el PRADO

4.0 star property
Family-friendly hotel with fitness centre and 24-hour business centre

Photo gallery for el PRADO

Lobby sitting area
Front of property
Lounge
Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed
View from property

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Room service
  • Housekeeping
  • Breakfast available
  • Bar
  • Parking available

Explore the area

Map
520 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
  • Stanford Shopping Center
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Stanford University
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Stanford University Medical Center
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • San Francisco, CA (SFO-San Francisco Intl.)
    ‪27 min drive‬

Room options

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Pillow-top bed
  • 28 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Fireplace

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Fireplace
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
  • 46 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Pillow-top bed
  • 37 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Pillow-top bed
  • 37 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Suite, Balcony

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
HDTV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Pillow menu
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
  • 46 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

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About the area

Palo Alto

A family-friendly stay in the heart of Palo Alto awaits you at el PRADO. You'll be 3.3 km (2 mi) from Stanford University and 2.9 km (1.8 mi) from Stanford University Medical Center. Highlights at this boutique hotel include a restaurant, a bar/lounge and a 24-hour business centre. .The restaurant, Il Fornaio, serves Italian cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner. Il Fornaio is the hotel's own bar, serving drinks along with dinner. 7000 square feet (650 square metres) of event facilities include meeting rooms and conference space, and other business amenities include a business centre and limo/town car service. Additionally, you'll find free Wi-Fi in public areas, a gym and coffee/tea in a common area. Full breakfast is available daily between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Bring your pet along and take advantage of this property's pet-friendly amenities, such as food and water bowls. There's also the convenience of valet parking. .Attractions within a 15-minute drive of this University South hotel include San Francisco Bay and Shoreline Amphitheatre.

What's nearby

  • Stanford Shopping Center - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Stanford Stadium - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Stanford University - 4 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Stanford University Medical Center - 4 min drive - 2.6 km

Getting around

  • Palo Alto Station - 10 min walk
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪HanaHaus - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Varsity Theatre - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Blue Bottle Coffee - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Salt & Straw - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Café Venetia - ‬3 min walk

About this property

el PRADO

Family-friendly hotel with fitness centre and 24-hour business centre
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. A 24-hour business centre, meeting rooms, and limo/town car service are available.

WiFi is free in public spaces. Event space at this hotel measures 7000 square feet (650 square metres) and includes conference space. A fitness centre, a library, and a terrace are also featured at the family-friendly el PRADO. For a fee, parking is available. The property offers extended parking privileges.

This Palo Alto hotel is smoke free.

  • 1 building
  • 62 guestrooms or units
  • 4 levels
  • Conference rooms
  • 7000 sq ft of conference space
  • 650 sq. m of conference space
  • Built in 1986
  • Business centre (24 hours)
  • Conference space
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Dry cleaning
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-out
  • Staff members are multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Car service
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Wedding services available
  • Library
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Beauty salon
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Television in lobby
  • Bellhop
  • Lift
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
El PRADO offers 62 accommodations with minibars and laptop-compatible safes. Rooms open to balconies. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Pillowtop beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets, down duvets and premium bedding. A pillow menu is available. 49-inch flat-screen televisions come with premium digital channels. Bathrooms include a shower, bathrobes, slippers and designer toiletries.

This Palo Alto hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access, with a speed of 25+ Mbps. Business-friendly amenities include desks, complimentary newspapers and telephones. Additionally, rooms include a hairdryer and an iron/ironing board. In-room massages and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered on a daily basis.

Languages

English

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Limo/town car service
  • Valet parking on site (USD 35 per night; includes in/out privileges)
  • Extended parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee: USD 10 to 100 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Restaurants on site

  • Il Fornaio
  • Il Fornaio

Things to do

  • Gym
  • Library
  • Piano
  • TV in common areas

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Hair salon
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 24-hour business centre
  • 7,000 square feet of conference space
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Terrace

Spa

  • In-room massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Hand-held showerhead
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Height-adjustable showerhead
  • Lift
  • Visual alarms in hallways
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible business centre
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchairs on site

More

  • 1 building
  • 4 floors
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1986
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Down comforter
  • Egyptian cotton sheets
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Pillow menu
  • Pillowtop mattress

Bathroom

  • Designer toiletries
  • Dressing gowns
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 49-inch flat-screen TV with premium digital channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Champagne service
  • Electric kettle
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Desk
  • Free daily newspapers
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop-compatible safe
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets: USD 75 per pet, per stay
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 2 (weight limit: 70 lb per pet)
  • Pets cannot be left unattended
  • Food and water bowls are available
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 17 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 25.0 per night.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately USD 10 to 100 per person
  • Valet parking fee: USD 35 per night (in/out privileges)
  • Pet fee: USD 75 per pet, per stay
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 25.0 per night

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
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
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A credit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children. If you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guest room reservation. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Eurocard and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. 
    For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector in all accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

We should mention

  • Children aged 17 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • To make arrangements to bring your pet, contact the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation (please see the Fees section for related charges).

Property is also known as

Court Garden Hotel
Garden Court
Garden Court Hotel
Garden Court Hotel Palo Alto
Garden Court Palo Alto
el PRADO Hotel
el PRADO Palo Alto
Garden Court Hotel
el PRADO Hotel Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at el PRADO?

El PRADO offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

Is parking available at el PRADO?

Yep, el PRADO has valet parking with in/out privileges for USD 35 per night.

What makes el PRADO a romantic place to stay?

A champagne service and romance packages, as well as pillowtop beds and private balconies in the guestrooms, help set the scene for a romantic weekend at el PRADO.

Does el PRADO serve breakfast?

You bet, full brekkie is offered daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at el PRADO?

No, el PRADO does not offer an airport shuttle service.

Is there a bar or restaurant at el PRADO?

Yep, they've got a lounge bar and an onsite restaurant that serves Italian cuisine. Pre dinner cocktails anyone?

What time are check-in & check-out at el PRADO?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.

Are pets allowed at el PRADO?

Dogs are welcome at el PRADO, with food and water bowls on offer. Just so you know, there's a limit of 2 pets, with a maximum weight of up to 32 kg per pet.

el PRADO Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 450 out of 577 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 85 out of 577 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 24 out of 577 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 577 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 577 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ying Zhai

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sal

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Borui

spacious room!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Sofia

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Hotel has a great location, rooms are super spacious and clean. The lobby is quite small with minimal seating area. Service and staff were really really nice and friendly and did an amazing job. However there was a huge downside to us that there’s no actual restaurant in the hotel to dine for breakfast or a bar to have a drink. There’s only in room dining available which would’ve been fine, except we were staying with out family in 4 different rooms and we were never able to just come down and have breakfast all together. We like to sit down for breakfast, not have breakfast in the room.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful rooms and finishes
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Niteen

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Convenient location. Excellent rooms. Need coffee maker option in room.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

gloria

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect room location and ambiance

One of the nicest rooms we’ve ever stayed in. Great staff so helpful
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Meagan

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mehmet Cenk

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gordon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Christmas visit to Palo Alto

Perfect location in beautiful downtown Palo Alto Very comfortable room and great car vallet service.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cameron

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Exceptional staff, luxury amenities

The hotel and staff were exceptionally friendly and accommodating during our stay as I had recently undergone surgery at Stanford. They went out of their way to make me comfortable. It is a lovely hotel with luxury amenities.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Wendy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very helpful staff! Appreciated our upgrade!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

H

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good site and well managed team.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Ian

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
While the daytime front desk manager provided 5 star service, when the night time manager started it was amateur hour. The doorman also never opened the door for me. Surprising for a hotel of this caliber. Otherwise the property itseld was a gem. The room felt so comfortable, as if we were at home in our apartment. The bathroom was especially nice with marble tile. Also, not related to my review but there is a coffee machine in a common area that is for employees only. It seems a little odd.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My most recent stay at El Prado was fantastic! The rooms are a very decent size, the bed super comfortable and the staff is super accommodating and friendly. Highly recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Fernando

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nikka

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The best hotel near Stanford!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

todd

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bradley, Venice

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beds were plush. Room very comfortable and spacious. Coffee bar was very convenient. Great location and service.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024