TL;DR

Prime location: Downtown Richmond, close to business and attractions
Historic charm: Crisp red brick, classic architecture with modern touches
Hospitality: Courteous staff, professional and solution-oriented service during renovations
Flexible stay: Renovations ongoing but manageable for adaptable travelers
Check prices here

This boutique hotel in Downtown Richmond, Virginia is excellent for anyone who wants to really be in the thick of things.

Richmond has many lovely neighborhoods, but anyone with business downtown will appreciate being this close.

The Berkeley’s historical vibes and easy hospitality mean you don’t have to compromise much for the prime location either.

The crisp, red brick architecture is a lovely addition to the cityscape, all classic style with just a taste of streamlined modernity.

We should note that they’re currently keeping the hotel open while undergoing renovations.

If you’re a relatively flexible traveler, this shouldn’t be an issue. It’s a professional establishment and their communication is courteous and solution-oriented.

However, in our experience, anyone who gets sensitive about small changes should wait until the renovations are finished to enjoy the full experience.

Visit now, or visit later, a stay here should be a solid introduction to the comfortable beauty of Richmond.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 55
Room styles: Premium Kings, Double Doubles, Deluxe King Singles, Suites
Decor: Classic luxury with dark green accents, rich wood, hints of Art Deco glam
Amenities: HDTVs, Keurig machines, plush bathrobes, gorgeous showers
Special suites: Governor’s Suite with two terraces, large dining table, private bedroom
See each room in detail here

Rooms lean into a more classic style of luxury, with dark green accents and rich wood and bed skirts and all.

As always, we’d prefer to see the floor. It definitely feels “hotely,” but the boutique vibes are strong, and the space has its own personality.

The renovations hint at something a little more posh, with a bit of Art Deco glam. We’ll see if it has the same classic beauty.

Room types range from Premium Kings and Double Doubles, with Deluxe King Singles and some “Suites.”

Suites are mostly just oversized rooms with plenty of extra seating, but we like that you can get one with two double beds if you like. The options with a terrace view are especially appealing.

The one real suite is the Governor’s Suite and Parlour, which is going to be overkill for most of us.

It would make a great space for a couple prepping for a nearby wedding or someone wanting to host gatherings.

We’re talking two terraces and a large dining table, a super-spacious bathroom and a private bedroom.

Whatever you choose, you’ll have HDTVs, Keurig machines, gorgeous showers and plush bathrobes for lounging around before you head out into the city.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

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

Dining: No in-house restaurant currently, must go offsite for food
Event spaces: Wedding-friendly venues with catering, floral, and entertainment options
Bar & lounge: No hip lobby bar at the moment

There’s not much besides the hotel at the moment.

You’ll have to get outside for food, which won’t be difficult, but if you had visions of sipping cocktails in a hip lobby bar, we’ll send you somewhere else.

They have a few event spaces ready for booking. It’s all very wedding-friendly, which means they likely have lots of excellent catering, floral, and entertainment connections.

If you like things to be done in-house, however, let’s find you a better option.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Right Downtown, walking distance to many attractions
Historic sites: State Capitol, old State Capitol, Richmond Bell Tower
Museums: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Children’s Museum, other nearby museums
Parks & nature: Maymont, William Byrd Park, Hollywood Cemetery
Carytown: Coffee shops, shopping, event spaces, bars just 7-minute drive

You’ll be right Downtown, walking distance to a lot of things.

Politics and History buffs will be happy, walking distance to the State Capitol, the old State Capitol, and the Richmond Bell Tower.

There’s some less-than-savory history in the city, of course.

You may be able to get something out of being spitting distance from a former slave jail, but anyone who’s looking to have a more forward-looking vacation can be aware of what’s nearby.

We’ve got other lovely options further away from Lee’s former mansion or the old Confederate White House.

The city’s main Museum District is a 7-minute drive, headlined by the fantastic Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

There’s history, science and the Children’s Museum nearby as well.

If you prefer a bit of open air, head to Maymont, the large area connected to the parks by the James River.

There’s a nature center, farm, and other attractions in William Byrd Park nearby. The gorgeous Hollywood Cemetery is on the way, the perfect place for a very quiet walk.

One of the best hangout & grab coffee neighborhoods is Carytown, another 7-minute drive from the hotel.

You can shop, snack, and in the evening you’ll find a few event spaces and a couple of decent bars.

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

Some things guests liked:

“A very quaint historical building in the historic downtown surrounded by excellent F&B choices and close to government and business offices. My room was big, comfortable, and quiet, although just a tad dated (historically quaint!). Excellent value….”

“Check in was fast and friendly. Glad to have coffee available. Internet was fast and the room was comfortable. Location was great. And I was super happy with the robe!…”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Would have liked a free breakfast buffet (why do we only get these at cheap freeway hotels?) to grab a quick bite before an early departure. Also the $35 overnight parking was significantly higher than the parking building just up the street….”

”No laundry room bags for the guests….”

Read all the reviews right here