One of California’s
great downtowns.
Restaurants, boutiques, and a few things you didn’t expect on Santa Cruz Avenue and beyond.
Events
What's Happening
Directory
Discover Downtown
Camper
Design-forward restaurant anchoring the far end of the retail strip
898 Santa Cruz Avenue
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Cheeky Monkey Toys
One of the last independent toy stores in the region — local shop-small ethos
640 Santa Cruz Avenue
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Mademoiselle Colette
Authentic French patisserie and critical morning anchor for the 800 block
816 Santa Cruz Avenue
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Find what you're looking for
By the numbers
A neighborhood built on the belief that community matters
Businesses
Restaurants & Cafés
Year Kepler's Opened
Our Downtown
About Downtown
Santa Cruz Avenue is the heart of Menlo Park: a tree-lined main street with independent restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and the kind of hardware store that still knows your name.
The area is full of life with a weekend farmers market, wine walks, sidewalk dining, and friendly dogs aplenty. Our Design District is home to showrooms and studios that draw clients from across the Bay Area.
Downtown Menlo Park is in the middle of a spectacular revival. New restaurants, a restored historic theater, and a growing community of people who believe in Santa Cruz Avenue bring energy to this community.
Forward Momentum
Where We're Headed
Santa Cruz Avenue is having a moment. New restaurants, a revived Guild Theatre, and the emergence of a true Design District are drawing visitors from across the Peninsula. The Downtown Menlo Fund is working with the city and the community to build on this momentum — creating a downtown that works for residents, businesses, and visitors for generations to come.
Artist rendering — a vision for Santa Cruz Avenue
The Downtown Letter
Know what's up.
Once a month, from people who actually live here. New openings, weekend events, and what's happening downtown.