off and land right next to the preserve, which keeps small kids entertained.

Museums and planes

Dads who like machines have two good options within 20 minutes.

• Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos tells the story of flight with an emphasis on Bay Area aviation. Admission is about $22 to $23 for adults.
• Computer History Museum at 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd. in Mountain View covers 2,000 years of computing in its main exhibit and runs live demonstrations of a restored IBM 1401 and PDP-1. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Check each museum's hours before you go, since summer schedules can change. Closer to home, the free Museum of American Heritage at 351 Homer Avenue holds more than 8,000 artifacts in a 1907 house with a garden. It is open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which makes it an easy stop on the way to lunch downtown.

Games and summer events

Mid-June often brings big games on TV. Downtown has a sports bar built for them. The Patio on Emerson Street opens at 11 a.m. daily, with a large outdoor area and a long bar. It does not take reservations, so arrive early for a big match.

Summer's free events start around the same time. The city's Twilight Concerts run on selected Saturdays from late June to August, with a 6:30 p.m. start in 2026. The Family Movie Night series runs on selected Fridays at Mitchell Park. In 2026 the Stanford Jazz Festival opened on June 21, which was Father's Day that year. The 2027 dates for all three had not been announced as of late October 2026. Our summer events guide tracks them.

With kids

Young kids often want to plan the day themselves. A pancake breakfast at home, a stop at the Sunday farmers market for strawberries and a card from a downtown stationery shop cover the morning. In the afternoon, the Magical Bridge Playground at Mitchell Park is free and built for every age and ability. The Junior Museum and Zoo on Middlefield Road is open Tuesday to Sunday with timed tickets, so book a slot ahead for a summer Sunday.

Older kids and teens may prefer a bike ride. The Bay Trail runs north and south from the Baylands on flat, paved and gravel paths. Bring your own bikes and a picnic for a cheap half day out. Our Bay Trail guide covers the route.

Gift ideas from local shops

For a last-minute present, Gryphon Stringed Instruments has sold guitars, mandolins and ukuleles in Palo Alto since 1969. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so shop on Saturday. Bell's Books downtown has sold new, used and rare books since 1935. For a gift that gets dad out of town, you can book a Bay Area tour or experience for a summer weekend.

Frequently asked questions