Casa Alta Retirement Hotel

Pros

• The hotel is beautiful.
• The staff is extremely welcoming and attentive.
• Elijah at the front desk provided truly exceptional service and was the highlight of the stay.
• Elijah consistently went above and beyond to ensure everything was seamless and stress-free.
• Varun handled initial issues perfectly, listening to concerns and moving guests to a much better room.
• Nobu Restaurant offers impeccable service and world-class cuisine just steps away.
• The location is great, in downtown Palo Alto, with friendly staff and clean, well-designed rooms.
• The accommodations are beautifully designed with top-notch amenities.
• The on-site dining experience at Nobu is impeccable, with masterful dishes and remarkable cocktails.
• The staff were lovely and attentive to guests and hosts alike.
• The atmosphere at Nobu Palo Alto radiates sophistication while remaining warm and inviting.
• The hotel offers excellent value and is highly recommended for a luxury stay.
• The event spaces (bar and garden room) are perfect for hosting private dinners.
• The valet staff are extremely friendly and make guests feel special.

Cons

• The breakfast was served slowly.
• There was no easy access to drinking water after the initial bottle, requiring guests to refill on a different level from a fountain in the fitness center.
• The restaurant's service was poor and the breakfast was mediocre.
• The drapes did not fully cover the windows, allowing early-morning light to wake guests and hinder sleep.
• The hotel was overpriced and the service was only okay, with coffee, tea, and toiletries not replaced after multiple requests.
• There were initial room issues that were not up to Nobu standards.

Review

Nobu Palo Alto presents itself as a beautifully designed, modern retreat in a prime downtown location, where many guests are greeted by a remarkable level of warmth and attentiveness from the staff. Several reviews highlight the hotel's handsome, minimalist vibe and the clean, well-maintained rooms that feel both contemporary and comfortable. Guests repeatedly point to the location as a major plus, making it easy to stroll to nearby restaurants, shops, and galleries. Yet beneath the overall appeal, there are discernible tensions: service at breakfast can be slow, and some guests feel the hotel could offer more onsite amenities to justify its price point.

Within the rooms, reviewers note impressive features that align with a luxury stay: a large television, a big bed, and in some rooms, a bidet, all contributing to a high-end sense of space and comfort. However, there are practical complaints that many would expect to be resolved at this level. A standout issue is the blackout functionality; one guest specifically mentioned that drapes fail to fully cover the windows, allowing light to flood the room by early morning and compromising rest. In addition, several guests report that coffee, tea, and toiletries aren't consistently replenished after being requested, which dampens what should be a seamless luxury experience. Overall, the rooms impress on style and comfort, while a few functional gaps keep the experience from feeling flawless.

Perhaps the most consistent praise in these notes is for the people who staff the property. Elijah Schneider, repeatedly singled out, is described as a genuine standout - a front-desk presence who goes above and beyond to smooth every wrinkle in a guest's stay, from coordinating last-minute meals to assisting with personal requests like purchasing flowers. The kindness and attentiveness of Elijah extend well beyond routine check-in; multiple guests describe him as the highlight of their stay and a model of hospitality. Varun, another manager who stepped in to address early-in-stay room issues, earns high marks for his calm handling and effective resolution, leaving guests feeling cared for rather than inconvenienced. The valet team is also praised for their friendliness and consistency, helping guests feel welcomed and attended to from the moment they arrive. Priya, the Sales Manager highlighted in one account, is recognized for making event spaces easy to work with and handling communications with professionalism. Across the board, the staff's genuine approach is repeatedly cited as the defining strength of the experience.

There is a clear sense of a split between expectations and reality when it comes to on-site amenities beyond the rooms and the standout Nobu Restaurant. Several guests would have liked more on-site options - whether a spa, pool, or other facilities - especially since the price point invites a broader range of conveniences. One guest even notes the absence of activities like swimming or in-house massage as a missed opportunity, given the hotel's luxury positioning. On the practical side, water access becomes a point of friction: after the complimentary bottle in the room, guests are apparently directed to refill at a fountain inside the fitness center, which feels less convenient than one might expect for a hotel of this caliber. The overall sentiment is that the basic infrastructure is strong, but the full spectrum of upscale extras isn't as robust as some guests anticipate.

The Nobu Restaurant itself garners a mix of high praise and candid critique, reflecting a broader conversation about value and service. Several accounts celebrate the restaurant's menu and the caliber of dishes, with memorable mentions of signature items like the black cod with miso and the yellowtail jalape?o, and even note the cocktails as superb accompaniments to the meal. One iteration of the dining experience describes the evening as a masterclass in hospitality and culinary artistry, with staff guiding guests through the menu with expertise and warmth. A separate note highlights the private dinner hosted in the bar and garden room for around twenty guests: the space was described as perfectly sized, the garden view charming, and the food "impeccable," delivered with attentive service and careful coordination by the staff. For some guests, the Nobu team embodies hospitality that elevates the entire stay, while others find service at the restaurant to be only average or inconsistent, contributing to mixed overall impressions.

A few guests drill down into the pricing and overall value equation, suggesting that the experience is superb but not always commensurate with the cost. Comparisons to other luxury properties - Four Seasons and Rosewood - are common, with some guests feeling that Nobu Palo Alto's rates, and the service parity they receive for those rates, don't always align. There are specific mentions of items not being replaced or replenished, which adds to the perception that some aspects of the experience lag behind the hotel's aesthetic and the restaurant's potential. Yet even with price-related caveats, many reviewers remain enthusiastic about returning: they highlight reliable cleanliness, an excellent location, and the consistently high standard of staff service as reasons to revisit.

Taken together, the Nobu Palo Alto experience emerges as a refined, stylish blend of superb hospitality and standout dining, anchored by a team that often goes above and beyond to make guests feel valued. The hotel offers a beautiful design, comfortable rooms, and a location that makes exploring Palo Alto effortless. The restaurant is a compelling draw, delivering memorable meals and a sense of culinary artistry that elevates the stay for many visitors. At the same time, a few practical shortcomings - like blackout drapes, refill policies for in-room amenities, and a sense that some on-site perks could be expanded - prevent the experience from reaching universal perfection. For guests who prize exceptional service, a warm reception, and a dining experience that can feel as transformative as a high-end restaurant, Nobu Palo Alto remains a compelling choice worth revisiting.

This part of Palo Alto, California is a vibrant and convenient location with a variety of amenities within close proximity. There are several cafes such as Verve Coffee Roasters and HanaHaus, offering opportunities for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. Nearby pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens provide easy access to healthcare essentials. For medical services, there are reputable physicians' offices and hospitals in the area including Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Residents can also enjoy dining options like Shake Shack and Telefèric Barcelona, as well as recreational activities at parks such as Mitchell Park and Baylands Nature Preserve. Additionally, transportation options like the Redwood City Caltrain Station and U-Haul Moving & Storage make it convenient for seniors to get around the area.

Cafes

• Verve Coffee Roasters (0.1 miles)
• Café Venetia (0.3 miles)
• HanaHaus (0.3 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (0.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Boba Bliss (3.9 miles)
• Coffeebar (4.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)

Physicians

• Anesthesiology: Palo Alto Center: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (0.3 miles)
• Encina Building, Palo Alto Medical Foundation (0.3 miles)
• Stanford Otolaryngology (1 miles)
• Bay IVF Center (1 miles)
• Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, Alex Dimitriu, MD (1.5 miles)
• Menlo Medical Clinic in Menlo Park - 1300 Crane (1.6 miles)
• CCRM Fertility of San Francisco (2.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Shake Shack (0.4 miles)
• Telefèric Barcelona (0.4 miles)
• Gott's Roadside (0.4 miles)
• Wildseed (0.4 miles)
• True Food Kitchen (0.5 miles)
• Bazille (0.7 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (4.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Hoover Pavilion (0.4 miles)
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (1 miles)
• Stanford Health Care (1 miles)
• Stanford Hospital (1.1 miles)
• Reproductive Medicine Associates of Northern California | RMANORCAL (1.5 miles)
• VA Medical Center-Menlo Park (1.6 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center (4.7 miles)

Parks

• Mitchell Park (2.9 miles)
• Baylands Nature Preserve (3.1 miles)
• Shoreline Park & Lake (4.1 miles)
• Red Morton Community Park (4.5 miles)
• Magical Bridge Playground (4.6 miles)
• Stevenson Park (5.1 miles)
• Evandale Park (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• ShowPlace ICON at San Antonio Centre (3.9 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Sunnyvale 12 & IMAX (8.6 miles)

Transportation

• Redwood City Caltrain Station (4.8 miles)
• Mountain View Caltrain Station (5.8 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (6.5 miles)
• San Carlos Airport Control Tower (6.7 miles)
• San Carlos Airport (SQL) (7 miles)
• Sunnyvale Caltrain Station (8.5 miles)