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The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

3.0 star property

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Photo gallery for The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

Exterior
Exterior
Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk
Property entrance
Lobby

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

View in a map
4164 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
  • Place, Palo Alto VA Hospital
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Stanford University
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Stanford University Medical Center
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(15 reviews)
  • 26 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(48 reviews)
  • 27 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 49 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(10 reviews)
  • 28 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(101 reviews)
  • 22 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave | Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(39 reviews)
  • 27 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave | Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(52 reviews)
  • 28 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds)

Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds) | Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)
  • 64 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds)

Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds) | Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds)

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)
  • 63 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Queen Beds

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About this property

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

Art Deco motel with free breakfast and fitness centre
Along with a fitness centre, this smoke-free motel has dry cleaning and laundry facilities. Free buffet breakfast, free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, a 24-hour front desk, express check-out and free newspapers are on-site.
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto offers 37 accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature iPod docking stations and a safe. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. 37-inch LCD televisions come with satellite channels. Guests can make use of the in-room fridges, microwaves and coffee/tea makers. Bathrooms include bathrobes, slippers, complimentary toiletries and hairdryers.

This Palo Alto motel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and desk chairs. Additionally, rooms include an iron/ironing board and fans. Housekeeping is provided on a daily basis.

Recreational amenities at the motel include a fitness centre.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.

The free breakfast at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto gets high marks from our customers. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Silicon Valley. Enjoy features like free WiFi in public areas and free self-parking, plus a gym.
  • Free buffet breakfast served daily
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self-parking
  • Amenities include free newspapers in reception, a front desk safe and laundry facilities
  • On-site recreation includes a gym
  • Guests really like the accommodation for the cleanliness and comfy beds
  • Steps from Silicon Valley and 5 minutes by car from Stanford University
Free breakfast is available daily. WiFi is free in public spaces. A fitness centre, barbecue grills, and multilingual staff are also featured at the business-friendly The Zen Hotel Palo Alto. Free self parking is available.

This 3-star Palo Alto motel is smoke free.

Guests are served a free buffet breakfast daily from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM

Things to do

  • Gym
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Picnic area

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
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible gym
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • 2 floors
  • 3 buildings
  • Art Deco architecture
  • Built in 1970
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 37-inch LCD TV with satellite channels
  • IPod dock

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

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.
  • Kids stay free! Children 12 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.

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.

  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

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 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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.
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

  • Children aged 12 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.

Property is also known as

Hotel Zen
Zen Hotel
Zen Hotel Palo Alto
Zen Palo Alto
Townhouse Hotel Palo Alto
The Zen Hotel
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Motel
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Palo Alto
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Motel Palo Alto

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 843 out of 1247 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 271 out of 1247 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 82 out of 1247 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 26 out of 1247 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 25 out of 1247 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Citlali

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

jeffrey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice clean and kind
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Adrian

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Breakfast has hot items, well stocked. Rooms are clean. Staff is kind and courteous. Parking is fine. Rooms are reasonably quiet. Nice place especially at its current pricing.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Easy to access. Nice room and layout. I appreciated the breakfast!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

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

Hidden Gem

The Zen hotel is a hidden gem. It’s close to Shoreline and you can’t beat the price. It was quiet and comfortable and the complimentary breakfast included a great selection of hot and cold options.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff very friendly and responsive. Our room had a faulty window shade on arrival. It was replaced promptly when staff notified. Our room was close to staff operations so around 7am more noise from utility carts etc than preferred. We have stayed at the Zen many times and plan to return. Thanks
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

JESSICA, miami

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good stay overall. Wifi service can be improved.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Mai

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness
I stayed at this hotel recently, and while the room was generally clean and housekeeping came every day, I had a serious issue with ants. There were hundreds of ants all over the bathroom, and even on the bed in the morning. It was really unpleasant and made it difficult to relax. I also saw a few small spiders, but those didn't bother me as much. If it weren't for the ant infestation, the stay would have been fine.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

MIKE

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Nice inexpensive property.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Jason, West Sacramento

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bed, sheets, and pillows were comfy. Marketed as a hotel but really a motel (room door opens to the outside). Single occupancy room is kind of small but had good amenities. Keurig coffee machine with 2 pods, microwave, and mini fridge. TV has cable but I prefer also having access to my streaming accounts. Bathroom sink area is great. Shower water pressure is excellent. Plenty of outlets and USB ports for charging up all your tech gear with a good-sized desk space for working. This is definitely a business commuter type motel, and conducive to remote workers with laptops. The complimentary daily breakfast scores high points for just existing. Most places no longer do this. Not a wide selection but a good enough selection of breakfast foods including cold cereal, waffles, bagels, muffins, scrambled eggs, sausage links, tater tots, oatmeal, apples, bananas, coffee, decaf, tea, juice, and cold drinking water. Breakfast is from 6:30am to 9:30am so make sure you get up early enough so you don't miss that window. I didn't do much walking around but there are plenty of places to shop and eat within driving distance. I was there on business so didn't have much time to explore. Surprisingly quiet with fairly soundproof walls. They have a decent gym that NOBODY seems to use. Cardio machines, a weight stack, DB tree max 50 pounds,TRX cables (nice, most hotels don't have these!), and a bench. Overall, great place to get some sleep on short trips.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

mark

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Jennifer

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Older property with some stains in bathtub. However, seemed clean. Walls a little thin as I could hear my neighbor snoring. For the price, I think
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Sari

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very comfortable, affordable and clean. Thank you!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lucinda

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

Great place

We got the deluxe king room, but didn't expect it to be a suite, so we were very surprised. It's a great hotel. The staff were friendly and rooms were clean. The price was great too. Definitely will stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christine

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Had to go to Stanford hospital, traveling with kids. The location was perfect was a 12 min drive no traffic. Hotel staff very friendly and helpful. Booked 2 queen suite. The room was perfect lots of room and clean. Would book again
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
The website said it has a washer and dryer. They were broken. And desk person acted like that the website stated that. No mention of it being broken. The room, I had a suite was wonderful though. Breakfast was good. Clean.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

Everything acceptable and above average. Thank you
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Shu

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edmundo

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The Zen hotel is well located near Stanford campus and downtown Palo Alto. The hotel was unique with its Zen decor. The morning breakfast was very simple and the coffee and orange juice was very satisfying. There were some notable issues. Specifically, ants in the bathroom, doorways, windows, and public walkways. Also, my room was facing El Camino Real which was made the room quite noisy during high traffic. Also, the washer was out of service. With all this said, I would recommend this hotel to others and will consider staying here again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Devon

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel! Clean and beautiful. Highly recommended.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Trevor

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Basic, clean, large room with kitchen. Good value
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ramiro

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

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