Aiden by Best Western Berkeley

I wanted to write this review some time ago. I have spent about 20+ nights at this hotel during 2023 and 2024. It is my single choice of hotel in the East Bay. First, the hotel is brand new and the rooms and bathrooms are super clean and cozy. A/C and heat work perfectly and the rooms are quiet. The staff is amazing, always friendly and comforting. The location is perfect in the sense you are centrally located and can get to other places including San Francisco quickly. Thank you Mr. Buiks and staff for making this my most favorite place to stay! I highly recommend this to everyone looking for a reasonable place to stay around Berkeley and East Bay.

The design and look of the entire hotel was wonderful. From the lobby to the rooms. Detail in the room design and feel from the bathroom to the European electric plugs for foreign travelers. Good thinking!!

My family and I stayed here overnight. We selected this hotel because the reviews were stellar and it was close to where we needed to be the following day. We were not disappointed, and the bottom line is we felt safe, were comfortable, and left the next morning having slept very well. My understanding is the hotel opened about three years ago, which puts the opening during the COVID Pandemic. The hotel is therefore very young and hasn't had a lot of wear and tear, and it shows. We stayed in room 216, which is a double, ADA-compliant room. Overall everything was very nice. Housekeeping was very good, among the best I've seen, and everything was for the most part very clean. Some dust in corners on the floor, and that was about the worst of it. No signs of vermin--I checked. The beds were comfortable, and while the blankets were rather thin, the heating system kept everything warm enough that I slept very well. If needed there were extra blankets provided in some drawers. The bathroom was much the same: spacious, clean, and very functional. Water pressure was good, and it didn't take too long to get hot water out of the shower. There was one maintenance item I made the front desk aware of: the spigot in the shower wasn't sealed to the pipe properly, so when the diverter on the spigot was activated water spurted out the back of the spigot against the shower wall. This hotel does not provide breakfast. You can order breakfast items; menus are in the elevator: take one, fill it out, and deliver it to the front desk. The food will be available to you at the time you specify, and they'll deliver to your room if you want. The menu is fairly simple, mostly breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, yoghurt, and the like. Prices were more expensive than what'd you'd pay in a typical restaurant, but we were on a schedule and appreciated the convenience. The food was delivered right on time, was hot, and tasty. My experience with the staff was very positive. They were friendly and helpful. The hotel does not have a parking lot. You have the choice of staying in their garage for $29 a night, or finding a place to park on a street nearby. With the increase in vehicle burglary and the uncertainty of finding street parking, I elected to pay the $29. The garage is secured, so I figured it was worth the peace of mind and convenience. There was one hiccup: my car has a manual transmission, and the person on duty that evening wasn't able to drive it. So I had to park it myself (that's not a complaint). The person on duty in the morning could, and he had the car out front and waiting for us at the requested time.

This was hotel was a great home base for my visit to Berkeley. Excellent staff, well updated rooms, and a good location. North Berkeley BART is a short walk away. I would definitely stay here again on my next trip.

Immaculate property, excellent service, safe and comfortable hangout lobby and rooms within busy enclave of Berkeley. Gas station and 7-11 across street, right on University about a mile away from Cal campus.

This is strictly speaking a 3.5 but I rounded up to a 4. Functional hotel in North Berkeley. Pros--the staff are generally awesome. Nice small feel to the hotel. Bicycles. Fantastic bathroom. Nice bed. Cons: Design. Windows are sound-proof, but I heard some hallway noise so needed to use a white noise app on my phone. The room itself had a Scandinavian, functional vibe that isn't really my thing. I like them cozy.

Great place with very modern rooms. Located 5 mins from the North Berkeley BART. Bus stops right across the street. Great TV. Good coffee maker. Comfortable bed. There are many options in Berkeley, but this one is definitely worth the money.

We stayed here because we came in for a family visit one night before before everyone else, we got an air b&b. I look for a place based on other reviews. This place is exceptional. Staff was great and room was spotless, bed was very comfortable, my only complaint was that there was no parking on site for minivans. You have to park on the street but if you have a handicap sticker you don't have to pay meters. Meter's run from 9 am - 6 pm. For all others. I would not hesitate to stay here again. This is a Hidden gem.

This was my second time staying at Aiden in Berkeley and I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. The staff were friendly, attentive and courteous. They valeted my Tesla and even charged it each day that i was there. We loved the rooftop deck and all of the other amenities as well. We were in town for an event in SF but I didnt want to pay the outrageous parking fees that most of the hotels there charge ($80 to $90 a night whereas it only cost around $20 per night here with the membership). Overall a great experience and I would highly recommend.

Pros: - New and clean on the inside - Large king bedroom with basic amenities - Valet parking as an option, but not cheap ($29) Cons: - Neighborhood did not feel safe, especially at night - Very limited self-parking and probably not safe, so valet is really the only option - No breakfast! C'mon guys, even budget hotels offer free breakfast - Overpriced when we visited ($400+ with tax); felt bit ripped off overall Would have given this property a higher rating if I thought I got good value for money.

Great staff, great property, great location, great amenities, great rooftop. I had an issue upon checking in that had to do with the travel agency my company uses. It was quickly resolved by the front desk and they were able to honor my reservation. Very pleased with my experience and accommodations.

We were happy to see several of the same lovely team members from our first visit last September. Everyone is sincerely pleasant, gracious, and eager to go above and beyond. Aiden is our hotel of choice for all subsequent visits.

We stayed here for one night while attending a concert at the Greek Theater. Staff was exceptional, and the hotel was very clean. Loved the rooftop fire pit, and they even offer bikes to take out if needed. Parking was reasonably priced. It is on a busy road, so you do get the busy noise from the street, but that was expected. Overall very nice stay.

The room was very clean with good amenities. Conveniently local near the BART and across the street from a convenience store if you need anything. Room was quiet, no traffic noise. Staff friendly and very helpful.

A pleasant surprise. This hotel surpassed our expectations and had lots of little things done very well. Great location, nice rooftop terrace, valet parking service, and a friendly staff made this a place I would recommend to friends in the future.

On University Ave between freeway exit and campus, with secure parking. Beautiful immaculate lobby and rooms, rooftop deck w views, workout area and lounge chairs. Midrange price point for Berkeley, feels high end without the unnecessary pool and restaurants. Light breakfast available for purchase, countless restaurants within several blocks. We are repeat customers.

The hotel is clean and well kept. Very quiet and modern. Amenities are comfortable. Rosie at the front desk was a true hospitality professional. We think the price is a little high, but for the location and security of the property, we would still return as we have done two years in a row now.

We have booked our out of town staff into the Aiden twice now and both times have been very positive experiences. The staff is always friendly, helpful and accommodating of requests. The rooms are well appointed and comfortable. The only negative is some traffic noise for the light sleepers in the bunch.

We attended a concert at Freight and Salvage and this was the perfect location. Just a short 10 min walk from the venue. The staff was extremely helpful and next time we are in Berkeley we will stay here again

I stayed in the Aiden Best Western and I'd definitely stay here again. They have valet parking, rooms that are newly remodeled, refrigerator, microwave, etc. and the location seemed safe. The hotel staff were very accomodating and friendly.

The Aiden Hotel is one of the most upscale BW properties I have stayed at. The rooms were amazing. Very clean and well organized. The staff were very professional and attentive. Be aware there is no breakfast and there is a charge to park. Otherwise a great place to stay. Public transit options available. Will definitely come back when I am in the Bay area.

Hotel was comfortable, clean and quiet, and staff was genuinely courteous and always available. Our satisfaction was their #1 goal, promoting a family-like atmosphere, something rather refreshing these days.

For a big university town, Berkeley doesn't have many decent, conveniently located hotels, so the Aiden Best Western is a welcome new addition to the scene. I'd never stayed in this type of BW before. I got the impression that Aidens are supposed to be smaller, hipper versions of ye old Best Western. This one was trying really hard and mostly succeeded. The basic room I rent was small and sparsely appointed, but the appointments were updated and spotless (as should be the case for a new hotel). The large shade covering the windows (which opened! Loved that!) didn't keep out the morning light, so I'm glad I had my eye mask (recommended). There's a Keurig on offer and a large TV. The bathroom was almost as big as the room with a spacious shower and nice water pressure. The price point was a good value for the area, and the location was excellent. It's easy walking distance to BART, downtown, amenities, etc, but not in the thick of anything (which is a good thing for any place located on University Ave). I took advantage of their guest bikes, which are awesome. It was too cold for the rooftop area, but that also looked lovely. And they do have little heaters for those chilly Bay Area summer days/evenings. The breakfast menu (things that could be microwaved) and various ales and kombucha-on-tap on offer in the lobby was strange and off-putting. It was almost worse to see a menu printed in a hip font listing add-hot-water oatmeal, granola bars and little individual bowls of cereal from Costco than to not have it on offer at all. Bring your own food and drink in with you and/or order it from the many restaurants in the area. I'd definitely recommend the Aiden Best Western to anyone looking for a clean, updated, good-value place to stay in Berkeley.

My teenage son stayed for one night at the Aiden Berkeley in late May. The hotel seemed very new and was spotlessly clean. We were booked into an accessible room as that was the only availability left, and unfortunately the accessible toilet would not flush. The hotel staff was very responsive and addressed the situation quickly. The room overall was well-decorated, clean and had nice light. The hotel has a nice roof deck with fire pits, complimentary coffee in the AM, and an evening cocktail hour serving beer, wine, and kombucha on tap. Although the hotel was expensive, it seems to be the newest hotel in Berkeley and we would stay here again.

Clean modern new hotel. Room is clean and bright. We had a room on the second floor that faced north so we did not have any street noise. Staff very friendly and helpful. Nice rooftop deck with gas fireplaces and comfortable seating. Location is safe to walk around the neighborhood, grab a cup of coffee or a meal. Easy to find a free parking on the street just north of the hotel. Free coffee in the lobby was very good. I would stay here again when I visit Berkeley.

Our stay was wonderful! The hotel was really clean, staff especially Rosie was super friendly and helpful. The hotel manager made sure our minivan had parking space in their structure-spaces may be tight so check in beforehand on whether your vehicle will fit. But street parking is safe. There was complimentary wine daily at happy hour, nice touch! The decor is boutique, upscale and we loved it. I wish there was more double bed rooms.

Very new hotel in Berkeley. Rosie checked us in and was extremely friendly and patient. The rooms were clean and beds were comfortable. Our room was in the corner and was an odd shape, but still nice. There was a nice area on the roof with good views.

Excellent place to stay -- clean, comfortable, quiet, and close to BART. I had a room on the north side of the building (second floor) so that may have helped block out street noise. Staff members were all incredibly helpful and friendly. I'll definitely stay here again.

Mod, great walkable location. Loved the rooftop area, free bike use and happy hour. Super clean but small. Pricey for size. We were there for a special occasion but on a regular visit would not spend the extra money on hotel, but would use that for outings.

The hotel has a great location! We were here to visit UC Berkeley, which is just a mile from the hotel. It is an easy walk to the abundant restaurants on Shattuck Ave and Downtown Berkeley. Just a 5 minute walk to a BART station if you want to go to take the train to SF. The building is new construction and you enter the hotel to welcoming and bright lobby. There is even awesome rooftop deck! The rooms were very comfortable and had a great layout. The beds and linens were really comfortable and offer a great nights rest. The whole staff is friendly and quick to answer any questions or offer local recommendations. Jeroen, the manager, was great to work with and was very helpful with changes we had to make to our reservation prior to our stay.

New property in excellent condition. We were really impressed with our stay. The room was perfectly clean, nice amenities, comfortable bed and nice staff. The property is pretty compact, built efficiently for an expensive city environment. A 10 minute walk to the Berkeley downtown corridor, with many excellent restaurants. Of course Berkeley is an interesting town and has a large homeless population, though it was generally fine around the hotel property. There is a convenience store across the street and the property is close to the BART public transit system. The fourth floor is an outdoor balcony, which is a nice place to hang out with comfortable seating. I believe they offer a happy hour, we were out and about during that time, however I am sure when things are 100% post covid in operation it will be a popular option. This brand is wonderful, under the Best Western organization and we will now keep an eye out for other Aiden properties as we make our travel plans.

I had an opportunity to stay twice - one night each stay just a week apart from one another. I agree with previous reviews that everything at the hotel is new, fresh & bright. The 4th floor rooftop deck is very nice, with seating and gas fires and work out area. The rooms were clean and very little street noise was heard from my 2nd & 3rd floor rooms. The staff were extremely friendly and always available.

This hotel is a recently built facility and they charged a premium for it in comparison to say, the Howard Johnson by Wyndham across the street, which charges half the price. We were concerned about the lack of on-site parking but it was not at all a problem. Street parking was plentiful, brightly lit, and right in front of the hotel. We felt very safe parking on the street and did not spend the extra $25 to park in their garage. We checked in very late and staff was available for us. We checked out very early and staff was available there too. Very good experience. The room was bit small with a king size bed. You have to walk sideway at the foot of the bed to get to the bathroom if you are on the window side. Furniture was new. Room had a new feel to it. Plenty of amenities and we really like that it has a steamer for business clothes. What took the rating down from above average to average for me was I expected to have no problem with my stay when paying a premium for the same location as the Howard Johnson. I could not for the life of me connect to the internet on my laptop. It connected fine to my mobile hotspot but would not connect to the hotel's wifi. The wifi connects fine to my phone but for a business trip, I needed that internet to work. Hot water was slow to come out which was unexpected. I have had fast hot water at dinky hotels in the middle of nowhere but not this newer property on University Blvd in the middle of Berkeley, CA. Do not order the breakfast. The room service does not equal quality. You are better off buying a cereal bar at the Target across the street. In summary, average quality for above average price. If you do not need the internet for a laptop, you probably will have an above average or even excellent stay.

Nice roof views and fireplace on top of the hotel provide great seating for small groups, and great location for eating take out food. , rooms are not large, but clean and new. Nice, convenient location, central for varied food options as well.

New hotel. Walking distance to The Greek. Check in was easy. Front desk clerk was friendly and helpful. Rooms are large and clean. Roof top lounge area is a bonus. Our vehicle was too large for garage parking, but they offered up a space directly in front of hotel. Excellent stay on every metric.

When I walked into the lobby of the Aiden in Berkeley, I was struck by its sense of design. Soft seating mixed with high top tables, a wall painted as if it is street art, and sleek bicycles hanging on the wall, waiting for patrons to ride them downtown. Only one mile from UC Berkeley, the three-story Aiden makes every effort to give the illusion that clientele are in an oasis. The upper floors are set back, allowing for large potted plants outside big windows. The hip wallpaper consists of articles and facts about Berkeley. The designer toilet is mounted on the bathroom wall—no pedestal. The window coverings are amazing—the best I've seen in a hotel. The inner roller shade is blackout and the outer roller shade is translucent. They spared no expense on the desk drawer pulls. The bed and pillows were super comfortable; the hotel quiet. I give Aiden high marks for sleep comfort. The rooftop has outdoor seating, yoga mats, and a TRX workout system. So why the 3 star rating? I don't think the interior designer ever stayed in the room. Although the room had ample space, the layout was less-than-ideal, and even dangerous. My room opened to a large hallway of empty space—no pictures hanging and no furniture—that looked rather bland and unfinished. Turning the corner into the main room, I was happy to see a stylish room. But on further inspection, the good looking room wasn't as functional as it should be. First of all, the desk and office chair were placed at the end of the bed. Even a wafer-thin person would not be able to sit in the chair and get work done. In fact, to get from one side of the bed to the next it's best to remove the office chair. However, if you remove the chair, the desk drawer pull, which sticks out a few inches, becomes an obstacle. Both my partner and I ran into it and after more than a week, we both still have bruises, The drawer pull even drew blood from one of us! After the second injury, I wrapped a hand towel around the drawer pull. I'm not sure why the hotel bothered with a super fancy phone system with a screen or an alarm clock. Just about everyone has a cell that serves as both a phone and an alarm. Their phone system and alarm left very little space on the bed stand. They were wired such that I was unable to move them out of the way and store them on the floor during my stay. And, unbeknownst to me, the alarm was set to 6:00 AM. It was quite startling to have it wake me. Layout is an easy thing to fix. Given that the hotel is so new, I expect they will sort out some of these flaws, especially the “deadly drawer pull.” The location is fabulous, near the university and lots of restaurants of many ethnicities. There seemed to be a fair amount of on-street parking, although I opted for valet garage parking (extra fee) at the hotel. The staff are friendly, welcoming, and full of helpful knowledge of the area.

I never thought I would write such a glowing review of a Best Western hotel. Call me a snob, but I just did not think a Best Western could be this nice. My wife and I loved this place. It was so so much better than I thought. The room was huge, with enough room to park our stroller, a baby's crib, and much more. And the manager was wonderful and he even let us change our dates to accommodate our baby's needs. Also, the location is wonderful, near amazing food. And parking is a breeze. This is the place I def plan to stay at when I am in Berkeley next.

My wife and I enjoyed our 3 night stay at the Aiden very much. The hotel is new and well designed. We found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed eating a take-out meal up on the rooftop patio. The views of the bay are gorgeous and it is a very nice shared space. I was not a huge fan of the shower head. The water pressure was not very powerful and there was no way to adjust the stream. I also wished there were more hangers to dry out the towels in order to encourage reuse. All-in-all a good value for the Bay Area.

Great stay, Great fixtures in room, Keurig coffee, large windows. Great Mexican, Thai, and pizza within a hundred yards. Target across the street. We rode two bikes provided for free to ride on bike path right near by. Happy hour for a free beer (or wine). Staff was really nice. Rooftop with 3 propane fireplaces and workout room. Nice views.

Ok I rarely write reviews but wanted to give this hotel kudos. I travel international for business and experience a variety of hotels. Visiting our daughter she suggested the new Aiden. The rooms were clean bright and well designed. The rooftop seating area was a real plus. The icing on the cake and why I am writing this was the staff, they were beyond helpful, pleasant and went beyond my expectations. This was a really good value for the money.

We needed to be in Berkley for a weekend event. The Aiden had no reviews (turns out it had just opened), but looked clean and perfectly located. We had made the perfect choice. Joreon has put together a great staff. They know the area and were always ready to b e helpful. Rooms are clean (if small). The rooftop deck is beautiful. The Marina district and the Berkley campus are both in walking distance and (at the suggestion of the staff) we visited Indian Rock for a magnificent sunset experience.