Residence Inn Berkeley by Marriott is a new hotel that just opened in Downtown Berkeley, across from the U.C. Berkeley campus. The Gold LEED Certified hotel is beautiful with floor-to-ceiling windows in the corner units that have a view of the Bay and convenient since it is close to campus, dining and shopping with easy access to San Francisco via the nearby BART station. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast, valet parking, rooftop dining, a fitness facility, and event space. Whether you’re in Berkeley to visit your child at college, attend a business function, or just see the Bay Area sights, the Residence Inn Berkeley has all the services and amenities you need.
Hotel Amenities:
- Complimentary breakfast
- On-property dining
- Valet parking
- Complimentary coffee/tea
- Convenience store
- In-room kitchenette
- All suites
- Fitness center (with Peloton bikes)
- Gift shop
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Meeting space
- Wake up calls
- Electric car charging station
- Dog friendly
- Concierge service
- Mobile key
- Digital check in
Guest Suites at Residence Inn Berkeley
All of the guest room at the Residence Inn Berkeley are suites. Families will love the fact that they include a kitchenette with all the dishes, pots, pans, glassware, silverware you need to cook a meal – a great way to save money while traveling. The suites are tastefully decorated with wood furnishings and royal blue and golden yellow accents (the colors of Cal Berkeley). The artwork depicts photographs of landmarks and life on campus and around Berkeley. I highly recommend booking a corner suite with spectacular views of Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. The kitchenette includes a microwave, stove top, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, toaster and coffee maker. The bedroom is separate from the living space. There is a couch, desk, and dining table in the living space and televisions in both areas.
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Room Amenities:
- Sofa bed
- Pillowtop mattress
- Air conditioning
- Non-smoking
- Soundproof windows
- Alarm clock
- Safe
- Iron/Ironing board
- Complimentary bottled water
- Hair dryer
Dining with a View of the Bay at Residence Inn Berkeley
Located on the 12th floor, the Study Hall Rooftop Lounge is a beautiful indoor/outdoor dining space featuring delicious light bites and craft cocktails. Take in the views as the sun sets over the San Francisco Bay while dining on crispy friend Brussels sprouts with a sweet soy glaze, fresno chili, and peanuts or Baja style fish tacos with fried cod, white corn tortillas, pickled red onions, guacamole, and pico de Gallo. Wash it down with Study Bloody made with Hansen’s Habanero Vodka and House Made Bloody Mary Mix or non-alcoholic Not Toddy made with lyre’s malt, lemon, honey. At night, see the city lights, warm up by a fire pit and listen to talented live musicians liven up the joint Tuesday through Saturday.
Activities in the Area
There’s plenty to do within walking distance of the Residence Inn Berkeley.
U.C. Berkeley Campus: Walk around the U.C. Berkeley campus to admire the enormous Redwood Trees, historic buildings, or go to the top of the Campanile (Sather Tower). Adjacent to the hotel is the impressive Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives (BAMPFA). It is an amazing art museum that is worth a visit. They also play a variety of archival films that are very interesting.
Downtown Berkeley: There are numerous places to eat and shop on Shattuck Avenue. Some popular restaurants nearby include Jupiter, Revival Bar + Kitchen, Cinnaholic, Eureka, and Gather Kitchen, Bar + Market. If you’re looking for something interesting to do, check out Half Price Books, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, Freight & Salvage, and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. If you want to go to San Francisco, the BART station is just a couple blocks away from the hotel.
Tips for Families
- Forget to pack something? There’s a small Target store just around the corner.
- The hotel’s breakfast “buffet” consists of prepackaged waffles, breakfast sandwiches, and breakfast burritos, plus oatmeal. If you want something different, pick it up in advance. You could even make pancakes in your room!
- There are hiking trails nearby if you want to get outside.
- Housekeeping is upon request.
- Valet is in/out 24-hours a day and about the same price as self parking.
- The hotels does have a “market” for snacks and essentials.
Contact Information
2121 Center Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
1-866-314-6382
https://www.marriott.com
Disclosure: Accommodation was provided by the hotel in order to do my review, but all opinions are my own. Article may contain affiliate links.