Name: Graduate by Hilton Iowa City
Address: 210 S Dubuque St, Downtown, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America, Iowa City, Johnson County, US
Price range: US$128–US$681 per night
Rating: 8.58

What guests think

Graduate by Hilton Iowa City draws praise for its unbeatable downtown location near campus and restaurants, fun Hawkeye-themed decor, comfortable beds, and generally friendly, helpful staff, creating an easy, walkable base for campus visits and events.

Recurring drawbacks include room HVAC problems and noise, small bathrooms, and inconsistent maintenance or cleanliness. Travelers like the adjacent coffee shop, on-site bar and restaurant, and access to a large gym, though parking is in a public ramp with fees and the bar sometimes closes earlier than guests expect. Expect a lively, well-located stay with character, plus occasional hiccups.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Popular coffee shop and on-site bar/restaurant; access to a large, well-equipped gym. Parking is in the adjacent public ramp and often paid, and several guests noted the bar closes earlier than expected.

Related guest reviews

10

Mary

3 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Excellent centrally located hotel for anyone visiting the university campus. The hotel, coffee shop and bar have excellent and kind staff. There’s an amazing gym to use that’s a full sized fully equipped facility.

10

Angela

2 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location. Comfortable beds and pillows. Excellent gym. Friendly staff

8

Sarah

31 May 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Fun quirky hotel that was super close to the pedestrian mall. I appreciated the uniqueness and the nice coffee shop and gym on the premises. The only complaint was paying for parking.

10

Mark

5 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great hotel to stay at with a bar and easy parking in a ramp nearby.

6

Dennis

27 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Parking for unloading was not good, not enough room for more than 3 cars. Also had a bus blocking the entrance to pick up guests as we tried to leave for a Wedding we where attending

10

Cristina

21 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Strategically located - easy walk to restaurants, & downtown area. Hotel lobby cozy, super service, hotel coffee shop’s ambiance is impressive especially the pencil wallpaper!

10

Jennifer

7 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved the theme of this hotel! The room was really clean, staff was exceptionally friendly, and atmosphere was pleasant overall. A/C wasn’t working, they switched my room and it was working just fine in the new room. Ate at the restaurant-the staff was great and helpful, food was just okay. Coffee shop was really neat downstairs, good options for coffee and breakfast. Conveniently located downtown next to lots of shops and restaurants. Had to pay for parking.

6

Tiffany

21 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel was clean and had good amenities. The gym was amazing - outside membership so it was very large.

10

Randi

5 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Love the decor - very hip and creative. Clean room. Friendly service. Adjacent coffee shop was excellent for a quick coffee & bite on the way out of town.

10

Nikki J

30 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

I hate it that parking is not included. Why do they validate it? Parking should included

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Cleanliness

Many guests found rooms clean, but several reported issues like dusty or stained carpets, mold in showers, musty odors, and housekeeping misses.

Related guest reviews

8

Cynthia

8 May 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Rooms not fully cleaned the last two times I stayed. Lobby tables still dirty in the morning after late night parties on one stay.

4

Jennifer

2 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was dirty, tub had mold and the forgot to put shower curtain liner on,, when showering tub wouldn’t drain so was standing in water. Air conditioner started screeching every 30 min and then start functioning properly after 2 min. Last few times I’ve stayed there noticed a decline

10

Beth

6 May 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Cleanliness

10

DiAnne

3 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room, friendly staff.

10

Ruth

6 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was clean and comfortable, the check-in process was easy personnel was professional and friendly

4

Pamela

14 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The room was not very clean, dusty, and carpets soiled. Needed to change rooms due to power outage in the bathroom. Hotel staff were nice and accommodating.

6

Coreen

8 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Overpriced for experience of our stay. Shower had black mold/mildew that should be remediated or at least recaulk it. TV remote did not work. Liked the hotel, just needs some quality control. Location and accessibility was outstanding.

6

Kaia

15 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, great hotel concept. The rooms are in need of a major deep cleaning. The carpets are stained and gross.

8

Darci

13 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location. Bathroom was a bit untidy. Room was overall comfy and quiet.

4

Brandi

9 May 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Gross. There was hair left in the bathroom. The floors in the bathroom weren’t clean. The carpet was definitely not clean (my feet were black). It was pretty gross. I mean, it could’ve been worse but it was still gross.

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Rooms

Rooms feature quirky Iowa-themed design and comfortable beds; many found them quiet and well-suited for downtown stays. Recurrent downsides include small bathrooms, loud or unreliable HVAC, and occasionally slow Wi‑Fi or street noise.

Related guest reviews

6

William

28 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Decor, cleanliness, location all superb. The only negative was the horrifically slow wifi, essentially unusable even for email and Google docs. I notified the front desk the first morning but it was never addressed. Have to cross this hotel off the list for business trips.

2

Lourdes

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The room was horribly hot and humid - talked to hotel staff about getting an engineer to fix it, was only marginally better, there were times that the temperature and humidity was better outside compared to the room. I felt horribly sick whenever I was in the room. No AC, thermostat didn't work. No one came to pick up the trash during 3 night stay. The location is the only good thing about it.

10

Mary

13 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean with the cutest decorations, friendly staff and QUIET.

10

Zhen

19 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

I had a nice stay. The only downside is that wifi was not stable.

8

Samuel B

6 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall great! Just that the AC in our room alarmed causing loud noise every five minutes but we were given another room.

6

Janice

25 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Air conditioning in our room was not working- had to speak with staff multiple times before anyone would come to look at fixing it. Someone finally came to fix it at 10pm after our room temp was 80 and we indicated we would be leaving and asking for a refund.

10

Kristin

22 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The decor and vibe of the hotel was so much fun! Very comfortable beds and great night sleep!

10

Randi

5 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Love the decor - very hip and creative. Clean room. Friendly service. Adjacent coffee shop was excellent for a quick coffee & bite on the way out of town.

8

Richard

4 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff! Clean. Small bathroom and loud heater.

6

Elizabeth

14 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We were so excited to stay here, but were disappointed in the size of the room/bathroom. Our air conditioner was insanely loud, and when we called and asked for someone to look at it, no one ever did.

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Service

Staff are widely praised as friendly, professional, and helpful, often resolving issues and accommodating needs. However, a minority reported slow or problematic check‑in, miscommunication, or curt service.

Related guest reviews

10

Jason

30 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff was very friendly and helpful. The rooms were unique and comfortable.

6

Sana

15 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The person checking us in named Ben was rude and unwelcoming. He did not provide adequate information and was very rude when asked for an upgrade do to VIP status. He made the experience very bad. Other than that, it was a nice facility.

10

Colleen

26 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff at the front desk were friendly and helpful.

6

Lisa

22 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel struggled with the air conditioning. My mom‘s TV didn’t work. But I don’t rate hotels necessarily on their problems. I write on how they handle the problems with their customers. Their staff was outstanding in getting the problems solved, people moved, credited our room, etc., SoI would encourage anyone to stay here and I stay here often.

2

Ashton

17 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

My husband and I booked a room at the graduate. When we went to check there was not a person in sight. We waited for 25 minutes before attempting to call and the phone just kept ringing. Another couple said that they saw the staff go into a hotel room 40 minutes prior. We had to get the bartender to find them. We waited for over an hour total at this point. All just to end up canceling. The front desk man never apologized and seemed very distracted. I am so disappointed. We were looking forward to this stay.

10

Gail

28 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Courteous and professional staff. Answered all my questions and very helpful with my grandson

2

Kaia

21 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Was treated rudely at check in & then given keys to an occupied room.

6

Floyd

8 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location and cool atmosphere. We had to wait for nearly 30 minutes to check into our room and then when the clerk showed up they were rude and unhelpful.

6

Janet

24 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We arrived a little early and told it would cost $40 to check in so we decided to wait the one hour and 15 minutes. When we went back to check in we were told room was not ready and had to wait an additional half hour. We had an event to attend and barely had time to get ready.

10

Jenny

3 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Customer service was amazing. The front desk personnel were super nice and helpful.

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Location

Consistently praised for a central, walkable spot on the pedestrian mall near the University of Iowa, Englert Theater, and downtown dining. Ideal for campus visits, games, and exploring without a car.

Related guest reviews

10

Mark

19 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Can’t beat the location if you’re going to the Englert. Bed was comfortable. Has a nice bar on property.

10

mark

12 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was comfortable and clean. Wish the bar stayed open later for an after concert night cap, it was closed at 11 when we came back from Englert. Can’t beat this hotels location for its proximity to Englert and good restaurants in downtown Iowa City. Easy close parking ramp also.

10

Ruth

20 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Right downtown

10

Kathleen

24 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Perfect location! You can walk everywhere in Iowa City.

10

Madison

12 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location downtown Iowa city with lots of fun character specific to University of Iowa!

10

Michael

15 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great access to downtown iowa city.

10

Kelly

23 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, we love the charm of the Graduate hotels.

10

Pete

4 Sept 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location right in the heart of Iowa city. Easy access to all the restaurants and bars.

10

Linda

13 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location on campus

10

Teresa

21 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location.

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Dining

The adjacent coffee shop is frequently praised, and many enjoy the on‑site bar/restaurant. Downsides mentioned are limited menus or hours (bar closing early) and no included breakfast.

Related guest reviews

10

Eranda

24 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Wonderful location, lots of dining options. Clean rooms. Very comfortable bed. Quiet room.

10

mark

14 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great value, the HVAC system in my room was noisy, but overall enjoyed my stay. Great staff, nice bar too.

10

mark

17 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was great until something happened that caused all the lights, TV and fridge to quit working! But other than that hiccup the rooms at the Graduate are comfortable and the staff is always friendly. The bar, however, always seems to close very early, which is disappointing after a concert.

8

sarah

27 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved the decor, so creative and fun! The Wilder restaurant was great. Would recommend to anyone!

10

Cristina

21 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Strategically located - easy walk to restaurants, & downtown area. Hotel lobby cozy, super service, hotel coffee shop’s ambiance is impressive especially the pencil wallpaper!

10

Rachel Jeanette

18 May 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

This hotel was very unique! We loved the decor and the staff were helpful. The coffee shop next door was super convenient for breakfast and the hotel restaurant was delicious. Everything was in walking distance and the hotel and surrounding areas were clean. The parking was close and easy. Plus the hotel validated our parking. We will definitely be back on our next trip to IA.

6

ROBERT

4 Mar 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel was fine. The restaurant not so fine. For breakfast they open late,,,7am. No table waitress service. No toast or pancakes available. For dinner the night before the available items on the menu were limited.

10

Anne-Laure

15 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Best burger in the restaurant. The hotel is clean and the staff was helpful

8

Claudia

1 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Conveniently located; front desk person was amazing and offered us a room with a view. The lobby is beautiful, the bed was comfortable. The bathroom could use some updating; the shower curtain did not close all the way. For $165 a night, it would be nice if the hotel offered at least a self-serving station of coffee and cream in the morning.

10

Randi

5 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Love the decor - very hip and creative. Clean room. Friendly service. Adjacent coffee shop was excellent for a quick coffee & bite on the way out of town.

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Month	Average price
January	US$103
February	US$122
March	US$128
April	US$155
May	US$156
June	US$171
July	US$194
August	US$160
September	US$181
October	US$226
November	US$167
December	US$108

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18 $669	19 $681
20 $173	21 $149	22 $148	23 $141	24 $128	25 $196	26 $200
27 $137	28 $156	29 $276	30 $314

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1	2	3
4 $145	5 $137	6 $155	7 $150	8 $202	9 $229	10 $233
11 $151	12 $139	13 $160	14 $162	15 $196	16 $245	17 $241
18 $175	19 $142	20 $158	21 $149	22 $151	23	24
25 $152	26 $141	27 $154	28 $183	29 $314	30	31

Graduate by Hilton Iowa City

Prices for Graduate by Hilton Iowa City

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible (Mobility & Hearing, Roll-In Shower)

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible, Bathtub (Mobility & Hearing)

Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible (Mobility, Roll-In Shower)

Suite, 1 King Bed

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible (Hearing)

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible (Hearing)

Room, 2 Queen Beds

Family Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Bathtub (Mobility & Hearing)

Room, 2 Twin Beds (Bunk Bed)

Guest reviews of Graduate by Hilton Iowa City

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Graduate by Hilton Iowa City

Prices for upcoming dates