Park James Hotel

The Park James is a small independent hotel on El Camino Real in Menlo Park. It is built for people who want a boutique stay within walking distance of a train station: the Menlo Park Caltrain depot, the shops of Santa Cruz Avenue and the Guild Theatre are all a few blocks away. Its restaurant, Oak + Violet, has a large outdoor patio under an oak tree that serves as the hotel's social space. The hotel also leans hard into pets, with dog beds and a dog dinner menu.

This profile is based on the hotel's official website. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check the Park James on Booking.com or book with the hotel directly.

Location and neighborhood

The address is 1400 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025. That puts the hotel on Menlo Park's main north to south road, close to where it meets the downtown streets. The blocks around it hold offices, restaurants and small shops. Quiet residential streets begin a short walk away on either side.

Within a few minutes on foot you can reach:

• Santa Cruz Avenue, downtown Menlo Park's main street, with cafes, shops and a Sunday farmers market. Our Santa Cruz Avenue guide has the details.
• Kepler's Books at 1010 El Camino Real, the independent bookstore with deep roots in the 1960s Peninsula scene. Read its story in our Kepler's history.
• The Guild Theatre, a 1926 cinema reborn as a live music venue. The hotel says it is two and a half blocks away and calls itself the venue's exclusive hotel partner, with show packages.
• The Menlo Park Caltrain station, a block east of El Camino Real.

Stanford University is just south of Menlo Park, across San Francisquito Creek. The Stanford campus, Stanford Shopping Center and the medical center are a short drive down El Camino Real. Sand Hill Road and its venture capital offices are a few minutes west; our Sand Hill Road guide explains who is there. For the wider town, see our Menlo Park guide.

Getting there from Caltrain and the airports

Menlo Park station is the nearest Caltrain stop, about a third of a mile from the hotel in a straight line. It is a historic stop with an 1867 depot. Local and limited trains stop there. Express trains pass through, so check the timetable for your train. Palo Alto station is the next stop south, a few minutes away.

• From SFO: SFO is the closer airport. Take BART to Millbrae and Caltrain south to Menlo Park, then walk to the hotel. By car it is a straight run down Highway 101. Our SFO guide covers the options.
• From SJC: take the free VTA Route 60 to Santa Clara Transit Center and Caltrain north to Menlo Park, or drive up Highway 101. See our SJC guide.

The hotel's site does not mention an airport shuttle. Plan on Caltrain, a rideshare or a rental car.

Rooms and suites

The hotel does not publish a room count on its site. Its rooms and suites pages list these types:

• Superior King Room, with one king bed.
• Superior Room with 2 Queen Beds.
• Superior King Suite, with a bed that folds into the wall so the room turns into a small meeting space.
• Accessible rooms: a Hearing Impaired Accessible King Room, a Superior 2 Queen Hearing Impaired room, a Mobility Accessible Two Double Bed Room with Roll-in Shower and a Mobility Accessible King Suite with Roll-in Shower.

Every room lists the same core features:

• Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi.
• Frette linens and plush robes.
• Juice Beauty bath products.
• "As-you-like-it" housekeeping, so you choose how often the room is serviced.
• In-room dining from Oak + Violet.
• A pour-over coffee setup with Bay Area roasters.
• An iron and ironing board, a hair dryer and a safe.

The amenities page also lists a premium minibar with wine, spirits and snacks. The hotel says rooms have a tablet for adjusting temperature and lighting. The interiors are by Parisa O'Connell Studio. The materials nod to Menlo Park's Irish heritage, down to Connemara marble. The event room is called the Galway Room.

Amenities

• Patio. A large outdoor courtyard with lounges, patio lights and an oak tree, served by the restaurant bar.
• Fitness. A fitness studio.
• Guest app. A mobile app for requests during your stay.
• Meetings. 1,200 square feet of flexible meeting space. The Galway Room opens onto the patio for indoor and outdoor events the hotel says can hold up to 350 people.
• Electric cars. Tesla and other EV charging.

The site does not list a pool or spa. If you need either, Rosewood Sand Hill and the bigger Palo Alto hotels have them.

Dining on site

Oak + Violet is the hotel's restaurant, a California kitchen built around local ingredients. The hotel says it is led by executive chef Joseph Humphrey, whom it describes as a Michelin star-winning chef. It says the wine list is curated by Shelley Lindgren. It also says the restaurant received a 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. The hotel lists these hours:

The cafe serves specialty coffee, matcha, botanical lattes, pastries and breakfast dishes. Dinner reservations go through OpenTable or by phone. Takeout is available. The restaurant also hosts seasonal menus, holiday meals and live music. Hours change, so check the hotel's dining page before you go.

Sunday is the gap: the restaurant does not list Sunday dinner. Our Menlo Park food guide covers places within walking distance.

Parking and policies

• Parking. Valet parking, with EV charging. The site does not list self-parking or a rate, so ask when you book.
• Pets. One pet per room, 50 pounds or under, for a one-time fee. The room is set up with a dog bed and water bowl.
• Check-in and checkout. The site does not list times. Confirm with the hotel.

The hotel points dog owners to Willow Oaks Dog Park and to off-leash morning hours at Nealon Park in Menlo Park. Check the City of Menlo Park's current park rules before you go. Our guide to traveling with pets covers Palo Alto's rules.

Who the Park James suits

• Train travelers who want to walk from Caltrain to the front desk.
• Business travelers meeting on Sand Hill Road or in downtown Menlo Park, especially those who want a suite that doubles as a meeting room.
• Dog owners with one dog up to 50 pounds.
• Music fans with Guild Theatre tickets.
• Stanford visitors who prefer a small hotel over a big chain property.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a pool, a spa or self-parking. If a pool matters, the Stanford Park Hotel at the south end of Menlo Park's El Camino Real, by the Palo Alto line, is worth comparing.

Booking tips

1. Ask about show packages. The hotel offers deals tied to Guild Theatre tickets.
2. Plan Sunday dinner. Oak + Violet lists dinner Monday to Saturday only.
3. Book a suite for meetings. The fold-away bed turns it into a small meeting room.
4. Bring one pet only. The limit is one per room, so two dogs means two rooms or a different hotel.
5. Book early for Stanford weekends. Commencement 2027 runs June 10 to 13. Menlo Park fills up along with Palo Alto. If the hotel is full, compare Menlo Park hotels on Hotels.com.

Frequently asked questions