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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property
Art lovers appreciate the on-site gallery at The Cardinal Hotel while history buffs can explore nearby Stanford University's collections

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Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior - The Cardinal Hotel (Palo Alto)
Family dining - The Cardinal Hotel (Palo Alto)
Room amenity - The Cardinal Hotel (Palo Alto)
Lobby sitting area - The Cardinal Hotel (Palo Alto)
Designer store - The Cardinal Hotel (Palo Alto)
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

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

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 4 of 4 rooms

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

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(14 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Down duvet
Egyptian cotton linens
Premium bedding
Portable fan
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 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

7.2 out of 10
Good
(12 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Down duvet
Egyptian cotton linens
Premium bedding
Portable fan
  • 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 | Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(7 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Down duvet
Egyptian cotton linens
Premium bedding
Portable fan
  • 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 | 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)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Down duvet
Egyptian cotton linens
Premium bedding
Portable fan
  • City view
  • 24 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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About the neighborhood

Located in University South, a neighborhood in Palo Alto, The Cardinal Hotel is near the airport and near a train station. The area's natural beauty can be seen at San Francisco Bay, while Shoreline Amphitheatre and Computer History Museum are cultural highlights. Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center are two other places to visit that come recommended. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including winery tours. Visit our Palo Alto travel guide
Map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301

What's nearby

  • 0_170096217
    Stanford University
    5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • girl holding shopping bags on sunny day outdoors
    Stanford Shopping Center
    6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Stanford University Medical Center
    Stanford University Medical Center
    4 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Stanford Theatre
    2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Stanford Stadium
    18 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
  • Maruwu Seicha 丸宇製茶
    2 min walk
  • Hidden Tap and Barrel
    3 min walk
  • Curry Pizza House Palo Alto
    3 min walk
  • Ramen Nagi
    2 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel near Stanford University
Located close to Stanford Shopping Center and Stanford University Medical Center, 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
  • An elevator, luggage storage, and smoke-free premises
  • A water dispenser and a 24-hour front desk
  • 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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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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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 a 10-minute walk of Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center. Stanford University Medical Center and Facebook Campus are also within 6 mi (10 km). Palo Alto Station is 6 minutes by foot.

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Reviews

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.6

Cleanliness

8.4

Amenities

9.4

Staff & service

8.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 256 out of 387 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 73 out of 387 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 36 out of 387 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 13 out of 387 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 387 reviews

Reviews

8/10 Good

Aaron

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

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

Min

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was super clean, operable window for fresh air. Provide slippers, post card, feel so welcome. Definitely will stay in this hotel next time visit Palo Alto.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 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

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

Margaret

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
First night shower didn’t have hot water, could only get lukewarm. Hotel is marvelous piece of history. Location is ideal.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 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

Catherine

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yanhua

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quiet, convenient for shopping and transportation.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Charming, good location.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great, historic Hotel!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Florinda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff are amazing! My stay was wonderful! Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
great location
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne

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

10/10 Excellent

Stacey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed here for 2 nights & was a great experience, shopping & diner literally downstairs from hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We enjoyed very much the location of the hotel, the staff and the shopping!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shuji

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location and culture.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christine

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Loved the proximity to Stanford and the historical charm!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location and easy access to all downtown amenities.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024