We’ve all heard of 5 star service, but The Clement Hotel Palo Alto knocks those stars out of the solar system with its all-inclusive luxury service. Upon arrival you’ll know that you are in for a treat, reserved exclusively for you. And by the way, that treat might be caviar or creme brulee, whatever you decide because this luxurious stay is all about you.
The 23 room urban retreat may be the new kid on the block, but it fits in seamlessly with its upscale neighbors, from Stanford University, across the street, to the Town & Country Village, Stanford Shopping Center or Levi’s Stadium. For those who want to get out and explore Northern California, it’s close to Napa Valley wine country, Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula and only 14 miles from California’s Great America. But if you are like me, you won’t want to leave this oasis. Head upstairs to the rooftop patio for a dip in the swimming pool or circle back at night, after your gourmet meal, served in the dining room or perhaps on the outdoor patio.
If you happen to be traveling with your dog, The Clement Hotel Palo Alto is very pet-friendly. Take it from me, as I brought my six month old Labrador Retriever with me and they treated her like royalty. Her plush dog bed may not have come with Matouk linens – like we had on our bed, – or Frette towels & robes – like we enjoyed in our room – but she was happy to lounge by my feet, playing with her new squeaky toy while I sipped a local red wine from nearby Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyard. Ah, the suite sweet life, that’s what I’m talking about!
Continuing with the luxury living theme, let’s talk food, because we all know that Northern Californians love our farm-to-table, organic, sustainable and fresh food. The Clement Hotel Palo Alto has not one chef, but two, on duty throughout your stay. I took advantage of the all-inclusive dining on offer and sampled a dish from each menu. If you like Eggs Benedict, the organic Eggs Benedict on brioche toast with cured ham or Norwegian smoked salmon topped with truffle Hollandaise is sublime, while the Manchego crusted chicken breast sandwich is a winner with its Serrano ham and house made-to-order apple slaw. If you’ve stayed at their sister property, Intercontinental The Clement Monterey, you may have had the sustainable and flavorful grilled Arctic Char. If you see it on the menu at The Clement Palo Alto, order this dish!
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Finally, I always applaud local business partnerships and The Clement gets a gold star for effort in this area. The bathroom amenities are local, but the best find this trip was Tin Pot Creamery. This neighboring ice cream shop offers delicious flavors and The Clement keeps single servings stashed in the Guest Pantry. Okay, I confess that I was jumping for joy that I could access the pantry 24/7 and have Tin Pot ice cream and Kara’s cupcakes at midnight and no one was watching me – except our dog.
Rates range from $799.99 weekends to $999.99 and up on weekdays. Rates include all meals, wine, beer, cocktails, business center, fitness center, valet parking, shoe shine, wifi, personal assistants, housekeeping twice-daily and all gratuities.Book directly online with The Clement Hotel Palo Alto or go through a booking site such as Booking.com or Expedia.
The Clement Hotel Palo Alto review and photos by San Francisco-based luxury travel writer Nancy D. Brown who was a guest of Pacific Hotel Management.
