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The Cardinal Hotel

2.5 star property

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Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Experience the warmth of our grand lobby, featuring a central fireplace, ornate columns, and comfortable seating areas.
Classic hotel with balconies and arched windows, featuring a welcoming entrance and a distinctive column structure.
Two single beds with white linens, a flat-screen TV, and a large mirror.
Relax in this inviting living area with a comfortable seating arrangement, dining table, and bookshelf.
Experience the warmth and elegance of our lobby, featuring a grand fireplace, comfortable seating, and a stunning chandelier.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

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

Restful retreat with a quilted headboard and comfortable pillows.

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

Relax in a spacious room with a large bed, desk, and chair.

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

Two single beds with matching headboards and a spacious desk area.

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Private Bathroom

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

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

Relax in comfort with a large bed, bedside tables, and a convenient desk.

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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About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

Hotel with a coffee shop, 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 lobby fireplace are onsite.
The Cardinal Hotel offers 63 accommodations with laptop-compatible safes and complimentary bottled water. Pillowtop beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets, down comforters, and premium bedding. 42-inch LED televisions come with premium satellite channels.

Bathrooms include bathtubs or showers, bathrobes, slippers, and designer toiletries. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include hair dryers and irons/ironing boards. Housekeeping is offered daily and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

Our customers tell us 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 WiFi in some public areas
  • Enjoy a bite to eat at the coffee shop/cafe
  • Full breakfast served weekdays for a fee
  • Amenities include an elevator, a lobby fireplace, and a water dispenser
  • Guests have great things to say about the location and the helpful staff
  • 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 full breakfast on weekdays from 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Languages

English, French, Spanish

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

  • Free 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 available
Express check-in available

Check-out

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

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

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 cribs (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: approximately USD 22 for adults and 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-authorize 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. 205 out of 309 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 57 out of 309 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 29 out of 309 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 309 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 309 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

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

8/10 Good

Patricia

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marat

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yulia

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

8/10 Good

TOSHIAKI

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Disliked: Room comfort
Extreme street noise made untenable for business trip
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Florinda, Page

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff are amazing! My stay was wonderful! Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gumaro

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Gorgeous hotel
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Trent

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The Cardinal Hotel is within walking distance of Palo Alto and Stanford University. It is very clean and comfortable. I stayed in a room where you share a toilet and also a shower. Both were spotless. I never had to wait to use either facility. I really enjoyed staying in the heart of Palo Alto.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025