San Francisco Zoo

My husband and I visit Berkeley often since our daughter goes to college there. Usually, we stay somewhere convenient because our trips revolve around moving her in or out. This is her senior year, so for our last move-in, we decided to treat ourselves to 1 night at the Claremont. At check-in, we were told we had been upgraded to a Queen Suite bc the Deluxe Room w/ Bay View that I had booked was no longer available. We checked in after dark, so I didn’t see much that night. The next morning, I opened the windows and saw the beautiful view. Not. I really appreciate the history of the Claremont. Even before I looked it up, I told my husband it felt like a place that would have been the place to be in the 1930s. It definitely has that old-fashioned, grand-hotel feel, almost like stepping back in time. Unfortunately, the room felt more old than historic. Pros Gorgeous location Exceptional service Beautiful, spacious marble bathroom Great old-fashioned, historic atmosphere Cons Room was musty and had a stale cigarette smoke smell Thick, tired carpeting that could use a refresh Mildew in the corners of the shower Stained carpet in the check-in area The room we received was not the room I booked, the “upgrade” didn’t feel like one. Overall, I felt the hotel was overpriced for the condition of the room. I can see how grand this property WAS, and I really wanted to love it. Sadly, I left feeling that the Claremont has seen better days.

Beautiful property on an old military base near the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s simple and a bit rustic (so don’t expect high end luxury in the rooms) but the restaurant is very good, the views are beautiful, the staff is helpful, it’s in the middle of eucalyptus trees. You need a car to get there. They have complimentary yoga classes. Not great for accessibility as there are hills and stairs. Very relaxing base from which to explore the Bay Area