Where to eat near the Baylands

The Palo Alto Baylands covers almost 2,000 acres of salt marsh, sloughs and levee trails at the east end of Embarcadero Road. It is one of the best birding spots on the bay and a favorite for long, flat walks and bike rides. It is not a place to find lunch. Apart from a golf course cafe, the preserve has no restaurants. The nearest food beyond it is on the other side of Highway 101.

This guide covers what is closest, from the golf clubhouse to the shopping strips along the freeway, then the stops along Embarcadero Road on the drive back into town. Places in Palo Alto link to our business directory, which records hours as each business published them in October 2026. Hours vary and small cafes keep their own schedules, so check before you count on a meal. For trails, birds and maps, start with our Baylands Nature Preserve guide.

What is where

At the east end of Embarcadero Road

The golf course, the airport, the nature center and the Duck Pond all sit within a few hundred yards of each other at the end of Embarcadero Road.

• Baylands Cafe: the clubhouse cafe at Baylands Golf Links, serving breakfast, burgers and salads to golfers and preserve visitors seven days a week.

The cafe lists hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with breakfast until 1 p.m. It takes takeout orders by phone and has a covered patio. Our golf guide covers the course itself.

Next door, the Palo Alto Airport terminal is open to visitors from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with seating, Wi-Fi and restrooms. The city's list of airport businesses includes Cloud9 Coffee. Small airport businesses keep their own hours, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan. Our guide to watching planes at Palo Alto Airport explains the terminal and parking app.

Edgewood Plaza, by Highway 101

Edgewood Plaza is a small Eichler-era shopping center at Embarcadero Road and St. Francis Drive, on the city side of the freeway. It is the closest real food to the preserve, about a mile west. Our Midtown and Edgewood shopping guide covers its history and grocery store.

• Chef Zhao Kitchen: a Shanghainese restaurant since 2016, known for pan-fried pork buns and soup dumplings, with three private rooms.
• Starbucks at Edgewood Plaza: opens at 4:30 a.m. on weekdays and 5 a.m. on weekends, with indoor and outdoor seating.

Chef Zhao is closed Mondays and lists a break between lunch and dinner, so a late lunch after a long walk may need to wait until 5 p.m.

East Bayshore Road, across the freeway

East Bayshore Road runs along the bay side of Highway 101 in East Palo Alto, north of the Palo Alto line. Its shopping strips are practical rather than pretty, but they are close to the Baylands by car. These businesses sit outside Palo Alto and outside our directory. We confirmed them on their own sites or store pages in October 2026, as described in our East Palo Alto food guide:

• IKEA East Palo Alto, 1700 East Bayshore Road: the store has a Swedish restaurant inside.
• Cardenas Markets, 1731 East Bayshore Road: a Latino supermarket with a bakery, tortilleria and hot food counter.
• Emmanuel's Pizza and Bakery, 1435 East Bayshore Road: a local shop open since 1992, for carry out and delivery.
• Mountain Mike's Pizza, 1765 East Bayshore Road: dine in, carry out and delivery.

Our Ravenswood 101 guide explains the shopping center and how to get there.

Along Embarcadero Road and back into town

Heading west, Embarcadero Road crosses Middlefield Road and Alma Street before ending at El Camino Real. Two detours make good stops.

Midtown, about a mile south

Take Louis Road or Middlefield Road south to Colorado Avenue and you reach the Midtown shopping strip, with lots behind and beside the storefronts.

• Palo Alto Cafe: a family-owned cafe since 1996 that roasts its own coffee, open from 6:30 a.m.
• Sancho's Taqueria: Baja-style fish tacos and burritos from a local group founded in 2005.
• Kirk's Steakburgers: charcoal-grilled burgers from a family business that started in Palo Alto in 1948.

Town & Country Village, at El Camino Real

At the west end of Embarcadero Road, Town & Country Village has a dense cluster of counters and bakeries. It is also where many people stock up on picnic food before driving out to the bay.

• Boichik Bagels: New York style bagels from 7 a.m., with advance orders.
• Manresa Bread: naturally fermented loaves and pastries, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Gott's Roadside: burgers with a covered, heated patio, open until 9 p.m.

Our Town & Country food guide lists the rest.

Packing a picnic

The preserve has picnic areas and barbecues, first come, first served for groups of up to 24. A picnic is often the best Baylands meal. A few tips:

1. Shop on the way in. There is nowhere to buy groceries at the end of Embarcadero Road.
2. Plan for wind. Afternoon breezes off the bay pick up most days. Bring layers and weigh down napkins.
3. Pack water. Trails are long and shade is scarce.
4. Take everything out. Wildlife in the marsh is sensitive. Leave nothing behind.

Our picnic spots guide covers other parks with tables.

If you would rather eat in town after a walk, our California Avenue guide covers the closest full dining street, about 15 minutes by car from the preserve.

Arriving by bike

The Bay Trail runs through the Baylands, so many people ride in rather than drive. Edgewood Plaza makes a natural coffee stop on the way out along Embarcadero Road. If you are visiting and need wheels, you can rent a bike for the day and ride out from town. Our Bay Trail guide covers routes north and south.

Frequently asked questions