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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel near Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto

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Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior
Designer store
Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds
Lobby sitting area
Business center

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast available
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

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

Room options

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

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(14 reviews)
  • 250 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

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

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom

7.2 out of 10
Good
(12 reviews)
  • 250 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom | Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)
  • 250 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

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

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner | Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)
  • 260 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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Exterior

Best Western Plus Riviera

Menlo Park
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4.0 out of 5, Very Good, 678 reviews
$125 nightly
The price is $145
Jan 3 - Jan 4
Total with taxes and fees
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About the neighborhood

Palo Alto

University South stay.With a stay at this University South hotel, you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Stanford Shopping Center and 2 miles (3 km) of Stanford University Medical Center. Also, Stanford University is within 2 miles (3 km) and Facebook Campus is within 6 miles (10 km).

What's nearby

  • Stanford Shopping Center - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Stanford Stadium - 18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford - 4 min drive - 1.2 miles
  • Stanford University - 4 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Stanford University Medical Center - 4 min drive - 1.4 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Pizza My Heart - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Ramen Nagi - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Nola - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Nobu Palo Alto - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Oren's Hummus - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel near Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto
There's a coffee shop/cafe on site. Public spaces have free WiFi. The Cardinal Hotel also features a fireplace in the lobby, express check-in, and express check-out.

This Palo Alto hotel is smoke free.

  • 1 building
  • 63 guestrooms or units
  • 3 levels
  • Built in 1924
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Water dispenser
  • Coffee shop
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 15 per day)
  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Food and drink

  • Weekday full breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: USD 22 for adults and USD 22 for children
  • A coffee shop/cafe

Things to do

  • Art gallery

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 premium satellite 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

Important information

Optional extras

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

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately USD 22 for adults and USD 22 for children
  • Nearby parking fee: USD 15 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 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 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?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at The Cardinal Hotel, but full breakfast is offered for a fee of USD 22 for adults and USD 22 for children.

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. 253 out of 381 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 71 out of 381 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 35 out of 381 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 13 out of 381 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 381 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful historic building in central Palo Alto and great antiques in the foyer and nice staff. However, the rooms have no A/C. Also, no mini-fridge, no coffee in the room, and no dedicated parking. So, if you’re looking for an authentic 1925 experience of no amenities and trying to sleep in a puddle of sweat with the window open and ceiling fan whirring, this is for you. It was not for us. We left after the first night.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Courtney

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Shouyi

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
it is very loud during midnight, making it hard for me to sleep well. The loud sound is from the street and maybe there are trucks loading things or collecting garbage.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kevin, Dallas

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Joan

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elvio

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Van

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Overall it’s a great location and place to stay. Very comfortable. Not a fan of the truck noises early in the morning though. I still like this hotel for every business trip I’ve had in Palo Alto.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Levon

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Exellent
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sharlane

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Benjamin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

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

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort

Bare bones and stuffy

I can't believe I paid a premium for this stay. Old building that hasn't been renovated with care. A thousand layers of paint prevented the bathroom door from latching. We just had to keep the bathroom door ajar. Front door dead bolt didn't work. No A/C (which isn't uncommon for these older buildings), but mediocre ceiling fan and poor ventilation. In an attempt to cool down the room, we kept the window open. That meant no privacy. It also didn't help much and was very noisy. Closed the window and we slept in a sauna; it wasn't even a hot day. Just zero ventilation. Squeaky floors above us, loud pipes, super loud ice machine in the hallway, and hallway ceiling lights would buzz at a high pitch pretty regularly. TV is basic cable without even a decent channel guide. Pros: comfortable mattress and bedding, convenient location on Hamiton and Ramona. Overall, I do not recommend this hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Kimberley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
3rd floor in a heat wave was rather hot - the AC was not sufficient.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

ying

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
No AC. Too noisy at midnight
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lucy

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ugo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sara

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Business traveler
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beware: No Air Con in the Rooms

BEWARE: NO AIR CONDITIONING IN THE ROOMS! For a hotel in Palo Alto, this is not acceptable. If you choose to run the business this way you need to write that important fact clearly and visibly on the first page of the website. Sleeping with the windows open in a city neighborhood is noisy and full of light seepage. Granted the Bay Area is cooler most months, the summer evenings and nights get very warm. Second issue: rooms are basic. No in room coffee or tea. I love old historic hotels but this one was a shocker. Flew in for a 1 night stay for work and woke up restless and exhausted. Never again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Athanasios, Wilton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. Walking distance to shops and dining. Will definitely stay at this property again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicolas

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Eliza

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Shani

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025