Graduate Berkeley
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Berkeley , United States |
| Products | Hotel accommodation, dining (Henry's Publick House gastropub) |
| Owner | AJ Capital Partners |
| Parent | Hilton Worldwide (operator) |
The Graduate by Hilton Berkeley is a notable boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Berkeley, California, close to the University of California, Berkeley campus. It holds a place on Berkeley's official register of historic sites.
History
Originally built in 1928, the Hotel Durant was designed by architect W. H. Weeks in the Spanish Colonial style.[1] The establishment initially offered 140 rooms and was constructed with fireproof and earthquake-resistant features, including one of the first basement garages in the vicinity.[2]
The hotel's bar, Henry's Publick House, pays tribute to its namesake, Henry Durant. Upon its debut, the hotel was celebrated as a "modern luxury hotel" and counted notable guests such as Harry Truman.[1]
Hostage incident
In 1990, a hostage crisis occurred at Henry's when UC Berkeley student Mehrdad Dashti, diagnosed with schizophrenia, held 33 individuals at gunpoint for seven hours. Police intervened by raiding the bar during the standoff. Tragically, one hostage was killed and seven others injured.
Recent History
By 2006, Creative Hospitality owned and operated the hotel. The following year, Joie de Vivre Hospitality purchased it for $14 million and invested an additional $9 million in upgrades. After defaulting in 2011, ownership passed to Royal Bank of Scotland while Joie de Vivre maintained management responsibilities. The property was placed on the market in September 2012 with HVS Capital Corporation handling sales efforts. Early in 2013, Gemstone Hotels & Resorts acquired the hotel for roughly $27.3 million and retained 98% of the existing staff. The hotel primarily accommodates visitors affiliated with the University.
In September 2015, Graduate Hotels from Chicago bought the property from Gemstone Hotels and Elliott Management Co. for $47.5 million and completed significant renovations focusing on the lobby and dining areas. The hotel reopened under the name Graduate Berkeley in May 2017.
Hilton Worldwide acquired the Graduate Hotels brand in May 2024 and now operates this location as Graduate by Hilton Berkeley. However, ownership of Graduate Hotels properties continues to be held by AJ Capital Partners.
Facilities
The hotel's design theme revolves around the University of California, Berkeley, featuring unique elements such as a book mobile suspended in the lobby and walls decorated with vintage university yearbook photographs. Guest rooms showcase distinctive touches including shower curtains fashioned from dictionary pages and bedside lamps creatively repurposed from bongs.
Henry's Publick House, the hotel's gastropub, earned acclaim in 2009 when its "Everything but the Kitchen Sink Bloody Mary" cocktail was named best in the East Bay by East Bay Express. This signature drink includes house-made tomato juice combined with a Guinness beer splash, reflecting the establishment’s dedication to quality ingredients and local character.