Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto brought hotel guests back to one of downtown's best-known buildings. The six-story Hotel President opened on University Avenue in 1929, spent more than half a century as apartments and reopened as a Graduate hotel in January 2023. Today it has about 100 rooms, a rooftop bar called President's Terrace and an all-day cafe on the ground floor. It sits a few blocks from the Caltrain station, so it works well for car-free trips.

This profile draws on Hilton's official pages for the hotel and on our own history research. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check Graduate Palo Alto on Booking.com or book through Hilton, where Hilton Honors members earn points.

Location and neighborhood

The address is 488 University Avenue, in the 94301 ZIP code. The hotel stands on the main restaurant and shopping strip, a few blocks east of the Caltrain station. Everything in our downtown Palo Alto guide is within an easy walk. A few landmarks for orientation:

• The Stanford Theatre, the restored 1925 movie palace, is a short stroll west on the same avenue. See our Stanford Theatre guide for its classic film calendar.
• The Palo Alto Caltrain station is at the west end of University Avenue, roughly half a mile away.
• Professorville and its shingled houses begin a few blocks south.
• Stanford's Main Quad is about a mile and a half west, up Palm Drive.

Hilton's own description puts Stanford about a mile away. The exact distance depends on where on campus you are headed, since the campus is very large.

Getting there from Caltrain and the airports

This is one of the easiest Palo Alto hotels to reach without a car. From the Palo Alto Caltrain station, walk east along University Avenue for about 10 to 15 minutes, or take a short rideshare if you have heavy bags. The transit center beside the station is also where Stanford's free Marguerite shuttle starts its campus runs on weekdays.

Hilton lists San Francisco International Airport at about 20 miles and San Jose Mineta International at about 16 miles. The hotel does not run an airport shuttle.

1. From SFO: take the AirTrain and BART to Millbrae, then a southbound Caltrain to Palo Alto and walk from the station. Our SFO guide covers the transfer.
2. From SJC: ride the free VTA Route 60 bus to Santa Clara Transit Center, then Caltrain north to Palo Alto. Details are in our SJC guide.
3. By car or rideshare: plan on roughly 30 to 45 minutes from SFO and 20 to 40 minutes from SJC, depending on traffic.

The Hotel President building

Birge Clark, the architect who shaped much of downtown in the 1920s and 1930s, designed the Hotel President. It opened in 1929, the year Stanford alumnus Herbert Hoover took office as president. Historical accounts describe 125 rooms, a roof garden and a spiral staircase that climbed the full height of the building. As travelers took to cars and highway motels, business faded. The building became apartments in 1968.

The conversion back to a hotel brought the name Graduate to University Avenue. Hilton says the lobby keeps original 1929 details that were restored during the work, alongside Bay Area art. The Graduate brand decorates each hotel around its college town, so the interiors here draw on Stanford alumni and life on "The Farm," the campus nickname. Our page on Birge Clark places the building among his other work.

Rooms and amenities

Hilton lists 100 rooms across six floors. The room types named on its booking pages include standard rooms plus two suite categories:

• Family Suites, aimed at parents and children traveling together.
• Pop Culture Suites, themed rooms in the brand's playful style.

Hilton does not publish detailed bed layouts for each category on its main pages. Check the room descriptions when you search for dates, or call the hotel if you need two beds or a specific setup.

The amenities Hilton lists for the property are:

• Free Wi-Fi throughout.
• Nonsmoking rooms only. A fee applies for smoking indoors and the front desk can point you to outdoor smoking areas.
• Connecting rooms and cribs on request.
• Meeting rooms and a concierge.
• Pet-friendly rooms.

Hilton's amenities page does not mention a fitness center or a pool. Do not count on either. Childcare and a kids menu are listed as not available.

Dining and the rooftop bar

Two food and drink spaces are on site. Lou & Herbert's is an all-day cafe serving coffee and California-style food. Hilton lists a full breakfast for a fee, which is the easiest morning option if your rate does not include it.

President's Terrace is the rooftop bar. Hilton describes 360-degree views and a cocktail menu. From the top of a six-story building on a low-rise street, you look out over downtown's tree canopy toward the foothills. The bar has drawn locals as well as guests since the hotel opened.

Downtown's restaurants are steps from the door. University Avenue and the side streets hold everything from bakeries to fine dining, so most guests eat out for dinner.

Parking and policies

Parking is the main thing drivers need to plan for. Hilton lists these terms:

If you would rather park yourself, the city runs public garages downtown. Rules and permit zones are in our Palo Alto parking guide. Fees and policies change, so confirm on Hilton's amenities page before you arrive.

Who the Graduate suits

• Car-free visitors who want Caltrain, restaurants and the Stanford shuttle within walking distance.
• Stanford families who want a lively base for campus visits. Book early for commencement weekend, June 10 to 13, 2027.
• Travelers who like design and history, since the building is one of downtown's landmarks.
• Dog owners, given the 75-pound pet limit.

It is a weaker fit for drivers who want cheap or free parking, for travelers who need a pool or gym and for anyone with business on south El Camino Real or along Highway 101. For those trips, compare our guide to hotels on El Camino Real.

What is nearby

The hotel sits on the street that tells much of Palo Alto's story. Our history of University Avenue covers the early tech offices, the old storefronts and the Hotel President itself. A short loop from the door could include the Stanford Theatre, the HP Garage at 367 Addison Avenue and the Saturday downtown farmers market, which runs year-round.

For a longer outing, take Caltrain to San Francisco or walk to Stanford's campus along Palm Drive. Rates downtown swing widely with the Stanford calendar, so you can compare downtown Palo Alto hotels on Hotels.com for your dates.

Frequently asked questions