In the spotlight
The best places to eat, drink and play this holiday season
Soon holiday lights will be twinkling and friends and family will gather to celebrate, so this is the perfect time to shine a light on what our readers say are the best places to eat, drink, shop and spend time with family and friends in and around Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley and Atherton.
Nearly 900 locals cast 11,201 votes for their favorites the Almanac's 2023 Readers' Choice awards. This year's list of winners includes some familiar favorites as well as some new places we're eager to explore.
Here's your crowd-sourced guide to the very best of Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley and Atherton.
Best Live Music
Pioneer Saloon
2925 Woodside Road, Woodside; PioneerSaloonMusic.com; (650) 851-8487
Best Place for a Date
Bistro Vida
Bustling Parisian-style bistro in downtown Menlo Park serving classic French cuisine for 25 years. The new cocktail lounge next door is under construction and will be opening soon.641 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; Bistro-Vida.com; (650) 462-1686
Best Place to Meet People
Cafe Borrone
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; CafeBorrone.com; (650) 327-0830
Best Bakery
Woodside Bakery
325 Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park; WoodsideBakery.com; (650) 854-6207
Best Breakfast
Buck's of Woodside
3062 Woodside Road, Woodside; BucksRestaurant.com; (650) 851-8010
Best Dessert
Woodside Bakery
325 Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park; WoodsideBakery.com; (650) 854-6207
Best Hamburgers
Dutch Goose
3567 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park; DutchGoose.net; (650) 854-3245
Best Happy Hour
Left Bank
635 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; LeftBank.com; (650) 473-6543
Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
WildBerry Yogurt
325 Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park; ; (650) 233-8883
Best Independent Coffee and Tea House
Cafe Borrone
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; CafeBorrone.com; (650) 327-0830
Best Pizza
Amici's
880 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; Amicis.com; (650) 329-8888
Best Place to Buy Meat
Bianchini's Market
3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; BianchinisMarket.com; (650) 851-4391
Best Sandwiches
Bianchini's Market
3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; BianchinisMarket.com; (650) 851-4391
Best Take Out
Chef Kwan's
630 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park; ChefKwans.com; (650) 322-4631
Best American Restaurant
Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline Blvd., Woodside; AlicesRestaurant.com; (650) 851-0303
Best Asian Restaurant
Chef Kwan's
630 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park; ChefKwans.com; (650) 322-4631
Best Casual Dining
Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline Blvd., Woodside; AlicesRestaurant.com; (650) 851-0303
Best Dining with Kids
Amici's
880 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; Amicis.com; (650) 329-8888
Best French Restaurant
Bistro Vida
See Best Place for a Date641 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; Bistro-Vida.com; (650) 462-1686
Best Italian Restaurant
Ristorante Carpaccio
1120 Crane St., Menlo Park; Carpaccios.com; (650) 322-1211
Best Japanese Restaurant
Naomi Sushi
1328 El Camino Real #4211, Menlo Park; NaomiSushiMenloPark.com; (650) 321-6902
Best Mexican Restaurant
Amigos Grill
3130 Alpine Road #290, Portola Valley; AmigosPortola.com; (650) 851-3997
Best Outdoor Dining
Bistro Vida
See Best Place for a Date641 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; Bistro-Vida.com; (650) 462-1686
Best Romantic Restaurant
Bistro Vida
See Best Place for a Date641 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; Bistro-Vida.com; (650) 462-1686
Best Bicycle Shop
Woodside Bike Shop
1800 El Camino Real, Unit C, Menlo Park; WoodsideBikeShop.com; (650) 299-1071
Best Bookstore
Kepler's Books & Magazines
1010 El Camino Real #100, Menlo Park; Keplers.com; (650) 324-4321
Best Boutique
Shady Lane
325 Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park; ShadyLaneGallery.com; (650) 321-1099
Best Floor Coverings
Stephen Miller Gallery
800 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; StephenMillerGallery.com; (650) 327-5040
Best Frame Store/Art Gallery
Peabody Gallery and Framing
603 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; PeabodyGallery.com; (650) 322-2200
Best Gift Shop
Ladera Garden & Gifts
2029 Ralston Ave., Belmont; LaderaGardenAndGifts.com; (650) 232-7154
Best Grocery
Bianchini's Market
3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; BianchinisMarket.com; (650) 851-4391
Best Hardware Store
Menlo Hardware
700 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; MenloHardware.com; (650) 325-2515
Best Home Decor and Furnishings
Anthem
889 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; AnthemSF.online; (650) 440-7400
Best Nursery
Ladera Garden & Gifts
3130 Alpine Rd #380, Portola Valley; LaderaGardenAndGifts.com; (650) 854-3850
Best Place to Buy Jewelry
Shady Lane
325 Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park; ShadyLaneGallery.com; (650) 321-1099
Best Place to Buy Shoes
Fleet Feet
859 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; FleetFeet.com/s/menlopark; (650) 325-9432
Best Produce
Sigona's Farmers Market
399 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto; Sigonas.com; (650) 329-1340
Best Specialty Store
Cheeky Monkey Toys
640 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; CheekyMonkeyToys.com; (650) 328-7975
Best Auto Repair
Portola Valley Garage
4170 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; PVGarage.com; (650) 851-7442
Best Barber
Menlo Park Barber Shop
2100 Avy Ave., Menlo Park; MenloParkBarberShop.com; (650) 391-9008
Best Day Spa
LaBelle Day Spas & Salons
855 El Camino Real Suites 95 & 33, Palo Alto; LaBelleDaySpas.com; (650) 327-6964
Best Dry Cleaner
Ladera Cleaners
Ladera Cleaners has been serving customers at the same location since 1988, and are Winners of 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 Almanac Readers' Choice awards. They say Dry Clean Only doesn't mean clothes shouldn't be enjoyed as often as you like and, by bringing your dry cleaning to them, your favorite duds will last for years. 3130 Alpine Road #260, Portola Valley; LaderaCleaners.net; (650) 854-2291
Best Fitness Classes
Studio K-Fit
Stuido K-Fit staff members say that, at their core, they are a fitness studio that's community driven through unique award-winning workouts as well as an emphasis on building positive relationships among members.3708 Florence St., Redwood City; StudioKFit.com; (650) 503-3949
Best Florist
Ladera Garden & Gifts
3130 Alpine Rd #380, Portola Valley; LaderaGardenAndGifts.com; (650) 854-3850
Best Gym
Studio K-Fit
See Best Fitness Classes for more information.3708 Florence St., Redwood City; StudioKFit.com; (650) 503-3949
Best Hair Salon
Antonio Cremona Salon
104 Portola Road, Portola Valley; AntonioCremonaSalon.com; (650) 851-5757
