Sink into a leather sofa with a good book at the new Graduate by Hilton Princeton hotel’s tome-lined, two-story lobby/library in New Jersey. Opened in August just steps from Princeton University, the hotel joins 32 others in the collegiate-themed Graduate collection, which became part of Hilton in March.
Nods to the town and its Ivy League institution are incorporated throughout, from a hand-carved wooden reception desk flanked by four tigers—the school’s beloved mascot—to vintage embroidered “reunion jackets” (given to alumni at their 25th reunion) displayed on the walls. The lobby’s 30-foot study table is a great place to work or gather with friends.
Seersucker drapes in Princeton’s signature orange, lamps modeled after Revolutionary War-era cannons, and framed artwork depicting storied school traditions are just a few university-inspired elements in the hotel’s 180 guest rooms.
The green tile bathrooms with custom botanical wallpaper were inspired by the campus arboretum.
At the hotel’s Ye Tavern restaurant, named after a bar that occupied the site in the 1930s, try the cleverly titled “In Honore of Jack,” a Manhattan that pays tribute to the owner of Jack Honore’s Barber Shop that once stood across the street.
The Gothic-style Princeton University Chapel and the Princeton University Art Museum are worth a campus stroll. Visit the Princeton Public Library for its beautiful architecture, cozy seating areas and an event schedule packed with author talks, story times for kids and more. Hotel room rates begin at $299.
Graduate by Hilton Princeton, 10 Chambers St., Princeton, New Jersey, 609-436-9400