What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
We delight in offering a level of personalized service that is unparalleled. We are very good at welcoming first time guests by name even though we have never met. As a boutique hotel of 62 rooms it allows us provide a truly genuine and sincere personalized experience.
We surprise our guest with a welcome Garden Court Hotel “Sprinkles” Cupcake featured flavor of the month. Red Velvet is still #1.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
Located in Downtown Palo Alto, we are in the center of everything and just a few steps from whatever your heart desires by walking out the front of the hotel.
Quiet and intimate - The Wine Bar
Local hang out, loud and fun - Nola’s
Every game, every sport, on 50 Big Screens - The Ole Pro.
We really are in the center of everything in Palo Alto with high tech, venture capital-you can be sitting having a cocktail or a cappuccino at the most unexpected of places. Over at the next table you might just overhear a conversation happening about the next big thing that is just about to launch. It is truly extraordinary, as an example—on page 300 of the bestseller, Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson—The Garden Court is mentioned as a place where some of the pivotal world changing meetings were held in the evolution of Apple.
Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
Just down the street we have beautiful neighborhoods with historic architecture, lush gardens, the historic Hewlett Packard garage is two short blocks away. The Stanford University campus and Cantor Arts Centers and Rodin Garden should not be missed. The Rodin Garden evoke the spirit of the original Parisian gardens in which Rodin exhibited his public art during his lifetime.
Are there any quirky places we should check out?
The Chocolate Garage - http://thechocolategarage.com
Sunita was inspired to make what she calls 'Happy Chocolate' more widely available and almost 8 years later, The Chocolate Garage is hard at work to make this dream a reality.
Chocolate aficionados know that the field of cacao and chocolate covers everything from chemistry, politics, agriculture, biology, love, neuroreceptors, flavor, exploitation, vasodilation, addiction, and sustainability. To mention a few. Chocolate is varied and complex enough to keep the biggest geek interested for life and the most superficial glutton eating it regularly.
Sunita falls somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum... and brings her scientific training in molecular biology along with a tremendous appetite for yummy food to the table.
AND
Talenthouse is the home of all artists and creators New York, London, Los Angeles and Palo Alto - http://www.talenthouse.com
Finding the right platform to express yourself and to meet the right people to work with are essential elements of every artist's success story. Talenthouse is the bridge between emerging talent and established professionals, and helps you get your own projects off the ground.
Build a following, find new collaborators and earn amazing rewards by taking part in our life-changing opportunities.
What is an unusual request from a group you’ve had?
Going for the most unusual I can think of-we have actually been asked if we could accommodate an Elephant in the Courtyard and a miniature horse named Ladybug. Of course our answer was YES. But, city ordinances dictated our answer for us. We do NOT like to say no.
A party of 12 wants to have dinner right away. What restaurant can accommodate last-minute requests of this size?
We have developed great partnerships with restaurant’s that are unique to Palo Alto.
A phone call to Aaron at Coconut’s, Robert at Tamarine or local family of restaurants; Peninsula Creamery( pancakes for dinner), Gravity and Reposado and advising them we have VIP group of The Garden Court Hotel needing a reservation we can count on their support.
What’s a unique event that has taken place at your property?
Just this year in 2012: "Daily Show" co-creator Lizz Winstead's June book party; and an event for GILT Group co-founder and “By Invitation Only” author Alexis Maybank.
To discover more eye-opening insights from top concierges, just visit our Concierge Insights section!
