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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel near Stanford University in Palo Alto

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Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior
Family dining
Exterior
Room amenity
Lobby sitting area

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

View in a map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
  • Place, Stanford University
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Stanford Shopping Center
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Stanford Stadium
    ‪19 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

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

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

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

7.6 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

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
(8 reviews)
  • 250 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)
  • City view
  • 260 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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Exterior

Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

University South
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, 347 reviews
$238 nightly
The price is $275
Jul 17 - Jul 18
Total with taxes and fees
Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

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

  • Stanford Theatre - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Downtown Palo Alto Farmers' Market - 3 min walk - 0.2 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
  • ‪Hidden Tap and Barrel - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Pho Ha Noi - ‬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
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.

Similar properties

Property grounds
Creekside Inn
Barron Park
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
4.6 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,840 reviews
$124 nightly
The price is $144
Jul 25 - Jul 26
Total with taxes and fees
Creekside Inn

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room crib

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Offsite parking available (USD 20 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 20 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.

How much does it cost to stay at The Cardinal Hotel?

As of Jul 11, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Cardinal Hotel on Jul 17, 2026 start from $175, including 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 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. 313 out of 461 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 84 out of 461 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 38 out of 461 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 16 out of 461 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 461 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

James

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

10/10 Excellent

Jesper

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

10/10 Excellent

Kasey

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

10/10 Excellent

Mary

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

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

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

10/10 Excellent

robert

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

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

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

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Great!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

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

10/10 Excellent

Paul

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

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
Verified

8/10 Good

sneha

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Location
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Aaron

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Liked proximity to Stanford University.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Grace

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Smooth check-in/check-out process, comfortable + clean room!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful Ambiance and very comfy beds
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Parking was easy and the neighborhood was fantastic. Very comfortable room, would have been nice to have a small fridge but it was a great stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ligia María

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
All thinks was very very nice
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nathan

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marlene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Cardinal Hotel was everything we wanted!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Ideal for public transportation and walking to restaurants and theaters. Sweet older hotel with charm.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

denise

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location. Lots of shops and restaurants nearby. For being 100 years old the hotel is very clean
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Ana Paula

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful traditional hotel with spotless bathrooms and comfortable rooms. Staff were not enthusiastic. I hope they have a fair salary.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This was a great place to stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location was fantastic and hotel was beautiful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

FLORENCE

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I like the easy access to shopping and dining. A short walk to Caltrains station is great.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025