ENCHANTE BOUTIQUE HOTEL, LOS ALTOS
When condo developer and Francophile Abigail Ahrens decided to create a boutique hotel in downtown Los Altos, she opted for a style more romantic than Silicon Valley chic. She furnished the mini-chateau’s 19 rooms with vintage French prints, chandeliers, elegant fabrics and objets d’art. The resulting look radiates charm, not clutter, with service designed to restore joie de vivre.
The setting: At the corner of San Antonio Road and Main Street, within walking distance of boutiques and restaurants, though restfully quiet at night. The appeal: Parisian pied-a-terre in sunny mid-Peninsula. Most of the 19 rooms, each with its own theme (Marie Antoinette, Marie Curie, cycling, dogs, etc.) have gas fireplaces, and larger rooms include pedestal tubs as well as showers. Amenities include Wi-Fi and HDTV. Complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast is served in Campagne One Main, the hotel’s intimate, indooroutdoor bistro, dotted with Napoleonic antiques (and after breakfast, open to the public.) In the afternoon, head to the cozy library for complimentary wine, cheese and charcuterie.
Good to know: Rates, which exclude 11 percent in local taxes, are typically lowest on Sunday nights and highest Monday-Thursday. Ask for a pass to park all day in a nearby city lot; street parking is free, but with time restrictions Monday-Saturday. Beds tend to be firm, and are a bit shorter in rooms with two full beds; book a queen or king room if you’re tall, and request the fluffier mattress pad if you prefer more cushioning. The hotel is dog-friendly, charging a one-time $30 pet fee, but specific rooms are reserved for canines, with size and breed restrictions; call in advance.
Details: 1 Main St., Los Altos; (650) 946-2000. www.enchante hotel.com. From $225 weekends, $300 weekdays.