TL;DR

Trendy yet academic: Feels like Yale’s own Ravenclaw common room.
Campus location: Set right inside Yale University grounds.
Architectural contrast: Glass-heavy design beside classic New England brick.
City views: Clean interiors, lots of books, and vistas over New Haven.
Check prices here

Equal parts trendy hotel and Ravenclaw common room, this Chapel Street, New Haven, boutique hotel isn’t just for Yale-related activities, but it definitely fits the ambiance.

Essentially, it has to, being set inside the Yale campus and surrounded by University buildings.

The glass-heavy architecture mirrors that of the nearby Yale School of Art, still at home surrounded by the more traditional New England red brick.

Inside everything is clean, neat and tidy, with plenty of books and gorgeous views of the city.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 124 total.
View-based options: Campus or city outlooks depending on booking.
Classic interiors: Pale blue walls, leather seating, Frette linens.
Extra perks: King Studies with separate reading nooks.
Modern baths: Glass showers, C.O. Bigelow amenities, seersucker robes.
See each room in detail here

Rooms are actually categorized by where the windows face. Book a standard room, and we can’t make any promises, but if you splurge a bit for a room with a view, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the sight of the campus stretched out in front of you.

Inside, you’ll find pale blue walls, writing desks and rich leather seating worth of Sinclair Lewis. Each room offers Frette linens, workspaces, seating, and great natural light, city view or not.

King Studies have a separate reading nook that makes you wish you had work to do.

Bathrooms are bright white, modern and straightforward, with custom-made seersucker robes, glass showers and C.O. Bigelow bath amenities.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

On-site dining: Heirloom Restaurant serves farm-to-table meals all day.
Brunch favorite: Seafood, coffee cocktails, rye whiskey.
Casual corner: Grab-and-go snacks and complimentary Kobrick coffee.
Cultural touch: In-house Aisling Art Gallery and big book library.
Fitness: 24-hour gym with cardio and weights, not tucked in a basement.

The Heirloom Restaurant and Lounge, just off the hotel’s common area, or ‘living room,’ might make it harder to explore New Haven’s food scene.

Open all day, and for weekend brunch, the spot is a favorite for guests and locals alike.

The food is farm-to-table Americana exquisitely prepared. Breakfast has the classics alongside steel-cut oats and some delicious lox, and an expanded brunch menu offering everything from seafood to coffee cocktails with plenty of rye whiskey.

Lunch and dinner have the same long menus with an abundance of choice and the best of ingredients. They also offer occasional five-course dinners and special menus for the holidays.

If you’re more of a grab-and-go person, you’ll love the 24-hour face in the living room, which also houses a large library of books and periodicals.

Grab something that looks good and enjoy a complimentary coffee from Kobrick Coffee Company while you read. The Aisling Art Gallery is also worth a visit.

Finally, more active guests will enjoy the 24-hour fitness center, which is not in a basement, and well-equipped for both cardio and weights.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Prime spot: In Chapel Street Historic District, part of downtown New Haven.
Historic charm: Early 1800s red-brick buildings mixed with modern designs.
Plenty to do: University sites, galleries, pubs, and international dining.
Convenient transport: Bus line nearby and 15-minute walk to train station.

The Chapel Street Historical District is technically within Downtown New Haven, Connecticut, but has a delightful personality that sets it apart.

It’s a relaxed, charming area of mostly red brick, with a couple newer buildings sprinkled in, including the hotel.

The older buildings hail from the early 1800s, but development has been remarkably artful.

Newer buildings use similar materials and unobtrusive versions of more modern styles to make the area feel harmonious, quite successfully.

You’ll find university buildings, art galleries, posh pubs, international eats and coffee huts all in the same place.

If you are here on Yale business, you won’t find a better spot. If you’re here on business, you’re technically already downtown.

A bus line runs parallel to Chapel along George Street, and it’s just a 15-minute walk to the State Street train station.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Always beautifully presented with attentive staff & welcoming vibe – amazing views from the campus rooms – free coffee and tea in the mornings with a great common space to hang out. Good small functional gym….”

“The vibe of ‘upmarket dorm room’ was really cool and in keeping with the college town feel for New Haven. Great location, really clean and comfy….”