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The Cardinal Hotel

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

Photo gallery for The Cardinal Hotel

Interior
Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets, pillow-top beds
Business centre
Lobby sitting area
Designer store

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Free WiFi
The current price is NZ$249
includes taxes & fees
2 Jan - 3 Jan 2026

Explore the area

View map
235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
  • Place, Stanford Shopping Center
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Stanford University
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Stanford University Medical Center
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪19 min drive‬

Room options

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

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets, pillow-top beds

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Private Bathroom

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(14 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cots/infant beds
LED TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Pillow-top bed
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

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

Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, down duvets, pillow-top beds

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
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Pillow-top bed
  • 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
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Pillow-top bed
  • 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
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Down duvet
Pillow-top bed
  • 24 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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About the area

Palo Alto

The Cardinal Hotel puts you in the centre of Palo Alto, 0.8 km (0.5 mi) from Stanford Shopping Center and 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from Stanford University Medical Center. Highlights at this hotel include in-room LED TVs. .This smoke-free hotel offers free WiFi in public areas, a 24-hour front desk and express check-in. Additionally, you'll find a coffee shop/cafe, express check-out and a fireplace in the lobby. On weekday mornings full breakfast is served between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM. .Sights within a 10-minute drive of this University South hotel include Stanford University and Facebook Campus.

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

  • ‪Pizza My Heart - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Ramen Nagi - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Nola - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Nobu Palo Alto - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Oren's Hummus - ‬2 min walk

About this property

The Cardinal Hotel

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

  • 1 building
  • 63 guestrooms or units
  • 3 levels
  • Built in 1924
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Lift
  • No smoking on site
  • Water dispenser
  • Coffee shop
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.

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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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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

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

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. This property reserves the right to pre-authorise the guest's credit card prior to arrival. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector in all accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at The Cardinal Hotel?

The Cardinal Hotel offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

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

As of 17 Dec 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Cardinal Hotel on 2 Jan 2026 start from NZ$249.33, 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.

Does The Cardinal Hotel serve breakfast?

Yeah, full breakfast is offered on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at The Cardinal Hotel?

No, The Cardinal Hotel does not offer an airport shuttle service.

What time are check-in & check-out at The Cardinal Hotel?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.

Are pets allowed at The Cardinal Hotel?

No, only service animals are allowed.

Reviews

The Cardinal Hotel Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 250 out of 377 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 70 out of 377 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 35 out of 377 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 13 out of 377 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 377 reviews

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Benjamin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A fantastic hotel, and a great location.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort

Bare bones and stuffy

I can't believe I paid a premium for this stay. Old building that hasn't been renovated with care. A thousand layers of paint prevented the bathroom door from latching. We just had to keep the bathroom door ajar. Front door dead bolt didn't work. No A/C (which isn't uncommon for these older buildings), but mediocre ceiling fan and poor ventilation. In an attempt to cool down the room, we kept the window open. That meant no privacy. It also didn't help much and was very noisy. Closed the window and we slept in a sauna; it wasn't even a hot day. Just zero ventilation. Squeaky floors above us, loud pipes, super loud ice machine in the hallway, and hallway ceiling lights would buzz at a high pitch pretty regularly. TV is basic cable without even a decent channel guide. Pros: comfortable mattress and bedding, convenient location on Hamiton and Ramona. Overall, I do not recommend this hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Kimberley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
3rd floor in a heat wave was rather hot - the AC was not sufficient.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

ying

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
No AC. Too noisy at midnight
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lucy

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ugo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sara

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beware: No Air Con in the Rooms

BEWARE: NO AIR CONDITIONING IN THE ROOMS! For a hotel in Palo Alto, this is not acceptable. If you choose to run the business this way you need to write that important fact clearly and visibly on the first page of the website. Sleeping with the windows open in a city neighborhood is noisy and full of light seepage. Granted the Bay Area is cooler most months, the summer evenings and nights get very warm. Second issue: rooms are basic. No in room coffee or tea. I love old historic hotels but this one was a shocker. Flew in for a 1 night stay for work and woke up restless and exhausted. Never again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Athanasios, Wilton

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

10/10 Excellent

Paul

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

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. Walking distance to shops and dining. Will definitely stay at this property again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicolas

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Eliza

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Shani

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

10/10 Excellent

Coromoto

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jesus

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marianne

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

10/10 Excellent

Marlene

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Cardinal Hotel was everything we wanted!
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

Sylvia

Travelled with group
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

Laura

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

8/10 Good

NOVA, Arcadia

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Dana

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The property is in a great area for shopping and dining. However, the neighborhood can be noisy at night. At 2 am, the guest above me decided to have a loud conversation and did what sounded like moving furniture around. That lasted until after 3 am. The front desk person in the morning didn t bother to ask about my stay, so I didn't share it with them.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025