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The Cardinal Hotel

Property class: 2.5
Hotel near Stanford University in Palo Alto

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Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

A grand lobby with a high ceiling, a central fireplace, and ornate columns.
A walk-in closet with a white robe hanging on a rack, a wooden hanger rod, and a black hairdryer on a shelf.
A grand lobby with a fireplace, two armchairs, a large rug, and a staircase.
A historic building with a prominent corner entrance, large windows, and a red awning.
A restaurant with wooden tables and chairs, a waiter walking by, and shelves with bottles and framed pictures on the walls.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

View in a map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
  • Place, Silicon Valley
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Stanford University
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Stanford Shopping Center
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪26 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

A hotel room with a large bed, two bedside tables with lamps, a chair, and a desk.

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(17 reviews)
  • 250 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom

A neatly made bed with a quilted headboard, white bedding, and a single decorative pillow with a monogram.

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom

7.6 out of 10
Good
(15 reviews)
  • 250 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, and a chair.

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(9 reviews)
  • 250 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

A hotel room with a bed, a desk with a laptop, a chair, and two windows with blinds.

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)
  • City view
  • 260 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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A modern hotel with a glass facade, a visible entrance, and a car parked outside.

Hotel Keen

Downtown Palo Alto
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
8.2 out of 10, Very Good, 766 reviews
$138 nightly
The price is $160
Nov 7 - Nov 8
Total with taxes and fees
Hotel Keen

About the neighborhood

Palo Alto

University South stay.Within a 10-minute walk of this University South hotel, you'll find Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center. Also, Stanford University Medical Center is within 2 miles (3 km) and Facebook Campus is within 6 miles (10 km).

What's nearby

  • Silicon Valley - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
  • Stanford Theatre - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Stanford University - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Stanford Shopping Center - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Stanford Stadium - 19 min walk - 1.0 mile

Getting around

  • Palo Alto Station - 6 min walk
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Verve Coffee - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Curry Pizza House Palo Alto - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Nola - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Hidden Tap and Barrel - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Maruwu Seicha 丸宇製茶 - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel near Stanford University in Palo Alto
The Cardinal Hotel offers its guests a fireplace in the lobby, express check-in, and express check-out. WiFi is free in public spaces. The Cardinal Hotel also features an elevator and a water dispenser.

This Palo Alto hotel is smoke free.

  • 1 building
  • 63 guestrooms or units
  • 3 levels
  • Built in 1924
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Water dispenser
The Cardinal Hotel offers 63 accommodations with laptop-compatible safes and complimentary bottled water. Pillowtop beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets, down comforters, and premium bedding. 42-inch LED televisions come with premium satellite channels.

Bathrooms include bathtubs or showers, bathrobes, slippers, and designer toiletries. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include hair dryers and irons/ironing boards. Housekeeping is offered daily and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room crib

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Offsite parking available (USD 25 per day)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Elevator
  • Visual fire alarm

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 42-inch LED TV with satellite premium channels

Bedroom

  • Down comforter
  • Egyptian cotton sheets
  • Free crib
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Pillowtop mattress

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Slippers
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Restaurant dining guides

More

  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Electrical adapters
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • Laptop-compatible safe
  • Phone
  • Portable fan

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per day.
  • Free cribs (infant beds)!

Property payment types

  • American Express
  • Mastercard
  • Visa

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Nearby parking fee: USD 25 per day (39 ft away)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per day

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).

Property is also known as

The Cardinal Hotel Hotel
The Cardinal Hotel Palo Alto
The Cardinal Hotel Hotel Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Cardinal Hotel to the airport?

The Cardinal Hotel is 10 mi (20-min drive) away from the San Carlos, CA (SQL) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The Cardinal Hotel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Cardinal Hotel.

Does The Cardinal Hotel offer free breakfast?

The Cardinal Hotel does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at The Cardinal Hotel?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at The Cardinal Hotel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

Is there free parking at The Cardinal Hotel?

Free parking is not available at this hotel.

Does The Cardinal Hotel have a pool?

The Cardinal Hotel does not have a pool.

Does The Cardinal Hotel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is The Cardinal Hotel to downtown Palo Alto?

The Cardinal Hotel is 1 mi away from Palo Alto.

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 348 out of 510 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 92 out of 510 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 40 out of 510 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 17 out of 510 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 13 out of 510 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was great and the property is quite unique and charming.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location for good restaurants and shops.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place. Location 10/10. Staff was amazinig!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms are clean, staff was wonderful, public parking in walking distance, shops and restaurants around the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location and close by parking and car charging.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We very much enjoyed our stay! Clean spacious room, and right in downtown! Helpful friendly staff. Nice coffee/tea options. Good ceiling fan as there is no air conditioning. Great place to stay!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent service from the hotel management and front desk staff. Thanks for your considerations and kindness.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Super convenient location.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A great location and a decent price.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay if you're attending an event or concert at Stanford. It's situated less than 10 minute walk away from Palo Alto Caltrain station.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A hotel with a great personality in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. Great location and quaint atmosphere. Had a wonderful stay and would definitely come back.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hotel is beautifully maintained, and the room was very clean. Even though it’s over 100 years old, the hotel has been thoughtfully updated with plenty of charging ports and modern conveniences to accommodate guests. Truly an amazing hotel, not to mention it’s surrounded by plenty of great restaurants within walking distance.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean, staff are helpful and friendly. Its in the heart of downtown Palo Alto so there are restaurants and shops nearby. Even though the hotel has no parking, there were ample street and structure parking every where
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location and clean room!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to downtown. Clean and reasonable price
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A fantastic hotel, and a great location.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very conveniently located
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
One-hundred-year-old hotel in the heart of Palo Alto, with walking to all the shops, Whole Foods, restaurants and the theater. The rooms are comfortable, the beds very nice, and the staff is terrific. If you don't have a car, it's a perfect location.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The staff was outstanding!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
very good
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice, old, nostalgic hotel that has been well maintained and upgraded! We stayed in a King Deluxe room with private bath and corner room views with lots of daylight (and shutters for sleeping-in in the morning). City location is great with lots of restaurants and shopping within a short walk. We would definately stay here again!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
This hotel was well located next to Stanford, and in a decent neighborhood. However, it has no air conditioning! The room was stuffy and hot, and we were unable to open our window because the red neon light shining into our room as well as the World Cup revelers. I wanted to love this hotel but I will not be staying here again if it's summer.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Knowledgeable and helpful staff, beautiful property, and excellent location. We will be back!
View from our room
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was great! Definitely recommend if you will be in the area
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

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