AC Hotel Palo Alto

The AC Hotel Palo Alto is a Marriott hotel built for people with business along Highway 101. It sits on San Antonio Road in the far southeast of Palo Alto, a few blocks from the Mountain View line, on the same site as its sister, Hotel Citrine. The AC brand is known for a pared-back European style: clean-lined rooms, a breakfast of croissants and Italian coffee and a lounge with tapas in the evening. The location trades walkability for quick freeway access to Mountain View's tech campuses, the airports and San Francisco.

This profile is based on Marriott's official pages for the hotel. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check AC Hotel Palo Alto on Booking.com or book through Marriott, where Marriott Bonvoy members earn points.

Location and neighborhood

The address is 744 San Antonio Road, in the 94303 ZIP code. That puts it on the commercial stretch of San Antonio Road near the Highway 101 interchange. Some booking sites list it under Mountain View because the border is so close. It is inside Palo Alto, but a long way from downtown and Stanford.

The surroundings are offices, shops and apartments rather than a restaurant district. Marriott's page highlights the nearby campuses of Google, Apple and Amazon. Shoreline Amphitheatre and Shoreline Park are a short drive east. Our South Palo Alto guide covers this end of the city.

A short drive away on the Mountain View part of San Antonio Road, at number 391, a marker notes the site of Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, the 1956 lab often credited with starting Silicon Valley's chip industry. Our page on Shockley and the semiconductor boom tells that story.

Getting there from Caltrain and the airports

Marriott names San Antonio station as the nearest Caltrain stop. It is under a mile away in a straight line, but the walk crosses busy roads. Most guests take a short rideshare. Weekday local and limited trains stop at San Antonio; weekday express trains do not. Every weekend train stops there.

Marriott lists these airport distances. The hotel does not run a shuttle:

Marriott also lists a paid private car service from the airports by reservation. Our SJC guide and SFO guide compare the options.

Rooms

AC rooms are compact and modern. Marriott's room page describes:

• A platform bed in each guest room, with queen-queen rooms and suites among the options.
• A work desk in every room.
• A 55-inch smart TV with premium channels and streaming.
• Fast Wi-Fi, which is complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy members.

Marriott's overview lists accessible rooms with roll-in showers and lowered outlets, hearing-accessible rooms and elevators. Its room search filter has at times shown no accessible rooms for sale on given dates, so call the hotel to secure one. Marriott does not give a room count on its main pages.

Guests must be at least 21 to check in, older than at many hotels. The whole property is smoke-free.

Dining on site

The AC Hotel and Hotel Citrine share a site, so guests have three places to eat and drink:

• AC Kitchen serves a European-inspired breakfast: baked croissants, egg dishes made to order, prosciutto and cheeses, Italian coffee, fruit, cereal and yogurt. Marriott lists it as open on weekday mornings and closed on weekends.
• AC Lounge is the indoor and outdoor bar, with Spanish-style tapas, cocktails, wine and craft beer. Marriott lists it as open Monday to Thursday evenings.
• Wild Onion Bistro + Bar at Hotel Citrine serves casual California food with a farm-to-table focus and a full bar, from breakfast through dinner every day. Reservations go through OpenTable.

Breakfast is not included in standard rates. Room service is not offered. On weekends, plan on Wild Onion or a short drive to California Avenue or Castro Street in Mountain View for breakfast.

Fitness, parking and pets

• Fitness. A 24-hour fitness center with cardio machines, free weights, TRX and yoga mats, free for guests.
• Parking. Valet parking for a daily fee. Electric car charging is available, subject to availability. Bus parking is offered for groups.
• Pets. Cats, dogs and some other small animals are welcome. Up to two pets per room, 50 pounds maximum, for a nonrefundable nightly fee. Service animals are welcome without a fee or documentation.
• Check-in and checkout. 3 p.m. and noon.

Marriott's overview does not list a pool for the AC Hotel itself. Hotel Citrine next door has an outdoor dipping pool for its own guests; ask the front desk whether AC guests can use it. Policies and fees change, so check Marriott's page for the AC Hotel before you book.

Who the AC Hotel suits

• Business travelers visiting Mountain View, Sunnyvale or companies along Highway 101.
• Marriott Bonvoy members who want points and a newer hotel.
• Concertgoers at Shoreline Amphitheatre who want a short drive back.
• Drivers on a Peninsula road trip who value freeway access.
• Travelers with small dogs or cats.

It is a weaker fit for first-time visitors who want to walk to restaurants, for anyone visiting Stanford every day and for guests under 21. For those trips, compare our downtown hotels guide.

What is nearby

The Baylands are a few miles north for marsh trails and birding. Shoreline Park in Mountain View has a lake with boat rentals and a long bay-side path. Mitchell Park and its Magical Bridge Playground are a short drive west. Rates here move with big Mountain View events and Shoreline concerts. A rental car makes the location far more useful; compare rental cars with Discover Cars before you fly in.

Booking tips

1. Compare with Hotel Citrine. Both Marriott hotels share one site, so one may have better availability or a better rate on a given night.
2. Mind the minimum age. Guests must be 21 to check in, which rules out many student travelers.
3. Plan weekend breakfasts. AC Kitchen is listed as closed on Saturday and Sunday, so use Wild Onion or head out.
4. Check the concert calendar. Big summer shows at Shoreline Amphitheatre can push up nearby rates.
5. Budget for valet. Parking is charged by the day and there is no self-parking listed.

Frequently asked questions