64 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} EAT For an old-fashioned pick-meup, the century-old Peninsula Fountain and Grill on the corner of Hamilton and Ramona has long been a favorite destination for a slice of pie or a thick, creamy milkshake. If you’re ready for a sit-down lunch or dinner, Palo Alto’s downtown side streets have almost day trip destinationpaloalto.com PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF NOBU / ANNIE BARNETT Sleep Over THE CLEMENT All-inclusive upscale urban retreat. theclementpaloalto.com COWPER INN B&B that hosts yoga and meditation classes in its converted hayloft. cowperinn.com EL PRADO Stylish boutique hotel with Mediterranean charm. elpradopaloalto.com too many great options, from white-tablecloth Italian at Osteria and cajun classics at Mardi Grasthemed Nola to Bird Dog’s inventive cuisine. At Evvia Estiatorio, the perennially popular Greek restaurant on Emerson Street, the lemony avgolemono soup whets your appetite for its tender grilled lamb chops, whole fish roasted in a wood-fired oven or hearty moussaka. Head to Reposado on Hamilton Avenue for delicious dishes inspired by the coastal Mexican state of Nayarit along with a long list of tequilas and smoky mezcals. For an unforgettable meal, sashimi isn’t the only thing that shines at nearby Nobu Palo Alto’s restaurant. Take your time assembling your ideal meal from a tantalizing selection of hot and cold Japanese dishes, from the signature black cod in miso to the only-in-Palo Alto offerings like scallops with jalapeño salsa. The eye-catching Zen garden dessert and this month’s seasonal cherry blossom tea menu—featuring elevated finger-food like the shokupan king crab sandwich—are inspired by spring blooms in the property’s new Japanese garden. For a real treat, turn your Palo Alto day trip into an overnight getaway by heading upstairs to one of Nobu’s tranquil, well-appointed Ryokan suites, where you can soak away the day in an oversized teak bathtub before slipping between fine Italian sheets for the night. Greet the morning on your room’s balcony, then dig into a Japanese breakfast bento to fuel another day of exploring.
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