Graduate by Hilton Berkeley occupies the 1928 Hotel Durant building at the corner of Durant Avenue and Bowditch Street, one block south of the UC Berkeley campus. Visiting parents, faculty, conference attendees and couples book it for the walkable location and for Henry’s, a campus bar with decades of history.
The brand fills its hotels with designs drawn from university tradition and local nostalgia (source: Stories From Hilton), and the Berkeley property follows that approach with collegiate details placed throughout the restored Spanish Revival structure. Rooms are compact, which is typical of the building’s era, and they come with Wi-Fi and warm, residential styling. Henry’s, named for early university president Henry Durant, occupies the ground floor. It draws a mix of hotel guests, professors and students for burgers, cocktails and game-day crowds. The hotel joined Hilton’s portfolio after Hilton acquired the Graduate brand in 2024.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Rates climb and rooms sell out during Cal home football weekends, May commencement and August move-in, so book months ahead for those dates. Midweek stays in summer or January tend to be quieter and cheaper. Telegraph Avenue’s bookstores and cafés sit around the corner, and Sather Gate is a short walk north. Memorial Stadium and the Haas School of Business are a few minutes uphill. Downtown Berkeley BART is about 15 minutes away on foot and connects to San Francisco. Parking is limited, so arriving by transit saves hassle. Arrive at Henry’s before 6 p.m. on weekends to get a table.
