Graduate Providence

Most Graduate hotels are devoted to a single campus; the Graduate Providence is a local landmark within walking distance of five major universities, including Brown University, Providence College, and the Rhode Island School of Design. Built in 1922 and occupying the site of the former Providence Biltmore, it’s got no shortage of charm, while embodying the spirit of this quaint collegiate town, and its location offers easy access to the whole of downtown Providence.

The hotel’s 294 rooms and suites are spacious, and many offer enough space for multiple guests. Strong pops of color mix with playful patterns, and boutique-hotel details like Malin + Goetz bath products lend a luxe aspect. This is one of the more refined Graduate looks, owing perhaps to the close presence of its Ivy League neighbor — though it’s far more vibrant than the ultra-traditional luxury hotel that preceded it.

There’s a spa, unusual in Graduate hotels, as well as plentiful meeting and events space. Guests can grab everything from breakfast to a post-dinner drink at the bookishly themed Poindexter Coffee, and Graduate Providence features the first Reiners restaurant and bar, a sports-themed experience that’s a worthy alternative to the downtown district’s many fine dining and drinking options.