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The Cardinal Hotel

Property class: 2.5
Hotel near Stanford University in Palo Alto

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior
Family dining
Designer store
Room amenity
Lobby sitting area

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

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

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 University Medical Center
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • 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

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)
  • 23 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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)
  • 23 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(7 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • 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

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)
  • City view
  • 24 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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About the area

Palo Alto

University South stay.Within a 10-minute walk of this University South hotel, you'll find Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center. Also, Stanford University Medical Center is within 2 miles (3 km) and Facebook Campus is within 6 miles (10 km).

What's nearby

  • Stanford University - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Stanford Shopping Center - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Stanford Stadium - 19 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Stanford University Medical Center - 4 min drive - 2.5 km

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
  • ‪Hidden Tap and Barrel - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Maruwu Seicha 丸宇製茶 - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Ramen Nagi - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel near Stanford University 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.

Similar properties

Property grounds
Creekside Inn
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  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
4.5 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,759 reviews
The price is CA $97
CA $137 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 25 - Apr 26
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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room crib

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

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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 20 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, a fire extinguisher, 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, a fire extinguisher, 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 23, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Cardinal Hotel on May 24, 2026 start from CA $192, 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.

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. 280 out of 418 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 78 out of 418 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 36 out of 418 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 14 out of 418 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 418 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

E. Lloyd

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Marc

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Deanna

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Liovardo

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Helen

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Aaron

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

10/10 Excellent

Maksym

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

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

10/10 Excellent

Judy

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Parking was somewhat easy. Staff were very accommodating. Ships were available and suitable. I loved the experience
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

MARIA

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Arthur

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Brian

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vinie Marwa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
all of the above
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ligia María

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
All thinks was very very nice
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Zach

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Parking was easy and the neighborhood was fantastic. Very comfortable room, would have been nice to have a small fridge but it was a great stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Harold T

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very nice
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Grace

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Smooth check-in/check-out process, comfortable + clean room!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Kelvin

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Jennifer

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

8/10 Good

Tom

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great location but the room was too warm, even turning off the radiator in the room.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

4/10 Poor

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
Didnt park. Great shops. But no thermostat, had to use portable heater and windows. Thus very uncomfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Linda

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Ideal for public transportation and walking to restaurants and theaters. Sweet older hotel with charm.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Zeqiong

Stayed 1 night in Nov 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