Keen was clean, beautiful and centrally located. The small room completely worked for me as a single person who needed a quick rest before returning to the hospital. There was one thing that might deter others. There was some sort of night club close because I could hear and feel the bass. Luckily I was really tired and had ear plugs. The breakfast bar was lovely appointed with a nespresso machine! read more

This hotel was amazing. Friendly staff, clean rooms great amenities. Late check out was awesome.

Wow!! Just called (9/23/22, 9:30am) to add a Thursday night to my existing Friday reservation next week. The front desk was incredibly unhelpful, short, rude and unfriendly. I simply asked why the rate for that additional night was less online than what he was quoting me. He acted as if he could care less to have my business and he happily cancelled my whole reservation. As if that was just going to be the quickest way to get me off the phone. And this conversation lasted maybe 3 minutes. If you are in customer service and you don't like dealing with people - FIND A NEW JOB!!! I will NOT be booking here in the future and I'll let everyone I know how I was treated. This guy needs to rethink his career. read more

Rooms are great! Love the atmosphere! Every single employee treated us like we were the most important thing to them. They go above and beyond, and are so very friendly! Also, this hotel is in walking distance to EVERYTHING! 10 out of 10 read more

My friend and I stayed at Hotel Keen this past weekend because we were in town for a show at Frost Amphitheater. Although the room and amenities were nice, the customer service at this establishment needs major improvement. When I checked us in, I was not greeted by the front desk person and she looked at me like I was a waste of time while interacting with her. When she asked for my card and ID, she did not even look me in the eye when speaking to me. The women had a ponytail with glasses on and reeked of cigarettes. Even though I did not want to believe it, I do think that she was being a bit discriminatory, as when we came downstairs she was chatting away with (non POC) customers who had just checked in and had even offered them coffee. Nevertheless, the next morning I come to find a charge on my card from the hotel which I was not told about when checking in. When I called the hotel, I was told that I was charged the refundable deposit. Even though I expect most hotels to have a deposit, I also think that you should be told A) that your card is being ran and being charged and B) How much you are being charged. Like I mentioned before, the hotel is cute and small and perfect for two people but not worth the terrible customer service. read more

The lady booked me a wrong date on Expedia and I had gotten charged for it but didn't stay in the hotel and canceled the stay but the hotel doesn't want to give me a refund for a mistake they made. Terrible customer service! read more

Not overly excited with management here. I checked in on Friday and out on Sunday - thanks to a local group meetup in Palo Alto (on Emerson St nearby). But despite checking in on Friday, I got two rude awakenings. The first rude awakening (I was able to catch that one) was on check-in day when the cleaners wanted to clean my already cleaned room without my knowledge. The second was on Saturday when I was out and forgot all about putting my laptop away - I discussed this with the cleaner on Friday why I didn't want anyone in my room, but they failed to notice the Do Not Disturb sign on the door and disregarded it. They left their bottle of cleaning supplies in my room so I returned them (room 110) to the desk. I was also shocked to find no secondary latch on the room door (which all other hotels always have). I didn't feel safe or secure in this hotel without one. I know San Francisco has earthquakes, but there's also no mention of the earthquake planning process on the door - reminders of the escape plan or hotel map to get to the entranceway. It is easy once you get out, but was shocked. I could live without body lotion, but that would've come in handy on Friday when I had achy legs and had even taken an Uber from nearby back to the hotel (at my expense). I used the moisturizing bottle found in the bathroom in it's place, but would've been nice to know if that was the right bottle to use as the traditional lotion. Also didn't find the customary things people would have expected in the room. My room's air conditioner was overhead, but the last person in the room was using heat, so when I arrived I was influxed with a severely-hot room. No wonder they had trouble finding a room for me pre-check-in time. I must have come in at a bad time at 3:04 pm Friday. I had noticed a button for making that room a handicapped-accessible room, but I didn't need the button because I wasn't handicapped. (Perhaps you can present your guests some information on how the system shows what type of system is in use by signs and whatnot. This could have prevented a tiny bit of the problem.) Coming from out of town where the previous days were in the 50s, when I walked into this area of California and felt the 60 degree weather, I felt flushed and needed that extra cooling to keep me cool, but this was unpleasant.) I was thankful that you put me on a bottom-level floor. That was nice. I don't find very many times when hotels give me a bottom-level floor, and I was shocked to hear about this once I checked in. However, I gotta' love the dry-erase wall with the dry erase markers they stashed in the TV cubby. Although the green marker I wanted to use was all dried up (something I never mentioned to the check-in clerk), I left a legacy for the reason of my visit on the dry erase board behind for the next guests, but didn't like the size of the "clouds" on the dry-erase board. I had just enough space to freely write "wikiHow" with our catchphrase on it, waiting for the next guests to find and discover the site further. If I hadn't been reading some of these other reviews, I would've guessed this wall wasn't the right wall (look for the black and white-clouded wall inside your room) near your TV. I still couldn't believe that the panes of glass in my room were frosted over, nor could I believe there was a large pane of "broken" glass found (almost like a small tree branch broke the glass enough) the minute I walked in the door.) I made a room tour on YouTube listed as "unlisted" but made some mistakes on the information I presented as to the wrong wall so I won't write that here, but it can serve as information if you'd like to see what I encountered, potential hotel guests. I also wasn't expecting the door to the closet to be open when I walked in. Nor was I expecting there to not be any mention of any of what each light switch did. At first, I couldn't even find the light switch to the light overtop of the desk - that I found in the upper right corner of the electrical outlet on top of the desk.) I liked though some of your amenities. Although the sewing kit was nice, I didn't like too much the amount of paper you gave your guests to work with. I found only two sheets of paper. There was no coffee-maker nor refrigerator in my room. Although I never would have needed it, having a king-size bed (that was rather a rough problem too) would've helped. The king size bed too was too small, and definitely too low to the ground. It was tolerable on the second night, but that first night with the heat and all, I couldn't stand it. I also couldn't stand your selection of the complimentary breakfast. At most hotel breakfasts, one can find make-your-own waffles and normal-branded cereal with milk. But not this place. Smaller uncommon and pastries exist, with a few fruits and even some protein bars: yuck! For breakfast? - come on! Go elsewhere. This place isn't worth didly! If it wasn't for someone else paying, I would have gone away. read more

Hotel Keen - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I chuckled as soon as I entered the room as everything everyone on here had said about the room being small was true but I would definitely stay there again. Pros: - Unlimited supply of Voss water bottles from lobby (one of my biggest annoyances is many hotels not providing any water or charging outrageous prices for anything besides what is included one time complimentary after you check in) - A wide breakfast selection: 5-6 different types of Naked juices, fresh berries & yogurt, assorted croissants & pastries, bagels, cereal, coffee, tea, & etc. (definitely not your average cheap toast breakfast) - 8pm = Free delicious warm cookies, tangerines, coffee. 5pm = complimentary two types of wine in the evening. - Friendly & helpful staff at front desk who graciously warmed up my leftovers in their staff room microwave. - Location: heart of charming downtown Palo Alto which offers a diverse selection of restaurants & cafes along with shopping. I felt very safe. Also, it is right across the street from the Palo Alto Station where you can hop on the free shuttle called Marguerite to Stanford campus. DescriptionMargueriteDescriptionMarguerite to Stanford campus. DescriptionMarguerite shuttle service to Stanford campus & Caltrain. - Room included hair dryer, fast WiFi, super comfortable robe + slippers. - Chic & modern design Cons: - Room is small but very comfortable & clean. Fine for a short business trip for a single person or a couple but definitely not for a family of 4. - The hotel doesn't have its own parking lot but there is a parking lot right next to it where you can park your car in overnight for free & there is street parking available as well. - walls are thin so I could hear my next door neighbor getting ready in the morning. - No closet space, bathroom door, fridge, safe, or microwave. - My 2nd floor window looked out at another wall but I didn't mind. read more

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Booking a hotel here for the first time was a huge lesson learned for me. I was accidentally booked not for one night, but for two nights in a room with a delux (not standard) queen -which I was not prepared for (and was mortified when I arrived). I overlooked my itinerary and initialed it at check in; however, concierge Leonardo politely made the correct changes (THANK YOU)! I haven't felt that idiotic in my life, but somehow still take full responsibility. Despite my mix up, let me just say that the hotel itself is beautifully maintained. Tight space, but very functional, sleek, simple, clean lines, polished, and bright. Pros: -Right in the middle of everything! Bars, restaurants, shopping, and even a movie theater. -High thread count bedding -deliciously comfy! -Complimentary breakfast, whiteboard walls, TV, bright rooms w/ mood lighting, and very modern -if you're into that! -Zero noise from the night life even though its in the middle of everything. Cons: -Standard room has no closet, but two coat hooks in the entire room, in addition to the two deep drawers underneath the bed. -My window opens up to a cement wall. -Not sure about privacy because I walked away from my room, and could still hear my Pandora from the elevators lol! -Coffee bar had lukewarm coffee, and no hot water for tea later in the evening. read more

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This is a cute little boutique hotel that just opened up not so long ago in Palo Alto, CA. I can see why if you wanted to visit something besides the bustling madness of San Francisco why you'd want to stay here. The rooms are small, as most boutique hotels are, but they are nice, modern, well decorated and well lit. The only complaint I would have is the bathroom. It is only closed off by glass, so everything you do in there you can hear and *almost* see. I don't know that unless you come with someone explicitly intimate that you'd want this kind of experience. The beds are a bit on the small side, abide quite comfortable, and you can write on the walls with dry erase markers! Beware though, you can only write on the wall that's painted, not ALL the walls so you might get charged a fat fee if you insist on writing elsewhere. It can be expensive (up to $200+ a night) if you don't get a deal, but otherwise it's quite reasonable and great location! read more

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting (and subsequent celebration) of this fabulous new boutique hotel in downtown PA. First off, thanks to MacArthur Park for doing food and drinks... they made the event fabulous. So as we mingled with fellow Palo Alto Business Owners, Government Officials (Hey Hey Mayor Burt!), other Elite Yelpers, and Hotel Staff, one thing was abundantly clear: Hotel Keen is the business trip hotel of your dreams. The renovation (of the old Palo Alto Hotel) has created an amazingly chic spot vaguely reminiscent of the Times Square W, with a hint of Japanese inspiration, and a ton of business perks. Hotel Designer David Oldroyd truly nailed it here; from white board walls in every room, to free wifi, to wireless phones, the business innovations just keep coming and flow perfectly with the trendy vibe of the hotel. I left the celebration feeling excited to take a business trip to Palo Alto... if only I didn't live a few blocks away. read more

For what it is it's a very nice hotel. The room was quite small but nice and clean. Also the toiletries were very good. The hotel also has free wine tasting for 3 hours and fresh baked cookies at night. The free continental breakfast was also very good and had some really nice items like ham and cheese croissants and naked brand juice. Very good location in heart of downtown Palo Alto. Would definitely stay here again and for the price well worth it. read more

The rooms are small, as has been noted by a majority of the reviewers. However, I find it perfect for my purpose, which is attending a conference at Stanford, which is just down the street. It's easy to land at SFO, take the BART to the CalTrain at Millbrae, and walk from the Palo Alto station the two blocks to the Hotel Keen. Free coffee all day/night, wine at 5pm, cookies at 8pm, and a comfortable bed? With a really nice stall shower? I'm a very happy camper. I had the issue raised by Brianne V in her review, since I'm traveling courtesy of a client. They didn't send the credit card auth form with the booking, either, but it was easy to sort out when I arrived. All the paperwork was in order within an hour, and the accommodating front desk guy checked me in while we were waiting on the electronic document exchange. I'd happily stay here again. If I return for this conference next year, I'll book a room here. read more

Hotel Keen - My home away from home while I attended a conference at Stanford. - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Great location but depending on when you are at the hotel trying to park, it can be challenging. A couple of times I tried to find parking I circled a few times and ended up parking for a short time in the passenger loading zone. The rooms are small but they do the job and have most of the basic amenities you would need. A closet would be nice but they have a hook if you need to hang a couple of items. There also is no in-room safe. Complimentary breakfast includes cereal, yogurt, fruit, granola bars, pastries, and some hard boiled eggs. read more

This economical find in downtown Palo Alto is a winner. While gearing up to search for a one-night accommodation in the area, the trusty NY Times decides to publish a review of this place and I was sold. It reminds me the most of the Elements hotel line, with its willingness to dispense with typical hotel components and focus on modern amenities. Take your usual hotel room and name all the things a modern traveler staying only a short time would rarely use (i.e. lounge chair, dressers, full desk, both nightstands), trim it all out, then make innovative use of the remaining space so even if its a smaller room, it wouldn't feel that way. Hotel Keen does that quite well. It has a very clean, streamlined aesthetic, down to the cool, blue lights lining the halls outside the rooms. The rooms and fixtures are quite new and good quality. + Small footprint but smart use of space, the single nightstand doubles as a small desk with overhead storage, ample shelf space, whiteboard, roomy bathroom and shower, plush bed, good quality linens, bathrobe, wall-mount tv has extra shelf space for miscellaneous small items, free wi-fi - No closet space (just a knob to hang up to 2 items), no safe, no bathroom door, just a heavy curtain with magnetized closure, single chair, no full-length mirror, no parking Just a note, I almost thought their desk chair was the wonderful Herman Miller Aluminum Office Chair but alas, it was just a replica. Still, quality was no worse than a usual chair, and the aesthetic fits. Highly recommended for single, short-stay travelers looking for a good location at a great price. Although there's no parking available, street parking late at night is easy to find. I'd definitely stay again. read more

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I stayed here for two nights, and had a great time. They checked me in early with no problems and gave me a map with some areas of interest highlighted. Location is awesome. You just go the corner and turn left onto University and then you've got your choice of shops and restaurants. You're also about a 2 minute walk to the Caltrain and a 10 minute walk to the Stanford shopping center. Now I'll give you a warning. There is no bathroom door. You get a curtain and one of the walls consists of a frosted pane. I didn't mind the no-door situation (the shower's great btw), but I did mind not having a coffee maker in my room. You can take my bathroom door, but not my caffeine! There is coffee and tea in the small lobby downstairs, but in the morning I usually need a cup of joe to even make it to the lobby. For the price and location I was very happy with my stay. Clean, friendly staff, and lots of shops and restaurants nearby. read more

Hotel Keen - Bed at the Hotel Keen. - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I arrived at the Hotel Keen after 10pm with my boss and a colleague. We were tired a grumpy and just wanted to get into our rooms. I for some reason scored the suite and I am glad I did!!! The other rooms in the hotel looked like closets. My colleague was on the first floor with a window that lead to a little alley, it didn't have a very safe vibe about it. (Those small rooms are really only made for one person)!!! MY Room 302 was spacious!!! I don't know what the price difference was but I recommend booking the suite if you can. I had great morning sun (with blackout curtains), a nice sitting area and a large bathroom (wish it had a soaking tub). All in all it was a great room compared to what my boss and colleague were in. read more

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Great modern and chic hotel. Rooms are small but there was a lot of attention to detail put into every inch of the hotel. Yay's: - Free continental breakfast - Comfortable beds - Free wine at 5PM - Nightlight was cool - Lighting was amazing - Grafiti walls is a cool concept - Free wi-fi Nay's: - Small room - No door to bathroom, but I get it. read more

Hotel Keen - Hotels Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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What a horrible experience. I walked up to the front desk and was "greeted" by the rudest person I have ever encountered. I asked in a friendly way if there was a quiet room by chance...John told me that "How would he know as he doesn't live here" I tried my best to bite my tongue, but he continued with rude remark after rude remark. If you're looking for a hotel with even a speck of customer service, this is surely not it. Will never ever stay here again. read more

This small little boutique hotel located steps away from the Caltrain Palo Alto station is perfect for anyone on a budget, yet with high standards. Located in the heart of the tech boom, this hotel offers a room at a reasonable price, but be prepared the sacrifice size. I was staying alone, so the situation worked perfectly, however the lack of door for the bathroom would make it a rather uncomfortable for those traveling with others. I felt the service was excellent and the front desk always accommodated my request. One being a iron/iron board as the room does not come standard with one. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast and newspaper every morning. There are excellent restaurants and bars in the neighborhood, so if you're looking for food you will have plenty of options. If you're on a budget and you're looking for a place to stay, Hotel Keen's your spot in Palo Alto! read more

Although I made reservations for my interviewee four days in advance of her stay, which was reflected through the credit card being in my name and the reservation being in her name, it wasn't until the morning after she was turned away at 11:30 at night after flying across the country that I was contacted by the General Manager, Mr. Peter Friedman, to let me know that there was an authorization form they never sent me and he "didn't know where my guest ended up staying." She ended up staying in her car at a rest stop because she tried one other hotel, it was full, and she was exhausted from her journey. So instead of Hotel Keen contacting me immediately when they saw that a third party credit card was being used for the reservation, I got no notice of this requirement and this mess could have been avoided. Not only that, but then Peter Friedman decided to chime in via email with, "Just tell her this was part of the interview process to determine how resourceful she is under pressure." I don't know if he thought he was being helpful or funny or if he was intentionally being a jerk, but I work in customer experience for a startup here in Palo Alto and it was appalling. I nearly walked down to Hotel Keen to speak with him, but my anger would not have helped the situation. He comped the room for our interviewee, as he should have done, but this could have all been avoided by Hotel Keen doing their jobs and making sure all upcoming guest reservations were in order prior to the morning after such an incident. read more

Now that we've stayed at this hotel several times, I can say definitively that it is one of our favorites, though I will admit it may not be for everyone. We really enjoy the modern décor in the inviting tones of purple, silver and white. We have also tried out the ADA-compliant (read: handicap person-friendly) room, the deluxe room and the regular room. The best and roomiest is definitely the ADA-compliant room, which doesn't surprise me. Not only is the room generally bigger, but the shower is bigger as well (to accommodate wheelchairs, I imagine). The deluxe room and the regular room look fairly similar except that the deluxe room comes with a closet area that is separated by a curtain. There's also no view from any of the downstairs rooms we've stayed in so far and with the thick purple curtain, the opportunity to sleep in without sunlight waking you up is a certainty. Like the W hotels I've stayed in, this modern hotel is not for the shy couple as there is no door to the bathroom. We've only stayed in the rooms with one bed so I'm not sure if one with two beds (for a non-couple) would be more private. Instead of a door, it is a thick, white fabric curtain. The beds are very clean and comfortable. If you are paranoid about bed bugs, you can easily allay your fears as the sheets and bed box are all bright white. The TV comes with basic cable, which is a nice touch, and you can also call up the front desk to set up a Wii. We never ordered a Wii so I'm not sure how the selection of games might be. However, at least the Wii is free. There's also free wifi, which we haven't tried out yet. The alarm clock works with iPods/iPhones as both music and a dock. Rather than a mini bar, they have an honor bar (or something like that). The snacks and drinks are all available in the lobby area (where breakfast is also served) and it is the honor system. If there is someone at the checkin desk, then you can tell them to charge you for your items. However, if you swing by and there's no one there, it is up to you and your conscience to tell them when you see them to charge you for whatever you got from the "bar". There's an interesting array of goodies, from Altoids to jalapeno-flavored chips. Speaking of breakfast, it is strictly continental here with AYCE (relatively speaking) of pastries, peeled hard-boiled eggs, and Dannon yogurt. The pastries are the same as the ones we've seen in Peets. There are three coffee selections and eight different types of Numi organic teas to choose from. There are also apples, oranges and Quaker Chewy granola bars. Does this breakfast rock my socks? Not really, but if you are on a budget, at least it is one less meal you need to buy, and the pastries alone would set up back at least $3-4 at Peets. They claim that breakfast is over by 9:30 (I think) but we've strolled out past 10:00 a.m. and everything is still out. The rates we've gotten are some of the best in the area and you can't beat the proximity to all the lovely eateries and shops in PA. Parking might get tricky on a weekday but weekends are fine. Yes, the rooms are on the smaller side but we like the coziness of it. We also like the modern décor over the more traditional, dated décor you find at some of the larger hotels in the area. For what we have paid so far, it is definitely a great find for the money and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. read more

Where this review is coming from: 40-something married couple who wanted a night in Palo Alto. Why we decided on Hotel Keen: price seemed OK, the simplicity attracted us. Would we stay there again? Not very likely. Great for: very tired (so tired that they are dead to the world) solo business travelers and/or folks who need to be downtown. Not good for: anyone who needs to see the sun, or breath outside air from their hotel room. The Review: This hotel is fine/ok, but that's about it. The desk staff was very nice, attentive and helpful. Upon arrival, they told us that they had upgraded us to a larger room free of charge (which was very nice, naturally). The "larger" room was fairly small (acceptable, but just small in general), so I'm afraid to find out what the smallest rooms are like. As the other reviews here as well as on Trip Advisor point out, Hotel Keen is a very stark, simple, small boutique hotel with nearly no perks. ...the clean design, and creative use of small space are great and all, but as my wife pointed out, it may be a little bit like what living in a cell might be like. Me, I thought of it as being confined to a cell on a spaceship as you're unaware that you are hurtling through space (kind of like living in the Film "2001"). Why? Well, the fact that there was a single window, which you cannot open, and is made of frosted glass so that it was also almost impossible to tell if it is night or day outside might have had a lot to do with it. The room was clean, efficient, and generally attractive with its use of curtains instead of doors, and euro-style fixtures, furniture, etc. The bed was comfortable, the TV worked fine. WHY we wouldn't stay again, or longer than one night; honestly, it is because the impression is that you are basically confined to a cell. As you walk towards your room down the hallway, you notice there are little blue lights at foot level not unlike the emergency exit lights on a plane. I'm doing what I can to give the best illustration/impression that I can of the place so that you won't be surprised when/if you stay there. Again; I'm not intentionally trying to put the place down, it is fine for what it is, but you should really understand what that is before you stay there. I think this place would be ideal if you were super, super tired, and all you wanted to do is sleep without knowing if it is daylight or nighttime outside. There is an acceptable level of "white noise" to the place; the sounds of machines and such muffled through the walls which is typical for any building, but I'm mentioning this so you don't think the place is 100% quiet. The free 24 hour pod coffee (in the lobby) and "free" continental-style breakfast were nice, but with 3+ bakeries nearby (plus numerous other restaurants all within a couple blocks) you might need to get out of the hotel to not feel like you are still on lock-down in the hotel's confining environment. SO; if you just need a practical, but small, essentially windowless room to stay in for the purpose of sleeping, and you feel the price is OK, then go for it. If you want to feel human, however, or if your idea of life is breathing outside air and seeing the sun (from/in the hotel) while staying somewhere, then this won't be the place for you. On the plus side; seriously close to EVERYTHING downtown. Parking: we were there for a Saturday night, and had no problem getting a free spot in the lot next door, weekdays would be challenging, and/or at an expense. Great for what it is. Not so great if you need/want something different than what it offers. read more

GREAT STAFF. No complaints whatsoever regarding to the people who work here.. GREAT LOCATION. It's on the back side of all the action. Just go around the corner and BAM, fun time. GREAT DESIGN. I utilized the Dry Erase Wall- A LOT, and that was a lot of fun. AVERAGE BREAKFAST. It's "free" so get your fill... but the selection is, limited. POOR DESIGN. A "Curtain" as a bathroom door. No thank you. I need privacy. POOR PRICE. For the size of the room - I would expect to pay a lot less... 'tis all. read more

This place is a huge disappointment. I was staying there for work and my room was already pre-payed by them because they have an account with Hotel Keen. When I arrived, I gave them my card for incidentals and the guy behind the counter fucked up and charged ME for the entire week's stay. Ive never had anything like that happen before and thankfully the manager fixed it the next day because I was gonna murder someone. On to the rooms. So incredibly small. Definitely not big enough for two people. Another strange feature is the bathroom. There's no door and there's a frosted "wall" separating the bathroom from the bedroom, so if someone is in the bathroom, the person in the bedroom not only can HEAR everything in the bathroom, but can see to some extent and the light from the bathroom illuminates the bedroom. In addition to the tiny size of the room, theres no closet and only one place to hang anything, so you're forced to live out of a suitcase, which ultra sucks because theres barely any room to move around at all. Another thing that super sucks is the WiFi. They have two routers and both are too weak to power anything. Both my iPhone and Kindle Fire were dropping it left and right. Tried to watch TV instead, but theres only 25 channels of which 10 are either news or ESPN. LAME. They do however, have two HBO channels. On the upside, I was blown away by how intricately and amazingly well the rooms are cleaned and organized. At first I thought I was robbed because some items weren't lying around, but they had been put away in a neat manner in the only drawer in the room. Also, the wine tasting and cookies at night are a nice touch. I'll definitely stay here again because of my work, but thank god Im not paying for it. Over $200 a night for this place is ridiculous. read more

Came here for an event a while back. Didn't stay but certainly got a good luck at the rooms and other spaces before they were technically open. I like that an old building can be converted into a sleek looking modern use structure. Does Palo Alto need more hotels? Not sure, but as long as quality is going up... read more

One star for location. Greet staff. But small rooms. Not in good repair. Heating did not work, desk lamp, Internet intermittent and their amenities are sort of a joke. Never stay here. read more

I was here for an event and got to explore this modern boutique hotel. The rooms were functional if a bit small. I do love the whiteboard walls and the markers they provide. The modern designs gave it a fun feel but I would only use it as a getaway spot. It's too close to home to really be considered a nice vacation spot. read more

Tiny, tiny room. Barely room enough for a full sized bed (with an old school, not so comfortable spring mattress), a two foot wide desk under which the desk chair cannot even fit, a dividing wall to a tiny bathroom w/ sink, toilet and small shower. Small wall hook for clothes--no closet. No mini fridge. Weak wireless signals with SUPER slow internet... 20 kb/s slow. And frustrating house cleaning: like every other hotel, a no wash placard on the bed means don't wash. During my week long stay, the placard was left intentionally off just waiting for the sheets to be changed. Never happened, even once. On top of that, towels left on the floor to be changed were rehung, and the tiled shower floor was sticky and desperately needing to be scrubbed. All this may be okay for a short stay, but it doesn't quite work for business trips. Great location, but I'll be looking elsewhere for my next business stay in Palo Alto. For a weekend get away, this hotel would certainly fit the bill. On the plus side, in addition to location, the modern decor is done well and helps create a nice vibe. read more

Wow, I have never stayed at a hotel where I can literally hear a person's conversation in the next room. I dont recommend this palce to anyone who seeks quietude nor space. There wasn't a closet or anywhere descent to hang clothing. So most of it stayed in my suitcase. On the positive side, you could see the TV equally well from both the bed and the toilet. Kinda like prison. read more

Great location and walkable to University Ave and good restaurant choices. Our problem was with the interior - the bathroom door was a curtain, no remote for the TV, one glass in the room, and construction on the third floor that didn't allow for afternoon relaxing or sleeping in. The only compensation was two bottles of water and a couple of snacks. read more

ROOMS: Clean, new, small but comfortable (up to two people). Hair dryer included, TV with local channels, heater that heats the room really fast, small desk and chair in the corner of the room, landry bags and even an umbrella! AMENITIES: Free wifi, free really good breakfast (not your cheap toast and juice), free fresh baked cookies at 8PM, no free parking but there is a parking area right next to the hotel that you can park overnight until the morning. Definitely recommend staying here if you're visiting for a couple of days. It is very close to the university way - palo alto downtown. Close to many shops, restaurants, and less than a mile away from the Stanford Shopping Center! read more

Only thing good about this place is location. Room was smelling bad, carpet is old. Some of the rooms Face a wall with no light at all. If you can, go somewhere else! read more

JUST PERFECT! We needed a place to spend the night while we partied at Miyakes & B4-12....it's a once a year shin-dig our friend does.DUI, NO THANK YOU. Checked into Hotel Keen and was impressed....friendly staff, affordable room price & easy. The rooms are SUPER SMALL, but that's was part of the charm....no door on the bathroom-WARNING, only a curtain! The fact that we got markers to write on the walls was the best part....trust me, after a few cocktails and a group of friends in our room, you don't wanna know...glad there was an eraser handy! (Photo uploaded was tame). :) Will def. stay here again if needed..... Also, they served coffee & goodies in the morning in the lobby.....we checked out at 12, and the front desk guy was cool enough to get us some of the condiments that were already put away. My Likey! read more

Located in the heart of town Hotel Keen is a true value: quality, service, location, price. The rooms are clean and quiet. HiDef TVs but no movie rental options. Front desk was friendly. Housekeeping actually bagged up my laundry & re folded and put stuff back on my suitcase. The morning continental breakfast is nothing special but is convenient and serviceable. Better are the cookies they bake in the evening. You can walk everywhere: University Cafe, Reposada, Cafe 220, Pizza My Heart, the Apple Store and Stanford University. If my kid gets into Stanford I will be back. read more

I wanted to make sure to recommend staying at Hotel Keen if you're looking for a hotel in Palo Alto. My wife and I were looking for a place to stay for our 20th anniversary. When I called Hotel Keen, I spoke with the General Manager Peter Friedman, who not only got us a room (I had procrastinated a bit making the reservation), but when we arrived we saw that he had arranged to have a box of chocolates waiting for us in an upgraded room! The location was great. The room was excellent, and the service was beyond outstanding. Matt at the front desk was great, but everyone was. I just regret not getting their names as well. My point is: if you're reading this to help you decide where to look for a room in Palo Alto, you cannot do better than the Hotel Keen. read more

The original room we were staying in was very small and not ideal for two people. Fortunately we were able to upgrade without much of an issue. The closet space in the deluxe room was better than the basic room. The rooms are nicely decorated and clean. The hotel is very clean. The bathroom doesn't have a door on it which is a bit of problem if you are travelling with someone. We had cool water in the shower which was a bit of a problem. We spoke to Peter and he was able to get it resolved and we quite happy. We were given a credit towards our stay which was greatly appreciated. In the morning they offer a continental breakfast which was quite decent. I enjoyed the coffee, complimentary news paper and yogurt. They also had danishes and sweet buns. We will probably stay there again. read more

It is a typical modern boutique hotel. Fun, sexy rooms but extremely small size. Like there is no closet to speak of, just a hook to hang your clothes (i.e. don't bring alot if you are staying here) They don't have a bag stand either. The desk is barely big enough to put a laptop on. The shower was really cool but then the bathroom is really an alcove with a curtain for a door. Mind you, I got one of the smallest rooms. Parking is interesting since you would either park in the street or in the lot next door. That is okay long as you are moving your car by 10am. After that it is 2 hour parking. With this being said, I was there the first week it opened and there were quite a few glitches, which isn't worth mentioning here since it was their first week. I realized that there were things that were going to happen during an opening week, so my expectations were not all that high. All I am saying is if you like minimalist, this is the place for you but for a pretty penny... read more

Chic: Great boutique hotel in Palo Alto; reminds me of stylish European hotels in design and vibe. I dig this place. Efficient: Small rooms are well-designed, new, clean. Big whiteboard wall for doodling or small business meeting brainstorms. Great for single business travelers. Convenient: Two blocks from Caltrain, and around the corner from Ramona Street bar scene. (So can be noisy on weekends, but fine weekdays.) Free: Decent array of breakfast snacks, fruit, yogurt, breaded goods, and an early evening wine pour included. Wifi also included. Service: ask the manager for best restaurants and bars. He'll give you the best list, based on your style. read more

Please keep in mind that this is Palo Alto, where space is precious. It is not fair compare this to the SoCal hotels, where land is plenty and much cheaper overall. I stayed 3 days, had I rated in day 1, it would have been much lower. But communication is the key. My first room was in the 1st floor by the kitchen. Being a light sleeper, this really was horrible. After communicating this to the hotel staff, a could-be disaster was completely turned around. They proactively provided solutions and discussed with me about options. Everyone was so helpful, attentive, and was determined to make my stay more comfortable. This was a huge turning point for me - a remarkable experience. The room is clean and efficient. It's great that they have nice free breakfast, which they carefully prepared with fresh berries and awesome yogurt. Tons of choices for toppings, and many kinds of nicely made pastries (chocolate croissant was yummy!) Surely not what I expected for regular free breakfast. They also hosts wine tasting everyday, with delicious wines from California vineyard, which added the charm. To top it all, the location is prime, within walking distance to endless restaurants. If you rate location over space, like me, this is for you. I highly recommend. read more