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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel with a coffee shop, a quick walk to Stanford Shopping Center

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior
Lobby sitting area
1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters
Business center
Designer store
The Cardinal Hotel, steps from Stanford University, blends art and academia. Guests browse the hotel's art gallery, relax by the lobby fireplace, or enjoy coffee at the café. Helpful staff and free WiFi in public areas ensure a comfortable and connected stay.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

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

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 4 of 4 rooms

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

1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(12 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Ceiling fan
Separate bedroom
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

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

1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom

7.2 out of 10
Good
(12 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Ceiling fan
Separate bedroom
  • 23 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 | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Ceiling fan
Separate bedroom
  • 23 sq m
  • 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 | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Ceiling fan
Separate bedroom
  • 24 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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About the neighborhood

Map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301

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 - 2 min drive - 1.0 mile
  • Stanford University - 2 min drive - 1.1 miles
  • Stanford University Medical Center - 3 min drive - 1.2 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Nola - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Pizza My Heart - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Ramen Nagi - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Nobu Palo Alto - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Meyhouse - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel near Stanford Shopping Center
Located close to Stanford University Medical Center and Stanford University, The Cardinal Hotel provides an art gallery on site, a coffee shop/cafe, and a fireplace in the lobby. Stay connected with free WiFi in public areas.
Other perks at this hotel include:
  • Full breakfast (surcharge), express check-out, and express check-in
  • A water dispenser, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage
  • Smoke-free premises and an elevator
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff and location
Room features
All 63 rooms have comforts such as premium bedding and laptop-compatible safes, as well as thoughtful touches like laptop-friendly workspaces and bathrobes. Guest reviews speak well of the clean rooms at the property.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Heating and ceiling fans
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding, Egyptian cotton sheets, and pillowtop mattresses
  • Designer toiletries, tubs or showers, and hair dryers
  • 42-inch LED TVs with premium channels
  • Wardrobes/closets, free infant beds, and daily housekeeping

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  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
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Property amenities

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

Family friendly

  • In-room crib

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
  • Elevator
  • Visual fire alarm

More

  • 1 building
  • 3 floors
  • Built in 1924
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

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

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

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per day
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • 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

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, 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

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the 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

Is The Cardinal Hotel pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

What time is check-in at The Cardinal Hotel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at The Cardinal Hotel?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Cardinal Hotel located?

Located in University South, this hotel is within 2 mi (3 km) of Stanford Shopping Center, Stanford University Medical Center, and Stanford University. Facebook Campus and San Francisco Bay are also within 6 mi (10 km). Palo Alto Station is 6 minutes by foot.

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The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 232 out of 351 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 65 out of 351 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 33 out of 351 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 12 out of 351 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 351 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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location. Clean and comfortable. The shared bathrooms were not a problem as we never had to wait or even encounter other guests.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Simon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Excellent
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

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

10/10 Excellent

Nathan

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

10/10 Excellent

Michal Ravid

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
An impressive historic landmark, staff is friendly, rooms & facilities are clean, in the center of Stanford.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Laurel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Simple, older rooms. Clean. Had wooden shades but weren’t blackout which would have been better. Great location!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
this property is great example of historic preservation done right!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Levon

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

10/10 Excellent

Paul

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

Jagdeep Singh

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Thanks for the great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel itself is dated compared to current big brand hotels but it’s charming and in a great spot. Walking distance to shopping and restaurants. Parking can be tricky. Super clean, kind and helpful staff and the rooms are nice.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The hotel is 100 years old and very charming, with original tiles and features throughout. Much nicer than the usual bland hotel chains.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Noelle

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

Beautiful History

Beautifully maintained historic hotel. Staff is incredibly helpful and kind. Absolutely loved. The only drawback is no air conditioning and you have to leave the window open to get air which unfortunately due to the prime location, cars people, trains, etc are very loud.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura

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

Perfect Historic Hotel!

The only place we stay in Palo Alto! Perfect location, easy (free) parking curbside and walkable to restaurants, cocktails/wine bars, shopping, and historic Stanford Theater! Front desk staff is always friendly and helpful. Quiet and comfortable!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gumaro

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Gorgeous hotel
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Y

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Front desk ladies are super helpful and nice. Hotel rooms are clean, neat, and quiet. Historical evaluator is fun. Super close to restaurants and markets. Good stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Victoria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The staff members are amazing! Super cozy and clean
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane

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

10/10 Excellent

Joy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Charming vintage gem in Palo Alto. Our room was clean with a private bathroom. The staff was friendly and helpful. The location can’t be beat with restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops and a short walk to Stanford University. Cardinal Hotel has character, history and a central location. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Teresita

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice and clean bedroom, although the shared bathroom was clean all the time
Stayed 1 night in Jun 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

8/10 Good

Qiying Ann

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

10/10 Excellent

Coromoto

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

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