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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel with a coffee shop/cafe, 10-minute walk to Stanford Shopping Center

Choose dates to view prices

The Cardinal Hotel, steps from Stanford University, blends art and academia. Guests browse the hotel's art gallery, relax by the lobby fireplace, or enjoy coffee at the café. Helpful staff and free WiFi in public areas ensure a comfortable and connected stay.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Free WiFi
The current price is NZ$300
includes taxes & fees
5 Dec - 6 Dec

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 duvets

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(13 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cots/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 duvets

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom

7.2 out of 10
Good
(12 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cots/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

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cots/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

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Private Bathroom, Corner

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cots/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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  • Breakfast included
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8.0 out of 10, Very good, 684 reviews
The price is NZ$311
includes taxes & fees
23 Nov - 24 Nov
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About the area

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

  • Palo Alto Station - 6 min walk
  • San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

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

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel near Stanford Shopping Center
Located close to Stanford University Medical Center and Stanford University, The Cardinal Hotel provides an art gallery on-site, a coffee shop/cafe and a fireplace in reception. Stay connected with free WiFi in public areas.
Other perks at this hotel include:
  • Full breakfast (surcharge), express check-out and express check-in
  • A lift, a water dispenser and smoke-free property
  • Luggage storage and a 24-hour front desk
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff and location
Room features
All 63 rooms boast comforts, such as premium bedding and laptop-compatible safes, as well as thoughtful touches, such as laptop-friendly workspaces and bathrobes. Guests reviews give good marks for the clean rooms at the property.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Heating and ceiling fans
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding, Egyptian cotton sheets and pillowtop mattresses
  • Designer toiletries, baths or showers and hairdryers
  • 42-inch LED TVs with premium channels
  • Wardrobes/cupboards, free infant beds and daily housekeeping

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The price is NZ$275
includes taxes & fees
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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

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per day.
Free cots are available on request at the property

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • 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

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

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-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

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the 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

Is The Cardinal Hotel pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Cardinal Hotel?

As of 5 Nov 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Cardinal Hotel on 5 Dec 2025 start from NZ$299.75, including 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.

What time is check-in at The Cardinal Hotel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at The Cardinal Hotel?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Cardinal Hotel located?

Located in University South, this hotel is within 2 mi (3 km) of Stanford Shopping Center, Stanford University Medical Center and Stanford University. Facebook Campus and San Francisco Bay are also within 6 mi (10 km). Palo Alto Station is 6 minutes by foot.

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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
Rating 10 - Excellent. 235 out of 355 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 66 out of 355 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 33 out of 355 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 12 out of 355 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 355 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

FLORENCE

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I like the easy access to shopping and dining. A short walk to Caltrains station is great.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marlene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Cardinal Hotel was everything we wanted!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
this property is great example of historic preservation done right!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Levon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Exellent
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The hotel is 100 years old and very charming, with original tiles and features throughout. Much nicer than the usual bland hotel chains.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia

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

Relaxed and Refreshed

This 100 year old hotel is beautiful! Perfect location! Very clean! Super helpful and friendly staff!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

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

10/10 Excellent

Misaki

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice Hotel !
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

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

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great, historic Hotel!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great place, loved it.

Lots of history, great location, very clean and great walking distance to many things including Stanford University.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

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

10/10 Excellent

Stacey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed here for 2 nights & was a great experience, shopping & diner literally downstairs from hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We enjoyed very much the location of the hotel, the staff and the shopping!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Maria Luisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Location very convenient hotel with a special old style charm
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice hotel with a good price
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Charming, historic hotel with simple, but clean and comfortable rooms.

8/10 Good

Kenneth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful place to stay that is in the middle of wonderful dining and easy walk to Stanford
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Perfect location. Great historic hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place right in the middle of everything.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

heather renee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bradley

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

Boutique Hotel

Charming boutique hotel in Palo Alto, near Stanford hospital.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quaint, updated older hotel
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alison

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best location thank you!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

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