Calave and the Mezcal on California Avenue

299 California Avenue. What Palo Alto needs — a mezcal bar with serious drinks and a covered patio strung with lights. The selection is deep: smoky espadin, floral tobala, wild tepextate. The Oaxacan Old Fashioned balances smoke and sweetness with precision. Upscale Mexican food — Niman Ranch pork tacos, halibut ceviche — kitchen running late enough for the after-dinner crowd.

California Avenue is quieter than University — more neighborhood, less venture capital. The outdoor tables catch foothills evening breeze. Ask for the mezcal flight: three pours, three regions, three production methods. The bartender will walk you through. By the third glass you'll understand why mezcal people are evangelical.