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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior
Designer store
Designer store
Lobby sitting area
Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets, pillow-top beds

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
  • Stanford Shopping Center
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Stanford University
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Stanford University Medical Center
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Economy Single Room, 1 Queen Bed, Shared Bathroom

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets, pillow-top beds

Economy Single Room, 1 Queen Bed, Shared Bathroom

  • 12 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

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

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets, pillow-top beds

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom

  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

  • City view
  • 24 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

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

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets, pillow-top beds

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

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Exterior

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includes taxes & fees
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About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel with a 24-hour front desk, a quick walk to Stanford Shopping Center
This smoke-free hotel features a coffee shop/cafe, a 24-hour front desk, and express check-in. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, express check-out and a lobby fireplace are onsite.
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.

Our customers tell us they can't get enough of the helpful staff at The Cardinal Hotel. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Stanford Theatre. Free WiFi in public areas, a coffee shop/cafe, and breakfast (surcharge) are available.
  • Free WiFi in some public areas
  • Enjoy a bite to eat at the coffee shop/cafe
  • Full breakfast served weekdays for a fee
  • Amenities include an elevator, a lobby fireplace, and a water dispenser
  • Guests have great things to say about the helpful staff and the location
  • 10 minutes by foot from Stanford Shopping Center and a 5-minute drive from Stanford University
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.

For a fee, guests can enjoy full breakfast on weekdays from 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 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

Family friendly

  • Free cot

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Guidebooks
  • Luggage storage
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

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
  • Lift
  • Visual fire alarm

Room amenities

Bedroom

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

Bathroom

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

Entertainment

  • 42-inch LED TV with premium satellite channels

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

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)!

Payment types at the property

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

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
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
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking.

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

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 183 out of 275 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 54 out of 275 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 23 out of 275 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 275 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 275 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

10/10 Excellent

Summer

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mariela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Gorgeous historic hotel; with clean, comfortable, and pretty rooms. In a great location. And very nice staff.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Youngjun

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne

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

Will stay here again

We absolutely loved our stay here! The hotel was right in Palo Alto among many restaurants, coffee shops, and an easy walk to the Stanford shuttle. The beds were super comfortable and the lobby was a great place to sit and read by the fireplace.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Sandra

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

DONGMAN

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nathan

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Chris

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Briana

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great place, loved it.

Lots of history, great location, very clean and great walking distance to many things including Stanford University.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marco

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tommy

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tommy

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Qiying Ann, ames

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
pretty nice traditional hotel.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mario

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A very special place with history! We really loved it. The bed was like sleeping on a cloud, very comfortable. Also the Christmas decoration in the hotel lobby was fabulous. A nice place to drink complimentary tee or coffee and enjoy the ambience.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Business traveller, Travelled with group
Peace and quiet but missing champagne
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Kate

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

DINGZHU, Palo Alto

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The hotel staff is very friendly and helpful. Room is clean. However the room is way too hot. I turned off the heating completely, with the ceiling fan on, still way too hot. Had to open the window facing the streets, and left it open throughout my whole 2-day stay just to not be too hot. The bed in my room is very uncomfortable. It gave me a severe lower back pain after the first night.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

CMI

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

lisa

Overall good but bring earplugs in case it’s trash day.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

John

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

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

Walk to Everything

Love the location, very walkable. Parking is nearby and mostly free. Older building, but comfortable rooms. We don't need amenities, just a place to sleep.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Antonius

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Louis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I slept very well there. The staff is nice. Thanks!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Edward

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
Location is excellent and old world charm is lovely. Service was average and it didn't appear that there was much effort to improve the customer experience. One thermos of coffee offered in the lobby . Always empty by 8 am and cold. Tv channels very limited. Seems like the attitude is "we have a great location, so don't have to provide service"
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024