by Hilton Lincoln
Mid-century modern college-town boutique. Playful and deliberately nostalgic without tipping into kitsch. Wood paneling, plaid carpets, emerald velvet sofas, arcade games in the lobby, and a tiki bar. It feels like the coolest dorm common room you never had.
Game-day Saturdays pack the Single Barrel bar early — arrive by noon if you want a seat before kickoff
Why It Matters
The most design-intentional hotel in Lincoln by a mile. Where other properties hang generic art, Graduate Lincoln commissions corn-print Dorothy Draper wallpaper riffs and names meeting rooms after legendary Husker coaches Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne. The Johnny Carson front desk alone is worth a photo stop.
A 16-story, 231-room boutique hotel planted right in Lincoln's historic Haymarket District, about a half-mile walk from Memorial Stadium. Graduate by Hilton Lincoln is Nebraska head-to-toe: corn-print curtains, rollerskate-shaped bedside lamps, elevator floors papered in vintage Nebraska postcards, and a front desk modeled on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show set. It opened in June 2017 as part of the Graduate Hotels college-town concept, and every detail — down to the room keycards styled as student IDs of famous UNL alums like Carson, Gabrielle Union, and Kool-Aid inventor Edwin Perkins — earns its place.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Deluxe Queen Room
Larger than the standard queen configuration, with the same Nebraska-themed mid-century modern design language. Guests note these rooms feel spacious with good A/C — a plus in Nebraska summers. Includes all standard in-room amenities plus sofa seating.
Queen
Game Suite
One of Graduate Lincoln's signature room types, featuring in-room vintage arcade games alongside the standard suite layout. The outdoor lounge area off this suite is a highlight. A genuinely fun room if you're traveling with kids or just want to lean all the way into the hotel's college-town ethos.
KingJunior Suite, King Bed with Balcony
Junior suite configuration with a king bed and private balcony. Upper-floor balcony rooms can face toward Memorial Stadium — worth requesting at booking. Includes the standard Graduate Lincoln in-room design package.
KingKing Suite
A step up in space with a separate lounge area. Gallery photos show a generous sitting room with mid-century furnishings, plus an upgraded bathroom. Good option for longer stays or when you want room to breathe. Some suites include balconies with picnic furniture and portable bars.
KingStandard King Guest Room
The baseline room at Graduate Lincoln, and still thoroughly Nebraska. Wood paneling, plaid carpet, corn-print curtains, a portrait of Husker quarterback Brook Berringer above the desk, and a vintage-style TV doubling as a nightstand — an homage to Johnny Carson. All rooms include free WiFi, microwave, minifridge, flat-screen TV, air conditioning, and laptop-safe. Bathrooms are on the small side; past guests flag this consistently.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Complimentary bikes available at the front desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Lincoln has over 130 miles of trails, many paved, and the Haymarket District and campus are very bikeable.
The pool deck on the second floor expands through sliding glass doors into an outdoor rooftop game area with foosball and ping pong tables. Best in summer. A genuinely fun, underrated amenity that most guests don't discover on their own.
The hotel converted part of its former restaurant space into TopGolf Swing Suites — indoor big-screen golf simulators with adjacent lounge areas. Good for groups and corporate events.
The lobby is stocked with vintage pinball machines and arcade games — a central part of the Graduate Hotels brand DNA. Open to guests and draws students and locals alike for casual hangouts.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Seven locally inspired event spaces totaling over 15,000 sq ft. Includes the Ardis Ballroom (up to 650 guests), Scarlet Ballroom (3,300+ sq ft, up to 240 guests), Perkins Room (up to 150 guests), Legends Ballroom, and the Osborne meeting room. Named after Nebraska football coaches and local legends.
Complimentary WiFi throughout guestrooms and public spaces. Premium WiFi available as part of the Experience the Stay package or for Hilton Honors members.
Hilton Honors members can use the Digital Key feature via the Hilton app for keyless room entry.
Dry cleaning and laundry services available on-site.
Pets welcome — up to two pets per room, max 150 lbs each. Non-refundable fee of $75 per stay. Large pets accepted.
On-site concierge available for local recommendations, event tickets, and area guidance.
Second-floor indoor pool surrounded by sliding glass doors that open out to the rooftop game deck. Guests describe it as an open atrium pool. Available year-round.
On-site covered and secured parking garage with in-and-out privileges. $25 per day. Valet is not available.
Complimentary airport shuttle to/from Lincoln Municipal Airport available during limited hours. Contact the hotel after booking to arrange pickup using details in your confirmation.
On-site EV charging available for guests.
Located on the second floor. Open around the clock for guests. No spa services, but solid gym access for a mid-scale property.
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