Hotel Citrine: Sustainable Luxury

Upon entering our one-bedroom suite at the Hotel Citrine, my notorious travel partner-in-crime, Janet W., is awestruck by its spaciousness. The Fellows-brand, blush pink electric tea kettle with a curvaceous spout and the bone china teacups on the sideboard caught my eye. Touches like these draw design mavens like bees to honey to this spanking new property in Palo Alto, CA. home to household names such as Google and Facebook. Right away, I gave the 150-room boutique inn a thumbs up for elegance and comfort.

An Urban Wellness Sanctuary

Hotel Citrine opened last summer when no one was looking, and no one was traveling. But that meant it had time to fine-tune the elements that would differentiate it from the other hotels in the pack. Hotel Citrine is meant to be a refreshing, light-filled urban wellness sanctuary.

The word “citrine” in French loosely translates to something that is colored like a citron or lemon. And in that regard, the hotel’s logo of a lemon verbena branch is on point. The front doors whoosh open to the fresh scent of Tuscan citrus. The bar at its signature restaurant Wild Onion Bistro & Bar features lime green tilework. Large leafy plants generate a feeling of life and energy. Brand new Public-brand bicycles (in forest green) with wicker baskets are so pretty they look like a prop. Yet, they are sturdy cycles, ready to ride.

An Oasis in Silicon Valley

The hotel is sited on a busy street atop a former medical complex. In the heart of Silicon Valley where mega-multitasking is the norm and 3 a.m. Zoom calls to Singapore are commonplace, modern Hotel Citrine is a place to recharge. During construction, I drove by several times, wondering what lay behind the exterior walls. Now I know. Inside the building, canvas paintings, wood hangings, and graphic artwork, many of flora and fauna, uplift the spirit.

Guests who care about luxury, wellness, design, and sustainability appreciate the details. Tall windows usher sunshine into the overall color scheme of gray, white, yellow, and orange. On the main floor, an intimate living room with cream couches and a long wood communal table with outlets is open for work or leisure connecting. Outside, electric charging stations welcome those with electric cars.

Flavors and Features

The main floor also features the small, but well-appointed Wild Onion Bistro & Bar which stresses a seasonal “eclectic” menu with a California spin. Helmed now by new executive chef Ray Garrow, the bistro features items such as avocado and shishito tacos, buffalo cauliflower, and steak frites with an American Wagyu short rib.

When the weather is warm, glass doors open to the pool and firepit, so you get that inside-outside feel, so much a part of the true California lifestyle. The tiny pool gives you an opportunity for a nice dip, forget about serious laps. Cue the plants, lounge chairs and upscale cabanas with couches and tables. In one of the cabanas, Janet and I maximized our stay with red wine and cheese – our private little Happy Hour.

The Scoop on Accommodations

Like other hotels, accommodation categories run from a single king to suites. If you can, snag a corner suite on the upper floors, so you can enjoy an exceptionally wide balcony, big enough to entertain friends for cocktails. Suites also tout a generous living room with 55-inch screen SMART TVs, a dining area, and a separate bedroom with one or two beds. Bedrooms feature workstations with a custom rolling swivel chair in a pale nubby fabric.

Vast white baths are accented with gleaming brass handles and terrazzo tile. Calming rain showerheads add to the serenity. Green connoisseurs will give a nod to the in-room recycling bins and organic bath products as well as sustainable bamboo floors.

For those seeking unique and beautiful lodging, apart from the standard cookie-cutter chain hotel, check out the Hotel Citrine. In the heart of Silicon Valley, it is a mini-resort destination in its own right.