Nobu Hotel Palo Alto: A Silicon Valley Sanctuary That Embraces Luxury and the Japanese Spirit in Palo Alto, California
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto is a luxury urban oasis in the heart of Palo Alto, California.
In the heart of downtown Palo Alto, the famed Nobu restaurant anchors the Nobu Hotel—a luxury hotel with Japanese touches rarely found in the United States and shines as a hidden gem in the Bay Area.
Rising several floors above the well-heeled college town home to Stanford University, celebrity chef and icon Nobu Matsuhisa stamps his signature style to the accommodations.
The hotel’s reception desk.
Why You’ll Love It
Less than five minutes away from Stanford University and a short distance from other sites and attractions in Palo Alto, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto offers guests a luxury urban getaway with a unique Japanese-California aesthetic throughout the eight-story property.
With 73 rooms (64 guest rooms and nine suites), accommodations are thoughtfully designed to provide comfort and convenience. The Nobu Ryokan Suites draw inspiration from Nobu Ryokan Malibu and include deep “Onsen” soaking tubs.
Guests will be wowed by the hotel’s menu featuring signature dishes and local specialties from world-renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. From the exclusive sushi bar and Bento box lunches to signature dishes in the dining room, as well as weekend brunch and afternoon tea in the hotel’s Japanese-inspired garden, dining is at the heart of the Nobu Hotel Palo Alto experience.
Tranquil hallways lead to the hotel’s guest rooms and suites.
At the heart of the property is the lush Nobu Garden, which offers a zen atmosphere with soothing water features and elegantly manicured grounds.
Accommodations
Stepping out of the elevator doors to the hotel floor, you’ll find wide hallways in calming, neutral sand colors like a Zen garden.
As I walked through the doors, the drapes and shades opened to a setting programmed for the time of day. In the daytime, the window coverings opened to reveal bright sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
After dinner, the windows had drapes drop down for privacy. Separate control switches had settings for “wake,” “evening,” “night,” and “sleep.” The bathroom had an additional “nightlight” setting.
The hotel’s rooms and suites offer a serene retreat for recharging with nature-inspired elements and views of downtown Palo Alto and the Santa Cruz Mountains. [Pictured: Premium King Room]
Each bathroom has teak floors in the shower and bath area for a softer feel under bare feet. Instead of the usual bathroom robes, each room has a traditional Japanese bathrobe with a separate kimono sash that should be wrapped with the ends tied left over right. Surprisingly cozy and well-fitting!
The shower is equipped with a hand mitt for the bath gel—another nice touch that avoids the awkwardness of applying bath gel with a face towel.
Bathroom amenities include spacious walk-in showers and Japanese toilets with heated seats.
The Japanese toilet, complete with heated seats and buttons for bottom-cleaning the bidet way, as well as toilet paper, is located in a separate small room. When you leave and close the door, the toilet flushes automatically.
Some of the rooms, like the Ryokan (which means a traditional Japanese guesthouse) suite, have deep soaking tubs called the “onsen.” Soaking in a tub after a shower to cleanse yourself is a customary bath ritual in Japan. It’s refreshing to see the custom transported to Nobu hotels worldwide.
The Ryokan Suites include luxurious onsen soaking tubs.
Cuisine
While Nobu restaurants don’t usually serve breakfast, staying at a Nobu hotel means the magic of Nobu dining takes place from morning to night.
After flying into northern California and checking in around 9 p.m., I had enough time to drop my luggage off and plop into a bar seat for a sashimi snack and Ryokan Rickey cocktail made with Nobu’s signature house-made monk fruit syrup, a healthier house-made sweetener for drinks and food.
Nobu Palo Alto features an iconic menu of signature dishes crafted by world-renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
In the room itself, the coffee station included a ceramic Japanese teapot and teacups.
The next morning started with a room service breakfast with a Japanese bento box, including fish, scrambled eggs, rice with specks of seaweed, and pickled vegetables—all made to order from the Nobu kitchen.
In-room amenities include complimentary Nespresso and Ikaati tea.
Nobu Palo Alto also has lunchtime bento boxes with sashimi and chicken katsu options for quick lunches or catering and a weekend afternoon tea service in the garden.
Of course, dinners at Nobu are an exceptional experience in fine dining, and the concierge can assist with reservations.
Guests can enjoy signature dishes and bites in the dining room or at the exclusive sushi bar.
Spa & Wellness
The hotel’s 24-hour fitness center is located on the second floor and offers Technogym equipment in addition to cycle bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights.
While Nobu Palo Alto doesn’t have an on-site spa, its spa partner, Watercourse Way Bath House Spa, is located less than five minutes away. The award-winning wellness destination, which is inspired by the natural hot springs of Tassajara, features private hot tub rooms with steam or sauna facilities and a menu of luxurious treatments.
The hotel’s 24-hour fitness center offers innovative Technogym equipment including free weights.
Meetings & Events
A popular meetings and events destination, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto offers sleek, state-of-the-art amenities and a variety of spaces for events of all sizes.
In addition to multiple boardrooms and breakout rooms, the Japanese-inspired garden can hold up to 60 guests, while the Lobby Bar (included in a garden buyout) can accommodate cocktail receptions with full bar and seating for 24.
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto also offers catering services for evens ranging from elevated sushi platters and to-go Bento boxes to family-style meals, immersive private lunch or dinner events, and a sushi-making class led by the Master Sushi Chef.
The hotel offers various spaces for private events and group meetings including the Nobu Garden Dining Room.
The Lobby Bar is ideal for cocktail receptions prior to dinner with full bar and seating for 24 people.
Nearby Attractions
Located in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, the hotel is just minutes away from Stanford University, and within walking distance to many restaurants, shops, sites, and attractions. It is also near Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden and more.
Insider Tips
Valet parking costs $35 (daytime) and $50 (overnight). Local parking options are available for day guests including several lots across the street and street parking.
Electric car charging is available at Nobu Hotel Palo Alto.
The hotel is family-friendly and children under 12 stay free with an accompanying adult.
Restaurant reservations are accepted one month in advance.
Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out is at noon. The hotel does its best to accommodate early check-in and late check-out requests.
A variety of exclusive offers and packages are available. Check them out here.
The hotel’s lounge features a relaxing fireplace and chic design details.
For more information and to book a stay at Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, call (650) 531-8888 or visit their website. Follow on Instagram: @nobupaloalto
180 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto CA 94301
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[Photos courtesy of Nobu Hotel Palo Alto]
Helen I. Hwang is an award-winning journalist, author, and mechanical engineer. Her works have appeared in The New York Times for Kids, Eater San Diego, People Magazine, Parents.com, Trip Advisor, Huffington Post, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine,TravelSavvy.com, and other publications. She has also written a book, titled All Grown Up: Please Touch Museum and Its Move to Memorial Hall, for the Please Touch Museum, a children's museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, Helen worked as a researcher for the Peabody Award-winning NPR radio program, Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Over the years, she's lived on three continents and traveled to more than 40 countries. She currently lives in San Diego, CA, the 16th place she's called home. More about her can be found at helenihwang.com.