4261 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California, United States | (888) 710-7049
Scenic setting within a Japanese-style garden, near Stanford University
Rooms have flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers, many have balconies/patios
On-site restaurant with pleasant poolside tables and weekly live music
Heated outdoor swimming pool with plenty of loungers
Small fitness center with treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals
Business center with two computer stations and free Wi-Fi throughout
Lounge bar scheduled to be added in 2016
On-site laundry room that guests can use at no extra charge
Free coffee, tea, and fruit available in the lobby
Free on-site parking and shuttle service to and from local offices
Pet-friendly
Fee for breakfast
Traditional decor isn't fashion-forward (pro for some)
Near Palo Alto, this family-run, upper-middle-range hotel sits amid a charming Japanese-style garden of exotic plants, ponds, waterfalls, gazebos, and stone sculptures. The hotel was renovated in 2015, and its 129 rooms and suites are simple yet elegant -- in-room amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms have balconies or patios overlooking the gardens, while Suites include extras like kitchenettes, marble bathrooms, and whirlpool bathtubs. The on-site restaurant has been popular with locals for decades, and the hotel also has a heated outdoor pool, a fitness center, on-site parking, shuttle service, and tea and coffee in the lobby. Travelers visiting Stanford University may prefer the Stanford Terrace Inn, which is right across from campus, though rates can be higher.
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Scene
Family-run hotel surrounded by a Japanese-style garden
The atmosphere at Dinah's Garden Hotel is quiet and romantic, thanks to its scenic, green setting. The property is surrounded by a Japanese-style garden of tropical plants, fountains, waterfalls, ponds of Koi and ducks, bridges, gazebos, and stone sculptures. The cozy lobby area feels more like a private home than a hotel. Its high ceilings and large windows let in plenty of natural light, and terra-cotta floors give the space a rustic feel, as do the colonial-style furniture and many objets d'art. This family-run hotel dates back to 1926 when it was a restaurant called Dinah's Shack, with an adjacent apricot orchard. The hotel was renovated in 2015, and there are plans to add a lounge bar in 2016. Popular with business travelers because of its proximity to the many corporations located in Palo Alto and Mountain View, the hotel also draws its share of leisure travelers, and those visiting nearby Stanford University. Its leafy garden setting makes it a popular wedding venue.
Location
In a residential area close to Stanford University
Dinah's Garden Hotel is located in a residential area within a few minutes' drive to Mountain View, Stanford University, and downtown Palo Alto. There are a few restaurants, stores, and shopping centers nearby, but guests need their own car to get around.- Six-minute drive to Mountain View
Rooms
Spacious rooms decorated in a traditional, elegant style
Elegant yet not overdone, the spacious guest rooms and suites at Dinah's Garden Hotel feature rustic hardwood or tile floors, mahogany furniture, framed artwork on the walls, and many lamps providing soft mood lighting. Air-conditioning, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, coffeemakers, safes, ironing facilities, and free Wi-Fi come standard. Bathrooms are fitted with shower/tub combos or roomy walk-in showers, and have hairdryers and Le Naturel toiletries. Many rooms have balconies with views of the gardens and ponds, or patios that open onto the pool area. Deluxe Rooms feature living areas with pull-out sofas, wet bars with sinks, and work spaces, while Suites include such luxurious extras as designer furniture, kitchenettes, marble bathrooms, and whirlpool bathtubs. The Railroad Baron's Suite stands out for its running toy train -- a quirky, fun detail.
Features
Outdoor pool, restaurant with alfresco dining, fitness center, business center, and free Wi-Fi
Dinah's Poolside Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has an indoor and outdoor seating area by the pool. Guests can choose from an a la carte breakfast menu (not included in the room rate) that includes egg and omelet dishes, burritos, granola, oatmeal, French toast, pancakes, and crepes. Live music is performed in the restaurant once a week, and room service is available. A lounge bar is planned for 2016.The hotel has a heated outdoor pool, and a small but bright fitness center, equipped with two treadmills, two stationary bicycles, and two ellipticals. The hotel also has a small business center in the lobby that consists of two computers connected to the internet and a printer. A laundry room with two washers and two dryers are on site as well (both free for guests' use). Free fresh fruit, tea, and coffee are available in the lobby on weekday mornings. Other freebies include Wi-Fi in all areas of the hotel (including the pool), on-site parking, and a business shuttle weekday service to and from offices within a five-mile radius (subject to reservation).
