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The room was small, but very comfortable, modern and clean. I really appreciated the extra security (security outside, cameras in the elevator and hallways, room key required for elevator use). The snacks and beverages were nice, but limited options. I did not eat at the bar or restaurant, but had catered meals by the hotel for our work meeting and they were delicious!

Small room, but great experience!

Great location near all major attractions, easy check inn, Comfortable beds, charging plugs all over the room, modern bathroom, good food,

Weekend Getaway

Great location and experience at the Kissel.  We will be back. The property was beautiful and surprisingly large for the location.  We enjoyed the restaurants on the property and the customer service.

Great new years eve stay!

Overall, we had a good experience at the Kissel.

The two‑queen‑bed setup was very convenient, with nightstand storage, charging ports, and individual reading lights for all four guests — a thoughtful and practical design.

We also appreciated the helpful front desk service. Since it was Christmas Day and no restaurants were open for dinner, we asked if there was a microwave we could use to heat our leftovers. The staff member offered to send one directly to our room, which was fantastic.

The destination charge came with some “goodies,” including a $10 discount for Otto Restaurant takeout. Just be sure to double‑check your bill — in our case, the discount wasn’t automatically applied, and the front desk had to adjust it at checkout.

Parking is on the expensive side, though you can take your chances with street parking or use a nearby garage for around $25.

A couple of small areas could be improved. It would be helpful to have clearer directions in the elevator for locating the fitness center — we had to ask a staff member to find it. And the in‑room fridge is extremely small; you can’t even fit a soda can upright unless you get creative with the placement, which feels like a test of spatial skills.

Christmas vacation

My recent stay at this property left me questioning not only its pricing strategy but also its understanding of what constitutes genuine hospitality. For a hotel positioned in such an unremarkable location, the nightly rate—paired with an almost $100 “destination fee”—felt less like an amenity bundle and more like a creative revenue extraction tactic.

The so‑called amenities included in this fee are, frankly, a masterclass in smoke and mirrors. A one‑time $7 snack credit at a lobby stand where a single Gatorade and water cost $8 is hardly a perk; it’s comedic relief. The $10 daily credit at Otto could have been a redeeming touch, but only if the staff consistently applied it—which they did not. Even after providing my room number and confirming I was a guest, I still had to remind them to remove the charge. The remaining “amenities” amounted to uninspired discounts at nearby overpriced shops and two flimsy aluminum water bottles marketed as “keepsakes.” Let’s call them what they are: recyclable clutter.

The operational issues didn’t stop there. I informed the front desk at check‑in that I had a rental car for only one night. Despite assurances that this would be noted, I was still charged for multiple nights of parking. It took a phone call and over a week to receive the refund—an unnecessary inconvenience that reflects poor internal communication and lackluster guest service follow‑through.

As for the rooms, they are noticeably undersized for the price point. The hotel seems to have prioritized quantity over quality—packing in more rooms instead of offering guests a comfortable amount of space. Housekeeping was equally disappointing. Despite requesting daily service, my room was only cleaned once during a three‑night stay, and that was only after I called to report holes in my sheets.

To be fair, the hotel does have one redeeming quality: its convenient location. Unfortunately, that alone cannot justify the inflated rates, the questionable fees, or the overall lack of value. At best, this property is a polished façade masking subpar execution—lipstick on a pig, as the saying goes.

Lipstick on a Pig

Well decorated, clean and staff is kind. Gym is also one of the best gyms I've encountered and I travel for work often. There were so many perks avail (perhaps due to my Hyatt status and booking via Amex).

It's a hip atmosphere and great location. I was in town for business meetings and this hotel was perfectly situated for me - tons of bars and restaurants around. 

It was not noisy and will be my go-to hotel in Oakland now.

Great weekend stay

We are loyal Hyatt members and frequent many Hyatt properties. This hotel was disappointing and did not feel like a Hyatt property. It definitely did not feel like a category 4 level property.

Our initial room had a broken television, stained furniture and broken wall panel. No robes.

We were moved to a different room that had one robe… and king size bed. My husband and I took turns with robe. Ha ha.

This hotel is fine if you just need a place to stay following a show at The Paramount or Fox Theater. I wouldn’t recommend it otherwise.

Doesn’t live up to expectations for Hyatt category 4 hotel

Owner Response

Enjoyed the hotel stay and the staff. Was clean and modern. The staff, Danny and Spencer were great during my stay. Great breakfast at the restaurant and the rooftop bar was also nice. Would stay here again.

Cleanliness

Lovely staff warm and friendly welcoming, with staff always ready to service.  Give a unique compliment to the overall experience and stay.

Comfort

Very cute boutique hotel!  Love the vibe of the lobby and restaurant.  Room was very comfortable and quiet, even though its in uptown Oakland.   I think they have a great gym for a small hotel and I got in a very good workout too.   The hotel restaurant has very good food.   But I'm also discovering that there are some great restaurants near the hotel as well.  I tried Parche this time and it was fantastic.  Just two blocks away and they offer wonderful Columbian food.

Hotel Reviews | Kissel Uptown Oakland | The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

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