Graduate Berkeley
Graduate Berkeley is a historic university-oriented boutique hotel in downtown Berkeley, California, now operated as The Graduate by Hilton Berkeley.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Graduate Berkeley is a historic boutique hotel in downtown Berkeley, California, located close to the University of California, Berkeley campus. The property occupies a building originally opened in 1928 as the Hotel Durant, a Spanish Colonial-style hotel designed by architect W. H. Weeks. The hotel was named for Henry Durant, a founder and first president of the University of California, and its historical identity continues through Henry's Publick House, the on-site gastropub. When it opened, the Hotel Durant was promoted as a modern luxury hotel. Its 140 rooms, fire- and earthquake-resistant construction, and one of the area's early basement garages reflected the expectations of a substantial urban hotel serving university visitors, residents, and travelers. The property also acquired a small place in national history through a reported visit by Harry Truman. Its location near the university has remained central to its commercial role, particularly for campus visitors, families, alumni, academic guests, and people attending university events. The property passed through several ownership and management phases in the twenty-first century. Creative Hospitality owned and managed it as of 2006. Joie de Vivre Hospitality purchased the hotel in 2007 for $14 million and invested approximately $9 million in renovation work. The property entered default in 2011, after which the Royal Bank of Scotland took ownership while Joie de Vivre continued to manage it. Following a marketing process in 2012, the hotel was sold in early 2013 to Gemstone Hotels & Resorts for approximately $27.3 million. Most of the existing workforce was retained in that transaction. Chicago-based Graduate Hotels acquired the property from Gemstone Hotels and Elliott Management in September 2015 for a reported $47.5 million. Graduate undertook an extensive renovation, concentrating particularly on the lobby and restaurant, and reopened the hotel under the Graduate Berkeley name in May 2017. The renovation introduced the Graduate brand's characteristic academic and place-based design approach. At Berkeley, the interiors draw directly on university culture: a mobile made from books hangs in the lobby, yearbook photographs decorate the walls, and guest-room details use playful collegiate and literary references. Descriptions of the rooms have highlighted dictionary-patterned shower curtains and repurposed bong-shaped lamps, details intended to give the property a deliberately irreverent student-life atmosphere. The hotel's food-and-beverage identity is anchored by Henry's Publick House. Its signature Bloody Mary, known as the Everything but the Kitchen Sink Bloody Mary, was recognized by the East Bay Express in 2009 as the best Bloody Mary in the East Bay. Henry's also commemorates the hotel's original namesake through its name and branding. In May 2024, Hilton Worldwide acquired the Graduate Hotels brand and began operating the property as The Graduate by Hilton Berkeley. The underlying Graduate Hotels properties continued to be owned by AJ Capital Partners. The hotel remains listed on the Berkeley register of historic places, combining a protected historic building with a contemporary, university-themed hospitality concept.
History
Graduate Berkeley occupies a historic hotel building in downtown Berkeley, immediately near the University of California, Berkeley. The building was constructed in 1928 as the Hotel Durant, a Spanish Colonial-style property designed by W. H. Weeks. It opened with 140 rooms and was described at the time as a modern luxury hotel. Its construction incorporated fire- and earthquake-resistant features, as well as one of the area's early basement garages. The name honored Henry Durant, a significant figure in the early history of the University of California. The property's bar, Henry's Publick House, preserves that connection. The hotel developed a continuing relationship with the university community because of its location and its role in accommodating campus visitors. A reported stay by Harry Truman added to its historical associations. The property also experienced a serious violent incident in 1990, when a student held 33 hostages at gunpoint in Henry's for seven hours. The incident ended with one hostage killed and seven additional people wounded. By 2006, Creative Hospitality owned and managed the hotel. Joie de Vivre Hospitality acquired it in 2007 for $14 million and invested about $9 million in renovations. The property entered default in 2011, and Royal Bank of Scotland became the owner while Joie de Vivre continued as manager. It was placed on the market in September 2012 through HVS Capital Corporation. In early 2013, Gemstone Hotels & Resorts acquired the hotel for approximately $27.3 million. The transaction reportedly retained 98 percent of the existing staff, indicating considerable operational continuity. Graduate Hotels, a Chicago-based hospitality company, purchased the property from Gemstone Hotels and Elliott Management in September 2015 for a reported $47.5 million. The new owner undertook a major renovation, with particular attention to the lobby and restaurant. The hotel reopened in May 2017 as Graduate Berkeley. Its design followed Graduate Hotels' broader practice of building hotel identities around nearby universities and local academic culture. Berkeley-specific features included a lobby mobile made from books, walls decorated with university yearbook photographs, and playful guest-room elements such as dictionary-patterned shower curtains and lamps made from repurposed bong-shaped objects. Henry's Publick House functions as both a hotel amenity and a local-facing gastropub. Its Everything but the Kitchen Sink Bloody Mary, made with house-produced tomato juice and finished with Guinness, was named the East Bay Express's best Bloody Mary in the East Bay in 2009. Hilton Worldwide acquired the Graduate Hotels brand in May 2024. Following the acquisition, Hilton operated the hotel as The Graduate by Hilton Berkeley, while AJ Capital Partners continued to own the Graduate Hotels properties. The building remains on the Berkeley register of historic places. Its current identity therefore combines a protected historic structure, a university-centered boutique design concept, and Hilton's operation of the Graduate brand.
- 2024
Hilton begins operating the property
[1]Hilton acquires the Graduate Hotels brand and operates the Berkeley property as The Graduate by Hilton Berkeley.
- 2017
Graduate Berkeley reopens
[1]The renovated hotel reopens under the Graduate Berkeley name in May.
- 2015
Graduate Hotels purchases the hotel
[1]Graduate Hotels acquires the property and begins an extensive repositioning and renovation.
- 2013
Gemstone Hotels acquires the property
[1]Gemstone Hotels & Resorts buys the hotel after a sale process.
- 2011
Property enters default
[1]The hotel defaults and Royal Bank of Scotland assumes ownership while Joie de Vivre continues management.
- 2007
Joie de Vivre acquires the hotel
[1]Joie de Vivre Hospitality purchases the property and begins a major renovation program.
- 1990
Hostage incident at Henry's
[1]A seven-hour hostage incident at the hotel's bar results in one death and seven injuries.
- 1928
Hotel Durant opens
[1]The 140-room Hotel Durant opens in downtown Berkeley in a Spanish Colonial-style building designed by W. H. Weeks.
Products and positioning
A design-led, historic boutique hotel positioned around the culture, visual language, and visitor economy of the University of California, Berkeley. Its offer combines heritage lodging with playful collegiate references, a neighborhood gastropub, and convenient access to the university.
Hotel accommodation · 2017
Guest rooms and suites
The hotel's principal offering is boutique accommodation in a historic building near the University of California, Berkeley. The rooms use academic, literary, and student-life references to support the Graduate concept, including dictionary-patterned shower curtains and other deliberately playful decorative details.
Restaurant and gastropub
Henry's Publick House
Henry's Publick House is the property's restaurant and bar. It serves as a public-facing gathering place as well as a hotel amenity, and its name references Henry Durant, the historical namesake of the original Hotel Durant. Its signature Everything but the Kitchen Sink Bloody Mary received local recognition in 2009.
Boutique hospitality concept · 2017
University-themed hotel experience
The property presents a Berkeley-specific interpretation of the Graduate Hotels model. Lobby and guest-room features use University of California, Berkeley imagery and collegiate motifs, including yearbook photographs and a suspended mobile made from books.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2024
Hilton acquisition of Graduate HotelsM&ABackground
Hilton Worldwide expanded its lifestyle and university-oriented hospitality portfolio through the acquisition of the Graduate Hotels brand.
Action taken
Hilton acquired the brand and began operating the Berkeley property as The Graduate by Hilton Berkeley, while AJ Capital Partners retained ownership of the properties.
Aftermath
The hotel continued operating under the Graduate by Hilton identity.
2015
Graduate Hotels repositioningStrategyBackground
Graduate Hotels acquired a historic hotel serving visitors to the University of California, Berkeley.
Action taken
Graduate Hotels purchased the property, renovated the lobby and restaurant, and prepared it for reopening as a university-themed Graduate hotel.
Aftermath
The hotel reopened as Graduate Berkeley in May 2017 with a design centered on Berkeley's academic culture.
Acquisition price. $47.5 million (2015)
2007
Joie de Vivre acquisition and renovationM&ABackground
Joie de Vivre Hospitality acquired the historic Berkeley hotel as part of its hospitality portfolio.
Action taken
The company purchased the property for $14 million and invested approximately $9 million in renovations.
Aftermath
Joie de Vivre continued to own and manage the property until the hotel later entered default.
Acquisition price and renovation investment. $14 million acquisition; approximately $9 million renovation investment (2007)
Recent events
- 2024
Hilton acquires the Graduate Hotels brand[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Hilton Worldwide acquired the Graduate Hotels brand and began operating the Berkeley property as The Graduate by Hilton Berkeley. The properties remained owned by AJ Capital Partners.
- 2017
Graduate Berkeley reopens after renovation[1]
Product launch
The renovated property reopened in May under the Graduate Berkeley name, with redesigned public spaces, rooms, and restaurant areas centered on Berkeley and university references.
- 2015
Graduate Hotels acquires and renovates the hotel[1]
M&A
Graduate Hotels purchased the property from Gemstone Hotels and Elliott Management for a reported $47.5 million and carried out a substantial renovation.
- 2013
Gemstone Hotels & Resorts acquires the property[1]
M&A
After being marketed for sale in 2012, the hotel was sold to Gemstone Hotels & Resorts for approximately $27.3 million.
- 2011
Royal Bank of Scotland takes ownership after hotel default[1]
Other
The property went into default, leading Royal Bank of Scotland to take ownership while Joie de Vivre continued managing the hotel.
- 2007
Joie de Vivre Hospitality purchases the Hotel Durant[1]
M&A
Joie de Vivre Hospitality acquired the Berkeley hotel for $14 million and subsequently invested approximately $9 million in renovations.
Sources1 sources
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