Graduate by Hilton Providence

About The Hotel

Graduate by Hilton Providence occupies the former Biltmore, a landmark downtown building with grand historic bones and eclectic, playful decor that defines the Graduate brand. The 4.0-rated hotel blends collegiate-inspired design with the building’s original architectural grandeur, creating a characterful atmosphere in the heart of the arts and financial district. Rooms are spacious and thoughtfully decorated, though some guests note that partial renovations leave certain amenities feeling dated. Service is generally friendly, and the location near City Hall, Brown, RISD, and downtown culture is excellent. However, mixed reviews highlight maintenance issues, temperature control quirks, and the sense that some guests feel they’re paying for the location rather than pristine facility conditions. Rooms with whirlpool tubs are available in select types; confirm your room at booking.

What Guests Are Saying

“Worse upscale hotel that I’ve ever attended. No on site food dining facility, temperature control was lost because of a operating error converting from winter to summer system (strange explanation for a modern lodging facility) resulting in freezing room temperature requiring the use of a portable low volume space heater stored in the closet as if the problem was repeat able. TV stations frequently didn’t display any image and when they did several the screen was unrecognizable by pixilated visual and audio distortions, no valet parking, no concierge, self parking is a block away and not suitable when it rains, toilet lid and seat was a 1950’s very heavy unappealing wooden fixture with broken under risers and chipped seat, attached convenience coffee shop frequently ran out of all accompanying breakfast muffins, scones and other danish eateries. Staff was pleasant and apologetic but facility is a worn out hull of its former grandeur. Rooms have been upgraded and redecorated but not enough to overdone the facility shortcomings. Will never visit again!” — Tom B., 2 stars

“The Providence Graduate is a weird mix. I had a suite, and when the living room is nicer than the bedroom you have to wonder what is going one. Living room was quite pretty, great view. But I didn’t use it. Sometimes makes you feel bad to stay in a place that you’re genuinely not going to get any use out of. Bathroom was probably the worse part. A hotel cannot renovate some parts of a room and leave the original amenities intact. It looks sloppy and is a frankly ick. Bed was comfortable but has a very “slept in” feel to it. I was never a member of fraternity but I cannot help but feel like Providence graduate is a frat house that you can pay to stay in. It was not for me. If you are 55 and would like to experience crashing in a community bed room, it’s probably exactly what you are looking for.” — Chip_acres, 3 stars

“Worst hotel stay I’ve had in years. As a Hilton Diamond member, this experience was shockingly bad from start to finish. The property is in an extremely poor state of condition and clearly has not been properly maintained for years. Paint is peeling and cracking throughout, fixtures are failing, and even basic room functionality was unacceptable — the water in the room wouldn’t properly switch off. Housekeeping was poor and inconsistent, including failure to replenish basic amenities like bottled water. What was even more concerning was hearing multiple staff members openly complain about management, mentioning that since the management takeover in 2019, the property has apparently never been properly renovated and issues have only continued to worsen. That says a lot. Service was equally disappointing. Reception staff were rude and unhelpful. There was no valet service, the bell desk was inconsistently staffed or unavailable, and there was absolutely zero recognition of Hilton Diamond status or any attempt to provide the level of service expected from the brand. I also made attempts to escalate concerns directly to General Manager Cory Kramer, who did not respond to calls or emails at all. From the physical condition of the hotel to the service standards to management accountability, every aspect of this stay was deeply disappointing. This property falls far below what anyone should expect from Hilton, let alone loyal elite members. I would absolutely not stay here again.” — PainDoctor, 1 star

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• 4.0-rated landmark hotel with grand historic architecture
• Playful, design-forward Graduate-brand aesthetic
• Central downtown near City Hall, Brown, and RISD
• Bar, lounge, fitness center, and bicycles available
• Walkable to the Riverwalk, Federal Hill, and the theater district

Cons:

• Some guests find historic rooms and amenities dated or inconsistently renovated
• Mixed reviews cite maintenance and temperature control issues
• Paid on-site parking; downtown rates apply

The Location

11 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903. Downtown in the arts and financial district, near Kennedy Plaza and City Hall, steps from the train, the river, and College Hill. You can find more details or book your stay on TripAdvisor.