By Yin Q on July 19, 2026 Verified by Google

I genuinely don’t understand why this hotel has such high ratings. Do people really not care about the basic comfort and quality of a hotel stay? It seems like many guests are happy to give five stars simply because the front desk staff is friendly. I agree that the service was pleasant, but good service doesn’t make up for a lack of basic comfort.

First, there isn’t enough parking for overnight guests. We were also given a room with no view that had an extremely loud mechanical noise—possibly from pipes or an operating system—that went on nonstop every few seconds throughout the night. It was impossible to sleep.

The room itself was very small, especially the bathroom. The sink was tiny, and the bathtub was old, worn, and even cracked.

After a sleepless night, I went back and reread the reviews because they were the reason I chose this hotel in the first place. I’m honestly baffled that so few people mentioned these very basic issues with the rooms. Friendly staff is appreciated, but that shouldn’t outweigh the fundamental quality and comfort of the accommodations.

By Kyle Fournier on July 18, 2026 Verified by Google

WiFi is open to the public so it’s completely unsecured. They have it set up so that you cannot stream anything or it’s just that bad not sure.

The room comes with earplugs… that says a lot.

The walls/ceilings are extremely thin and you can hear just about anything in the surrounding rooms.

The water pressure/temperature vary at any given time. The lights in the room also change brightness randomly. Not sure how this place is passing any sort of inspections.

Both elevators also make noises that are very unsettling… no real surprise there.

The AC gets cold, that’s a win.

Staff is super nice.

By Meika Mustrangi on June 14, 2026 Verified by Google

We had a great stay at the Graduate by Hilton in Berkeley. We appreciate how this historic hotel was renovated. It feels both old (in a good way) and new, and is very welcoming. The location is perfect for those visiting UC Berkeley and surroundings. The staff is efficient and friendly. We had a very nice and healthy breakfast at Henry’s (check out the yogurt and overnight oats). The two parking lots were a nice plus: easy to get in and out when you need to use the car.

By Linda Church on June 12, 2026 Verified by Google

I just stayed at this historic Graduate by Hilton Berkeley a college-themed hotel located one block from the UC Berkeley campus and close to downtown Berkeley.

The ambience of the hotel is so fun!

The rooms are very clean and their beds are unbelievably super comfy‼️

Here is a call out to the front desk staff for their warm hospitality and helpful suggestions for local eating…Eric, Yana, Bella and Shalom .

Dining was great. Collin is the chef and his culinary experience was very much enjoyed.

My room was immaculate… unfortunately I can’t praise my housekeeper because she slipped in to clean my room at different times of my stay and I never had the opportunity to thank her.

The GM knew the lay of the land and gave great recommendations for things to do. He took the time to show us local places to hike…which had spectacular views as well as going to Muir Woods. Thank you Santiago

By Mariela Tuchi on May 5, 2026 Verified by Google

LOCATION - 5 Stars - Great, especially if visiting UC Berkeley; next to restaurants and shops and steps away from the University

STAFF - 2 Stars - There were only 2 or 3 young girls at the front desk that we met during our 3 day stay. All of them looked unhappy at their job and seemed a better fit at a Thrift Store.

CLEANLINESS - 3 Stars - much to be desired, specifically in the bathroom. Let's just say I was not about to use the bathtub. Throughout the room and bathroom, it looked like a deep clean was much needed.

RESTAURANT - 4 Stars - Nothing spectacular, my salad was not fresh, but prices were reasonable and the service was fast.

OTHER - 3 Stars - There was a very strong smell in the lobby, which I could not say what it was - candle or something else. While the decor in the lobby was interesting and inviting, it seemed that students and random people could just come in, buy a coffee and sit there using their computers. The room was a good size (we had the corner Campenile view) however, it did not feel clean, there was no pen, not even a single piece of paper to write a note. The Front Desk lobby area did not have any interesting materials on the area, what to do or see and I was not about to ask the front desk ladies, they did not inspire much confidence. There was no concierge either.

Overall good location, but not even a 4 Star hotel.