The Willows

The Willows neighborhood in Menlo Park is a special place to live. The quiet tree-lined streets are typically filled with families walking or riding bikes to the local park, schools, one of the two markets or the popular Caf Zoe, which serves as the neighborhood hub.

In addition to the active online community, Nextdoor, there are many opportunities to meet and catch up with your neighbors. The neighborhood Moms and Babes group organizes a couple neighborhood parties every year and various parent night out events. The Willows Market (on Middlefield Road) hosts a variety of events including Food Truck night on Mondays and weekly wine and beer tasting events. Caf Zoe serves coffee, lunch and ice cream, but also showcases local artists’ work on the walls and hosts live music and other community events. Mardini’s Caf, on the corner of Gilbert and Middlefield, is run by a friendly family who welcomes you in the door, is very kid-friendly and is a popular place to walk to with neighbors for dinner.

There are several schools in the neighborhood, or walking or biking distance from the neighborhood, including several preschools, Laurel and Encinal elementary schools and Menlo-Atherton High School. There will also be a new grade 3-5 public elementary school coming in the next couple years at the current German American school location.

The Willows is conveniently located walking distance to downtown Palo Alto and has easy access to highway 101 and the Facebook campus.

In The Willows, you benefit from the proximity to downtown Palo Alto, but enjoy the feel of a small town where kids play in front yards and you can sit on your front porch and greet your neighbors as they stroll by on their nightly walks.