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The Cardinal Hotel

Property class: 2.5

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Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

A grand lobby with a high ceiling, a central fireplace, and ornate columns.
A grand lobby with a fireplace, two armchairs, a large rug, and a staircase.
A walk-in closet with a white robe hanging on a rack, a wooden hanger rod, and a black hairdryer on a shelf.
A historic building with a prominent corner entrance, large windows, and a red awning.
A restaurant with wooden tables and chairs, a waiter walking by, and shelves with bottles and framed pictures on the walls.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk
The current price is $178
$154 nightly
$178 total
Total with taxes and fees
Aug 21 - Aug 22

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

A hotel room with a large bed, two bedside tables with lamps, a chair, and a desk.

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

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

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

A neatly made bed with a quilted headboard, white bedding, and a single decorative pillow with a monogram.

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

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, and a chair.

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

A hotel room with a bed, a desk with a laptop, a chair, and two windows with blinds.

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
Best Western Plus Riviera
Menlo Park
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  • Parking included
  • Air conditioning
4.1 out of 5, Very Good, 746 reviews
$143 nightly
The price is $165
Sep 5 - Sep 6
Total with taxes and fees
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About the neighborhood

Palo Alto

With a stay at The Cardinal Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Palo Alto, within a 10-minute walk of Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center. .This hotel is 1.9 mi (3 km) from Stanford University Medical Center and 3.5 mi (5.7 km) from Facebook Campus.

What's nearby

  • Stanford Theatre - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Stanford University - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Stanford University Arboretum - 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
  • ‪Macarena - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Patio - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Pho Ha Noi - ‬3 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

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.

Stay in one of 63 guestrooms featuring LED televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with down comforters and Egyptian cotton sheets. Satellite television is provided for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature bathtubs or showers, designer toiletries, and hair dryers.
Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless internet access and a fireplace in the lobby.
Satisfy your appetite at the hotel's coffee shop/cafe. Full breakfasts are served on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and a 24-hour front desk.
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM on weekdays.

Property amenities

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

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 20 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, a fire extinguisher, 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

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 326 out of 476 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 84 out of 476 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 39 out of 476 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 17 out of 476 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 476 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Barry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location for good restaurants and shops.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place. Location 10/10. Staff was amazinig!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Andreas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms are clean, staff was wonderful, public parking in walking distance, shops and restaurants around the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Susana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location and close by parking and car charging.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

James

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

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 review

10/10 Excellent

elias

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hotel is beautifully maintained, and the room was very clean. Even though it’s over 100 years old, the hotel has been thoughtfully updated with plenty of charging ports and modern conveniences to accommodate guests. Truly an amazing hotel, not to mention it’s surrounded by plenty of great restaurants within walking distance.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

GERRY

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean, staff are helpful and friendly. Its in the heart of downtown Palo Alto so there are restaurants and shops nearby. Even though the hotel has no parking, there were ample street and structure parking every where
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Danielle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to downtown. Clean and reasonable price
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Mary

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

10/10 Excellent

Glen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
One-hundred-year-old hotel in the heart of Palo Alto, with walking to all the shops, Whole Foods, restaurants and the theater. The rooms are comfortable, the beds very nice, and the staff is terrific. If you don't have a car, it's a perfect location.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

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

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

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

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Charles

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
it was awesome
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

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 review

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Great!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified review

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 review

8/10 Good

sneha

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

8/10 Good

Aaron

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

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 review

8/10 Good

Jennifer

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

8/10 Good

Dean

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A historic hotel over 100 years old with a lot of character. No A/C but it was fine during our stay in May. I would imagine it might be uncomfortable during the hot summer months. The ceiling fan worked well and was very quiet. There was also another portable fan in the closet but we didn't need it. Staff was fantastic.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026