The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection

Walking distance to University of Pittsburgh. Great staff. Clean and spacious

My wife and I have recommended this hotel to others in the past - but after multiple stays in which things have gone downhill, I think we're done with it entirely now.

This past weekend (checking in Friday, June 12; checking out Sunday, June 14) was the end.

When I checked in, another guest was at the front desk requesting a fan. The person checking me in seemed involved with that, so they didn't seem concerned with filling me in.
It turned out, however, that the air-conditioning was broken for the entire hotel.

After around a half-hour, I really started to notice the heat and humidity in my room. My wife was arriving later (after a difficult air-travel day), so I went back to the front counter to inquire about the AC.

This time, there was one couple checking in with the person I had spoken to. and that couple was given extensive detail about the AC issue. When it was my turn, I noted that I had just checked in and got none of that detail. She told me then that there was no way of knowing when the AC would be fixed, but if it wasn't fixed by 6 p.m., there would be a discount; or, if we chose to leave, there would be no charge.

Something, at least.

A little while later, the AC kicked on. Excellent!

I set the AC as low as possible to cool things off. The AC was actually set to 62 degrees from Friday evening to Sunday morning.

Despite that, the coolest it got was 68 degrees on Sunday morning.

Midway through the day on Saturday afternoon, it was around 77 as we were trying to get dressed for a wedding. (There were actually two wedding parties staying at the hotel for the weekend, all dealing with poor AC at a supposedly "luxury" hotel).

We called back to the front desk about 1 p.m. Saturday, and they expressed shock that our room was not cooler because the AC had been fixed. A few minutes after our call, the room began to cool to a reasonable temp (though, again, never anywhere near the actual temp it was set to).

My wife decided the hotel was intentionally turning off the AC to try to save money. I decided that they weren't being intentionally malevolent, but rather they were just inept.

Either way, the hotel absolutely failed to live up to what it had once been. We won't be recommending or returning again.

Also of note:
- The hotel website notes its Spirits and Tales restaurant is open for lunch on Saturday and Sunday. But don't be fooled into thinking that means you can order lunch on Saturday; they only have their brunch menu (which is almost identical to their breakfast menu. The salads and sandwiches on their lunch menu are not available.) That said, at least we could get into the restaurant this time. On a previous stay, we arrived to discover the entire restaurant and bar had been booked by another party, so we had to go elsewhere for a drink.
- The hotel's other restaurant, Cork and Crust, is also not open for lunch on Saturday or Sunday. So if you do want lunch on the weekend, don't expect to get it at this hotel. (The pizza I purchased Friday night was fine; I wasn't a big fan of the non-traditional Margherita pizza (with pesto and slices of garlic), but I'm picky about pizza.)
- The carpet in our room was fraying. The mini-bar refrigerator was empty.
- Apparently, the hotel was used as an overflow space for students from the University of Pittsburgh in recent times. That may explain why things are a little worn. But the idea that I'm paying luxury hotel prices for a glorified dormitory is a little much for me.

The one positive is the man working the desk downstairs at the Lower Lobby. He's been there for a number of years, and he always remembers my wife and I (even if it's been a while since we were last there). He's kind, friendly, and helpful. The parking valets are always fast and friendly too, but the main guy at the desk really does an excellent job.

Relaxing and warm atmosphere

Very friendly and helpful staff.

location is great when visiting UPitt. room was spacious, modern, and clean. nice view of the campus.

My daughter attends UPitt. Every time I roll into town, this is the only hotel I choose for a variety of reasons. First, the customer service is top notch. Their check in team is staffed with the same consistent reps which is nice because Je'lynn seems to recognize me every time and always greets me with a wide smile and a warm but impactful welcome back. Second, the food on the 10th floor is amazing. My daughter loves the generous pancake stack while my favorites are the french dip sandwich, french onion soup, most of the breakfast items, and even the simple salad is delicious. When I went this past week, I noticed a new restaurant on the first floor but haven't tried it yet but the other hotel guests said the pizza was fantastic. Third, the rooms are terrific, great beds, plush towels and a well appointed bathroom with Le Labo toiletries. Overall, the Oaklander is a high end experience with a reasonable price tag. The absolute best hotel on campus.

Excellent location to campus, beautiful room and excellent staff!

The location was great