Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina.
Ambiance
Now this is what I’m talking about! As the Uber pulled up to the Doubletree Berkeley Marina, my smile got bigger. I love traveling so much that I’ll get excited about any number of things. The property has five buildings, with the main building resembling a cottage. This is where you check in and where the restaurant and convenience shop are located. The other four buildings house the guest quarters. At three floors each, you forget this is a ‘hotel.’ The staff were polite, and even though I arrived at 1000am, they had my room ready. Since this is a Doubletree, I could not turn down an offer of two warm chocolate and walnut cookies. One of my weaknesses!
I am a HIlton guy, but the Doubletree is my favorite of the Hilton brands. In fact, I’ve been staying at Doubletree before it was acquired by Hilton. Hilton for sure has fancier brands, but I love the Doubletree brand because they have the right balance for me; a proper restaurant and bar, gym, convenience shop, and of course, the cookies.
The property sits right on the Berkeley Marina and it’s nice to see the maritime and traveler’s worlds collide. The grounds were sprawling, with several maps and walkways to point you in the right direction. At night, several fireplaces were lit, inside and outside of the main building. My first job as a teenager was as a camp counselor back in Chicago. When it was time to take the kids camping, we would drive up to Round Lake, Illinois, and living that cabin life, roasting marshmallows, and taking the kids out on the lake in row boats. I didn’t have a care in the world. That is how I felt here.
The Room
Like so many travelers, I have my preferences; I love fresh air, so I always look for hotels where the windows open or have a balcony. I walked into my ideal situation, a room with a balcony, and yes, I do sleep with the balcony door open while blasting the cold or hot air depending on the weather. As usual, the bed was cozy, a mixture of soft and firm in the right places, and full, fluffy pillows. When I travel, I prefer to explore where I am visiting so I only use my room for sleep, but the regular amenities are there from the coffee maker to ice bucket and iron to refrigerator. There is also a cute little couch and a desk for doing work. But, like I said, the balcony was what made me happy. Oh yes, and the television by LG was a nice size.
The Food
Yes, let is talk about the food. The Boathouse is the name of the restaurant on the premises, and it does not disappoint. Being that it’s on a marina, the motif fits. Yet, it’s not cliche, for example, they avoided hanging life preservers on EVERY wall, haha. The atmosphere was equally cozy and fine dining, but it did set an expectation that whatever came out of the kitchen would be good.
It was early dinner time when I arrived at The Boathouse and I was the third person to arrive. The other two folks were at the bar. I refuse to eat at the bar no matter the place. One reason is, I’m tall and the bar area rarely gives me enough leg room or back support. Also, I grew up eating at the table, and I prefer that. Dawa was my server, and she was the most kind. You could tell she was a bit tired, but still, she did her job with a warm smile and made time to get to know me some. The menu had several items that jumped at me, but as soon as I saw the Oxtail Ragu, I knew I’d found peace. Made with fresh pappardelle, pecorino romano, micro basil, and grilled bread. Delicious. This dish made my night.
I left The Boathouse to make some phone calls and plan my agenda for the next day. Normally, I ease into the night smoothly, but I was restless, so I want back down to The Boathouse to get a nightcap of Maker’s, and there was Dawa to take more order. She was just as kind as she was earlier. Through our conversation, we discovered we had several things in common, which was nice.
Breakfast is my favorite meal, and the only reason I look forward to sleep. I was up at 600am the next morning and made my way down to The Boathouse for 700am. I ordered an omelette with spinach, mushroom, cheese, and a side of avocado and potatoes. This was even better than dinner, and helped start my day in the best way.
Hubert Neal Jr
