Minimalist roadside cove
Bamboo plantings, a fountain, and shaded courtyard seating create a quiet pocket along the El Camino Real corridor.
What it’s good at
Listed
Low-slung motor-inn architecture with light wood accents, bamboo plantings, and a central garden fountain.
Listed
An on-site fitness room with cardio equipment paired with a quiet, bamboo-shaded garden courtyard.
Listed
A sunny outdoor courtyard patio with umbrella tables and a dedicated morning breakfast lounge.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set in Green Acres on south El Camino Real, Stanford University and downtown Palo Alto are a ten-minute drive north.
The rooms
Light wood furnishings and pillowtop beds keep interiors uncluttered, while select ground-floor rooms open toward the courtyard patio.
The gym
- Gym
- Fitness center with cardio machines and weight-training equipment.
At the table
A sunlit breakfast lounge with hardwood floors and high-backed wing chairs serves a hot morning buffet.
Good to know
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The Zen Hotel
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Palo Alto
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.