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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property
City-center hotel within easy reach of Stanford Shopping Center

Choose dates to view prices

Nestled near Stanford University, The Cardinal Hotel offers a unique blend of art and academia. Discover the on-site art gallery, warm up by the lobby fireplace or grab a cup of coffee at the cafe. With helpful staff and free WiFi in public areas, this hotel is an ideal retreat.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Non-smoking
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Free WiFi

Main amenities (7)

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Breakfast available
  • Coffee shop/cafe
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Lobby fireplace
  • Water dispenser
  • Luggage storage

Feel at home (6)

  • Free cribs/infant beds
  • Premium TV channels
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Elevator
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Premium bedding
The current price is CNY1,097
CNY1,269 total
includes taxes & fees
Nov 16 - Nov 17

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

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(13 reviews)

Highlights

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

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  • Free breakfast
  • Pet friendly
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  • Free WiFi
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, 1,004 reviews
The price is CNY833
CNY962 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 5 - Dec 6
The Nest Hotel Palo Alto
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About the neighborhood

Map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301

What's nearby

  • Stanford Shopping Center - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Stanford Stadium - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford - 4 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Stanford University - 4 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Stanford University Medical Center - 4 min drive - 2.2 km

Getting around

  • San Carlos, CA (SQL) - 20 min drive
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 21 min drive
  • San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) - 26 min drive
  • Oakland Intl. Airport (OAK) - 37 min drive
  • Menlo Park Station - 4 min drive
  • California Ave Station - 5 min drive
  • Palo Alto Station - 6 min walk

Restaurants

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

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

When you stay at The Cardinal Hotel, you'll be within a 10-minute drive of Stanford University and San Francisco Bay. Also, Stanford University Medical Center and Shoreline Amphitheatre are within a short drive. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff and location.

At a glance

DONE

Hotel size

    • 63 rooms
    • Arranged over 3 floors
DONE

Arriving/Leaving

    • Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
    • Contactless check-in available
    • Express check-in/out available
    • Check-out time is 11:00 AM
    • Contactless check-out available
DONE

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
DONE

Required at check-in

    • Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
    • Government-issued photo ID may be required
DONE

Pets

    • Pets not allowed
    • Service animals welcome
WIFI

Internet

    • Free WiFi in public areas
LOCAL_PARKING

Parking

    • Onsite garage
    • Offsite parking within 39 ft (USD 15 per day)
DONE

Other information

    • Smoke-free property

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Full breakfast (surcharge) on weekday mornings 7:00 AM–10:00 AM
  • Coffee shop
  • Water dispenser

What to do

  • Winery tours nearby

Services

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

Facilities

  • 1 building/tower
  • Built in 1924
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Art gallery on site
  • Traditional architecture

Accessibility

  • Elevator
  • Assistive listening devices available
  • Visual fire alarm

Room amenities

Be entertained

  • 42-inch LED TV
  • Premium satellite channels

Home comfort

  • Heating
  • Ceiling fan
  • Bathrobes and slippers
  • Iron/ironing board

Sleep well

  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Down comforter
  • Premium bedding
  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Free crib/infant bed

Freshen up

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Toilet paper

Stay connected

  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Electrical adapters/chargers

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe (laptop compatible)
  • Guidebooks/recommendations
  • Local maps
  • Restaurant dining guide

Fees & policies

Optional extras

  • Full breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately USD 22 for adults and USD 22 for children

Children & extra beds

  • Rollaway beds are available for USD 20.0 per day

Parking

  • Parking is available nearby and costs USD 15 per day (39 ft away)

Policies

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector on site.
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Cashless transactions are available.
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.

Also known as

The Cardinal Hotel Hotel
The Cardinal Hotel Palo Alto
The Cardinal Hotel Hotel Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

Does The Cardinal Hotel offer free cancellation for a full refund?

Yes, The Cardinal Hotel does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.

Are pets allowed at The Cardinal Hotel?

Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.

What are the check-in and check-out times at The Cardinal Hotel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. Check-out time is 11:00 AM. Express check-in and check-out and contactless check-in and check-out are available.

What is there to do at The Cardinal Hotel and nearby?

Recommended spots to visit include Stanford Shopping Center (10-min walk) and Stanford University Medical Center (1.6 mi), along with Stanford University (1.7 mi) and Facebook Campus (3.5 mi).

What's the area around The Cardinal Hotel like?

The Cardinal Hotel is in University South, a short 6-minute walk from Palo Alto Station and 10 minutes' walk from Stanford Shopping Center. Travelers give top marks for the hotel's prime location.

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Reviews

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.6

Cleanliness

8.4

Amenities

9.4

Staff & service

9.0

Eco-friendliness

8.8

Property conditions & facilities

What guests liked

  • The property's location offers easy access to many shops and restaurants within walking distance. (6 reviews)
AI Sparkle IconFrom real guest reviews summarized by AI.

Popular mentions

Room
Location
Service staff
Restaurant
Air conditioning
History
Ambience
Building
Historical
Breakfast

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

Great.
Martha, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

The Cardinal Hotel was everything we wanted!
Marlene, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

this property is great example of historic preservation done right!
Laura, 4-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Relaxed and Refreshed

This 100 year old hotel is beautiful! Perfect location! Very clean! Super helpful and friendly staff!
Sylvia, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Jennifer, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

The hotel is 100 years old and very charming, with original tiles and features throughout. Much nicer than the usual bland hotel chains.
Andrew, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

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.
Joy, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Nice and clean bedroom, although the shared bathroom was clean all the time
Teresita, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Nice Hotel !
Misaki, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great place, loved it.

Lots of history, great location, very clean and great walking distance to many things including Stanford University.
3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great, historic Hotel!
Andrew, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Stayed here for 2 nights & was a great experience, shopping & diner literally downstairs from hotel.
Stacey, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

We enjoyed very much the location of the hotel, the staff and the shopping!
Nicholas, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Nice hotel with a good price
Kristina, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great place right in the middle of everything.
Cary, 1-night trip

8/10 Very good

Location very convenient hotel with a special old style charm
Maria Luisa, 1-night trip

8/10 Very good

Wonderful place to stay that is in the middle of wonderful dining and easy walk to Stanford
Kenneth, 1-night trip

8/10 Very good

Charming, historic hotel with simple, but clean and comfortable rooms.

10/10 Exceptional

Perfect location. Great historic hotel.
Karen, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

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.
heather renee, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

The front desk and housekeeping staff were very friendly and helpful. Hotel is in a great location near lots of shops and restaurants. Bed and bedding were comfy. Elevator door opening was a little small for moving all my belongings, but I made do. There was no air conditioning, but open window and fan worked.
2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Boutique Hotel

Charming boutique hotel in Palo Alto, near Stanford hospital.
Bradley, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

I stayed at the excellent Cardinal Hotel in Palo Alto for 2 nights for a business trip and had a wonderful, cozy stay at this unique and historic gem. I make it a point to seek out old hotels that are full of character, so this was the perfect place for me. Some of the rooms utilize a shared toilet and shower in the hall. While the whole hotel is a deal compared to surrounding options, the rooms utilizing the shared facilities are very affordable. I peeked my head in the toilet/shower and they were immaculate! They provide a robe and slippers in the room, so if you choose a room with a shared bath, you're covered, quite literally. I booked a room that had its own bathroom, and my room was cozy and clean with a comfortable bed. The walk-in shower in my room looked brand new and had great heat and pressure. The provided shampoo, conditioner, and body wash smelled and felt luxurious. There is no AC at this hotel, but the window opened, which was such a treat on a delightfully cool fall night. I adore a fresh breeze, so I was happy. The sounds of the city floated in, and I even enjoyed a multimedia art installation projected on a nearby building one evening—built-in entertainment for the win. By 1030, it was quiet, however, and I slept soundly until the morning. If you're a noise-sensitive person, you might want a more modern option, but I had a blast.
Christine, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Quaint, updated older hotel
Lana, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Best location thank you!
Alison, 1-night trip