The Park James

Silicon Valley may lack a single urban center, but modern, urban-style boutique hotels are an increasingly common sight in every town from Sunnyvale to Redwood City. The Park James takes part of its name from Menlo Park, the next town up from Palo Alto, and its location places it close to Stanford University as well as a number of vital destinations for Silicon Valley business travelers. But before it was a tech and innovation hotbed, this part of California was blessed with quite a bit of natural beauty — and with its plentiful outdoor lounge space the Park James takes advantage of the exceedingly pleasant climate.

The hotel’s design is full of references to Menlo Park’s history, including its Irish influence and its equestrian heritage. The rooms are contemporary in style, warmed by organic materials like wood and leather, and the luxuries, though subtle, are substantial. The suites, uniquely, feature king beds that fold up into the wall, converting the entire space into a meeting room, in case you’ve got business that isn’t ready for public discussion. But if you’re feeling social, there’s always Oak + Violet, a farm-to-table modern Californian restaurant with a stylish indoor dining room as well as an expansive courtyard patio.