Merrill St, Menlo Park

Menlo Park is one of the strangest cross-section towns in the Bay Area - with areas such as Atherton (#2 wealthiest zip code in the country) adjacent to North Fair Oaks and Belle Haven (two of the POOREST neighborhoods in the Bay Area), it is certainly a melting pot of people. However, Merrill Street has the classic Silicon Valley appeal of an attractive, aesthetically pleasing street.

Adjacent to downtown, there is certainly no lack of restaurants in the pedestrian-friendly area. The nearby homes are reasonably sized single-family houses and condos, although the price per square foot is probably astronomical. Perhaps the best feature of this area is Crepes Cafe, a semi-authentic French cafe that serves some of the best of their namesake in the Bay Area. They have a fantastic brunch selection and even include a play area for children.

Another great bonus is the proximity to the CalTrain station, which is within walking distance. It certainly adds to street noise but helps if you are commuting into the city. It all depends on what you are looking for.