The best way to describe the Claremont is tired. I was there recently for a conference and the room was just blah and very small. The bathroom was large, but the shower was tiny, I am only 5' 10" and had to bend to get my head under the water. The business part of the hotel was good, the room was large, their a/v staff was on top of everything and the luncheon meal was good. I wouldn't pick this as a place to vacation.

The property is huge and has a historical charm about it. Perched above Berkeley downtown, among the hills, the building stands out as an icon. The lobby has impressive tall ceilings! The check-in process was slow; waited more than 5 mins in line. My room was on the third floor with views of the bay. Got some great shots of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. I felt that the entire hotel was very well laid out - and felt very spacious and open. Large lobby, hallways, corridors, staircases, (it was nice to not use the elevator and to take the stairs, while also getting views of the hotel), windows (lots of them)! Not sure if I had an accessible room but it was a nice size - for the first time, I had a walk-in closet in a hotel room :) The bathroom was twice the size of a normal hotel bathroom, though it needs updating and the space could be reconfigured to make better use. The room was clean and well appointed (but yes it is dated / not your modern or contemporary look). I enjoyed the room and wouldn't mind returning. The conference space was great and a pleasant surprise (some with nice wall-to-ceiling windows).

Although we really enjoyed our time at the Claremont, I would never again agree to have a room near the elevators. Room number 602 is directly across from the elevator and every time it arrived on our floor (or even the floor below) I could hear the ding. It woke me up at 5:30 in the morning and kept me from taking a much needed nap that afternoon. So beware of this when you first see where your room is located. Despite this, the bar was delicious, the staff friendly and the room was clean and nice. The hotel itself absolutely does have the feel of "The Overlook" from the Jack Nicholson movie The Shining. We were chanting REDRUM the whole weekend.

I stayed there for a weekend with a friend and it was a great overall experience. They have sports, an amazing spa, and a to-die-for view at the bar of the bay. There is not a lot around the property so a rental car is a must unless you want to spend $70-$80 one way into San Francisco for dinner. I imagine this would also be a great space for a wedding party.
Their grab and go breakfast in the morning was more than enough with bagels, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, lattes and coffee, and fresh fruit containers. Also, the hotel was very quiet with a very comfortable bed, which after a long flight from the east coast is a must.
The only reason this did not get 5 stars (or bubbles?) is because they were having serious trouble with the parking system at the time and even though we had a parking pass that was supposed to allow us in and out it didn't work for us or others and was a bit frustrating. Overall, I will stay here again next time I'm in the area.
Only other con was our room only had a shower, so that might be something to ask for if you are looking to soak in a tub.