Dinah’s Garden Hotel

The atmosphere at Dinah's Garden Hotel is quiet and romantic, thanks to its scenic, green setting. The property is surrounded by a Japanese-style garden of tropical plants, fountains, waterfalls, ponds of Koi and ducks, bridges, gazebos, and stone sculptures. The cozy lobby area feels more like a private home than a hotel. Its high ceilings and large windows let in plenty of natural light, and terra-cotta floors give the space a rustic feel, as do the colonial-style furniture and many objets d'art. This family-run hotel dates back to 1926 when it was a restaurant called Dinah's Shack, with an adjacent apricot orchard. The hotel was renovated in 2015, and there are plans to add a lounge bar in 2016. Popular with business travelers because of its proximity to the many corporations located in Palo Alto and Mountain View, the hotel also draws its share of leisure travelers, and those visiting nearby Stanford University. Its leafy garden setting makes it a popular wedding venue.

Dinah's Garden Hotel is located in a residential area within a few minutes' drive to Mountain View, Stanford University, and downtown Palo Alto. There are a few restaurants, stores, and shopping centers nearby, but guests need their own car to get around.

• Six-minute drive to Mountain View
• 10-minute drive to Stanford University
• 11-minute drive to downtown Palo Alto
• 11-minute drive to the Computer History Museum
• 12-minute drive to Stanford Shopping Center
• 12-minute drive to Palo Alto golf course
• 20-minute drive to Mineta San Jose International Airport
• 22-minute drive to California's Great America theme park
• 24-minute drive to San Jose
• 29-minute drive to San Francisco International Airport
• 34-minute drive to Thomas Fogarty Winery
• 39-minute drive to San Francisco

Elegant yet not overdone, the spacious guest rooms and suites at Dinah's Garden Hotel feature rustic hardwood or tile floors, mahogany furniture, framed artwork on the walls, and many lamps providing soft mood lighting. Air-conditioning, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, coffeemakers, safes, ironing facilities, and free Wi-Fi come standard. Bathrooms are fitted with shower/tub combos or roomy walk-in showers, and have hairdryers and Le Naturel toiletries. Many rooms have balconies with views of the gardens and ponds, or patios that open onto the pool area. Deluxe Rooms feature living areas with pull-out sofas, wet bars with sinks, and work spaces, while Suites include such luxurious extras as designer furniture, kitchenettes, marble bathrooms, and whirlpool bathtubs. The Railroad Baron's Suite stands out for its running toy train -- a quirky, fun detail.

Dinah's Poolside Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has an indoor and outdoor seating area by the pool. Guests can choose from an a la carte breakfast menu (not included in the room rate) that includes egg and omelet dishes, burritos, granola, oatmeal, French toast, pancakes, and crepes. Live music is performed in the restaurant once a week, and room service is available. A lounge bar is planned for 2016.

The hotel has a heated outdoor pool, and a small but bright fitness center, equipped with two treadmills, two stationary bicycles, and two ellipticals. The hotel also has a small business center in the lobby that consists of two computers connected to the internet and a printer. A laundry room with two washers and two dryers are on site as well (both free for guests' use). 

Free fresh fruit, tea, and coffee are available in the lobby on weekday mornings. Other freebies include Wi-Fi in all areas of the hotel (including the pool), on-site parking, and a business shuttle weekday service  to and from offices within a five-mile radius (subject to reservation).