The Durant is an old hotel that has been a Berkeley tradition for many years. It is the closest hotel to UC Berkeley and has parking which are its biggest draws for me. As some other reviewers have already said, the rooms aren't that special. I have seen it improve over the years that I have visited but it still has creaky floors and drab furniture. The staff has definitely improved in the past year and are pleasant and professional. There are better hotels in the area, but the location and the traditions associated with the Durant make it a good choice if you are visiting UC Berkeley and want the spirit of the college town. The hotel even has old photos of the university on the hall walls. On football game days, it can be a madhouse in the lobby as they clear the furniture and open up the back lot to have a post game celebration. That can be fun if you are a Cal fan and the team does well, but noisy if your room is just above the lobby! (The room prices also go up on football days.)
By the way, a half a block down the street is Top Dog--another Berkeley tradition. This place has the most amazing hot dogs. It took me 10 years before I tried one and now I get one every time I visit.

The Hotel Durant is my favorite place to stay in Berkeley and quite frankly, it's the only place I do stay in Berkeley. It is my hotel of choice when I am visiting the university for business. The location is unbeatable as is the service and the in hotel restaurant. I often have breakfast and lunch meetings at Henry's Grill when I am in town, because it's easy for people to get to, there is parking and the food is good. I always appreciate the friendly, helpful and professional staff. They make me feel welcome and make my stay beyond pleasant. I recommend the Hotel Durant to all my colleagues from the University of Michigan who need to travel to Berkeley.

Homecoming weekend was our third stay at the Durant. Yes, this weekend is crazy with all of the furniture removed from the Lobby to make way for the giant bar for the overflow from Henry's, and the limited parking due to the bar and barbeque outside. This was expected and not a problem, and it was understandable that the Lobby ladies' room (one toilet!) had a huge line (the men's room turned into a second ladies' room, relegating the men to the outdoor port-a-pots).

Best part of the Durant is the location in its proximity to the Cal campus and all of the action, followed close on its heals by Henry's, which is a great bar. The rooms are comfortable, but tired, especially for the price paid for the rooms. The lighting is dreary. On our last trip a bedside lamp blew and smoked and was never replaced and the lightbulbs in them are scary. The overhead light is too small to adequately light the room, and the overhead fan is noisy and does nothing.

In the morning, there is coffee offered in the Lobby until 9 or 10, and the regular coffee jug is perpetually empty, with patrons repeatedly requesting more coffee.

Internet service is generally very good, but t.v. channels minimal.

I stayed at the Hotel Durant during homecoming game this past weekend and was plesantly surprised that the staff were much, much pleasant than last year. The bellmen were very helpful and the front desk clerks were very friendly yet professional.

After asking around what brought these changes, I found out that there's a new management company that's running the show. Moreover, it was great to learn that the new owners are planning to renovate the hotel next year. We stay at Hotel Durant primarily due to its location. I'm looking forward to next year when they renovate the hotel! This place will be a gem!