Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown-City Center — Hotel in Oakland

The location is an absolute nightmare to find. We circled like lost souls, only to be greeted by the grim reality of its inadequacies. Parking? Forget about it. The only option they provide is to valet and brace yourself for the extortionate fee of $50, which seems acceptable to charge an arm and a leg for the privilege of not parking your car. As for the ambiance, the pristine facade depicted in the pictures? Pure fantasy. Instead, we were greeted by a scene of a dystopian nightmare – graffiti-laden buildings, ominous scaffolding, and the ever-present hustle and bustle of unsavory characters. The stark contrast between the hotel’s website and reality was shocking. Their site’s images painted a serene oasis, but we found a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie set. Graffiti-covered buildings and ominous scaffolding seemed to hold the place together, and pedestrians risked life and limb in the dimly lit streets. Now, let's talk about their age restriction policy. Not a peep about it on their website, leaving unsuspecting guests to stumble into a minefield of disappointment. If you can call her that, the receptionist practically rolled her eyes at our mere presence, informing us that we couldn't check in because of our age. When we dared to inquire about alternatives, she offered nothing but disdain, claiming that no nearby establishment would accommodate us. Our age is above the minimum, so there shouldn’t have been a problem because we had checked in at various locations without any issue once.

After enduring the ordeal of the location, we finally decided to cut our losses and drive 30 minutes to a nearby town. What a revelation it was! Not only did we find a hotel with a location that didn't require a treasure map to locate, but the service we received was a breath of fresh air compared to the inhospitable abyss we had escaped. Our car found a haven in their parking lot for a reasonable fee. And the best part? We slept like babies, thanks to the comfortable beds that ensured we woke up refreshed and ready to take on the day. It's baffling how such a basic concept as hospitality seemed to elude the establishment we...

Rating: 2 stars

I stayed at Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown San Francisco from April 13–15, 2025. As a Hilton Honors Silver Member traveling from Canada, I expected the usual level of service I’ve always received from Hilton properties. Unfortunately, this stay was a mix of the best and the worst experience.

The good: Tulsi at the front desk is absolutely amazing. She was friendly, professional, and very accommodating when we arrived early before check-in. She took care of our bags and made us feel welcome. She deserves more than 5 stars for her hospitality!

The bad: When we came back at 9:30 PM that evening, we had trouble getting in because the doors require a key card or front desk access—and we hadn’t received our cards yet. I buzzed and politely explained our situation, but the front desk staff (I believe her name was Situra) responded rudely, saying, “What are you saying?” and then demanded, “Give me your ID and card” in a cold, dismissive way. She barely made eye contact and just sped through the check-in process like she was reading a script.

The following night, around 7:10 PM, we walked in to find the same staff member sitting at the desk, eating food from a packed container while helping another guest. She didn’t acknowledge us or even offer a greeting. It was incredibly unprofessional and not what I expect from a Hilton hotel.

This was the first time I’ve had such a negative experience with a Hilton employee. Management seriously needs to review her performance and how she treats guests. It’s unfortunate that one person can ruin the experience in an otherwise decent hotel.

Tulsi, on the other hand, is a gem. If everyone was like her, this would have been a...

Im giving Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown-City Center a well deserved 1 star review and writing to express my profound disappointment, after you turned my kids to the streets of Downtown Oakland, CA just before midnight, due to an undisclosed, or inconspicuous, over-21 check-in policy.

I feel angry and shocked. I know these kids should have confirmed their reservation and done more research about the area and your particular hotel before booking a room, but this is no excuse for the outcome we experienced tonight.

In reading other reviews, and am led to believe that your hotel is an obnoxious late-night adult-only club, where sleep isn't possible until well after 2am. I don't know that, but the observations would explain an otherwise bewildering 21 year old age restriction. And if you have such restrictions, you absolutely need to make sure they are clearly stated and vetted at time of booking. This whole situation could have been avoided if you had asked and validated that your requirements are met when my kids booked your room. If they can't stay at your hotel, then at least be helpful. Tell them they are not eligible and offer to transfer the call to any of your family of neighboring hotels, instead of letting them book a room and find out fifteen minutes before midnight that they have no place to go!

And for Heavens sake! Have enough decency and regard for the people you turn away at midnight to implement a plan that mitigates such a precarious situation. Have alternatives on hand and enable your employees to spend five minutes to do the right thing. Offer a little help instead of leaving...