Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant

About Dinah's Poolside Restaurant

Dinah's Poolside Restaurant is the all-day restaurant inside Dinah's Garden Hotel at 4261 El Camino Real. As the name says, the dining room overlooks the hotel's outdoor pool. The hotel describes it as a bright room with floor-to-ceiling windows that serves farm-to-table food and cocktails in a relaxed setting. It is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You do not need to be a hotel guest to eat there.

The hotel itself is family-owned and has operated since 1957. It has 129 rooms and suites set around tropical gardens with koi ponds, lagoons, fountains and stone sculptures. Dinah's is one of two restaurants on the property. The other is THE SEA by Alexander's Steakhouse, a seafood restaurant. Guest rooms are decorated with original artwork from Africa, Asia and India. The hotel pitches itself as a quiet alternative to the usual corporate hotel near Stanford. The restaurant shares that garden setting, so tables look out on the pool rather than onto El Camino Real.

The kitchen and the menu

The kitchen is led by chef Gerardo Naranjo. The hotel's biography says he has cooked in the Bay Area for more than 25 years. He worked at Dio Deka, a well-known Mediterranean restaurant, before spending almost a decade at Alexander's Steakhouse. There he cooked under chef Jeffrey Stout, who held a Michelin star. That is where he began bringing Asian influences into his California cooking.

The day starts with what the hotel calls a hearty breakfast, served from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch specialties join the menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the evening, the menu turns to classic steak and seafood dishes. The bar is a full bar with local craft beers on tap. Happy hour runs on weekday afternoons. The hotel calls the restaurant a local's choice on weekends. It has also hosted seasonal events such as a Mother's Day brunch buffet. Menus change. The hotel website does not post a full current menu, so ask for one when you book or arrive.

Hours and reservations

The hotel lists these service times:

• Breakfast: every day, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Happy hour: Monday to Friday, 2:30 to 6 p.m.
• Dinner: 4 to 9 p.m.

Reservations are taken through OpenTable, linked from the restaurant's page on the hotel website. For questions, the hotel lists its main number, 650-493-2844. It also has a toll-free line at 800-227-8220. The restaurant also posts updates on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Who it suits

Dinah's is an easy pick for a sit-down breakfast on this part of El Camino Real, especially for hotel guests and anyone staying nearby. The long breakfast window, until 2 p.m., suits late risers and weekend brunch plans. Visiting families can also fit a meal around a campus tour or a flight. A poolside table with a cocktail works for a relaxed weekday happy hour. Dinner, with steak and seafood, suits a business meal or a family dinner. Because the restaurant serves three meals a day, it is also a practical fallback when you want one reliable spot for a working day on this side of town.

The menu is not posted online in full, so diners with allergies or strict dietary needs should call ahead or ask the staff before ordering.

Tips for visiting

Dinner service starts at 4 p.m., which makes Dinah's a practical choice for an early meal with kids or before a drive home. The hotel sits on El Camino Real about three miles from Stanford, according to the hotel, between San Francisco and San Jose airports. If you are staying in this part of town, our guide to hotels along El Camino Real covers Dinah's Garden Hotel and its neighbors. Our brunch guide rounds up other weekend breakfast spots. For more happy hour ideas, see our bars, wine and beer guide.

Location and getting there

Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant is at 4261 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the South Palo Alto area of Palo Alto. Our South Palo Alto guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the San Antonio Caltrain station (Mountain View), about 0.7 miles away. That is roughly a 17 minute walk.

Parking: street spaces or a small lot nearby; check posted limits.

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• U.S. Bank Palo Alto South, service business, 0.1 mi
• Avis and Budget Palo Alto, service business, 0.1 mi
• Heavenly Nail Spa, salon or spa, 0.2 mi
• America's Tire, service business, 0.2 mi
• Palo Alto Montessori School, service business, 0.2 mi
• Juana Briones Park, 0.4 mi
• Terman Park, 0.5 mi
• Robles Park, 0.5 mi

Other restaurants nearby: The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse (under 0.1 mi); Hobee's Restaurant (0.2 mi); Kitchen at Palo Alto (0.2 mi); So Gong Dong Tofu House (0.5 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.

Before you go

• Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
• Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
• If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Dinah's Poolside Restaurant page; Dinah's Garden Hotel; Hotel contact and location. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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