Stayed here one night, for a concert at the Greek. Cool old hotel, with enough charm to counter the negatives. Pros: It is an historic building, built in 1928. I checked in at about 6pm, and there was still parking available. Being Hilton Gold got me a $55 food credit, Skittles, and bottled water. The room was cozy. The hot water got very hot instantly. The bed was comfy. Cool decor in the room. Booked with Hilton points, so only cost me $68 for parking and taxes. Cons: Most ridiculous bathroom sink ever. With a faucet that was too big for the tiny (8"x12" maybe) sink. You could not wash your hands without getting water everywhere, and washing your face meant soaking most of the bathroom. No place to put your toiletries, other than the tiny glass shelf with the extra roll of TP. Shower not intended for people over 5' 8" A little noisy, but they provided one pair of earplugs. Lights in hall would go out, but I believe they had a motion sensor. No nightstand on one side of the bed. I was not informed of the charge for parking ($40). Food credit hard to use as restaurant closes at 10 pm and 10am. But overall, not bad. I would stay here again. read more

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I'm not usually someone who leaves negative reviews. If you look through my Yelp history, I'm much more likely to call out a great experience, and if something goes wrong, I usually try to handle it directly with the business rather than post about it publicly. In this case, I tried that, and the way the hotel handled each issue is actually what pushed me to write this. I booked through Travelocity and specifically reserved a top-floor room with a king bed. At check-in, the front desk didn't mention that they were giving us something completely different. We went upstairs and discovered we were on the second floor, near the elevator, with a double bed. When I went back downstairs to ask what had happened, the response was basically that they don't really see those details from third-party bookings, they were sold out of king rooms and the room they gave us was technically more expensive, so we should be happy with the upgrade. That missed the point entirely. If the hotel couldn't honor the room I booked, I would have appreciated someone simply saying that at check-in: "I see you booked a king on a higher floor. Unfortunately we're sold out of kings tonight. Here's what we have available." Instead, we weren't told anything and then were made to feel as though we should be grateful when we questioned it. Then came the bigger problem: at around 2 am, the AC unit started making an incredibly loud, repetitive thumping noise. It was impossible to sleep through. When I went downstairs around 5 am and mentioned it to another front desk employee, the reaction was again surprisingly dismissive. I was told that it's an older building and that there were earplugs next to the bed. There was, in fact, one pair of earplugs in the room, which made me wonder if the hotel already knew that particular room had a noise problem. What bothered me most was not even that something broke. Things happen. It was that there was no real acknowledgment of the problem. No "I'm so sorry." No "We'll have someone check that." No attempt to make it right. Just essentially, "Yes, it's noisy. There are earplugs." If an AC unit is making enough noise that guests need earplugs to sleep through it, that room probably shouldn't be rented until it is fixed. I honestly would rather have been told that the hotel was overbooked and that we needed to find another place than spend the night awake in a small bed in a noisy room. The biggest issue here was the service. Both situations could have been handled very differently with a little communication and basic hospitality. Instead, the front desk staff seemed unprepared to acknowledge problems, explain what was happening or make any effort to address them. So unfortunately, here I am writing the negative review I normally try very hard not to write. I hope the hotel takes a serious look at how its front desk team handles situations like this, because the problems themselves were frustrating, but the response to them made the experience significantly worse. read more

Yane at the front desk made this stay. The Graduate Berkeley is a great hotel, but what I'll actually remember is the check-in. Yane at the front desk was warm, attentive, and genuinely went out of her way to make me feel welcome. I've checked into a lot of hotels, and the standard is usually a quick, transactional hello - Yane made me feel like an actual VIP. Service like this is rare these days, and it's the difference between a stay you forget and one you'd happily book again. She's the reason I'd come back to this property. If you're staying here, hope you get Yane at the desk. Thanks for making it a great visit! read more

Yana at check in was so helpful and sweet! The graduate was such a cute and awesome place to stay in Berkeley!

Nice place to stay. A text to front desk and you got what you needed immediately. That kind of service is amazing.

What a nice hotel that we could experience from the lobby. We came for the bar, but they don't open till 4 on Saturdays with no games happening. It was before 3 p.m. when we arrived. We spent maybe 20 minutes in their lobby enjoying some people watching. It appears that lots of parents were coming with their children for a campus tour. While on campus there was a parents table so it must be a big weekend. The decor is fun. The furniture is all miss matched, and a little worn. The mural above the check in desk is creative. It appears that they have 100's of National Geographic Magazines behind the check in/out desk. They will hold your luggage for you before or after check out. The bathrooms are very clean and well maintained. read more

Graduate by Hilton Berkeley - Nice lobby. - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

The sky is a neighborhood. We stayed on the 5th floor (of 6) and walls were thin all around. Communication could be improved. They tell you they will text you when your room is ready but that did not happen. We (and others) were waiting in the lobby room until 4PM (!) before we were able to check in. On the positive side, we were able to leave our luggage while we walked about Berkeley. Self-parking was nice but at a cost (I dislike valet). Location is great. read more

Graduate by Hilton Berkeley - Unique lobby. 2026 March. - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Didn't get a chance to stay here but really appreciated my interaction with Kam, the front desk person at the hotel. He was helpful, friendly, polite and really tried hard to make sure all questions were answered and my reservations were taken care of! Thanks Kam! read more

Bella at the front desk was outstanding. She was friendly and welcoming, making check-in smooth. The hotel itself was decent, but the rooms and hallways are showing their age and could use renovations. The lights in the third-floor hallway repeatedly went out, making the hallway feel eerie when stepping off the elevator or leaving my room. Sound insulation also needs improvement. I could clearly hear noise from outside the building and footsteps from the room above. Overall, it was an okay stay. The excellent service from the front desk helped make up for some of the property's shortcomings. read more

We stayed here during a recent trip and really enjoyed the quirky charm and thoughtful design touches. The décor felt very collegiate and retro in the best way, rich colors, and a vintage-academic vibe that fits right into the Berkeley atmosphere. Rooms were clean and cozy, with comfortable beds and great water pressure in the shower. The lobby had a fun, energetic feel. Staff was friendly, and parking was straightforward but don't arrive too late bcz the parking lot stalls are very tight. A solid pick for staying in Berkeley, great location near campus and local coffee shops! read more

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Terrible, Terrible never going back there, we got there and the beds sheets wasn't charged from the previous visitors and then we got moved to a different room that the garbage never got removed and the TV wasn't working. I was supposed to stay for two nights but I decided to leave next morning. And they decided not to give me a refund for the second nights. This kind of business is going down hill. read more

Graduate by Hilton Berkeley - Garbage from the previous visitors - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love the old school charm and the spin on college decor. Water pressure in showers less than ideal, water doesn't get very warm (showers), but does in the sink ‍ Enjoyed having a kettle vs traditional style instant coffee dispenser (I'm not a coffee drinker). The fitness center has some equipment, but it was like a sauna and smelled horrid, so I didn't use it. Plus it's TINY. Bed was comfy. Rooms are somewhat small. It's quiet at night even though it's located in a busy part of town. This location is VERY busy with people. Parking spaces are VERY limited and VERY TIGHT. read more

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At first glance this hotel seems kitschy and cute. The hotel room keys are adorable with old school movie stars and icons. Unfortunately, That's where the good review ends. The rooms are tiny, not very clean and extremely outdated. I get the motif is old school vibes but it goes beyond that to just not updating anything that needs it. The bathroom door is so old and painted that it will no longer shut closed. The bedding and upholstery is gross and not clean. We got charged a "destination fee" of $28 that was not told to us when booking the room over the phone. In return they gave us a $25 credit to their breakfast and coffee cafe. We ordered two sandwiches and one of them was wrong, no biggie, I asked for lettuce and I would just wipe off the sauce and they gave me a salad with dressing. :/ So the cashier asked the kitchen to remake the whole sandwich and they brought it to me incorrect again. The gal at the cash register was friendly and helpful but I saw two other people return their food for mistakes, while I was waiting for mine to be corrected. Yikes. The bar Henry's which is also where the cafe is located is only open from 4:30-10pm which is sucky since we came here for a concert at the Greek Theater and wanted a night cap after the concert. This hotel is only .3 miles from the venue and the closest "bar" if you can call it that. We also tried getting mimosas or a breakfast beer (hair of the dog) and they don't serve drinks until 4:30 even though you're in a full bar. The floor in the bar/cafe is so filthy (first thing in the morning) that my feet were legitimately sticking to the floor. The trash was so overflowing that the cashier had to make the line wait while she emptied it herself. The front desk people don't really know what's going on. We asked about parking and the guy said there's no spots left while the woman next to him charged a family who got there after us for a spot without checking. We asked about the street parking right out front and neither of them knew anything about it. When I went to check out, our room charges weren't added to the bill. When I asked about it the woman said she has to manually post them and couldn't give me a time frame on it. The elevators are filthy and feel unsafe. The floors are uneven in the whole hotel. The hotel serves its purpose of a place to sleep, but if you're looking for a good experience this isn't the place for you. Disappointing at the very least and frustrating at best. read more

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I had been wanting to stay at a Graduate Hotel for years, so when I saw there was one in Berkeley, I booked it. The building is historic with a cozy lobby and an impressive wall of old National Geographic magazines behind the reception area. Check in was right on time, and apparently I was upgraded to the top floor... except my key card didn't work. After way too many frustrating trips up and down, the issue was FINALLY fixed and I could FINALLY enjoy my room. The decor has subtle collegiate touches, the bed was comfortable, and the shower water pressure was excellent. The room itself was small, historic, yet clean. Parking is available on site but can fill up quickly during busy times. Breakfast is not included, but the lobby cafe set up during breakfast times served a decent latte and chocolate croissant. I'm glad I finally stayed at a Graduate but I'm really not sure if I'd return to this location. It's still a solid choice if you like boutique hotels with personality. read more

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We were really happy with this place! Super close to campus, really cute fun rooms (I even took a pic of the bathroom since I liked the color scheme), great view of campus and wonderful staff. Everyone from the check in staff to the bartender were helpful and friendly. read more

Very nice hotel. Close to UC Berkeley. Great location to campus and downtown dinning. Staff was very and friendly. We had excellent service from front desk by Yana. Would definitely recommend this hotel. read more

Graduate by Hilton is in a great location. The lobby is charming and the front desk team is extremely gracious. The room is a bit dated but that just fits the vibes for the neighborhood. Overnight parking is available for guests at a reasonable price. 10/10 would stay here again. read more

Reviewing their lobby hangout area, great spot to take a rest when in the neighborhood shopping whether staying at the hotel or not! The vibe is from another era. The staff emit happiness. Not a spec of dust in sight. The adjoining bar presents several options. During the day, it was quiet. Definitely recommend stopping in when nearby. read more

Graduate by Hilton Berkeley - Lobby women's bathroom - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This hotel has such a cute charm to it. Definitely on the older side, but convenient if you need to be in the campus area. I stayed back in March, so I'm not sure if the same employees still work here, but the front desk staff that I encountered were so kind and helpful! Especially Eric, he has such a warm welcoming presence, and I also want to acknowledge the other two front desk staff that share the same name, I think it started with a C, and one was a manager. Thank you again to you three for being so accommodating and hospitable! read more

Quick stay for a UC Berkeley hosted Arts event. Nice bed. Fun decor. Older building renovated for a fun spin on the movie "The Graduate".. Nice bar and cafe ( great service) in house called "Henry's" The decor is fun.Quirky... green hallways and velvet walls .. Very clean. Fabulous bed and bedding which I am very picky about. Tiny bathroom. Small bed rooms. No full length mirrors and little closet drawer space. Desk is the old school library desks from the 50's. Great location if attending on campus events. The hotel is close to the main entrance of Berkeley so expect many homeless and those in need in the neighborhood as well as minor incidents requiring fire and police intervention. We left a toiletry kit and are waiting to hear back about this item we left behind. My invisilign is in the case ... ugh .. worried I hope I hear back from the hotel! Eric from reception just called and he searched high and low! He found our toiletry bag and is sending it back by fed ex. We are so grateful! Now that is service! Great above and beyond service is so hard to find. Thank you Eric! You made our day ! So just because of you we are rating Graduate Hotel a five. (as if it were your hotel) read more

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This is a 4 star hotel on Google but I truly did not have a 4 star experience. Main struggles being: 1. The showers did not have hot water. The water temperature was always inconsistent and ranged from lukewarm to ice cold. This is never acceptable but particularly in the middle of January when hot water is essential. 2. There's no place in the hotel to get water. There are no water fountains or water bottle filling stations. Each room gets 2 cans of water per day but that's only if housekeeping actually visits your room, which is not always a daily occurrence. 3. The hotel walls are extremely thin and we could hear our neighbors' every sound. 4. The hotel gym is extremely small and not what I would expect of a four star hotel. Every morning the gym was at full capacity with four occupants. All things considered, the hotel is fine but definitely confused as to why Google has this classified as a 4-star hotel. read more

The parking is a must add on. The location is great as it is walking distance to the college, eateries, and Walgreens. The rooms were cute and clean and the beds were comfortable. The person at the front desk was friendly and helpful. The whole place had a lot of character. We were on the 5th floor and had a nice view of the clock tower. We would stay here again. read more

Graduate by Hilton Berkeley - 5th floor window view. - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

The lobby downstairs in the restaurant next-door is the best part of the place. I have to admit for the price. You shouldn't have to hear what your neighbors are saying even at low levels they need some renovation in the acoustic insulation department but if you have money and you're just coming to see your kids, this is a cool place for nostalgia but if you want to get what you pay for, I would stay elsewhere read more

Oh the memories (and the old dorm charm)... Came back to Berkeley for business, and decided to stay at the Graduate for old times' sake. The place is strategically close to the campus, especially if you are headed to the business school side of it. It's quirky and has a lot of character. The amenities though fully reflect the charming dorm spirit, so don't expect much despite the price tag. That said, while you might not enjoy the highly creative configurations (toy-sized sink in the walk-in closet or across from your bed, anyone?), or the rather thin walls (undoubtedly to foster the community spirit ), the beds are comfortable, Henry's is a landmark institution in the Berkeley bar scene, and for me, it will always be the Haas "home away from home". read more

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This hotel was alright. The hotel decor was interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the gym because everything worked and no one was in there when I was there. It wasn't the biggest gym with the most equipment but got the job done. The place could be cleaner but do not expect much from a college town hotel. The walls were quite thin and you could hear plenty of your neighbors, which was a bit annoying, but you got used to it unfortunately. Staff were nice, welcoming, and accommodating. Plus and minuses lead to a 3 star. read more

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The staff was wonderful, Cynthia was super accommodating. The rooms are beautiful and the beds are comfy.

We enjoy this hotel but we had a couple of issues on our last stay. Sounds come through, we heard the upstairs tenants moving around late at night- it was so loud ear plugs were necessary. Also an issue at the bar 'Henery's'. We ordered two cocktails which were served to us in plastic cups. I was not expecting to drink out of plastic at a Hilton, or any bar for that matter! When I complained the bar tender rudely said "fine, I will get in trouble but whatever". He said he was told that it would be a busy night and they didn't have time to keep up with glassware. We had maybe 8 people in the bar while we were there- not busy at all. Then another guest requested a glass and was handed one no problem. Not the way to treat your guests! read more

Stayed overnight for a concert with my bestfriend and we had an awesome stay at Graduate. Pricing was very affordable, staff was able to check us in to our room quickly. We were also given a pass for one free welcome drink at the bar and took advantage of that. Rooms are well kept but have an old school, historical charm to them. Check out was easy and we very much enjoyed our stay. Would gladly stay here again. read more

This is a great boutique hotel within walking distance of UC Berkeley Law School. It is a cute old hotel full of charm, and I really enjoyed my quick stay. Upon checking in, I had a beet salad at the bar with a glass of wine, and it was just perfect. The vibe is very relaxed and comfortable. I am returning soon for another short visit to UC Berkeley, and I am looking forward to my stay! read more

Worst night of my history of hotel stays. The noise pollution is off the charts! It's like sleeping next to a NASCAR race track. Loud car engines blasting intermittently throughout the night. It's 2:30 am as I am writing this review. It was a Saturday and it's summer in Berkeley and a block away from IC Berkeley and it's summer, I get it ! But from a business standpoint, this is disastrous! The staff is friendly, hence the 2 stars. But sorry I will not stay here again. For another $200 more it would have worth it to stay at the Claremont. read more

Didn't even get to stay here! We had to cancel our trip due to a family emergency and gave 2 weeks notice. The management has refused to offer us a refund. Buyer beware. Check the other reviews before booking your stay or kiss your hard earned money good-bye if something unexpected come up and you have to cancel your trip! read more

Looking for a hotel in the Berkeley/Bay area? Dropping your child off at University of California Berkeley? Welcome to the Graduate Berkeley hotel, a charming blend of nostalgia and modern comforts nestled in the heart of Berkeley, CA. Join us for an insider's look at this historic landmark, originally opened in 1928, and now meticulously restored to reflect its collegiate roots, local flair, and Tower of Terror Vibes! For more info on this hotel and the Berkeley area go to: https://youtu.be/OqEFgvAr2-c read more

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The staff were great, and the location is perfect as a UC Berkeley parent. That said, the bathrooms are pretty bad, there was terrible water pressure, the toilets didn't work (I had 2 different rooms) and the restaurant was under construction so the fix was temporary but very mediocre. And the parking is expensive with a tiny, very challenging parking lot (too many cars trying to navigate not enough space). read more

Great service and cute hotel. Restaurant was also great, loved the drinks . Will definitely be back.

Great Stay! Staff was friendly and restaurant great! Would definitely bring the family back the next time we're in Berkeley.

We've stayed at this location of the Graduate chain several times, and had a good, if not perfect experience. As always, the staff were hospitable, helpful, and empathetic. In previous stays, we had challenges with tiny , noisy rooms, but the convenience of the hotel and the kindness of the staff were strong positives. Last night, it was intolerable. We paid for a large king room on the top floor, and did not sleep. The connector door between our room and the one next door was paper thin, and we could hear every tiny noise, including the rustling of a paper, the flushing of toilets, and even their quiet whispering. On top of that there was a fan or compressor on the ceiling above our room (#607) that rattled and whined all night. When we called the front desk, the receptionist apologized, and said there was nothing they could do, because the hotel was full. To be fair, the manager did refund our money for the night, and was very sympathetic. But pretty much everything about the hotel is cheap and minimal, including the walls and infrastructure. The place feels neglected and just a little bit sad. Too bad, because the location is great and the staff are trying their very best. read more

This place was a great place to be at. The rooms are clean, large, and the service is good. Old building, but kept clean. Windows dont really work cause they're old. Big conference room to rent for $100 if you have such business need. Overall, would recommend staying here if you can. read more

I would seriously give this place 6 stars if I could. Really friendly, hospitable, and helpful staff. GREAT location, a 5 minute walk to some really cool cafes/restaurants/shopping in Berkeley and also just 5 minutes to campus. We very much liked the vibe of the hotel, with its college dorm theme. They conveniently have a coffee/pastry shop open in the mornings and a restaurant open for lunch and dinner--though lots of great places to eat are also pretty close by. I left my AirPods in the room when I checked out and called them--no problem, they just shipped them back! Great experience and staff all around. read more

Friendly & personable staff; quick check-in Only 1 ice machine & it's on the first floor. Average sized bathrooms with large towels but smaller than average sink + tub. Lovely decor, location, & theme. Double paned windows were a plus! Elevators are on the slower side & a bit tight. Modern smart TV (Samsung) but no Apps or chromecast/mirroring functionality. Sturdy & utilitous work station with fun lamp designs. The decorative/throw bedding could be cleaned more often (for those with dust/dander/environmental allergies). Overall enjoyable & would stay again in a larger configuration read more

Stayed three nights while attending a class at UC. Pros - Very close to the school so you can walk to the campus, lots of places to eat just blocks away, very friendly and accommodating staff. Cons - Room was quite small, parking situation is interesting. Overall I was pleased and the convenience of the location is worth it. read more