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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property

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Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior
1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets
Business centre
Designer store
Lobby sitting area

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

View in a map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
  • Stanford Shopping Center
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Stanford University
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Stanford University Medical Center
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Room options

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

1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom

7.2 out of 10
Good
(11 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • 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 | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)
  • 24 sq m
  • City view
  • 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 duvets

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

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

1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(10 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

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Exterior

Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
4.6 out of 5, Wonderful, 217 reviews
The price is €242
includes taxes & fees
27 Sept - 28 Sept
Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel with a coffee shop/cafe, a quick walk to Stanford Shopping Center
This smoke-free hotel features a coffee shop/cafe, a 24-hour front desk and express check-in. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, express check-out and a fireplace at reception are on-site.
The Cardinal Hotel offers 63 accommodations with laptop-compatible safes and complimentary bottles of water. Pillowtop beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets, down duvets and premium bedding. 42-inch LED televisions come with premium satellite channels.

Bathrooms include baths or showers, bathrobes, slippers and designer toiletries. Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include a hairdryer and an iron/ironing board. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the helpful staff at The Cardinal Hotel. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Stanford Theatre. Free WiFi in public areas, a coffee shop/cafe and breakfast (surcharge) are available.
  • Free Wi-Fi in some public areas
  • Enjoy a bite to eat at the coffee shop/cafe
  • Full breakfast served weekdays for a fee
  • Amenities include a lift, a fireplace at reception and a water dispenser
  • Guests have great things to say about the helpful staff and the location
  • 10 minutes by foot from Stanford Shopping Center and a 5-minute drive from Stanford University
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.

For a fee, guests can enjoy a full breakfast on weekdays from 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 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

Family friendly

  • In-room cot

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
  • Lift
  • Visual fire alarm

More

  • 1 building
  • 3 floors
  • Built in 1924
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Smoke-free property
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Down comforter
  • Egyptian cotton sheets
  • Free cot
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Pillowtop mattress

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Designer toiletries
  • Dressing gowns
  • 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 and check-out are available
Express check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

An adult aged 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 cots (infant beds)!

Payment types at the property

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: from approximately USD 22 for adults and from 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

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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-authorise 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
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

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

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 216 out of 328 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 61 out of 328 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 31 out of 328 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 12 out of 328 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 328 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

10/10 Excellent

Teresita

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice and clean bedroom, although the shared bathroom was clean all the time
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Timo

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
The noises around this hotel are unbearable. Because the windows are old and thin every little noise from the street come into your room. I had a 05.30AM wake up call from someone operating saw machine outside the hotel. The slamming litter bins are outside one side of the hotel and there is a ton of noise around the hotel in general. I only booked this because Sheraton PA was full. Never going back.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Stephen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Good price. No A/C. Older property but clean.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

D Christian

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Victoria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The staff members are amazing! Super cozy and clean
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jagdeep Singh

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Thanks for the great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Seung Eun

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

전반적으론 만족

공용욕실로 된 방을 예약해서 걱정했는데, 공용욕실이나 공용샤워실을 사용할 때 다른 사람 때문에 기다려본적이 없어 편리했고 관리도 굉장히 깨끗하게 잘되어 있었다. 1층에서 따뜻한 물을 컵에 담아올 수 있는 점도 좋았다. 다만 공용샤워실의 수압이 내 기준으론 너무 낮아서 샤워하는데 오래걸린 점이 가장 불편했고, 이미 알고 예약하긴 했으나, 개인 방에 냉장고가 없는 점이 아쉽긴 했다.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edgar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Worth the experience

Great place to stay, but lots of noise in the morning from streets
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yanhua

Travelled with family, Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quiet, convenient for shopping and transportation.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Derek

Liked: Amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Karen

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
The front desk staff was very nice and the hotel is in a great location. However, it was very noisy. I could literally hear every step the person in the room above us took as well as his conversation verbatim. Lastly, there is no air conditioning which could have been miserable if it was warmer.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful old building.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Jeff

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

john

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

2/10 Terrible

Kristy

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

2/10 Terrible

Nour

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

sunah

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
The old building is certainly historical looking and pleasant. The neighborhood is nice with several restaurants you can walk to. However, no modern amenities are to be had. The elevator felt like it could break down, the outer second door on it could injure someone as it snaps closed and there is no coffee machine or microwave in the room. A small carafe of coffee was available in the lobby, but promptly taken away at 9 AM. The walls are thin and we heard noise from the room above us till 1 AM. The sunlight streamed in at 7 AM through the old wooden shutters. No blackout shades. The old style radiator made the room so stuffy. We had to leave the fan on all night. Bed was uncomfortable and the pillows were either too flat and soft or too hard and high. Only street parking available and you have to move your car every two hours 8 to 5. We cannot recommend this hotel, although the staff are helpful and friendly,
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan

Business traveller
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

kaori

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debra

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025