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Berkeley's Claremont Hotel Gets a New Restaurant, Meritage

Where: 41 Tunnel Rd. [map], Berkeley, CA, United States, 94705

As part of its overall renovation and “re-concept,” the century-old Claremont Resort, Club and Spa opened a new restaurant called Meritage last week. In keeping with the resort’s new aesthetic of “California casual,” Meritage will be devoted “wine and food exploration” using local farmers and purveyors to shape the “contemporary California cuisine” menu.

That’s quite a philosophy to digest…so to speak. Basically what it means is that the menu will be divided into two pages: one devoted to white wines, and a second devoted to reds. Each of those is further broken down into categories like Light Whites, Fruity Reds, and Spicy Earthy Reds. Within each category will be three wine selections available by the taste ($5-9), glass ($10-16) and bottle, along with three dishes that will complement the wines’ flavors.

All dishes will be available in either small or large plate sizes for greater dining flexibility—and to let people like us try as many of the wines as we want without having to order a bottle.

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Hippies and Hemp? Not at Berkeley's Claremont Hotel

Where: 41 Tunnel Road [map], Berkeley, CA, United States, 94705

Say "Berkeley," and what comes to mind are aged beatniks on Telegraph Avenue, politically active Cal students, and hemp-threaded clothing. If you buy into the stereotypes—many of which admittedly ring true—then seeing the Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa's massive, and we do mean massive, resort looming in the Berkeley Hills is something like a luxury curveball. But if you know the Berkeley of Chez Panisse, boutique shopping in Rockridge, and a wealthy, Hills-dwelling clientele, then it's not such a strange sight.

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Summer Hotel Love: The Claremont

Where: 41 Tunnel Road [map], Berkeley, CA, United States, 94705

As we mentioned last week, we will be sharing all of your hotel stories and photos from your travels this summer, starting with our brief trip to the Claremont Resort and Spa in Berkeley, California.

The hotel initially opened in the early 1900s but has undergone extensive renovations in recent years. Celebs galore have stayed at this place, particularly in the late 60s and 70s, and photos line the hotel's lobby documenting its famous guests.

Today, the hotel serves a delicious breakfast in the Jordan's restaurant, which offers up prime views of San Francisco in the distance.

However, as with most old hotels, the Claremont is an enjoyable place to mosey through and wonder what things were like 100 years ago, but staying there might mean a musty, antiquated room.

Related Stories:
· Claremont reviews [TripAdvisor]

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Durant Hotel addition has 75th anniversary

Where: 2600 Durant Ave [map], Berkeley, CA, United States, 94704

Where else better to make love not war than in Berkeley's Durant Hotel (not counting People's Park)?

This week, the famed East Bay lodging celebrated 75 years of its 160-room addition which came only a year after the hotel opened in 1928 and which has attracted the likes of "[University of California, Berkeley] faculty members, writers, business executives, and other prominent people of refinement and culture who appreciate beautiful surroundings," according to the Contra Costa Times.

Plus, it's a great place for sleazy profs to seduce grade-obsessed students -- how do you think I managed a 3.7 GPA as a maladroit philosophy major?

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