It's cool, it's clean: It's the Hotel Keen, now gracing downtown Palo Alto.

The hotel recently opened in August, so we were lucky to be one of the first to experience this cute place. As we walked in and looked around, it reminded me of a brightly lit W Hotel, with its modern flair, sleek lines and trendy appointments. It's also tight and tidy, perfect for those dash-and-crash travelers on the move.

I really liked this place. Even though it's a bit small compared with other hotels, its economy of space is filled with some quirky plusses. For instance, there's a whiteboard in your room, a blank slate begging for ideas. It's perfect for brainstorming, scrawling notes, coming up with some modern twist on a Jackson Pollock, or just doodling. I practiced my fledgling cartoon characters without guilt and pretended I was still in grammar school. Wipe it down, and usher in a new idea.

Other cool amenities included IHome docking stations, free local calls, blackout drapes, Wii rentals and a daily continental breakfast, just to name a few.

There are only 42 rooms in this Orlando Diaz-Azcuy designed boutique hotel, so if you're adverse to crowds, noisy lobbies or cramped elevators, this place is for you. All rooms sport 37-inch flat-screen TVs and free wireless Internet. The functionality of space is designed to accommodate the progressive business traveler or anyone wanting a cool and modern place to stay.  

Need to unwind after a tough day at work? Then head downstairs before dinner as we did to enjoy the nightly wine tastings. On this particular evening, we were lucky enough to enjoy the conviviality of General Manager Peter Friedman, whose lineage in the hospitality industry is commendable. Possessing a quick and wry wit, his knowledge about various vintages we sampled was quite "keen."

The continental breakfast bounty is plentiful with lots of healthy fruit, coffee that puts Starbuck's to shame and a number of other yummy starters to get you going.

Walk outside, and you're immersed in the heart of the downtown Palo Alto scene. Especially popular is University Avenue, punctuated with lots of restaurants, bistro hangouts and cafes. As the Hotel Keen is located near Stanford, the university atmosphere permeates the area.

There's a lot to do in Palo Alto, and it's only 20 minutes from the San Francisco airport. Shoppers will delight in the Stanford Shopping Center, an upscale mall with 104 shops, restaurants and notable places like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's and Bloomingdales. Art enthusiasts can revel in the work at the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center, displaying 4,000 years of art history and artifacts. Stanford University Performing Arts boasts lively roster of performances.

Just park yourself at the Hotel Keen and see what Palo Alto life is all about.

Hotel Keen 

425 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301

Reservations: 650-327-2775 

Reservations-keen@hotelkeen.com 

http://www.hotelkeen.com/