Hotel Spolight: The AC Hotel Downtown Oakland

Pulling up to the AC Hotel in downtown Oakland, California had us greeted by kind valets who welcomed us to the hotel. Once inside, the contemporary and timeless design of the lobby had us feeling assured we picked the right hotel for our weekend. Checking in was a breeze and we were up in our 15^th floor room within minutes of entering.

The hotel has a friendly staff, clean rooms, and a decent breakfast spread. The lobby had a lovely fire going and movies playing on the wall. There were plenty of places to get comfortable should you wish to hang out. The bar and restaurant also open in the evening if you are looking to enjoy a drink without having to leave the hotel.

The Room

Our room was a corner room on the 15^th floor. Dual windows let in plenty of light and offered lovely views of downtown Oakland, including city hall. Shades allowed you to customize the lighting. You could leave the sheer down for filtered light and privacy or you could use the blackout shade for total darkness.

The bed was a king, or you can opt for dual queens. The bed and large king-size pillows were extremely comfortable. The perfect level of firmness for support and softness for comfort. They were “just right”, even Goldie Locks would approve. I was very happy that the bedding didn’t smell like bleach despite being incredibly white. I’ve been to too many hotels where the scent of bleach in the bedding is overpowering.

There were reading lights attached to the bed frame making for lovely nightlight when you hit the switch near the entrance of the room. There were two armchairs, a desk and chair which made for a comfortable workspace and a small, open wardrobe. The wardrobe had two drawers, a couple of hangers, a steamer, a safe and a mini fridge. This hotel has the least amount of storage I’ve seen but for our weekend trip it was fine to fit everything we needed for our stay.

The bathroom had a modern style, square toilet that kept running but we were able to get it to stop with some finagling. The shower was large and stocked with the typical toiletries of shampoo, conditioner and body wash which all had pleasant scents. There was one sink and a lot of countertop space making it easy to unpack and store your toiletries out on the counter.

For a full tour of the room, you can check it out on our YouTube channel.

Parking

Parking is valet only. It is $50 for every 24-hour period, and you can come and go as many times as you please. There is also a “parking tax” which brought the total up to $60. They have made this system efficient by giving you a card to text when you want your car within a ten-minute period. When you are getting ready to leave, just text the number and by the time you do your last-minute touchups, grab your things and head downstairs, your car will be waiting for you. Every single valet we met was incredibly nice and helpful.

Location and Amenities

This hotel is located in the heart of downtown and there are rooms with views of San Francisco or downtown Oakland. The BART is within walking distance which easily connects you to the city.

• 24 Hour Fitness Center
• On site laundry
• Free Wi-Fi
• Restaurant and Bar
• Complimentary Breakfast
• Pet Friendly

Breakfast

Breakfast was your typical continental breakfast spread but with above average, I’d even go as far to say very good, coffee. The oatmeal was above average as well and they had a wide array of toppings like brown sugar, cinnamon, slivered almonds, raisins, cranberries and shredded coconut. This also doubles as toppings for yogurt should you choose that.

There are two waffle makers. One makes large Belgian waffles while the other makes 4 mini waffles. There is waffle batter available to make them on demand. Syrup and strawberry compote were available to top off your waffle.

While we were there, three breakfast items were in the warming trays. Scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, and hashbrowns.

A variety of juices, tea bags, and water were also available, but the coffee was the star.

Over in the fridges you will find milk, hard boiled eggs and a variety of yogurt options. And nearby you will find toast and various pastries and bagels.

Overall while this complimentary breakfast is standard when it comes to hotel fare, it was quite enjoyable, and it is always nice to enjoy a free meal at your hotel.

If you’re in the Oakland/Bay area, I do recommend choosing the AC Hotel for a comfortable stay.