Etherington made the switch from Upton Park to the Britannia Stadium in January 2009 and has impressed since the transfer.
The left winger has now moved to advocate the acquisition of Cole, although it remains to be seen if new Hammers boss Avram Grant would allow the forward to leave.
Etherington's comments follow reports linking Stoke manager Tony Pulis with an interest in 26-year-old Cole.
"If West Ham are willing to let him go, it would be a good move for him to come here," Etherington told The Sentinel.
"Given the ideas the manager has and the way the club want to push forward, I'd definitely recommend it.
"Coley is a London boy, he's got a young kid and is settled down there, but he has been this way before on loan at Aston Villa and Wolves.
"It wouldn't be a problem for him living up here, just as it hasn't been for me."
He continued: "I would tell him it was the best move I could have made. It has helped me no end in pushing my career on.
"I have been in touch with him this summer by text, just more or less to say 'how are you?' He's one of those who's a bit elusive is Coley."
"On his day, he's one of the best strikers in the Premier League. When he's on it, he's unbelievable - and I've witnessed that first hand at West Ham.
"When Gianfranco Zola came in as manager, he gave him a lot of confidence and it got him his England call-ups.
"He's one of those players you've got to put an arm around and tell him how good he is to give him confidence.
"But a fully-fit Carlton Cole would be a massive asset for Stoke."
Source: Team Talk
>> Terms & Conditions