279 reviews
From
$193235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, 94301, California, United States
279 reviews
1/29
Restaurant
Free wifi
24-hour front desk
Non-smoking rooms
Elevator
View
Upper floors accessible by elevator
Extra long beds (> 6.5 ft)
Cardinal Hotel is a 3-star retreat in Palo Alto, California, United States. Address: 235 Hamilton Ave. Located about 1mi from the city center, it has 279 reviews and price starts from $193.
Featured amenities include Parking (extra charges), Restaurant, Wifi (free), Golf course (extra charges), 24-hour front desk, Non-smoking rooms, Elevator, View, Extra long beds (> 6.5 ft), Bathtub, Upper floors accessible by elevator, and Free toiletries.
Travelers will appreciate the practical comforts: free Wifi, a 24-hour front desk, and easy access to upper floors by elevator, along with features like a bathtub, extra long beds, a view, and free toiletries.
Bistro Maxine sits in the same building, a standalone French dining spot offering breakfast and lunch. The atmosphere leans FamilyFriendly and Traditional, making it a relaxed, tasty option without leaving the property.
Practical perks include free Wifi, a 24-hour front desk, and easy access to upper floors by elevator, along with thoughtful touches like a bathtub, extra-long beds, a view, and free toiletries. Parking is available for an extra charge, and a nearby golf course can be reached for an additional fee. Payments can be made with Mastercard, Visa, or American Express, and cash is not accepted.
Room options cover a range, including Economy with a Queen bed and shared bathroom, Economy with a Single bed and shared bathroom, Deluxe Corner with a King bed and private bathroom, Standard with a King bed and private bathroom, Standard with a Queen bed and private bathroom, and Standard 2 Double with private bathroom.
Closest airports
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
14miSan Francisco International Airport
16.9miOakland International Airport
20.1miStockton Metropolitan Airport
59.3miMonterey Regional Airport
61.8miRestaurant
Free wifi
24-hour front desk
Non-smoking rooms
Elevator
View
Upper floors accessible by elevator
Extra long beds (> 6.5 ft)
Free toiletries
Bathtub
Standard, Shared Bathroom
1 Queen Size Bed
140 sqft
City view
Flat-screen TV
Upper floors accessible by elevator
x4
+
x3
More details
The bathroom for this room is located in the hallway and shared by other guests. Room includes a flat-screen satellite TV, a desk and a seating area.
Standard, Queen Size
1 Queen Size Bed
225 sqft
City view
Private Bathroom
Bathtub
Flat-screen TV
x4
+
x3
More details
This room features a flat-screen satellite TV, a work desk and a private bathroom.
Show 6 photos
Economy, Queen Size, Single Use, Shared Bathroom
1 Queen Size Bed
More details
Show 9 photos
Deluxe Corner, King Size, Private Bathroom
1 King Size Bed
Private Bathroom
More details
Show 5 photos
Standard, King Size, Private Bathroom
1 King Size Bed
Private Bathroom
More details
Show 4 photos
Standard, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom
2 Double Beds
Private Bathroom
More details
Show 4 photos
Superior, King Size
1 King Size Bed
Flat-screen TV
+
More details
Show 3 photos
Standard, Queen Size, Private Bathroom
1 Queen Size Bed
Private Bathroom
More details
Show 3 photos
Deluxe, King Size
1 King Size Bed
20 sqft
City view
Private Bathroom
Bathtub
Coffee machine
x4
+
x3
More details
Standard, King Size
1 King Size Bed
225 sqft
City view
Private Bathroom
Bathtub
Flat-screen TV
x4
+
x3
More details
Standard, 2 Double Beds
2 Double Beds
225 sqft
City view
Private Bathroom
Bathtub
Flat-screen TV
+
More details
Show 5 photos
Standard Room
Flat-screen TV
x10
+
x6
More details
8.2
279 reviewsCategories of assessments
Cleanliness
Comfort
Location
Facilities
Staff
Value for money
WiFi quality
Featured reviews:
Nesa
8.2
August 2025
The hotel was quaint and in a terrific location. Clean, comfortable and quiet rooms. Staff was friendly and helpful.
We requested a mini fridge in each room and were not told when we checked in that would be an extra charge. The charge should be disclosed at check in and should not be added to the room charge unless the customer consents to the charge. Also, breakfast is not provided on Mondays because the restaurant is closed. We paid an additional $52 for breakfast and were told at check in this would be refunded. I have requested that booking.com refund these charges ASAP.
Heather
8.2
October 2024
The property itself is old but that gives it a lot of charm, including an elevator you open and close yourself with a sliding door. The staff were all very friendly and the location is fantastic: right in the middle of things in Palo Alto, very walkable. The shared bathrooms were a bit of a concern at first but I didn't run into any problems with them. They were all clean and well-kept and I didn't have to wait at all. The provided robe and slippers were very comfortable and a nice touch.
As others have said, there isn't any AC, but I found myself comfortable with the window open and the fan they provide. The room was on the smaller side; it was fine for me but I think with two it would be pretty tight.
Nelson
8.2
October 2024
The location was fantastic - downtown Palo Alto, near train station and plenty of dining options. The rooms are spacious and clean. Staff is helpful.
I knew that there would be a dorm style shared bathroom, although I hadn't appreciated fully how it might affect my stay. While very clean and bright, it did make the stay less comfortable. There is a separate bathroom and separate shower room. We paid what was likely full price for the room (in admittedly a busy period) so the value for money was less than ideal.
Stephen
9.1
May 2025
Comfortable hotel in a good location and one of the few places in Palo Alto that allowed a very late night booking and check-in far after midnight.
I understand that this is Palo Alto, but it is difficult to understand paying the rate that I did for a shared (and to be fair, generally clean) bathroom.
John
9.1
September 2023
The location can't be beat--it's in the center of downtown and not a bad walk to Stanford University. Room prices are more affordable than competing hotels in the area. There is no shortage of great restaurants nearby. And the lobby is beautiful and inviting.
This hotel doesn't have air conditioning, some rooms have shared bathrooms, and you must park at public garages because there is no parking at the hotel. That being said, each room has a ceiling fan and the hotel provides an individual fan in the closet. Most rooms have their own bathroom. And public parking is generally very available at the Palo Alto City Hall (and free on the weekends). Unfortunately, there are no screens on the windows to prevent bugs from entering if the window is open.
Stefan
8.2
March 2025
The location is great - easy to find, plenty of restaurants and coffee shops nearby, train station just a few minutes away. The team was awesome - very friendly and hospitable!
Probably the only thing i didn't like was the shared bathroom, but I was aware of this when i booked, so no blame on the hotel!
Natalie
10
March 2023
I needed to be in Palo Alto for the weekend to go to a Stanford program. I loved that most of the workflow (check-in and check-out) with the hotel was done via email and self-serve. It made everything super easy and quick. The hotel was also very centrally located meaning I could walk to all the major areas (Uni Ave, etc) and it took me about 30min to walk to the Stanford campus. The hotel was clean, organized and was functional. I found the bed and pillows to be comfortable and I had lots of space to organize my stuff.
My only callout would be to be mindful of the noise during the weekend (was there from Friday to Sunday) as the hotel is directly above bars and restaurants and it gets very loud. The hotel does provide earplugs as courtesy so I didn't have any problem with that and slept throughout but people sensitive with noise that also hear through earplugs might find it difficult to sleep. However, If I needed to go back I'd look to stay here again :)
Thea
10
March 2025
Easy and simple with the bathrooms in the hallway; yet exactly the perfect location and comfort. Can only recommend since you go out and can walk throughout downtown by foot. The staff was also very welcoming and forthcoming.
Robert
8.2
April 2024
Beautiful historic hotel. Friendly staff.
Parking showed on the website but found out upon arriving that it was not on-site. We were fortunate to have found a parking spot half a bock away on the next street. Staff did tell us about parking garages near the hotel.
William
8.2
September 2024
Fabulous place - one of the best historic hotels we’ve stayed at.
Extremely noisy starting at 5 AM outside our front second story corner room - apparently food delivery trucks with their very loud back up signals, or maybe garbage trucks, though it happened both mornings. Even with ear plugs,I couldn’t sleep.
Airports
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
14miSan Francisco International Airport
16.9miOakland International Airport
20.1miStockton Metropolitan Airport
59.3miMonterey Regional Airport
61.8miAirports
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
14miSan Francisco International Airport
16.9miOakland International Airport
20.1miStockton Metropolitan Airport
59.3miMonterey Regional Airport
61.8miAttractions
Half Moon Bay
15.3miThe Tech Interactive
16.8miSoMa (South of Market)
26.5miBarbary Coast Trail
27.1miGrateful Dead House
27.3mi16th Avenue Tiled Steps
27.5miSan Francisco Botanical Garden
27.9miSan Francisco Japantown
28miFillmore District
28.1miPacific Heights
28.1miSaints Peter and Paul Church
28.2miConservatory of Flowers
28.2miBaker Beach
29.7miSea Cliff
29.8miBerkeley
30miBistro Maxine - Independent restaurant in the same building - breakfast and lunch ONLY
Cuisines
Ambiances
Restaurant
Free wifi
24-hour front desk
Non-smoking rooms
Elevator
View
Upper floors accessible by elevator
Extra long beds (> 6.5 ft)
Free toiletries
Bathtub
Accessibility
Upper floors accessible by elevator
Activities
Golf course
Bathroom
Bathrobe
Bathtub
Free toiletries
Hairdryer
Private Bathroom
Shared bathroom
Shower
Slippers
Toilet
Toilet paper
Towels
Bedroom
Alarm clock
Extra long beds (> 6.5 ft)
Linens
Walk-in closet
Wardrobe or closet
Cleaning Services
Daily housekeeping
Dry cleaning
Food & Drink
Coffee house on site
Restaurant
Front Desk Services
24-hour front desk
Baggage storage
Express check-in/out
Invoice provided
General
Elevator
Hardwood or parquet floors
Heating
Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic room available
Laptop size safe
Non-smoking rooms
Smoke-free property
Internet
Free wifi
Kitchen
Cleaning products
Coffee machine
Living Area
Desk
Media & Technology
Flat-screen TV
Radio
Satellite channels
Telephone
TV
Parking
Parking
Physical distancing
Cashless payment available
Room Amenities
Fan
Iron
Socket near the bed
Safety & security
CCTV in common areas
CCTV outside property
Fire extinguishers
Key card access
Safe
Smoke alarms
Safety features
First aid kits available
Services
Wake-up service
Wake-up service/Alarm clock
View
City view
View
From 14:00
Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in
Until 11:00
Pets are not allowed.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
There's no age requirement for check-in
Come and go whenever you want
Public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not possible) and costs USD 15 per day.
Child policies
Children of all ages are welcome.
Children 12 and above will be charged as adults at this property.
To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.
Crib and extra bed policies
0+ years
Additional fees are not calculated automatically in the total cost and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.
The maximum number of cribs, extra beds, and children allowed in existing beds can vary depending on the option booked.
All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.
No capacity for extra beds.
American Express,
Mastercard,
Visa
This property does not accept cash.
When are the check-in and check-out times for Cardinal Hotel?
For Cardinal Hotel, you can check in after 02:00 PM and the check-out deadline is 11:00 AM.
Does Cardinal Hotel provide free parking options?
Yes, there is parking available at Cardinal Hotel. The hotel offers public parking at a nearby location. However, please note that parking reservation is not possible. The cost for parking is $15 per day.
What's the nightly rate at Cardinal Hotel?
The base rate at Cardinal Hotel is approximately $193. Be informed that this can vary depending on your room choice and booking dates. Enter dates for a tailored price.
What are the room types available at Cardinal Hotel?
The Cardinal Hotel offers a variety of room types including Standard King, Standard Double, Deluxe King, and Standard Queen rooms. All rooms are non-smoking and have an occupancy of 2 adults with the option to accommodate 1 child. The bed sizes range from King size to Double and Queen size beds, with room sizes ranging from 226 to 258 square feet.
What is there to do in Cardinal Hotel?
Guests at the Cardinal Hotel can spend their time enjoying a range of leisure amenities. The hotel offers spa and wellness packages, allowing guests to relax and rejuvenate during their stay. For guests who enjoy golfing, there is a golf course available for their enjoyment.
In addition to these amenities, the hotel also offers walking tours for guests who want to explore the surrounding area. Guests can also take part in fitness classes and yoga classes to maintain their fitness routine while away from home. The hotel also has a fitness center available for guests to use.
When it comes to dining options, guests can visit the on-site restaurant called Bistro Maxine. The restaurant offers a family-friendly atmosphere and serves traditional French cuisine. This provides guests with a convenient and delicious dining experience during their stay.
Does Cardinal Hotel feature its own restaurants?
Yes, the Cardinal Hotel has a restaurant on site called Bistro Maxine. It offers a traditional ambiance and serves French cuisine.
Does Cardinal Hotel accept credit cards and cash payments?
No, the Cardinal Hotel does not accept cash payments. They only accept credit cards, namely American Express, Mastercard, and Visa.
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