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.
Stanford University Medical Center - 9 min drive - 6.4 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
State of Mind Slice House - 12 min walk
Hong Kong Restaurant - 15 min walk
Hobee's - 5 min walk
So Gong Dong Tofu House - 3 min walk
About this property
The Zen Hotel Palo Alto
When you stay at The Zen Hotel Palo Alto, you'll be within a 10-minute drive of Stanford University and Shoreline Amphitheatre. 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 San Francisco Bay and Levi's Stadium. 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
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
Free uncovered onsite self parking
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
IPod docking station
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
Here's the breakdown, no surprises
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)
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
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, there's free self parking.
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 5 minutes away by car.
Travelers say the area is safe.
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The Zen Hotel Palo Alto Reviews
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
9.4/10
Cleanliness
9.4/10
Staff & service
8.6/10
Amenities
9.0/10
Property conditions & facilities
8.8/10
Eco-friendliness
Popular mentions
Room
Service staff
Breakfast
Bed
Location
Parking
Value
Bathroom
Breakfast
Coffee
What guests liked
Breakfast was great with a variety of hot and cold options, including scrambled eggs, sausages, and hot oatmeal. (126 reviews)
Convenient and safe parking was available, often right in front of the room. (11 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 2, 2025
cute spot
Great spot, clean, friendly good breakfast!
Tawny
Tawny, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 17, 2025
Great place to sleep
It was a nice stay. We got the room with 3 queen beds and it was a great set up for a family with kids. Rooms were very quiet and clean.
Matthew
Matthew, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 11, 2025
Hidden Gem
The Zen hotel is a hidden gem. It’s close to Shoreline and you can’t beat the price. It was quiet and comfortable and the complimentary breakfast included a great selection of hot and cold options.
Jessica
Jessica, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 6, 2025
Great place
We got the deluxe king room, but didn't expect it to be a suite, so we were very surprised. It's a great hotel. The staff were friendly and rooms were clean. The price was great too. Definitely will stay here again.
Lucinda
Lucinda, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
May 13, 2025
Clean quiet breakfast easy checkin and checkout comfortable amenities are good.
amparo
amparo, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 13, 2025
Hotel was clean and quiet and had great breakfast options.
Michel
Michel, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
May 24, 2025
Pleasant people and location
Quiet and a place I would return to for an extended stay.
Verified traveler
5-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 1, 2025
Good location for the money
Close to Stanford Hospital. Plenty of places for food. Quiet. Serviced breakfast.
Hector
Hector, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 10, 2025
It is nice and clean, and the owner is very friendly. Reasonable price, and the breakfast is great.
Yang
Yang, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 12, 2025
Excellent place to stay in the Palo Alto area! Will stay here again next time I’m in town!
Michael
Michael, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Apr 30, 2025
Nice stay.
Sihem
Sihem, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 15, 2025
I loved everything the staff so friendly and kind our room was clean each time food was amazing for breakfast highly recommend
Katie
Katie, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 28, 2025
Courteous helpful staff, clean rooms, decent above average breakfast and easy
Matthew
Matthew, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 20, 2025
Great place!
Great place to stay. It was clean and comfortable and had a good breakfast.
Amy
Amy, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 1, 2025
We really enjoyed our stay with Zen Hotel. It is a tastefully remodeled establishment within close proximity to Stanford healthcare for which we had come. Breakfast was nice too.
Leigh
Leigh, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 9, 2025
Nice staff, beds were pretty comfy, room was clean spacious.
amy
amy, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 15, 2025
Staff were very friendly and accommodating.
Sandra
Sandra, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 31, 2025
Love this place and will continue to stay
Kelley
Kelley, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 16, 2025
Nice spacious room. Good breakfast bar.
Peter
Peter, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 27, 2025
Peaceful hotel in a pleasant area close to many things!
Anna
Anna, 4-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 9, 2025
Yes, Zen Hotel is my first choice when need a place in the Bay Area.
Suzanne
Suzanne, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Apr 12, 2025
Convient location, close to several good restaurants.
rebecca
rebecca, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 7, 2025
Great hotel, price & neighborhood! Lovely small hotel close to everything. We walked a few blocks in one direction to a large neighborhood park, then went a few blocks in the other direction to an awesome sushi/ramen restaurant!
Laura
Laura, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 7, 2025
This place is a great value. Nice landscaping, a decent low key gym, free breakfast that was fine and included several options, and clean rooms with nice amenities for a decent price.
Tracy
Tracy, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 22, 2025
Would stay here again
I stayed here for three nights while my dad was having surgery at Stanford and was very pleased with my stay. Everything was clean and comfortable, and the staff was great. The only thing that was a little less than convenient was that my room was on the second floor and there is no elevator. It is more of a motel than a hotel which I was not expecting, but other than that it was perfect.