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About
#4 of 29 hotels in Palo Alto
Location
4.9
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.7
Value
4.2
Set in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, CA, among a blend of enchanting residential neighborhoods and top technology creators, el PRADO is a 62-room boutique hotel welcoming travelers to Silicon Valley. el PRADO is set among a lush, botanical atmosphere inspired by Spanish courtyards and open-air living, providing guests with a warm and tranquil respite along their journey. A vibrant destination that serves as an oasis for both visitors and the local community alike, el PRADO will feature a cozy courtyard lounge area, intimate tapas bar and lounge, and breakfast eatery situated adjacent to a two-floor solarium. The hotel also offers 6,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space that inspires innovative conversations and curates one-of-a-kind experiences.
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Property amenities
Electric vehicle charging station
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Children's television networks
Highchairs available
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Free public parking nearby
Valet parking
Paid private parking on-site
Wifi
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary tea
Outdoor dining area
Snack bar
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Car hire
Taxi service
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Concierge
Convenience store
Newspaper
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Doorperson
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Shoeshine
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Minibar
Cable / satellite TV
Walk-in shower
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Iron
Laptop safe
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Radio
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Hotel links
Location
89Good for walkers
Grade: 89 out of 100
81Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
10Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
520 Cowper St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1823
Getting there
Palo AltoCaltrain10 min
Rental CarsSee all Palo Alto rental cars
472Reviews3Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
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Most Recent
We just returned from a 4 night stay at this hotel. We really like this hotel. The hotel's location is perfect - walking distance to shopping, lots of restaurants and close to Sanford and other sites. We had a courtyard view room again. Very quiet - views of the courtyard are nice but on this trip the weather was cold and wet (just like Vancouver LOL) so we couldn't sit out on the balcony this time. The room was large, recently renovated, good storage/closet space, bed very comfortable. Staff here are friendly and helpful. By now we are very comfortable staying here - feels like home. Will definitely be back!!
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Hotel's Favorite
I want to thank Jesse he made us feel as if we were true VIPs. He helped us throughout our wedding and setting up every little detail. My family and friends were impressed by his ability to help virtually everyone and help us as the bride and groom. You guys are amazing and please send my compliments to Jesse.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
My last review of el PRADO was in May and I mentioned that if we ever come back, we will stay here again...and guess what—we did stay here again :) Life has a lot of interesting turns. We never knew we'd make Palo Alto our second home. And I was happy we got to stay in el PRADO before our official move-in date. The hotel is just as charming as I remembered and the coffee tastes especially delicious with the sunrise at the balcony. For a brief moment, I felt I was in some small town in Europe. Definitely recommend anyone who's visiting the bay area to stay here!
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Connie Villeta, Owner at el PRADO Hotel
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to share about your recent stay with us! I was delighted to see that we really knocked it out of the park on both of your stays. The balcony rooms facing the courtyard are definitely guest favorites. We welcome you to Palo Alto and look forward to your future visits even as a staycationer or to have a cocktail in our Tapas lounge.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What an excellent boutique hotel. Our room was beautiful and very well appointed as was the bathroom and walk in robe. The staff were lovely and alway readily available. The location was brilliant and walking distance to many lovely cafes and restaurants. Couldn’t recommend more highly
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
My husband and I stayed here and we absolutely LOVED IT. The staff were all friendly. It was a unique experience and they all treat you like you are a real VIP. Jesse the supervisor was extremely great. They even put rose petals in our bed to celebrate our wedding. I definitely recommend this place.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
One of the previous reviewers mentioned el Prado is Palo Alto's best kept secret — I cannot agree with it more! We visited Palo Alto prior to our potential relocation, just to see if we like the area. To my surprise, it wasn't easy to find a hotel in downtown (aka an area that does not require a car). Nobu was fully booked, so we ended up staying at el Prado which I'm very very glad we did. el Prado was very charming. The room was very luxurious yet cozy. The hotel has a great courtyard and multiple beautiful lounge areas for guests to mingle and relax. All the creative decors and colors used were also my future home interior inspirations :) While I'm still not sure if I want to move to the Bay Area, I do know if next time I'm in town for whatever reason, I'd love to visit/stay at el Prado again!…
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
For many years I have travelled to the Palo Alto area. I have found the hotel options wanting. Some are super expensive and steril. Some are super expensive and snooty. El Prado is happily different. Mediterranean architecture and vibe. Great rooms. If you can score a balcony, they have a great seating area that overlooks an internal courtyard. When I was out on the balcony in the late after noon, there were others outside as well adding to the overall sense of community. Bed is super comfortable. Wynn Las Vegas comfortable. Bathrooms are largely marble (or marble-ish). My only suggestion is around staffing. Staff was very responsive, but at times it was like a movie where one actor plays all the characters. Somehow they got everything handled in a timely way -- car, luggage, check-in, special requests -- but I think if this place gets as popular as i think it will, they are going to need more staff.…
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: Choose inside room with balcony. Fun to sit outside. Quiet at night.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
What a great experience! We had a fantastic, one night stay, at El Prado. Sara, told us, that she was putting us, in a beautiful, spacious, room. She was not kidding. We stayed in room 404, very quiet, super comfortable bed, and very spacious. Her coworker, at the front desk, told us our dinner reservation, at nearby, St. Michael, was a great choice, a wonderful restaurant. He was right. The El Prado, is a beautiful, quiet, centrally located hotel, with great staff, at the front desk! Thank you Sara, for the beautiful room!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Room 404, is ideal, where we want to stay, next time!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
I cannot speak highly enough about this establishment, its service, and the food! We recently had my sisters bridal shower at this location, and it was such a unparalleled experience from start to end. Jesse Bresnahan, the Director of Events, and his team truly excel at what they do. From the moment we arrived at the valet the morning of the event it all went so smoothly. The staff the day of the event was PHENOMENAL; the service was truly exceptional. Julian Quintero, the supervisor, was wonderful the entire event and assured we kept on schedule without being overbearing. Raul Banderas, Jose Hernandez and Pablo Caricio were WONDERFUL the entire event. They immediately offered to help us set up the flowers and remaining décor when we initially arrived and continued to offer their assistance with everything and anything we needed that day. Most notably, every single one (and I truly mean every single one) of our guests COMPLIMENTED the service by Julian, Raul, Jose and Pablo that day. I also cannot say enough about how well presented and how delectable the food was that day. The appetizers were beyond delicious (ahi tuna cone, I am talking about you), the salad, the chicken dish, and the desserts were also all sooo scrumptious. The crowd favorites, however, were the ahi tuna and the garlic shrimp appetizers. (HIGHLY RECOMMEND). The arugula salad was also loved by all. All of the aforementioned gentlemen, including the talented chefs, truly helped make the event go flawlessly and memorably for the bride and her family throwing the event. I would unequivocally recommend this hotel and its staff.…
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Date of stay: February 2022
Value
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Brayton Gosling, General Manager at el PRADO Hotel
Responded Feb 14, 2022
Thank you for taking the time to write such an amazing detailed review from your recent event with us. I was very happy to see that our team made a truly lasting memory for you and your guests. Our events department takes great pride in what they do and I am always excited to share such great feedback with them. Best wishes from our team on your big day!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This review is for a wedding reception. Pros: gorgeous venue. Beautiful court yard and elegant ball room (La Terraza). The ballroom was newly renovated, posh, warm and inviting. Dinner buffet was excellent - fresh salad, tender beef and juicy salmon, delish butternut squash ravioli! Soft bar package was reasonably priced and wines quality was decent Service staff was professional, attentive and courteous Cons: the balcony lights were not turned on. But this is a minor miss. We could/should have asked the staff to turn on the lights but got side tracked - busy hosting our guests Event planning: A big shout-out to the Event Director, Jesse Bresnahan. He guided us (bride and bride's Mom ) through the planning details, patiently answered our zillion questions in a professional and friendly manner - beverage options, food menu, room layout, table settings, etc. All seems basic stuff, but have overwhelming details. Jesse helped us navigate through all of these seamlessly over emails and zoom call. The result - a beautiful wedding reception in an elegant setting with great food and drinks. Simply perfect! Thank You Jesse for all your help! Our family and guests love el PRADO venue and its people. We definitely will consider el PRADO for our upcoming family re-union event. PS: the newlyweds stayed overnight at el Prado. They love the room!…
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Date of stay: November 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Brayton Gosling, General Manager at el PRADO Hotel
Responded Dec 7, 2021
Thank you for taking a moment to share about your recent event. I was so pleased to see that Jesse and the rest of our banquets team really made it a night to remember. Our apologies about the balcony lights, these should have automatically come on and we will look into why this didn't happen. Our team strives to make an exception event experiences for all of our guests and we cannot wait for your next event with us in the future for the family reunion!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
$375 - $590 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
garden court palo alto, hotel garden court
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Garden Court Hotel
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaPalo Alto
NUMBER OF ROOMS
62
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Frequently Asked Questions about el PRADO Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to el PRADO Hotel?
Nearby attractions include The Stanford Theatre (0.3 miles), Downtown Palo Alto Farmer's Market (0.1 miles), and The Rose and Crown (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at el PRADO Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at el PRADO Hotel?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at el PRADO Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at el PRADO Hotel?
Yes, free public parking nearby, a parking garage, and paid private parking on-site are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to el PRADO Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Oren's Hummus, Tamarine Restaurant, and Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill.
Are there opportunities to exercise at el PRADO Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness center during their stay.
Does el PRADO Hotel have airport transportation?
Yes, el PRADO Hotel offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is el PRADO Hotel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.2 miles away from the center of Palo Alto.
Are any cleaning services offered at el PRADO Hotel?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at el PRADO Hotel?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.