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The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

3.0 star property
3-star Art Deco motel near Stanford University

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk
Exterior
Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds) | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk
Lobby
Fitness facility

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

View in a map
4164 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
  • Place, San Antonio Shopping Center
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Palo Alto VA Hospital
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, San Andreas Fault Trail
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(15 reviews)
  • 280 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(48 reviews)
  • 286 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 532 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(10 reviews)
  • 306 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(101 reviews)
  • 240 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(39 reviews)
  • 286 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(52 reviews)
  • 306 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds)

Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds) | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)
  • 693 sq ft
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds)

Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds) | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds)

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)
  • 680 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Queen Beds

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About the neighborhood

Palo Alto

Green Acres stay.With a stay at this Green Acres motel, you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Silicon Valley and 2 miles (3 km) of San Antonio Shopping Center. San Andreas Fault Trail and Palo Alto VA Hospital are also within 2 miles (3 km).
View more Motels in Palo AltoOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Mitchell Park Dog Park - 18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • San Antonio Shopping Center - 3 min drive - 1.1 miles
  • Palo Alto VA Hospital - 4 min drive - 1.2 miles
  • DVBIC Palo Alto - 4 min drive - 1.6 miles
  • San Andreas Fault Trail - 5 min drive - 1.8 miles

Getting around

  • San Antonio Station - 3 min drive
  • Whisman Station - 8 min drive
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪State of Mind Slice House - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪4290 Bistro - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Hong Kong Restaurant - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Holy Sushi - ‬12 min walk

About this property

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

3-star Art Deco motel near Stanford University
Free breakfast is available daily. WiFi is free in public spaces. A fitness center, barbecue grills, and multilingual staff are also featured at the business-friendly The Zen Hotel Palo Alto. Free self parking is available.

This 3-star Palo Alto motel is smoke free.

  • 37 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • 3 buildings
  • Built in 1970
  • Buffet breakfast (free)
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-out
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Television in lobby
  • No smoking on site
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto offers 37 accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature iPod docking stations and safes. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. 37-inch LCD televisions come with satellite channels. Guests can make use of the in-room refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee/tea makers. Bathrooms include bathrobes, slippers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

This Palo Alto motel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and desk chairs. Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and fans. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Similar properties

Property entrance
Creekside Inn
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
4.5 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,617 reviews
$96 nightly
The price is $111
Dec 13 - Dec 14
Total with taxes and fees
Creekside Inn

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM

Things to do

  • Gym
  • TV in common areas

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
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible gym
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 37-inch LCD TV with satellite channels
  • iPod dock

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 12 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.

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.

  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

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 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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A credit 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. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. 
    Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

We should mention

  • Children 12 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.

Property is also known as

Hotel Zen
Zen Hotel
Zen Hotel Palo Alto
Zen Palo Alto
Townhouse Hotel Palo Alto
The Zen Hotel
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Motel
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Palo Alto
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Motel Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Zen Hotel Palo Alto to the airport?

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto is 12.9 mi (18-min drive) away from the San Carlos, CA (SQL) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

As of Nov 18, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto on Nov 23, 2025 start from $69.3, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does The Zen Hotel Palo Alto have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto.

Does The Zen Hotel Palo Alto offer free breakfast?

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto offers free buffet breakfast every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM.

Is there a casino at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

No, there is no casino at this motel, but Casino M8trix (16-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. A fee applies for early check-in.

Is there free parking at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

This motel offers free self parking.

Does The Zen Hotel Palo Alto have a pool?

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto does not have a pool.

Does The Zen Hotel Palo Alto have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this motel.

How close is The Zen Hotel Palo Alto to downtown Palo Alto?

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto is 2.3 mi away from Palo Alto.

Reviews

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 845 out of 1252 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 272 out of 1252 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 84 out of 1252 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 26 out of 1252 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 25 out of 1252 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

David, PALO ALTO

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good breakfast. Beds are low to the ground so you don't have to jump up to get in and they are comfortable. Rooms are spacious with a desk, refrigerator, and microwave. Shower is better than average. Walgreens across the street is very handy. Several restaurants nearby.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

JESSICA, miami

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Madeline M

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place was very nice . It was clean spacious .
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric, Aptos

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A clean, comfortable, 3-star hotel right on El Camino Real.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Rowena

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very quiet
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

david

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Jeffrey, Silver Spring

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Convenient to Stanford University campus.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was great! The breakfast was good…the scrambled eggs tasted real and the coffee was good. The housekeeping staff was excellent too…
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

michael, SAN LUIS OBISPO

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great place to sleep

It was a nice stay. We got the room with 3 queen beds and it was a great set up for a family with kids. Rooms were very quiet and clean.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen

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

10/10 Excellent

TIM

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Isaac

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Robert

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

10/10 Excellent

Citlali

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

jeffrey

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

6/10 Okay

Adrian

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

10/10 Excellent

Tim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Breakfast has hot items, well stocked. Rooms are clean. Staff is kind and courteous. Parking is fine. Rooms are reasonably quiet. Nice place especially at its current pricing.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Easy to access. Nice room and layout. I appreciated the breakfast!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Hidden Gem

The Zen hotel is a hidden gem. It’s close to Shoreline and you can’t beat the price. It was quiet and comfortable and the complimentary breakfast included a great selection of hot and cold options.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff very friendly and responsive. Our room had a faulty window shade on arrival. It was replaced promptly when staff notified. Our room was close to staff operations so around 7am more noise from utility carts etc than preferred. We have stayed at the Zen many times and plan to return. Thanks
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

JESSICA, miami

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good stay overall. Wifi service can be improved.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Mai

Traveled with group, Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness
I stayed at this hotel recently, and while the room was generally clean and housekeeping came every day, I had a serious issue with ants. There were hundreds of ants all over the bathroom, and even on the bed in the morning. It was really unpleasant and made it difficult to relax. I also saw a few small spiders, but those didn't bother me as much. If it weren't for the ant infestation, the stay would have been fine.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

MIKE

Business traveler, Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Nice inexpensive property.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Jason, West Sacramento

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bed, sheets, and pillows were comfy. Marketed as a hotel but really a motel (room door opens to the outside). Single occupancy room is kind of small but had good amenities. Keurig coffee machine with 2 pods, microwave, and mini fridge. TV has cable but I prefer also having access to my streaming accounts. Bathroom sink area is great. Shower water pressure is excellent. Plenty of outlets and USB ports for charging up all your tech gear with a good-sized desk space for working. This is definitely a business commuter type motel, and conducive to remote workers with laptops. The complimentary daily breakfast scores high points for just existing. Most places no longer do this. Not a wide selection but a good enough selection of breakfast foods including cold cereal, waffles, bagels, muffins, scrambled eggs, sausage links, tater tots, oatmeal, apples, bananas, coffee, decaf, tea, juice, and cold drinking water. Breakfast is from 6:30am to 9:30am so make sure you get up early enough so you don't miss that window. I didn't do much walking around but there are plenty of places to shop and eat within driving distance. I was there on business so didn't have much time to explore. Surprisingly quiet with fairly soundproof walls. They have a decent gym that NOBODY seems to use. Cardio machines, a weight stack, DB tree max 50 pounds,TRX cables (nice, most hotels don't have these!), and a bench. Overall, great place to get some sleep on short trips.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025