Graduate Richmond

The idea behind the Graduate hotels is a simple enough one: boutique hotels in university towns that are fun enough to remind you of your college days but fine enough to attract visitors who’ve become accustomed to a bit more luxury than typical student digs. Each one is tailored to its location, but avoids obvious references like the school colors or mascot — the Graduate Richmond, next door to Virginia Commonwealth University, pays specific tribute to Richmond by honoring the pathbreaking tennis star Arthur Ashe.

The style throughout is an eclectic blend of preppy Americana and mid-century modernism, and the rooms particularly recall the optimism of the glory days of American higher education. Of course in those days nobody had Malin + Goetz bath products, to say nothing of free wi-fi, and these rooms, with their king and queen beds, are palatial by student standards.

So far, so good — but these hotels are about more than sleeping accommodations. Brookfield, the lobby café and bar, makes much of its tennis-club vibes, while Byrd House, the rooftop bar named for city founder William Byrd, is the Graduate Richmond’s headline attraction. Complete with a guests-only swimming pool, it serves beers and cocktails alongside a Southern-inspired menu of locally sourced fare.