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The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

3.0 star property
Art Deco motel in city center in Palo Alto

Choose dates to view prices

In the heart of Palo Alto, The Zen Hotel offers a serene retreat near Stanford University. Start your day with a breakfast buffet and stay connected with in-room WiFi, or unwind at the gym and explore the garden. With express check-out, luggage storage, helpful multilingual staff have left previous guests feeling at ease.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry facilities

Main amenities (12)

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Fitness center
  • Self parking
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Garden
  • Front-desk safe
  • Laundry service
  • Self-serve laundry
  • Multilingual staff
  • Picnic area
  • Barbecue grills
  • Free newspapers in the lobby

For families (6)

  • Children stay free
  • Microwave
  • Private bathroom
  • Television
  • Garden
  • Daily housekeeping
$118 nightly
The total price is $136
Mar 14 - Mar 15
Total with taxes and fees

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 9 of 9 rooms

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(15 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
HDTV
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
  • 280 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(52 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
HDTV
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
  • 286 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Separate dining area
Separate sitting area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchenette
Refrigerator
Dining table
  • 532 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(10 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
HDTV
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
  • 306 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(106 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
HDTV
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
  • 240 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Deluxe Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(40 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
HDTV
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
  • 286 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(55 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
HDTV
Pillowtop bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
  • 306 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds)

Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds) | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, Non Smoking, Refrigerator & Microwave (2 Queen Beds)

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(7 reviews)

Highlights

Separate dining area
Separate sitting area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchenette
Refrigerator
Dining table
  • 693 sq ft
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds)

Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds) | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk

Suite, Non Smoking, Kitchen (3 Queen Beds)

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Separate dining area
Separate sitting area
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Dining table
  • 680 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Queen Beds

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Property grounds
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  • Air conditioning
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, 1,711 reviews
$104 nightly
The price is $120
Mar 21 - Mar 22
Total with taxes and fees
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About the neighborhood

Map
4164 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94306

What's nearby

  • Mitchell Park Dog Park - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • San Antonio Shopping Center - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
  • San Andreas Fault Trail - 4 min drive - 2.5 km
  • DVBIC Palo Alto - 4 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Palo Alto VA Hospital - 4 min drive - 1.9 km

Getting around

  • San Carlos, CA (SQL) - 18 min drive
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 18 min drive
  • San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) - 30 min drive
  • Oakland Intl. Airport (OAK) - 56 min drive
  • California Ave Station - 4 min drive
  • Atherton Station - 11 min drive
  • San Antonio Station - 28 min walk

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Hong Kong Restaurant - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Junbi - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Holy Sushi - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪State of Mind Slice House - ‬12 min walk

About this property

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto puts you within a 10-minute drive of Stanford University and Stanford Stadium. Guests can enjoy the fitness center or take advantage of nearby hiking/biking trails. This Art Deco motel is also within a short drive of Shoreline Amphitheatre and Stanford University Medical Center. Fellow travelers say great things about the comfortable beds and helpful staff.

At a glance

DONE

Hotel size

    • 37 rooms
    • Arranged over 2 floors
DONE

Arriving/Leaving

    • Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
    • Express check-out available
    • Early check-in subject to availability
    • Minimum check-in age: 18
    • Check-out time is 11 AM
    • Contactless check-out available
    • Late check-out subject to availability
DONE

Special check-in instructions

    • Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
    • Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
DONE

Required at check-in

    • Credit card required for incidental charges
    • Government-issued photo ID may be required
    • Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE

Children

    • Children (12 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
DONE

Pets

    • Pets not allowed
    • Service animals welcome
WIFI

Internet

    • Free WiFi in public areas
    • Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING

Parking

    • Uncovered onsite self parking (USD 9.95 per night)
    • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking on site
DONE

Other information

    • Smoke-free property

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast each morning 6:30 AM–9:30 AM
  • Barbecue grills

Traveling with children

  • Children stay free (see details)

What to do

  • Bicycle rentals nearby
  • Golf lessons nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Services

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Dry cleaning/laundry services
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Luggage storage
  • Multilingual staff

Facilities

  • 3 buildings/towers
  • Built in 1970
  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Television in common areas
  • Fitness center
  • Art Deco architecture

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Assistive listening devices available
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible fitness center
  • Closed captioned TV
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance

Room amenities

Be entertained

  • 37-inch LCD TV
  • Satellite TV channels

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled) and heating
  • Fan
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Bathrobes and slippers
  • Iron/ironing board

Sleep well

  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Premium bedding
  • Pillowtop mattress

Freshen up

  • Private bathroom
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Desk
  • Free WiFi
  • Desk chair

Food and drink

  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe
  • Access via exterior corridors

Fees & policies

Optional extras

  • Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge (subject to availability)

Parking

  • Uncovered self parking costs USD 9.95 per night

Policies

This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher on site.
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Cashless transactions are available.

Also known as

Hotel Zen
Zen Hotel
Zen Hotel Palo Alto
Zen Palo Alto
Townhouse Hotel Palo Alto
The Zen Hotel
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Motel
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Palo Alto
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Motel Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

Does The Zen Hotel Palo Alto offer free cancellation for a full refund?

Yes, The Zen Hotel Palo Alto does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.

Are pets allowed at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.

Is parking offered on site at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

Yes. Self parking costs USD 9.95 per night.

What are the check-in and check-out times at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. There's a charge for early check-in (subject to availability). Check-out time is 11 AM. Late check-out is available for a charge (subject to availability). Express check-out and contactless check-out are available.

Is there an onsite casino at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto?

No, this motel doesn't have a casino, but Casino M8trix (16-min drive) is nearby.

What is there to do at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto and nearby?

Have fun with nearby activities like cycling and hiking, and practice your swing on the nearby golf course. Enjoy amenities like a fitness center, a picnic area, and a garden.

What's the area around The Zen Hotel Palo Alto like?

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto puts you in Green Acres, in the heart of Palo Alto. Popular attractions include Stanford University, which is 4 minutes away by car. Travelers say the area is safe.

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Reviews

The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.2

Cleanliness

6.0

Location

9.4

Staff & service

8.8

Property conditions & facilities

Guest review summary

What guests liked

  • Breakfast was a highlight with a wide variety of options including hot items, waffles, and more. (150 reviews)
  • Parking was convenient, safe, and easily accessible with many spaces available. (14 reviews)
  • The property is conveniently located near many great restaurants and offers a nice breakfast. (7 reviews)
AI Sparkle IconFrom real guest reviews summarized by AI.

Popular mentions

Room
Service staff
Breakfast
Bed
Location
Parking
Value
Breakfast
Bathroom
Coffee

Reviews

8/10 Very good

Friendly staff, cozy room.
Connie, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Exceptional on all levels. Creme de la creme of hotel stays. Best value for the buck on the Peninsula
Juan, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great breakfast!
Bryndyn, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

For the price its great. Very clean and staff are really nice and accommodating.
daniel, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Clean room and good amenities, especially the breakfast!
Alena, 3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great spot!! Thank you
Cara, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Room was great, plenty of room & the breakfast was very good & tasty
ALFRED, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Love staying at Zen! The service is outstanding and near lots of great food places.
Tavehi, 9-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Quiet, roomy, comfortable. Nice buffet breakfast
carolyn, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

It was a nice hotel with comfortable bed!
Jill, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

Delightful staff, excellent breakfast.
Irene, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great hotel. Amazing breakfast spread and super helpful and friendly staff. Stay here everytime we are in town for games
Coach, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

We always enjoy our stay
Anaisa, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Very clean and safe the staffs are really kind . Really like this hotel will definitely reschedule this hotel next time.
Zzu Han, 4-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Excellent location for access to downtown Palo Alto. Charming, quiet property, very clean and well maintained. Room was super clean in every detail. Very comfortable. Easy, friendly check-in. Will stay here again.
Dorcas, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

This my go to spot when I am Palo Alto! Worth a try if you haven’t tried Zen.
David, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Everything was fantastic, again. This was my second stay and they were both to notch.
Troy, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Excellent staff and clean property. Room was clean and well stocked
Isaac, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great place to stay.
Citlali, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Always very clean and quiet!
Ashley, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

I absolutely love this place! Great customer service, very clean, nice and quiet, and an amazing breakfast with so many choices!
Mary, 1-night trip

8/10 Very good

Clean, convenient and pleasant. I just wish there were some sound insulation. Our neighbor's snoring was pretty annoying. Staff was pleasant, and breakfast, while simple, did the job.
Christina, 5-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great staff and breakfast was very good
LinhKieu, 3-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Easy check in, accessible parking, nice staff, clean and safe area.
Lalaina, 1-night trip

6/10 Good

The room was shabby. Very uncomfortable bed. Harsh fluorescent lighting is unwelcoming and unpleasant. This place is marketed as boutique-esque but run as a cheap motel. Staff was lovely. Management and rooms are what needs improvement.
Laura, 3-night trip