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Reviews of Cardinal Hotel This rating is a reflection of how the property compares to the industry standard when it comes to price, facilities and services available. It's based on a self-evaluation by the property. Use this rating to help choose your stay!

235 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States of America

#16 of 38 hotels in Palo Alto

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 163 hotel reviews

8.3

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.9

  • Comfort

    8.9

  • Location

    9.7

  • Facilities

    8.1

  • Staff

    8.9

  • Value for money

    7.8

  • Free WiFi

    8.8

Verified guest reviews from real Bookers

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: April 16, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No electric kettle.....

    Location

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: April 13, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Business trip
    • Group
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 7 nights

    Excellent location. Comfortable.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: April 3, 2024

    8.0
    Overnight stay.
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Parking showed on the website but found out upon arriving that it was not on-site. We were fortunate to have found a parking spot half a bock away on the next street. Staff did tell us about parking garages near the hotel.

    Beautiful historic hotel. Friendly staff.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: February 29, 2024

    7.0
    Great stay...mostly for nostalgic reasons.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 4 nights

    More quality coffee;-)

    Did not have breakfast package

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: February 15, 2024

    8.0
    Clean nice location but make sure what room you are getting.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The price is so high given that the room was with a shared bathroom and toilet.

    Clean and great location for me.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: November 25, 2023

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    it is pricey, but this is Palo Alto! bathrooms are shared but I had no issue with them being busy during my stay

    great location right in the middle of Palo Alto and close to the train station. staff were friendly and there was always someone around to help

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: November 25, 2023

    7.0
    very beautiful
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    its was very nice.... .the history was awesome!

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: October 20, 2023

    8.0
    Great central location with easy access to the everything in Palo Alto
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard King Room
    • Stayed 7 nights

    Didn't have a fridge in the room free of charge.

    Great location in the center of Palo Alto. Good staff.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: October 20, 2023

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Antique style

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: October 12, 2023

    7.0
    Great downtown location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Park with a parking fairy or a garage. The "upgraded" corner room however was facing the back alley way of the pub and given that this hotel didn't have an A/C and us sleeping with the windows open, it was very loud. It does get hot through end of September in the Bay. Coffee was out even before the check-out time and no creamer for the coffee I got free next door in a cafe, as per suggestion of the front desk agent on his phone and ear buds, not bothered. The cafe staff was not happy about the hotel guests coming for coffee.

    Location is great. When we arrived we were greeted warmly and told we were upgraded to a king room, I was excited. Well-kept old place. Sheets are heavenly and bed comfortable. Extra fan in the closet. Clean room. Walking distance everywhere in downtown. It would have been perfect if they had sth like a happy hour in the lobby going with the next door restaurant.

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: October 5, 2023

    9.0
    it was comfortable clean and kind stuff. I was not accustomed to paloalt, but they verymuch helped m
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    I was at the second floor , but when I was up to the floor, I always found difficulty to find the room, ...as there was nothing to show the direction or some decorations for the mark. It will not be the problem for many, but people like me the direction blind....

    When I arrived, the room was cold , but no way to swich on for the temperature

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: September 22, 2023

    9.0
    Good hotel but know before you go
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    This hotel doesn't have air conditioning, some rooms have shared bathrooms, and you must park at public garages because there is no parking at the hotel. That being said, each room has a ceiling fan and the hotel provides an individual fan in the closet. Most rooms have their own bathroom. And public parking is generally very available at the Palo Alto City Hall (and free on the weekends). Unfortunately, there are no screens on the windows to prevent bugs from entering if the window is open.

    The location can't be beat--it's in the center of downtown and not a bad walk to Stanford University. Room prices are more affordable than competing hotels in the area. There is no shortage of great restaurants nearby. And the lobby is beautiful and inviting.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: September 21, 2023

    9.0
    Great value.
    • Business trip
    • Group
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    I was surprised the rooms had no AC. It was a warm day.

    Location was perfect for the business I had in the city.

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: August 5, 2023

    9.0
    A wonderful and unique hotel with so much character.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Note that there is no aircon but there is a ceiling fan in the room.

    The staff are fantastic, especially Christian who gave us a little tour of some of the beautiful original features of the hotel. It’s so charming. Rooms were large and airy and clean.

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: August 5, 2023

    8.0
    Beautiful place, service mediocre
    • Solo traveler
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Staff not helpful. Didn’t volunteer any help at all. Breakfast at cafe Maxim did not work. I could not order with my room number.

    Beautiful property, great location

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: July 29, 2023

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The design and location were great. The staff was friendly and they responded well to my wife’s allergy to down bedding.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: July 21, 2023

    8.0
    Nice hotel with vintage-feel. Adequate and not too expensive.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 4 nights

    Room a bit small. No frig in room. Some noise from the streets.

    Room is clean and comfortable. Location very convenient. Lobby with vintage decor is kind of cool.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: July 2, 2023

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Business trip
    • Group
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    - painful check-in process despite a pre-check-in offered - if you have breakfast included beware that you have to take it in the café next door, which has a complete mobile ordering process (not in a godd way)

    - nice charme in a very central location - super friendly staff - I was able to have my luggage kept at the hotel on the day of the check-out

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: June 23, 2023

    8.0
    Ok
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Noisy

    Great antique hotel with rich history and convenient location. But can be a bit noisy at night and morning

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: June 12, 2023

    7.0
    Straightforward stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Great location. Clean.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: May 31, 2023

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    Wanted a refrigerator in the room ; expensive; outside noise but actually it did not bother me at all

    superb location;

    Stayed in May 2023

  • Reviewed: May 29, 2023

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    It was a Saturday night and there was a reasonably high level of noise from nearby bars/restaurants which made it difficult to get to sleep. On the flipside, the noise exists because the hotel is in a good location.

    Staff were very friendly and helpful, and the hotel is in a nice location.

    Stayed in May 2023

  • Reviewed: May 2, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Standard Queen Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    No air-con in rooms. Can be pulled off in April, but would not want to stay during summer. Coupled with a room above dumpsters, less than ideal.

    Great location, beautiful hotel.

    Stayed in April 2023

  • Reviewed: May 2, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Standard King Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    A tad expensive for the service

    Location (though noisy at night)

    Stayed in April 2023

Showing 1 - 25

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