Oakland Marriott City Center

We picked this hotel for the bar exam because the rooms are clean, comfortable, and good for studying. The restaurant was disappointing, with pretty poor food choices. During the exam period, we paid almost four times the usual room rate, but they wouldn’t offer late check-out. When we asked to stay a few extra hours, they wanted another $500. Taking advantage of bar exam applicants during an already stressful, important time felt unfair. The rooms are nice, but the inflexible pricing policy really hurt the overall experience.

The location was nice, the rooms were clean, and the staff were accommodating. The pizza was really good, but the restaurant food prices were sky high. That’s the only reason I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Oakland Marriott City Center has one of the biggest M Lounges I’ve seen, with loads of places to sit, private nooks, and a stunning bay view. It feels like a destination of its own inside the hotel. The gym is a good size and clean, and the local photography there carries the same look through the property. My room had stylish, modern decor and great city views. There are beautiful artistic photos of the Bay Bridge throughout the hotel, which give it a local touch. The big lobby is inviting, with plenty of comfortable seating to relax or meet friends. With lots of restaurants nearby and an upscale but warm atmosphere, this is one of the nicest Marriott properties I’ve stayed at. I’d definitely come back.

Getting around from here was easy. The hotel is close to the station, with simple access to San Francisco and Berkeley, and the rental car center is handy for longer trips. There’s a Laundromat in the hotel and a Walgreens nearby, so it was easy to find what I needed. More than anything, the front desk and cleaning staff were supportive, and I felt comfortable and safe during my stay. I’ll book here again on my next Bay Area sightseeing trip.