Graduate by Hilton Dallas

The Graduate was beautiful and extremely clean! Everything is updated and fresh !|Our room was super cute and SMU themed. Loved the large shower and amenities. ||The staff is very friendly and meet your needs. |The pool is welcoming and towels are already waiting for you.

Very disappointing. The concept is great and the decor is fantastic. The service, not so much. I am a diamond member but got no information about benefits. I booked a room with campus view but was put in a room overlooking the pool, with no explanation. It was not ready when I checked in at 3 (apparently check in is an unusually late 4 pm). I had only decaffeinated coffee and left a note for housekeeping to please leave coffee with caffeine… it was ignored (the note was untouched, along with the coffee setup that had clearly been used). The toilet had gunk and blood on the seat when I checked in, and the cleaning job the next day missed a lot (they appear to have only made the bed and emptied the trash). The location is great if you’re going to SMU, but the Highland is similarly close and SO much better.

Disappointing Stay – Not Worth the Price or Points I’m a long-time Hilton Diamond member and frequent international business traveler. I stayed at Graduate by Hilton Dallas expecting a premium boutique experience, especially at $450/night or 80,000 Hilton Honors points. Unfortunately, the stay didn’t meet expectations. Check-in was polite but underwhelming. I inquired about my Diamond benefits, and while the front desk promised a follow-up, no one got back to me — even after passing by the desk twice. The room smelled like fresh paint and, while decorated nicely with SMU themes, lacked modern touches. No in-room coffee maker (just instant), no complimentary bottled water (standard for Diamond status), and poor shower water pressure. Breakfast was the biggest letdown: $5 for basic coffee, $10 for a small oatmeal with plastic utensils, and no continental or buffet options. Even Hampton Inn offers more — for free. I used the $15 food credit, but still felt it wasn’t worth it. Thankfully, I avoided the $40 valet fee by parking elsewhere. Overall, the hotel’s only real advantage is its location right next to SMU. It might be suitable for campus visits or graduation weekends and diehard Mustang fans, but for the price and as a Hilton property, it falls short. I’d rather stay 10 minutes away at another Hilton and enjoy the free parking and breakfast.

Grossly disappointed for what was once the “it” hotel near SMU. We decided to stay here and what a bad idea. The hotel switched ownership and it shows. From start to finish it has been a mess. First check in, where our room was not ready…our fault, we were early but as we sat in the lobby patiently waiting we watched people call for the manager and be immediately placed in rooms ahead of us. Then they tried to give us a smaller room in order to get us into our room, which we declined. When we got into our room it was ok, special. Though we were told it had a lovely balcony. A balcony that looks out at an alley with the trash. There is clearly water damage on the ceiling, the shower does not drain properly, no towel racks in bathroom….the list could go on. The lobby is lacking, the restaurant is closed. The hotel sounds haunted as the elevator makes a hideous noise when someone is on it which can be heard all night in the rooms. Overall clearly not impressed, Hilton has a lot to do to bring it back to its glory. I’ll stay elsewhere next time.

My room had NO WINDOW!!!! I consider this a safety hazard. There was only the one door from the hallway (There is a door for the adjoining room. Since I just had the one room, the door is locked and could not be used in an emergency.). Looking at the the map on the back of the door you can see that my room is an interior room. I had no idea something like this could even be legal.

VERY comfortable bed! This was my first time staying at a Graduate Hotel. I wish the food options of a hotel were better, but I loved the hotel itself. I will return!

The new Graduate Dallas is awesome! While I did not attend SMU, the Graduate makes me wish that I had. This is a very cool and unique hotel located directly across the street from SMU. From check in to check out the experience has been incredible. Gilbert at the front desk and Jill the General Manager are top notch and they clearly take pride in their property and the experience they provide. I cannot wait to go back to try the new Los Charros Restaurant and enjoy a cool drink out by their pool. I highly recommend staying here if you are ever in Dallas

Stayed here for one night and even ate at the Los Charros. Every employee that I have met with from the hotel, restaurant, and valet, were SUPER sweet! I had a room without a window and it still felt super homey! The shower was AMAZING! Can’t wait to spend a longer weekend here!

Can't believe we are the first yelp review for this hotel. We have loved staying at The Graduate in other cities. Trying to visit all of them. Decor - can't beat it. Best vibes ever. Every last detail was perfection. Pool had a sign that said "no loud noises" - do they hate children? Lololol Parked in the street so we didn't for valet = winning.