See all properties

The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel near Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto

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 comforters, pillowtop 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 comforters, pillowtop beds

Economy Single Room, 1 Queen Bed, Shared Bathroom

  • 130 sq ft
  • 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

  • 250 sq ft
  • 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 | Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

  • City view
  • 260 sq ft
  • 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

  • 250 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

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

  • 250 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

You may also like

Ad
Lobby

Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

University South
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
4.6 out of 5, Wonderful, 169 reviews
The price is $262
includes taxes & fees
$227 per night
Apr 25 - Apr 26
Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

About the neighborhood

Palo Alto

University South stay.With a stay at this University South hotel, you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Stanford Shopping Center and 2 miles (3 km) of Stanford University Medical Center. Also, Stanford University is within 2 miles (3 km) and Facebook Campus is within 6 miles (10 km).

What's nearby

  • Stanford Shopping Center - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford - 4 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Stanford Stadium - 4 min drive - 1.3 miles
  • Stanford University - 5 min drive - 1.9 miles
  • Stanford University Medical Center - 5 min drive - 1.9 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Verve Coffee Roasters - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Salt & Straw - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Nola - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Pho Ha Noi - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Pizza My Heart - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel near Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto
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.

  • 1 building
  • 63 guestrooms or units
  • 3 levels
  • Built in 1924
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Water dispenser
  • Coffee shop
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.

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Similar properties

Exterior

Creekside Inn

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
4.5 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,430 reviews
$104 per night
The price is $120
Apr 20 - Apr 21
All taxes and fees included in total
Creekside Inn

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room crib

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

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

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 42-inch LED TV with premium satellite channels

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

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)!

Property payment types

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

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

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

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Cardinal Hotel to the airport?

The Cardinal Hotel is 10 mi (20-min drive) away from the San Carlos, CA (SQL) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Cardinal Hotel?

As of Apr 17, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Cardinal Hotel on Apr 26, 2025 start from $172.0, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does The Cardinal Hotel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Cardinal Hotel.

How close is The Cardinal Hotel to the beach?

This hotel is 12.7 mi (24-min drive) from Lakeshore Park Beach.

Does The Cardinal Hotel offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at The Cardinal Hotel, but full breakfast is offered for a fee of USD 22 for adults and USD 22 for children.

Is there a casino at The Cardinal Hotel?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at The Cardinal Hotel?

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

Is there free parking at The Cardinal Hotel?

Free parking is not available at this hotel.

Does The Cardinal Hotel have a pool?

The Cardinal Hotel does not have a pool.

Does The Cardinal Hotel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is The Cardinal Hotel to downtown Palo Alto?

The Cardinal Hotel is 1 mi away from Palo Alto.

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 182 out of 273 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 54 out of 273 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 23 out of 273 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 273 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 273 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

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 traveler
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 traveler

Traveled 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

Traveled 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

Traveled with group, Business traveler
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 traveler

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

Traveled 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

8/10 Good

heather renee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This historic hotel is lovely. It has a great location. I had a room directly over the restaurant, so the smell of breakfast and preparing food was very noticeable.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rongnan

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Huaying

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

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness

Overnight on weekend

Good location but facility really needs an up grade!! Elevators are 16th century — the one existing is shared with house keeping and I ended climbing 3 flights of stairs EVERY time I went to my room!!! Bags and all! The windows are old and need to be refurbished — was on 3rd floor and street noise very audible. Breakfast at Bistro “ quaint” but not up to Palo Alto standards and basic at best.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024