This independent hotel guide is part of the Palo Alto Tourism guide. It contains no affiliate links, sponsored placements, or paid recommendations. Updated on October 27, 2026, by Ardan Michael Blum, who has lived in downtown Palo Alto since 2015.
Palo Alto’s hotels are concentrated in several distinct areas. Downtown is convenient for University Avenue’s restaurants and shops and for Palo Alto Caltrain station. Another group sits along El Camino Real near the station and Stanford’s campus edge, while many other hotels are farther south along El Camino Real or near San Antonio Road. Check the route to your particular destinations before booking; a Palo Alto address does not necessarily put downtown or your Stanford destination within easy walking distance.
These hotels are in the University Avenue commercial core or on its immediately adjoining blocks. Their locations make it possible to reach many downtown restaurants, cafés, and shops on foot.
The Cardinal Hotel is a historic downtown hotel built in 1924, with a vintage lobby and a central Hamilton Avenue location. Some rooms have private bathrooms, while others use shared hallway bathrooms. Some room categories also lack air conditioning, so check the exact accommodation before booking. Location 235 Hamilton Avenue, 94301.
el PRADO Hotel is a Spanish-style boutique hotel with courtyards and terraces near University Avenue. It offers in-room dining but currently has no on-site restaurant. Location: 520 Cowper Street, 94301.
Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto occupies the restored former Hotel President building. Its Stanford-inspired interiors are complemented by Lou & Herbert’s café and President’s Terrace rooftop bar. Location: 488 University Avenue, 94301.
Hotel Keen is a small, contemporary hotel close to University Avenue and Palo Alto station. It offers several room categories and complimentary grab-and-go breakfast. Location: 425 High Street, 94301.
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto is a luxury hotel with Japanese-influenced rooms and suites, upper-floor Ryokan accommodations, and the Nobu restaurant. Location: 180 Hamilton Avenue, 94301.
These Palo Alto hotels stand along El Camino Real near the Palo Alto Transit Center and Stanford’s eastern edge. Downtown’s restaurants and shops are within walking distance, but check the route to your particular campus destination, whether that is the Main Quad, a museum, a hospital, or an event venue.
The Clement Palo Alto is a 23-suite luxury hotel whose operator describes it as all-inclusive. Confirm which meals, services, and other benefits are included with the rate you select. Location: 711 El Camino Real, 94301.
Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel is a full-service hotel near Palo Alto station and Stanford, with koi ponds and an outdoor heated pool. Location: 625 El Camino Real, 94301.
The Westin Palo Alto is a hotel near Palo Alto station and Stanford, with Mediterranean-style courtyards and an outdoor heated pool. Location: 675 El Camino Real, 94301.
These hotels are outside the downtown area, primarily along El Camino Real or on San Antonio Road. Their usefulness as a base depends on your destinations and how you plan to travel between them.
AC Hotel Palo Alto is a modern hotel on San Antonio Road, with streamlined rooms, a lounge, a fitness center, and meeting spaces. Location: 744 San Antonio Road, 94303.
Creekside Inn is a landscaped hotel along Matadero Creek, with gardens, mature trees, and an outdoor heated pool. Location: 3400 El Camino Real, 94306.
Crowne Plaza Palo Alto is an El Camino Real hotel with an outdoor pool, on-site dining, and extensive meeting and event space. Location: 4290 El Camino Real, 94306.
Dinah’s Garden Hotel is a long-established independent hotel with gardens, lagoons, koi ponds, an outdoor pool, and on-site dining. Location: 4261 El Camino Real, 94306.
Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto is an El Camino Real hotel with an indoor pool, a fitness center, and an on-site restaurant. Location: 4216 El Camino Real, 94306.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Palo Alto is designed for extended stays, with in-room kitchens, complimentary hot breakfast, and an outdoor pool. Location: 4329 El Camino Real, 94306.
The Nest Palo Alto is a contemporary hotel with a courtyard, a lobby bar, and a fitness room. Location: 3901 El Camino Real, 94306.
The Palo Alto Inn is a hotel on El Camino Real with landscaped common areas and an outdoor patio. Location 4238 El Camino Real, 94306.
Stanford Motor Inn is a motor inn on El Camino Real with microwaves and refrigerators in its rooms. Location: 3305 El Camino Real, 94306.
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto is a small boutique hotel on El Camino Real with garden terraces. Location: 4164 El Camino Real, 94306.
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