Bistro Vida

Downtown Menlo Park institution since 1998 inspired by Parisian bistro culture, with classic French bistro dishes, a full bar, heated outdoor patio, and a warm neighborhood atmosphere on Santa Cruz Avenue.

Ali El Safy, a Cairo native who lived in Paris before settling in the Bay Area, opened Bistro Vida in downtown Menlo Park in 1998. The market-driven menu draws on French and Mediterranean flavors and leans on local, seasonal ingredients, with simple French bistro classics at its core, a curated wine selection and a full bar of hand-crafted signature cocktails. The name Vida, Spanish for life, was chosen as a toast to life, love and food.