In the summer of 2025, Claremont Resort & Club celebrates 110 years of East Bay legacy which means that for more than a century, Claremont has been undeniably synonymous with premium standards, cool luxury, beloved traditions, local culture and, most importantly, esteemed history. Tucked at the foot of Berkeley Hills, “Claremont” – as locals prefer to refer to it as – has been home to graduation festivities, birthday dinners, anniversary weekends…and even more souvenirs marking life’s greatest milestones.

As General Manager Edward Roe explained, “Claremont is a place where our guests have a special story that’s personal to them. And we love being a part of those important moments.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jetset Times (@jetsettimes)

Around 1870, William Butler Thornburgh built a massive home in the Berkeley Hills, which he referred to as “the castle.” After he passed away in 1878, the estate was bought by John Ballard who lived on the property with his family until a wildfire annihilated the house on July 14, 1901.

Four years later, it was sold to Louis Titus with Claremont Hotel Company and the era of “white castle on the hills” officially commenced though construction occurred throughout a decade, eventually leading up to the hotel opening in 1915. Just in time to host attendees at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

Sitting at the base of Claremont Canyon within the Berkeley Hills, Claremont Resort & Club is situated at the cross of Claremont and Ashby Avenues. The neighborhood has often been associated with affluence and family-friendly residents that enjoy upscale and outdoor activities. Edging both Berkeley and Oakland, the hotel is perched at the elevation of 400 feet (120 meters) which allows for the ultimate panoramic views of the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

Sprawled over 22 acres of land, Claremont Resort & Club radiates historic majesty and modern sophistication. The building is mainly made of wood. Particularly its 160-feet tower in the center, is recorded as one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world.

The 19th century architecture is true to Tudor Revival style, inspired by the late medieval English elements of steeply pitched roofs, striking chimneys, and multi-paned windows. The White Castle on the Hills exudes romanticism from earlier English designs, glamorous yet cozy like a countryside cottage or charming akin to a grand manor home.

With a vast collection of 276 guest rooms and suites, there are numerous choices offered to every traveler’s various needs. From Classic Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Bay View Rooms to Signature Bay View Rooms; each is accompanied by high-tech equipment and country-style welcoming comfort.

The series of suites span from Junior Suites, One Bedroom Suites, One Bedroom Bay View Suites, Tower Bay View Suites to the Signature Bay View One Bedroom Suite. Every spacious home away from home highlights spectacular views of San Francisco, as well as abiding green ethos that reflect upon Bay Area’s sustainable initiatives.

Claremont Resort & Club offers a wide selection of food and beverage options, emblematic of California’s gastronomical influence across the globe. Limewood is the hotel’s main restaurant, showcasing Chef Joseph Paire’s award-winning dishes as he whips up Californian favorites with lavish flair.

The Smoked Salmon Soft Scramble, for instance, is taken to a silken level with the addition of salmon roe and by using cage-free eggs. The Shrimp & Grits and Fried Chicken Waffles are unequivocally aromatic and savory, the perfect balance invites guests to journey through the American south. One can’t start a meal at Limewood without a batch of fresh oysters. Sweet, earthy, floral. Beautifully representative of the general Claremont experience.

East Bay Provisions is the hotel’s cozy café, serving artisan-roasted coffee in a relaxed and welcoming ambiance. The fragrance of buttered pastries, handmade for the day, is irresistible to any visitor with a sweet tooth. If it’s wine o’clock, there are also local wines available right on the rustic chic wall.

The Club at the Claremont is, by far, one of the best in California. It’s also what sets the hotel apart from other luxury options and resorts in the Bay Area. Booking a stay at the hotel also grants the all-encompassing access to a wide array of activities and classes, including: yoga, swimming in three outdoor pools, hitting balls in eight tennis courts and four pickleball courts.

The state-of-the-art fitness center is equipped with free weight room, in-cycling studios, Pilates and Kinesis Studio, locker rooms with dry saunas and steam rooms. For those who wish to hit a certain fitness goal, training with USPTA-certified instructors is also an option.

The Club focuses on families, especially those with children by offering Kids’ Club. Catered to younger travelers, there are movie nights, summer camps, different sports lessons…and much more. Need a babysitter? Claremont Resort & Club guests can receive up to three hours of complimentary child care, so parents can indulge in a much needed break.

There are very few institutions in the United States that not only have persevered through natural disasters but continue to behold memories of celebrations. Over the last century, Claremont Resort & Club has become a treasure trove of achievements and sweet moments between loved ones. There’s a reason why Claremont has remained near and dear to those who have stepped foot inside the white castle on the hills. There’s simply nowhere else like it, certainly not in the bay.