Mindi S.
Yelp
We stayed in this hotel for two nights this past weekend. I cannot say enough good things about it! Our family has four people, so we asked for a room with two beds. Parking is either on the street or valet - there is not a designated parking lot, but it's not too hard to find a spot. We parked right on University just across the street. So long as you move your car by 10 the next morning, you will be fine. Upon entering the lobby, we were blown away by the gorgeous scent - The Graduate has a signature scent they pump through the vents and it is heavenly! I think is was a cross between balsam and sandalwood. The furnishings were unique and appeared to be either antique or custom pieces made to look that way - either way they were stunning. The pictures on the wall are quirky and plentiful. I love that these hotels all reference the college or university in the same town. For this one, Stanford was definitely the defining theme, all the way down to the carpet in the hallways, which feature the time capsule numbers found on campus. Anyway, after a very friendly and efficient check-in, we went to our room. It was breathtaking! The wallpaper is so, so pretty and it matched the curtains, closet and even the screen saver on the television! This building is over 100 years old, but you do not feel it in the rooms, with the exception of the windows, which are original and still open! Our view was of University Avenue, a bustling street which runs down the middle of downtown Palo Alto. The decor in our room was sumptuous and the bathroom is simply beautiful, with brass fixtures, a rainfall showerhead and thick, soft linens. Even the shampoo, conditioner and soap smelled heavenly. The beds were so very comfortable and the pillows with Stanford references were so cute. The rooftop bar was crowded and we could not get a reservation, but we did visit Lou and Herbert, the restaurant/coffee bar in the lobby for breakfast in the morning. We each had a cup of coffee and a bespoke pastry. Everything was lovely. No detail has been overlooked in this hotel. We rode the 100 year old freight elevator - the kind with the gate you have to pull closed before it will start going - and it was so cool! My daughter needed a bike while we were there and The Graduate gladly loaned her a brand new emerald green one, along with bike lock and helmet. There are large, red umbrellas available for guest use, as well. Finally, we received a sweet gift from Hannah, the hotel manager, in connection with Gwen from Letter Perfect, which is the best card/stationery store just down the street, which was delivered to our room on Sunday. I honestly did not want to check out but, alas, we had to go home. We will definitely be back, and when we are, we will be staying at The Graduate.