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Luxury
4.0 star property
9.4

Exceptional

Italian elegance near Palo Alto's heart

Transported to Italy with charming decor, this boutique hotel offers beautifully appointed rooms and a cozy fireplace. Enjoy a perfect location near downtown Palo Alto's restaurants and shops, complemented by soft linens and comfortable beds for a relaxing stay.

Popular amenities

  • Room service
  • Bar
  • Parking available
  • Breakfast available
  • Pet friendly

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 12 of 12 rooms

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Fireplace

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Fireplace | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Fireplace

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Fireplace
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
  • 46 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Down duvet
  • 28 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(9 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Down duvet
  • 37 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(7 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Down duvet
  • 37 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Courtyard King Suite, Balcony

Courtyard King Suite, Balcony | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Courtyard King Suite, Balcony

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Separate bedroom
  • 46 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed

Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed | Living area | 49-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels, TV

Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed

Highlights

Balcony
Separate sitting area
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
  • 46 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe King Room

  • Sleeps 2

Deluxe Queen Room

  • Sleeps 2

Deluxe Queen Queen

  • Sleeps 4

Courtyard Deluxe Fireplace King With Balcony

  • Sleeps 2

Deluxe King Suite With Balcony

  • Sleeps 2

Deluxe King Room With Fireplace

  • Sleeps 3

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About the neighborhood

Map
520 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301

What's nearby

  • Stanford Shopping Center - 11 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Stanford Stadium - 4 min drive - 1.2 miles
  • Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford - 4 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Stanford University - 4 min drive - 1.6 miles
  • Stanford University Medical Center - 5 min drive - 1.6 miles

Getting around

  • Palo Alto Station - 10 min walk
  • San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Blue Bottle Coffee - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Marugame Udon - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Cafe Venetia - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Tamarine Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Joe & The Juice - ‬1 min walk

About this property

el PRADO

Boutique family-friendly hotel near Stanford University
You can look forward to a terrace, a garden, and a hair salon at el PRADO. The on-site Italian cuisine restaurant, Il Fornaio, offers lunch and dinner. In addition to a library and dry cleaning/laundry services, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi, with speed of 25+ Mbps.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
  • Limo/town car service, full breakfast (surcharge), and valet parking (surcharge)
  • Express check-out, smoke-free premises, and concierge services
  • A porter/bellhop, coffee/tea in the lobby, and luggage storage
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All 62 individually furnished rooms offer comforts such as 24-hour room service and premium bedding, in addition to perks like pillow menus and laptop-compatible safes.
More amenities include:
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding, Egyptian cotton sheets, and pillowtop mattresses
  • Bathrooms with designer toiletries and showers
  • 49-inch HDTVs with premium channels
  • Balconies, electric kettles, and daily housekeeping

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  • Hot Tub
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Limo/town car service
  • Valet parking on site (USD 35 per night; includes in/out privileges)
  • Extended parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee: USD 10 to 100 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Restaurants on site

  • Il Fornaio
  • Il Fornaio

Things to do

  • Gym
  • Library
  • Piano
  • TV in common areas

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Hair salon
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 24-hour business center
  • 7,000 square feet of conference space
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Terrace

Spa

  • In-room massages

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
  • Elevator
  • Hand-held showerhead
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Height-adjustable showerhead
  • Visual alarms in hallways
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible business center
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchairs on site

More

  • 1 building
  • 4 floors
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1986
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Down comforter
  • Egyptian cotton sheets
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Pillow menu
  • Pillowtop mattress

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 49-inch flat-screen TV with premium digital channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Champagne service
  • Electric kettle
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Free daily newspapers
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop-compatible safe
  • Phone

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
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 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

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 75 per pet, per stay
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total (up to 70 lbs per pet)
Pets cannot be left unattended
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Food and water bowls are available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 17 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 25.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately USD 10 to 100 per person
  • Valet parking fee: USD 35 per night (in/out privileges)
  • Pet fee: USD 75 per pet, per stay
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 25.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

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
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Court Garden Hotel
Garden Court
Garden Court Hotel
Garden Court Hotel Palo Alto
Garden Court Palo Alto
el PRADO Hotel
el PRADO Palo Alto
Garden Court Hotel
el PRADO Hotel Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

Is el PRADO pet-friendly?

Yes, this hotel allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 70 lbs per pet. There's a fee of USD 75 per pet, per stay. Service animals are exempt from fees. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking?

Valet parking is available for USD 35 per night.

What time is check-in at el PRADO?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. A fee applies for early check-in (subject to availability).

What time is check-out at el PRADO?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).

Where is el PRADO located?

This family-friendly Palo Alto hotel is located near the airport, within a 15-minute walk of Silicon Valley and Stanford Shopping Center. Stanford University is 2 mi (3.3 km) away. Palo Alto Station is 10 minutes by foot.

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Reviews

el PRADO Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

9.8

Cleanliness

9.6

Location

9.4

Staff & service

9.2

Eco-friendliness

9.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 473 out of 605 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 88 out of 605 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 25 out of 605 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 9 out of 605 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 605 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cora

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic location. Helpful staff. Comfortable rooms.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

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

Paris in Palo Alto

Felt like being in Paris. Love this hotel!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sharieff

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location, beautiful and well maintained hotel. Will definitely be coming back.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Gorgeous hotel. Perfect location to attend sports event at Stanford University.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Belinda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, quiet, beautiful. Why stay anywhere else?
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Guadalupe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I always stayed there every time I go to Palo Alto. The hotel is really cozy, very well located and the people it’s very friendly. The rooms are spacious and I love the decoration
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Howard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely hotel with newly renovated rooms. Great area in downtown Palo Alto.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A delightful hotel in Palo Alto! We will definitely be returning any time we are in the area. It was close to restaurants and shops, clean and charming.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

George

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

El Prado Palo Alto

Fantastic property with well trained customer friendly folks ready to help you with anything you need. Highlight however was the quality and comfort of the bed and linens. Top notch. We will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Donald

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good room service but not so sure about the coffee shop
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Teresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We’ve stayed at Prado 6-8x over last 2 years … and it remains our “ go to” in Palo Alto for 1-5 days stays. The rooms are lovely — nice linens, towels, good black out curtains etc - and service is awesome!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alinaghi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent service. Thanks for everyone for making it special.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is a great boutique hotel. The rooms are large and very pretty and clean. We had a odd smell from the carpet cleaning going on in the hall that made the room smell a bit too. Seemed odd to do it on the weekend. Parking is expensive. The staff is super nice and very helpful. I'd stay here again for sure.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gennesis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It is mainly in room dining, there’s only a lounge to dine in… but the property is very pretty and the rooms are fabulous
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Great stay - big, well appointed rooms in an excellent location
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Liz

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Super friendly staff. Pet friendly. Walking distance to shops and restaurants.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rachid

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

Loved it!

In the heart of Palo Alto next to all the restaurants. We took 2 suites. Both on the 4th floor. Excellent layout, sunlight, furniture, bedding and bathroom cleanliness. Boutique hotel lived up to our expectations from the valet to housekeeping. If you have a room facing the courtyard, expect a bit of echo from the il fornaio terrace downstairs but it is not significant. Definitely coming back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Terry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Location amazing - rooms large, clean and well furnished. Front desk helpful and pleasant. Maintenance slow and low standard ( took 24 hours to get a simple sink “ stopper” fixed — and
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Palo Altoではこのホテルが一番です。

従業員皆親切です。各フロアに朝コーヒーおいてあり、客室も素敵です。Palo Altoでの滞在にはこのホテルがBESTです。
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

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

10/10 Excellent

Carlos

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay in downtown Palo Alto. Rooms are neat.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice rooms.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicole

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Overall great stay. The hotel is in a great location to downtown with plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lourdes

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed here as guests for a wedding reception in the hotel. It is in a very good location in downtown Palo Alto. Beautiful classic interior decor, super quiet rooms, friendly service, easy city parking across the street and next door, with high speed EV chargers, in addition to valet parking in the hotel. The Italian restaurant, Il Fornaio, is next door to the hotel and convenient, where the rehearsal dinner took place. The reception in the hotel was amazing, the food was delicious, especially the abundant hours d'oeuvres, and charcuterie boards. The service was outstanding, and the facilities were beautiful and well maintained. We truly enjoyed our stay, and would highly recommend for a wedding reception.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marcia E.

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautifully restored hotel, very charming. Staff were gracious and attentive. Lovely room decor.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

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