Search the best hotels in Palo Alto

About Palo Alto

Renowned as the home of Stanford University, Palo Alto has developed from a sleepy college town to a thriving business and cultural centre, home to many of Silicon Valley's sharpest minds. Popular with well-heeled business or leisure travellers visiting the University as well as outdoorsy travellers, the city offers a whole host of accommodation options, including simple B&Bs and chic city boltholes. Whilst many of the best places to stay in Palo Alto are clustered around the city centre and the Stanford Campus, one of our top spots is a gorgeous, resort escape on the outskirts of town, perfect for soaking up the region's natural beauty.

The illustrious University is one of Palo Alto's biggest draws. You can spend almost a whole day exploring the beautiful grounds of Stanford Campus, as well as strolling downtown along University Avenue. Pop into quirky shops, sample delectable dishes at trendy eateries, and savour fresh produce from local growers and makers at the farmers' market.

Palo Alto's abundance of successful residents means that its neighbourhoods are filled with impressive houses, and that there is a burgeoning foodie and cultural scene to discover. Catch a classic film at the Stanford Theatre, or hike into the foothills to admire the 150-foot-wide Dish, a radio telescope built in 1965. For an insight into the area's famed tech focus, venture to the Computer History Museum, in nearby Mountain View. Hikers, cyclists and birdwatchers will adore the 1,940 acres of the Baylands Nature Preserve, where there's a huge array of wildlife to spot.

Whether you're in town for a conference or a weekend of sightseeing, the best places to stay in Palo Alto promise a top-notch base from which to experience this innovative city's many fabulous bars, eateries and cultural delights. With San Jose and San Francisco nearby, too, there's plenty to see and do!

The Best Places to Stay in Palo Alto

For central city style

  • The Hotel Nia is a luxurious hotel with high design values that incorporate the location, the high-tech locale and industrial chic trends, into a glamorous environment.  There are 250 rooms and suites, a huge pool with a fire-pit, a relaxed but elegant Mediterranean restaurant, complimentary bike hire, a gym and spa, lush gardens and a business centre.  
  • Garden Court Hotel is a chic, Mediterranean-inspired property with 62 rooms featuring crisp linens and a blue-and-white colour palette. Well-placed for exploring Palo Alto, the hotel also offers a noteworthy Italian restaurant and soothing in-room massages. An elegant city pad for work or play.
  • Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley is a lavish contemporary hotel, with 200 sleek rooms and suites in a glass-fronted edifice. Enjoy a 5* stay with classic Four Seasons attention to detail, a wonderful spa, fantastic eateries and a lively rooftop pool and bar area. An ultra-modern city hotel for business or leisure travellers in search of absolute luxury.

For Romance

  • Enchanté Boutique Hotel is an opulent boutique hideaway with 19 rooms and suites in Los Altos. Ensconced in a French-style château, you can expect charming period decor, indulgent marble bathrooms and a cosy bistro. An award-winning small hotel. One for blissful romantic getaways!

For Foodies

  • Nobu Hotel is a super-sophisticated boutique hotel with minimalist interiors. Home to the world-famous Nobu restaurant, this is an exceptional foodie choice. Feast on an innovative menu of Japanese dishes in swish, serene surroundings!

For a Luxury Resort

  • Rosewood Sand Hill is an sumptuous resort, boasting views of the Bay Area and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Bedrooms and bathrooms are grand, with a cool, contemporary feel, and there are stacks of activities for the whole family, including horse-riding, golf and an indulgent spa. Michelin-starred Madera is a real highlight.

For Families

  • Stanford Park Hotel offers luxury and sophistication in comfortable, classic rooms and suites. Think big beds, cosy armchairs, embroidered quilts and log fireplaces, perfect for kicking back after days of strolling the city. Open since 1895, this is a smart, historic base for visitors eager to make the most of the area. Facilities include a courtyard swimming pool and the excellent Menlo Tavern. Suites are ideal for families. Old-school style.

Prefer an apartment or holiday rental?

  • If you'd prefer a self-catering option, we suggest that you visit our online partner Booking.com.

Travel Information

  • Fly to San Jose Airport and take the bus and train to Palo Alto, or travel to San Francisco Airport and hop aboard the subway and the train to Palo Alto. Alternatively, the journey by car or taxi should take around 30 minutes from San Francisco and 20 minutes from San Jose.
  • California is brilliant for a road trip! Contact our online partner Rentalcars if you would like to hire a car.
  • The summer (June to August) is the most popular time to visit Palo Alto, and also when many university students will have gone home. For cooler weather and great hotel deals, travel in the spring (April and May) or autumn (September and October).

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The best hotels in Palo Alto

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Garden Court Hotel

Palo Alto

A luxury modern Mediterranean-style villa hotel in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. Rooms are spacious and bright with blue colour tones, sit-out balconies and large grey marble bathrooms. Complete with a noteworthy Italian restaurant and indulgent in-room massages. A perfect city crashpad.

  • Local exploring - Explore Silicon Valley with easy access to Santa Cruz and the surrounding Bay Area
  • Sights nearby - Take a day trip to San Francisco and see all the sights
  • Restaurant - Dine at the hotel's Italian restaurant Il Fornaio
  • Local markets - Palo Alto Farmers' Market is open on Saturdays
from €265 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Nobu Hotel, Palo Alto

Palo Alto

A sophisticated boutique hotel in the heart of Silicon Valley. Rooms are light and spacious with perfect minimalist style that includes plenty of pale wood and glass, while the bathrooms are indulgent. Home to the world-renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu - this is a foodie destination.

  • City Style - In the heart of Palo Alto, just by Stanford, enjoy a sophisticated stay in the Iconic Japanese restaurant
  • Foodies - The hotel has the famed NOBU restaurant serving exemplary Japanese cuisine
  • Lively
  • Restaurant with rooms
from €313 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Hotel Nia

Palo Alto

Luxury hotel with ideal amenities in the heart of Silicon Valley. Decor blends high-tech industrial-chic with contemporary glam touches. Designed for executives but can be enjoyed by everyone with event space, outdoor pool, gardens, fab dining, gym and city views. Cool but cosy downtown hub.

  • Short break - A perfect base if jetting into Silicon Valley for a meeting. Enjoy a range of dining options, fitness & work facilities on-site
  • Business meetings - With the offices of Google and Facebook super close by, this is a prime location for business in the tech and digital worlds
  • City Style - Sophisticated with a lot of substance as well as style; this is much more than just a bland modern luxury hotel
  • Restaurant - The laid-back but elegant restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine made of locally-sourced ingredients in a tranquil setting
from €319 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Stanford Park Hotel

Palo Alto

An independent luxury hotel situated just by Stanford University. Traditionally styled rooms are spacious and elegant, some with fireplaces and huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Enjoy a handcrafted cocktail at the bar followed by delicious seasonal Californian fare at the bistro. A superb stay!

  • Local exploring - The hotel is the perfect spot for exploring the Stanford area with shopping, music venues and gardens all nearby
  • Sights nearby - Explore the Filoli Gardens, or visit the Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
  • Restaurant - Menlo Tavern at Stanford Park Hotel serves American cuisine
  • Swimming Pool - Outdoor swimming pool
from €370 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Enchante Boutique Hotel

Palo Alto

Exquisite boutique hotel modelled on a French-style chateau. Luxe rooms perfectly combine traditional period interiors (chandeliers, fireplaces and antiques) with modern comforts and spoiling Carrera marble bathrooms. French/American bistro and fireside library. Fab for grown-up romantic getaways.

  • Romantic Break - After a romantic dinner enjoy inviting canopy beds with silky sheets, fluffy gowns, stand-alone tubs and cosy in-room fireplaces
  • City Style - A little corner of France in Silicon Valley. Thoughtfully and authentically decorated to a high standard without feeling themed
  • Sights nearby - The grand Winchester Mystery House is well-worth a visit, as is NASA Ames Research Center
  • Restaurant - Champagne One Main is a bistro serving French/American cuisine
from €381 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Hotel Citrine

Palo Alto (California)

Combine luxury and sustainability at this boutique hotel in Palo Alto. Rooms bathed in soft colours and sustainable materials, offer comfort with a conscience. Bistro Wild Onion delights with farm-to-table cuisine, while the outdoor pool and state-of-the-art gym provide relaxation and rejuvenation.

  • Eco break - Enjoy eco-luxury with sustainable materials, energy-saving practices, and locally-sourced dining in a serene setting
  • Romantic Break - Indulge in a romantic getaway with luxurious suites, intimate dining, and a tranquil poolside retreat
  • Sights nearby - Experience thrills at California's Great America amusement park, explore Gilroy Gardens, or enjoy Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk fun
  • Great walks - Explore Baylands Nature Preserve, Gamble Garden, or hike the Stanford Dish for natural beauty
from €454 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Palo Alto (EAST PALO ALTO)

A luxury five-star set in East Palo Alto. Rooms are sleek and contemporary with simple white style, large desks and indulgent bathrooms with L’Occitane products. Dining options consist of high-end Italian and a more casual option. A rooftop pool and bar is a hit and the service is on point.

  • 5* Luxury - Expect all the luxury trimmings including fine-dining, high-end service and well-equipped modern rooms
  • Total relaxation - With a rooftop pool and a spoiling spa, this is a great option for relaxing
  • Sights nearby - Head into San Francisco and admire the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Swimming Pool - Outdoor pool
from €737 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
Rosewood Sand Hill

Palo Alto (Menlo Park)

A ranch-style countryside escape just outside of Palo Alto. Rooms are grand and stylish with large marble baths, original artworks and enviable views of the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz Mountains. Relax by the dramatic pool and gardens and eat at the exquisite Michelin starred Restaurant.

  • Active Holiday - There's plent to keep busy with nearby from horse riding to golf or wine tasting
  • Foodies - Madera has one Michelin Star and offers a menu of refined dishes
  • Sights nearby - Take a day trip to San Francisco only 40 minutes away
  • Secluded setting
from €760 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia
The Clement

Palo Alto (California)

All-inclusive urban luxury retreat in the heart of Silicon Valley. 23 one- and two-bedroom suites provide all the high-end amenities a tech titan or visiting Stanford professor might want, plus you can expect seasonal Californian cuisine, a 24-hour pantry for snacks, and a panoramic rooftop pool.

  • All inclusive - Included in the price are all food and beverages, parking and much more
  • Restaurant - The dining room and the kitchen provide a range of informal dining options with a focus on refreshing Californian cuisine
  • Sights nearby - Right next to Stanford University Campus and close to the Cantor Art Centre, and Shoreline Amphitheatre
  • Swimming Pool - Rooftop pool with views over Palo Alto
from €1026 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees
Check availability on Expedia