Graduate by Hilton, the university-anchored hotel brand, has opened, transforming a historic 1918‑era student dormitory into a 180‑key boutique hotel, doubling the total hotel rooms in town…
Located on historic Nassau Street in the heart of downtown, directly opposite the campus, Graduate Princeton boasts 180 guest rooms and a signature restaurant, Ye Tavern. Paying homage to the town’s rich history, architecture, and design, the opening marks the first new hotel to open in Princeton in nearly 90 years—and only the second hotel in its historic downtown.
Image credit: Andrew Frasz
“When we started Graduate ten years ago, Princeton was at the top of our list,” said Ben Weprin, founder, Graduate Hotels, and Founder & Chief Executive Officer, AJ Capital Partners. “The history, the heritage, the backdrop, the charm, the sophistication — it’s just the idea of what somebody envisions college looks like in America.”
Weprin’s firm, AJ Capital Partners, has meticulously restored, modernised, and expanded the 1918-era, Colonial Revival-style former university dormitory in partnership with architecture firm Stonehill Taylor. Today, Graduate Princeton is a contemporary collegiate-inspired hotel with 6,000 square feet of public space, 180 guest rooms, and a signature bar and restaurant – all designed in the brand’s characteristic hyper-local, vibrant style.
Image credit: Andrew Frasz
“Graduate Princeton provides a welcoming environment for guests to discover the traditions, history and hidden gems that make it one of the most popular university towns in the country,” added Kevin Osterhaus, President, Global Lifestyle Brands, Hilton. “Continuing our reputation for delivering top-tier hospitality, Graduate Princeton is a stellar example of how the brand honours the unique stories of these neighbourhoods and celebrates the passion and nostalgia that guests and fans feel when stepping through the doors of our hotels”.
The interior design invites guests to immerse themselves in the local culture, lore, and traditions. Visitors will discover subtle references to the university and the town’s 275-year history throughout the hotel’s public spaces and guest rooms. Nods to influential alumni, local architecture, and storied traditions synonymous with the Princeton student experience inform every detail of the Graduate Princeton’s design.
Image credit: Andrew Frasz
Upon entering Graduate Princeton’s Gothic-inspired lobby, guests are greeted by a hand-carved wooden reception desk flanked by four wooden statues of the school’s beloved mascot, the Tiger. Floor tiles rendered in Princeton’s signature orange and black anchor the two-story library-like lobby, lined with thousands of books and a collection of colourfully embroidered vintage Reunions Jackets — a token received by alumni at their 25th Reunion. A 30-foot carved wooden study table, a staple in every Graduate, is reminiscent of the historic libraries on campus and serves as a place for visitors and students to study, gather, and connect. The names of Princeton’s storied eating clubs are painted in gold leaf on the library bookcases that frame the space.
On the opposite end of the lobby is Ye Tavern, Graduate Princeton’s signature bar and restaurant, named after a storied 1930s-era bar that once occupied the site. Ye Tavern takes design cues from its namesake: an intricately carved wooden bar—recalling the lancet windows found throughout campus—is a focal point of the space. Stone-topped banquets weave through the centre of the space, punctuated by leather-top tables.
Image credit: Andrew Frasz
In the guest rooms, references to the university’s emblematic color palette are carried through, with orange-and-white seersucker drapes complemented by an apricot-hued carpet. Bedside lamps inspired by the Revolutionary War-era cannon buried behind Nassau Hall sit beside a bespoke, custom wood-carved bed frame featuring hand-drawn illustrations referencing the University’s annual Cane Spree — Princeton’s first organized intramural event dating back to the 1860s. Framed artwork above the desk in every guest room references the storied traditions of the University. Guest bathrooms feature custom wallpaper inspired by the campus’ renowned arboretum, paired with a framed sketch by Albert Einstein, a reference to his time working for Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study, and the unparalleled intellectual legacy that followed.
Main image credit: Andrew Frasz
