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    SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro

    3.5 (165 reviews)
    InexpensiveHotels
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Shower stool in the corner. Not sure if this is standard in all rooms.
    Janel G.

    When I'm in town to visit my daughter at school, I'm glad I found Sens. Very cute boutique hotel. Close to Cal. Easy parking. They share the bank parking lot next door and it's $8/24 hours. That's a steal compared to the $28 per day that ends at 11:59pm. And it's in a good area vs the last hotel I booked. Not knowing the area, it's been hit or miss. So, I'm glad I found this place. This will be my go to spot so I'll need to remember to book early before it sells out during peak times like parents weekend or move in/move out dates. There's a cafe on the ground floor. We got drink tickets good for a small coffee or tea for each of us, for both days we stayed. If you get a latte or something else, they just charge you the difference. We didn't try their sandwiches, but we got pastries and drinks as we headed out for the day. They offer room service. Due to covid, if you want your room made up each day, they call your room at 9am to confirm and I think to let you know that you have to be out of the room while they clean. I always put do not disturb because I don't like my room to be touched. But this is just good to know. The Housekeepers were very loud in the hallway. We were getting dressed, but we could hear them making all kinds of noise. So if you're wanting to sleep in undisturbed, I don't think that'll happen here. Sens is located in the gourmet ghetto. So, you won't be lacking in places to eat. There's a farmers market on Thursdays nearby, so we walked there too. There's also a coffee house that's open til 11pm where you can play board games for $7/hr (I think). It's a bz spot. But so many good places to go within walking distance. I felt very safe so if there are any ladies on a solo trip, or traveling w kids, you're good to go. I drove to campus and paid for parking. But, I could've easily walked the 1mile to campus as well. Overall, very pleasantly surprised. Fyi, It was $513 for 2 midweek nights. My stay was wed to fri.

    No latte art here, but drink was well made..smooth flat white
    Mary L.

    This review is for their flat white that we ordered today. Don't expect latte art here - refer to picture. But do expect a smooth unacidic espresso drink. We knew we were ordering from a hotel cafe, so expectations were low. Not having checked Yelp reviews first because today we wanted to be spontaneous and spontaneous we did! Glad we did because the coffee was by far way better than your Starbucks or Peets. Heck, maybe even better than your little stone alone coffee shops. They actually have a La Marzocco brand espresso machines to which I have been noticing more. Maybe espresso drinks just taste better when made with that brand machine? By the way, the price for our flat white was so cheap..only $3.10! Now the only downside was that we felt the coffee quality was so so. They didn't fresh grind coffee beans. It was pre ground coffee. But come on, $3.10 for an espresso drink..can't beat that elsewhere. The flat white would have been 10/10 had they used some fresh ground coffee or just better quality coffee beans. If you are in the area, please do grab a coffee here. It's pretty darn good.

    Jane S.

    It is in the heart of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, right across from Chez Pannise. It was my adult daughter's birthday and we usually dine at Chez Panisse but due to the lock-down that was impossilbe. Sens Hotel to the rescue! We got our take-out dinner from Chez Panisse, took it across the street to the Sens and ate it on the balcony of our hotel room (we brought table cloth, silverware, wine, candles, napkins and plates). Lovely way to beat the lock-down.

    Bedroom carpet
    Lisa C.

    Awful! Dirty, small beds, filthy carpets, shower doesn't drain. You have to lug your luggage through a tiny cafe to get to your room. Inadequate parking. Gross

    GiGi V.

    I was happy to see this place opened back up. The best americano and the pastries are delicious. Easy access to parking and nicely located.

    Lox bagel
    Emma W.

    Discovered this place for the first time when we drove by on Christmas. We went to Saul's first, which is known for being open on the holiday, but left after seeing the crazy line at 10:30am. We knew SenS must be open after seeing people walk out of there with coffee. We had to wait a bit, but it was worth it. I got the lox and cream cheese bagel (no onions) and it was the non-greasy breakfast I was hoping for. I also got the chai tea latte, which was tasty. Service was good, and I was pleased to find a lot more seating in the back area.

    Ligaya T.

    I love me some burnouts. (Leighann F thinks I should add some kind and colorful adjectives so people know I'm not a judgmental neo-hippie dickhead.) If you experienced the conversation we did, the entertainment factor alone would make that evident. Cast of characters: Sunken looking, white haired gent peering over his spectacles, hunched over. Petite earded Latino fellow in a flannel shirt leaning against... Gangly brown man dressed in all black with a decorated candy cane actually supporting him, bling on every finger, pins adorning the flap of every pocket, captain's hat. In other words, total George Clinton awesomeness. Bespectacled: "I was born in '33 but I got sick a few years back so I look like death now." Flannel: "No, no. You're still thumbs up." Captain: "Well, I don't like red beans, or pinto beans." Bespectacled: "Do those make you look old?" Captain: "Baked chicken ain't the same as fried chicken." Flannel: "I'm getting hungry." (stands up) Captain: "If I don't see you tomorrow, I might have to stomp on your face." Thank you, French Hotel, for your sunlit seating, ample dinginess to satisfy the real Berkeleyans but not to deter me, for your solid drinks and munchable pastries, for your open outlets and free wi-fi, randomness, and obliging staff. (I am however, still too scared to touch your restroom key.) It's refreshing to see that a place like this exists in the chokehold of gentrified Gourmet Ghetto yuppieland. Yes, I understand I am contributing to this, so all we can do is support the establishments that maintain this local flavor. I hope the spirit of this city never dies.

    Iced tea

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    4 years ago

    SenS is a friendly neighborhood cafe with good coffee and pleasant folks behind the counter.

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    3 years ago

    Great coffee shop and enormously welcoming people. A rarely in the Berkeley community. Simply elegant behavior.

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    I think they serve the best cappuccino in Berkeley. I don't know why it took me so long to give them a try.

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    Two hot chocolates with whipped cream, and one iced tea for me.

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    Residence Inn by Marriott Berkeley

    Residence Inn by Marriott Berkeley

    (67 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown Berkeley

    My family and I always enjoy staying at Residence Inn--it's our top choice whenever we visit…read moreBerkeley. The hotel is only about a 5-minute walk from the campus and very close to BART, with plenty of shops and great restaurants nearby. The room is very well organized, the bathroom is spotless, and the bed is perfectly comfortable--not too soft or too firm. Having a kitchen in the room is extremely convenient and makes our stay even better. I especially want to mention the front desk service--Georgina is amazing! She is extremely attentive, friendly, and always provides professional and thoughtful service. Thank you for making our stay so pleasant! Great location with clean, spacious rooms and the best front desk service. Highly recommend this place--we will definitely be back!

    I really should have looked at the reviews before I booked. You would think with the prices you are…read morepaying and the picture that are online you would be getting a very nice hotel. First and foremost be careful if you are going with the pictures on their website. The biggest issue with this hotel is either they are not paying any attention to the photos they are attaching to the room type or they are trying to bait people with the photos and hope that they are not bothered by what they are getting. I booked a 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King, Sofa bed, City view. In the pictures it shows for that room it looks like its an open concept for the living area with a full size sofa and a separate bedroom. There appears to be a fairly large table with a little circle part of the table at the end for dining. Also the description implies that it sleeps 4 and there is a view of the city. What I actually was put in was a very small room where immediately upon entering there is tiny closed off kitchen with a little 3 foot table. On the other side of the kitchen wall there is a living room about the same size as the kitchen with a very small love seat sofa that converts into a twin bed. Also my windows looked out onto the roof of a museum and on the other side a dirt lot under construction. Honestly, I could care less about the view and I personally am not normally very picky on what type of room I get when traveling for business but in this case I have 4 people traveling in my party and my reservation reflected that so to be in such a different room than I selected was a tad concerning as it only sleeps 3 and there is not much space. Within the first few minutes of being here I called down and said "I don't mean to be a bother but I don't think I was given the room I booked". I meant it to. I really didn't want to be a bother. I expected it to be a quick oh ya, you are supposed to be in ______ and we will get that switched. Instead a rep named Chauncy (not sure if I spelled that right) told me I was in room type ___ (some 3 letter code I shouldn't be aware of) and that's the correct room. I explained the things I highlighted above and was put on hold so she could talk to the manager. After a few minutes she came back to me and said "since you are disappointed we are going to go ahead and upgrade you to a room on the 14th floor like she was doing me some sort of favor. Besides the fact that I have status with Marriott and upgrades are typically offered anyway if they are available I wasn't asking for a favor and I said I am not looking for an upgrade. All I want to do is get the room that I booked. She basically rephrased and said "Sir, since you are not satisfied we will go ahead and move you to the 14th floor so you can have a better view". I honestly felt like she wasn't listening to anything I said. Its like all she thought I cared about was the view. On principle as I wasn't looking for a handout, I said you know its fine we will keep the room and I will just post about it. She couldn't care less and gave me a canned response of ok let me know if you need anything else. I ended up having our 4th person stay on my sons couch at his appt. On a side note be prepared for a crazy parking rate if you are driving. Parking is tough up in this area but that's pretty normal. It also might have been a crazy weekend so checking in took a long time.

    Berkeley City Club - Moorish and gothic architecture

    Berkeley City Club

    (232 reviews)

    $$$

    Built in 1927 as a Club for Woman by architect Julia Morgan. About 15 minutes away you can find…read moreChapel of Chimes also by the same architect which I highly recommend visiting. She was the first American woman ever accepted into the top Paris architecture school back in the day and her fusion of Gothic and Moorish design represents the best of early California architecture. My friend wanted to stay here and while the price is high it's worth it to stay in a piece of history. The rooms are historical so don't expect anything too modern, the check in area and atrium behind it have some gorgeous architectural details and the sounds of running water. The parking lot next to the hotel costs 40 a night, if you don't mind walking you can park at a structure a couple blocks away for 20. Part of the hotel cost includes a free beer or wine at the Morgan bar on the second floor. If you've ever seen the pool at Hearst Castle you'll get something in the same vein but smaller in scale here. The big difference is you can swim in this pool if you are a guest!

    We had such a blast getting married at the Berkeley City Club!…read more The staff: Spencer helped with our room block. Brianne, Nicole, and Maria handled all the wedding details. Nicole was super responsive during planning. Nicole and Maria were amazing on the day of, checking in, helping with last-minute changes, and even making sure my husband and I got a plate of hors d'oeuvres. The whole team was awesome. The venue and logistics: It's an older building, so heat isn't always adjustable, but you can turn it to the lowest setting. Towels were soft, water was hot, and the honeymoon suite was quiet. There's always a coffee and tea bar near the lobby and fresh water with fruit in it. Pool sign-up is required. One person found it a bit cold, but others liked it. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, and makeup removers were provided. Location and vibe: Stunning historic building in the heart of Berkeley. Guests could walk around the city easily. Amazing Golden Gate Bridge views. Explore the courtyards and hidden spaces--you'll find new spots everywhere! Overall, a gorgeous, unique, and super fun place to get married. We can't wait to come back for our one-year anniversary!

    Hotel Shattuck Plaza - Inside seating where drinks and food are served

    Hotel Shattuck Plaza

    (440 reviews)

    $$$

    Downtown Berkeley

    ​This is the ultimate Bay Area "pro-tip." It's located right by the BART station and offers much…read morenicer, more spacious rooms than you'll find in San Francisco for half the cost. ​The Vibe: Vibrant but homey a great escape from the city noise. ​The Service: The staff is incredibly friendly. Shoutout to Nora for the stellar dining recommendations and for checking in to make sure my stay was perfect. ​I don't mind the 25-minute BART ride at all when the value is this good. My new go-to spot!

    I booked the Shattuck Suite directly through the Hotel Shattuck Plaza website because of the…read morespecific amenities shown in the listing photos, especially the 1.5 bathrooms and dual-sink layout. Those details were a major reason I chose to pay for that particular suite. When I arrived, I was informed the suite had been oversold and I was placed into a different suite that did not match the room I reserved or the amenities advertised online. To be fair, I tried to stay understanding and keep a positive attitude during the stay. At checkout, I was told management would work with me to make things right and that I should follow up with the General Manager. Unfortunately, after four emails, multiple follow-up attempts, and two weeks of waiting, I have received no meaningful response from management. Mistakes can happen in hospitality, but ignoring a guest after promising a resolution is disappointing, especially when a premium room was booked specifically for its advertised features. I'm leaving this review mainly because the lack of communication and accountability after the stay has been far more frustrating than the original issue itself.

    Aiden By Best Western - Berkeley - Single Queen Bedroom - Ground Floor

    Aiden By Best Western - Berkeley

    (37 reviews)

    $$

    West Berkeley

    Thank you for the reply, but just so you know it wasn't another outlet to book it was your website…read moredirectly so it was what you offered online not a 3rd party and your team still wouldn't book for the price it was online. Like I said your website was not working and I showed them the price it was showing, definitely wasn't my fault your system wasn't letting me complete the transaction online Again no worries we found another hotel to stay at thank you

    I was skeptical as I drove up to this hotel from the look outside. It looks fine but it wasn't what…read moreI was thinking it reminded me of maybe a dressed up apartment building when I drove up. But I will tell you looks can definitely be deceiving. The lobby is clean and the staff friendly and accommodating. The room was small but well maintained, clean, and very modern decor almost posh. I was traveling on business and this hotel ranks high on the best (without a full kitchen in the room) hotel I've stayed in on business travel. Quiet! And I mean church mouse quiet. I got the best sleep and no loud guests or door slamming. They offer valet parking in which it was $29 per evening. The valet parks the car in the hotel garage. They offer breakfast (hot or cold) that you could have brought to your room or you could go to the lobby dining area and enjoy. The breakfasts are for a cost. They offer free beverages in the lobby like fruit infused water, tea and coffee. Security seems on par as I felt safe in this hotel. There are some cool walkable restaurants and stores around the hotel. The staff were all nice to me. I recommend this hotel.

    DoubleTree by Hilton - Berkeley - Restaurant

    DoubleTree by Hilton - Berkeley

    (771 reviews)

    $$

    West Berkeley

    Okay but be aware. My first attempt I was given a room extremely far away; it was dirty to the…read moretouch, my deadbolt didn't work, and the lock to the balcony door was completely falling apart (and didn't lock). I left immediately bc I wasn't safe. My second stay I'm in building 2, and the room is clean and my doors lock. It wants to be bougie real bad--and it's not--but it's solid. It is 5 buildings that all connect, kind of, with a center courtyard. Don't get lost! Guest laundry, decent enough gym (though cardio and weights are separate), pool, and hot tub. Hilton, you gotta start telling us in the app when there's a hot tub! Front desk staff all very nice. There were 0 available rooms until nearly 3 pm. It's in desperate need of at least a mini renovation (new paint, eCheck your locks, know there are some rough rooms and be ready to switch, but I'm glad I gave it a second chance because it's fine.

    Please stay far away from this hotel. The odor throughout the property was overwhelming and…read moreunpleasant, with strong smells of mold, mildew, and cigarette smoke everywhere. The host at the restaurant was unfriendly to the point where I almost walked away, although I will say that the waitress I had was very kind. I requested housekeeping multiple times during my stay. I was later told it was not completed because my "Do Not Disturb" sign was up during cleaning hours. However, during previous stays at this hotel, staff still knocked on my door to ask when they could return to clean the room, which made this explanation extremely frustrating. On two separate occasions, front desk staff told me directly that my room would be cleaned, and it never was. One front desk employee was dismissive and spoke to me with an attitude that made me feel disrespected. To make matters worse, the hotel uses automated text messages sent from "Glenda." I responded around 11:30 AM requesting housekeeping because I had work calls scheduled. I left my room for a period of time, returned to find it untouched, and later received another text stating they were unable to clean my room due to a high volume of rooms. This contradicted what I had been told earlier and was extremely disappointing. The room itself is in serious need of updates. The walls are extremely thin--I could hear doors slamming, people yelling, and even the person in the next room using the bathroom. The lack of soundproofing made it impossible to rest or work. For someone staying away from home, this was one of the worst hotel experiences I've had. I ultimately checked out early and went straight home.

    Downtown Berkeley Inn - Worn out furniture

    Downtown Berkeley Inn

    (63 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown Berkeley

    This place is honestly gross. You know how you walk into some hotel rooms & just smile knowing how…read morecomfy and relaxing the stay will be? This is not that hotel. Had to check the entire room and all thru the beds just to sit down. Will NOT be walking barefoot on this carpet. No fitted sheets. Gross worn out tub. Stains all over furniture carpet etc. Idk if this is a college party spot or what but very disappointing to walk into. Woman who checked us in was nice. Terrible parking.

    You get what you pay for? This was the least expensive hotel and I decided to give it a shot…read more First, it's a motel. Second, it's old, musty, and third there are literally no amenities other than the basics (bed, bathroom, towels, linens, coffee, blow dryer, tv and shampoo/soap. Several things that made me realize I won't stay here again...outside of the fact that I haven't stayed in a motel since I was a poor college student. I woke up with a sore throat (with my allergies that usually indicates some kind of mold spores), I also had a very bad headache.. more than anything normal, no ice machine (even though I can drink tap water, I really like it cold), and the bed platform stuck out so I dinged my legs a couple of times. I think if you are looking for a deal, with a place to lay your head at night, a good location, don't mind a musty smell, bad air, and are ok with tap water to drink this will work for you. Oh and they had free parking which is a premium if you have a car here. While the location is really great, I'll be sure to spend the extra to stay in a hotel with amenities and good air.

    Hyatt Place Emeryville/San Francisco Bay Area - Guest Room

    Hyatt Place Emeryville/San Francisco Bay Area

    (175 reviews)

    $$

    Reputable hotel in the middle of Emeryville shopping and restaurant areas. Spacious, many bed…read moreconfigurations, clean modern bathroom, luxury pillow top mattress bed, quiet. Free hot breakfast is a big plus. Parking is $40 on site ( very limited) or $25 across the street in a tight parking structure. Lobby and the market is always open and the Placery lobby bar serves sandwiches with alcoholic drink at the comfortable lounge. There a small microwave at the breakfast area for your food and drink warming convenience if you use world of Hyatt point, excellent value.

    Mixed reviews for this place…read more Positives -Location couldn't be better. Right on Bay Street at the end. Super close to walk to all the things there, so which we loved. -Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Even made us a free coffee after breakfast time had ended and things were already cleaned up. -Nice looking hotel and rooms. Rooms had a mini fridge and ours had somewhat of a living room situation. -Free breakfast that had quite a bit to offer. Negatives -Bed was extremely firm. I actually woke up sore the next day. -Wall's are very thin. We had some loud neighbors going on late into the night on a Wednesday. -Our room was SO warm. It was really cold out yet no matter how low we turned the thermostat the temperature never got below 74. We are people who like it cool when we sleep so between the firm bed and warm temp we didn't get much sleep. Extra note parking was available on site for $40 or you could parking in the Bay Street garage for $25. Given the positives I think we would give this place another try especially if the thermostat was working.

    SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro - hotels - Updated May 2026

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