Berkeley, California is known for being a top destination for higher education, but it is also a fun place to visit with lots to do even if you’re not a student. The city has a fascinating history as the center of the 1960s protest movement and is still thriving with arts and culture.
As you explore all it has to offer, consider staying at one of these top Berkeley hotels to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.
Berkeley City Club
With stunning architecture and vintage beauty, the Berkeley City Club is a unique place to stay, filled with history and comfort. The décor is inspired by the 1930s, as the hotel first opened in 1929. It is a landmark building designed by Julia Morgan, the architect of Hearst Castle, one of America’s most well-known castles. This is a popular place for weddings and offers award-winning dining at Julia’s Restaurant and Morgan’s Bar & Lounge. This Berkeley hotel stands out because of its Julia Morgan-designed indoor heated swimming pool, complimentary continental breakfast each morning, and beautiful event spaces. A fitness room, bocce court, self-service laundry facilities, and onsite parking are also available for an extra fee.
Rose Garden Inn
The Rose Garden Inn is a beautiful hotel surrounded by flower gardens and fountains in multiple historic buildings. It is a boutique hotel in the heart of Berkeley and has approximately 40 elegant guest rooms. This hotel typically offers a hot buffet breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and parking. It’s close to local landmarks for sightseeing and comes with all the modern amenities you would expect, such as a fridge and flat-screen TV.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina
At the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina, you’ll get views overlooking the Berkeley Marina and the San Francisco Bay. This hotel is a 10-minute drive from the UC Berkeley campus and two miles from the closest BART station. It offers waterfront dining at the onsite restaurant, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. There are pet-friendly rooms and a business center, plus meeting rooms are available if you are traveling for work. Dogs up to 75 pounds are allowed here for a $75 fee. This DoubleTree hotel has 378 guest rooms and 22 meeting rooms.
Berkeley Inn
Located in North Berkeley, the Berkeley Inn is an affordable and comfortable place to stay in town. It is within walking distance of several restaurants and comes with cable/satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. You’ll also be just minutes from the university when you stay here. Other amenities provided in the hotel rooms are microwaves, refrigerators, hairdryers, and accessibility features if needed.
Hotel Shattuck Plaza
The Hotel Shattuck Plaza is an old-world style Berkeley hotel that was once a Mission-style home built over a century ago. It has renovated rooms and eco-friendly features throughout, plus Mediterranean-inspired dining and a great location close to UC Berkeley and the BART. The hotel is pet-friendly and has a fitness center and meeting spaces. In total, there are 199 rooms, all with modern touches, including flat-panel HDTVs and Wi-Fi. In addition to the Zino restaurant on site, there’s a bar and lounge for guests to enjoy cocktails, wine, and local craft beer. In-room dining is available too.
Residence Inn Berkeley
The Residence Inn Berkeley is next to Cal Berkeley and comes with fully-equipped kitchens and separate living spaces. This makes it ideal for long-term stays or when you just want a little extra room to spread out. Your stay here includes a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning that serves hearty and healthy options. The hotel is near BART Rapid Transit, so you can easily explore the greater Bay Area attractions. Event space is available, as well as a fitness center, Wi-Fi, a 12th-floor restaurant and bar, and a hotel market. The Study Hall Rooftop Lounge is an indoor/outdoor dining space that offers scenic views of the area and serves food inspired by Pacific, Oceana, and Asian influences.
Graduate Berkeley
Within just a five-minute walk from the university campus, you’ll find the Graduate Berkeley, a chic Bohemian hotel with lots of little luxuries to help you enjoy your stay. The hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary bike rentals, and onsite food and drinks at Henry’s Bar Bites & Pub. This pet-friendly hotel can also accommodate meetings of up to 70 guests. Hotel parking is limited on weekends and during events, but some overnight spots are available for an extra fee, and include electric car charging stations.
Berkeley Lab Guest House
To embrace the spirit of science and innovation during your trip to the city, consider booking a room at the Berkeley Lab Guest House. There are 57 guest rooms at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, many of which offer views of the skyline, city of Berkeley, and San Francisco Bay. The Berkeley Lab was founded in 1931 and is located on a 202-acre site in the hills by the UC Berkeley campus. You can choose a standard room with a queen-size bed or twin bed, a large room with two queen-size beds, or a studio with its own kitchenette and dining area. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, weekday shuttle service, and complimentary laundry facilities.
Aiden by Best Western @ Berkeley
Aiden by Best Western @ Berkeley is a new and modern hotel within a mile of the UC Berkeley campus. It is also two blocks from the North Berkeley BART station and has a rooftop terrace with views of the bay and Berkeley hills. The terrace is a great place to use a borrowed yoga mat to stretch out and enjoy the views. When you stay, you’ll enjoy the pillow-top mattress, floor-to-ceiling windows, and high-speed internet. Other hotel features are the business center, cable/satellite TV, dry cleaning, and an elevator. Nearby dining options are the Butcher’s Son and Gourmet Ghetto.
Claremont Club & Spa
Stay at the Claremont Club & Spa during your trip to Berkeley. If you like historic hotels, this one has lots of charm. It is located on 22 acres of land with lovely views of San Francisco. It’s in a building that dates back to 1915 and there are 276 guest rooms and suites, plus an onsite spa for a bit of pampering. There is a daily resort fee that gives you access to daily group exercise classes, tennis courts, use of BMW bicycles, daily champagne in the lobby, three hours of complimentary kids’ club time per family, and other great perks.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley
You’ll find affordable and welcoming rooms at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley, which offers complimentary breakfast, a fitness center, and Wi-Fi. If you’d like a little extra space to spread out and relax, book one of the suites with a full workstation, mini-fridge, microwave, and Keurig coffeemaker. There are 70 standard rooms, three suites, and four accessible rooms. Complimentary self-parking is available at this hotel.
La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Berkeley
Just west of downtown Berkeley, you’ll find the pet-friendly La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Berkeley. This hotel offers guests complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Berkeley also has a fitness center, laundry facilities, a business center, elevators, and dry cleaning services. The hotel is located just 12 miles from San Francisco and puts you within a convenient distance of the professional sports venues in Oakland, a coveted sports destination.
Bancroft Hotel
The Bancroft Hotel is in the heart of the UC Berkeley campus and is a charming place to stay for a quaint vacation. It is a historic boutique hotel with an eco-friendly focus and newly renovated rooms. It commonly hosts weddings and events in its flexible venue spaces. Book this Berkeley hotel for unique rooms that help you support sustainability efforts and are serene for a restful night’s sleep. Many of the rooms here have views of the campus and hills, as well as bay views and balconies.
Nash Hotel
The Nash Hotel is within walking distance of the UC Berkeley campus and the downtown Berkeley BART. Take your pick from a variety of room options, including deluxe king rooms with private bathrooms, full-size bedrooms with shared bathrooms, rooms with twin beds and a shared bathroom, and rooms with two full-size beds and a private bathroom. The Nash Hotel dates back to 1924 and retains much of its original architecture. It is a landmark building in the city and has hotel rooms on the second and third floors that are serviced by an elevator. The Nash Hotel offers Wi-Fi, off-site and street parking nearby, TVs, refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers, and complimentary bottled water, coffee, and tea.
