The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Discovering The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection: A Pittsburgh Gem

Nestled in the heart of Pittsburgh's vibrant Oakland neighborhood, The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection, offers an exceptional blend of sophistication, comfort, and local charm. This upscale boutique hotel, situated at 5130 Bigelow Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, is a destination in itself, providing an unparalleled experience for both leisure and business travelers.

Main Services

• Accommodation: The Oaklander boasts 186 stylish guest rooms and suites, each designed to reflect the city's industrial heritage while offering modern amenities. Guests can choose from room types ranging from the cozy "Bunk Bed Room" to the spacious "Oaklander Suite," ensuring a perfect fit for every need.
• Dining: The hotel is home to Alto-Revo, a contemporary restaurant helmed by acclaimed Chef Jessica Large, offering a seasonally inspired menu that highlights local ingredients. The adjacent Alto-Revo Bar serves craft cocktails and an extensive wine list in a lively, upscale atmosphere.
• Meeting and Event Spaces: The Oaklander features over 2,500 square feet of flexible event space, perfect for hosting meetings, weddings, and social gatherings. The dedicated event planning team ensures a seamless experience, from initial booking to the final event details.
• Fitness Center and Amenities: Guests can maintain their fitness routines in the 24-hour fitness center, equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength training machines. In-room amenities include luxurious bedding, high-end bath products, and smart TVs with streaming capabilities.

Location and Access

The Oaklander's location in the Oakland neighborhood puts it within easy reach of many of Pittsburgh's top attractions, including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Phipps Conservatory, and the University of Pittsburgh. The hotel is just a short drive from downtown Pittsburgh, offering guests the best of both worlds – a vibrant, urban setting with quick access to the city's cultural and entertainment hubs.

For those traveling by car, the hotel provides valet parking with in-and-out privileges. Alternatively, guests can use the nearby public transportation options, such as the Port Authority bus lines or the light rail system, to explore the city. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is approximately 20 miles away, and the hotel offers shuttle services upon request.

Featured Characteristics

The Oaklander Hotel stands out for its unique blend of historical and contemporary design elements, creating an atmosphere that is both inviting and inspiring. Some of the hotel's most notable features include:

• Artwork and Décor: Throughout the hotel, guests will find an impressive collection of locally inspired art and unique furniture pieces, many of which are created by local artisans and designers.
• Outdoor Spaces: The hotel's rooftop terrace, The Oaklander's Backyard, offers stunning views of the city, providing an ideal setting for relaxation or socializing.
• Sustainable Practices: The Oaklander is committed to sustainable operations, implementing eco-friendly practices such as energy-efficient lighting, water-saving fixtures, and locally sourced food offerings.

Practical Information

The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection, is open year-round, offering guests a memorable experience in every season. Check-in time is 4:00 PM, and check-out is 11:00 AM. The hotel is pet-friendly, with no additional fees for pets under 50 pounds. High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and business services, including printing and faxing, are offered at the front desk.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

With an average rating of 4.3/5 on Google My Business, based on 368 reviews, The Oaklander Hotel receives high praise for several aspects of its operations:

• Staff and Service: Many guests commend the friendly, attentive, and efficient service provided by the hotel staff, noting that they went above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay.
• Food and Drink: Alto-Revo and Alto-Revo Bar receive consistent accolades for their creative menus, delicious offerings, and excellent cocktail programs.
• Design and Atmosphere: Guests rave about the hotel's unique, inviting decor and the overall ambiance, which successfully blends historic charm with modern comforts.
• Location: The convenient location in the Oakland neighborhood is praised for its proximity to attractions, dining options, and public transportation.

In conclusion, The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection, offers an unparalleled experience for travelers seeking a sophisticated, locally inspired accommodation in the heart of Pittsburgh. With its exceptional services, unique design elements, and commitment to sustainability, this boutique hotel truly stands out as a gem in the Pittsburgh hospitality scene.

👍 Reviews of The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection

John T.

3/5

This is our 2nd trip and 2nd time at the oaklander. A little more disappointed the 2nd time with the overall experience but I still think it’s the best higher end hotel in the area. Bell staff and front desk staff were great! Restaurant staffing needs and cleaning staff have room to improve. I’m a platinum Marriott member who stays in a lot of Marriott properties, mainly Marriott's higher end resorts and hotels and I have to say one of the trends lately that’s been frustrating across the board has been cleanliness and the restaurants staffing at the properties. We traveled with 2 kids and within 5 minutes of checking into our room our soon was holding 2 pills in his hand that he had found on the bathroom floor and our daughter found a sugar packet near the bed from a guests previous stay. I understand mistakes happen but I feel that I’ve noticed a trend lately at my stays at other marriotts as well that I feel it was worth a post when you’re spending 57k points on a one night stay. The hotel restaurant staff was very pleasant but they appeared to be understaffed for the weekend along with the food being just OK for the prices that were being charged. Either way I’d stay at the property again as this was my second stay and the first stay was flawless.

jeff H.

As a Marriott platinum member, I was disappointed at what was supposed to be a four-star hotel. I had stayed here previously and did not have any problems whatsoever, but this week-long visit was one thing after another. Some things might seem petty, but when you've traveled to Marriott properties for years, you come to expect a level of excellence and consistency. I have only complained two other times where there were insect problems on the properties, on the higher floors nonetheless. |On day one, arriving at the Oaklander, we found that the desk chair in our room still had food crumbs in it and what appeared to be pet hair all over it. Keep in mind that this is a pet-friendly hotel, and if you are not into sleeping where other people's animals' pet dander, hair, and rear ends have been on the carpet and furniture, then I'd find a hotel where pets are not allowed. I find it quite disgusting, but that's strictly my opinion. |Room service came up and vacuumed the chair for us, but we still placed a towel over it as it appeared to be stained. On different days, you received different surprises with room service. Some days, they took the towels; another day, they took the towels and didn't leave any; another day, they left their cleaning rag between the shower and the sink; also, on the the first evening, we found out the body wash was empty. We typically hang our towels up to reuse them from a common sense and environmental standpoint. The majority of Marriott hotels ask if you want to keep your towels to hang them up. You never knew what you would walk into later in the evening. |Thursday morning was probably the biggest thing to happen that has never happened at a Marriott property for me and the main reason why I decided to go ahead and list all of the inconsistencies. We got ready to go out for the day, and the perfume my daughter had just purchased from Wildcard Gift Shop two days before was missing. We both knew what was in the brown bag, which was kept on the desk in the room placed up against the wall. We searched everywhere for it and did not find it. We even looked in the trashcan that had not been emptied from the day before. We know mistakes can happen, but where the bag was placed, there was no reason for anyone to think it was trash and to discard it unless they were going through all of the items on the desk. Unfortunately, with this many problems, that was our last stay at the Oaklander. My daughter asked why I stayed there in the first place, and I told her that I had a great experience with the Oaklander a couple of years ago. |I went to the hotel website to send this message and concerns to their team, but there is nowhere on the website to contact them via email. There are also lots of hotels in the University of Pittsburgh area.

Michael H.

As we were setting up a new home in Pittsburgh, we stayed at The Oaklander Hotel on numerous occasions - more than anticipated when our furniture didn't deliver as expected. What really stood out to us was how consistently amazing the staff were from management to the front line and from the valets to the housekeepers. Clearly there is a sense of pride in the service provided at this hotel. In particular we wanted to mention Autumn who works as a bartender. We took most of our dinners at the bar and received exceptional service from her. The hotel itself is thoughtfully designed with limited but nice amenities such as the gym. Funny, we never saw anyone use the podcast studio...LOL. The rooms felt spacious and were comfortable - high end but not luxury. It is located very close to the campuses of Pitt and CMU and only a short drive from the other areas of town we visited. Only downside is that if you're looking for a room with a view, we never had one - always looking at the side of a building or a parking lot.

MVWinterlot

The Oaklander Hotel is one of the coolest Autograph Collection hotels I've experienced. It's in a great part of Pittsburgh in Oakland, right beside Pitt, and convenient to Carnegie Mellon, too. There are bunches of restaurants and attractions nearby. The rooftop restaurant/bar is top-notch, too, with a great view and selection of food. The rooms are really spacious and the bathrooms are excellent - showers with doors, and separate toilet rooms!! ||But, as is often the case, it's the people that make a property memorable, and that's certainly the case here. From check-in on the 10th floor with JeLynn, it was an awesome stay. She remembered me from a previous stay eight months prior, but was so kind and service-oriented throughout our interaction. She's always so friendly and positive, making everyone feel welcomed. There was a long line when a bunch of us arrived at the same time, but she and her co-worker were able to get us all taken care of in record time! She's a definite pleasure.||In my room, I had a slight issue with the cooling, so I went back up and engaged JeLynn. She immediate got the engineer, Chris, on the case. And again, people make the difference. Chris was able to quickly diagnose the issue, and get it resolved quickly. I was most appreciative, because it meant I didn't need to change rooms. Little things, but because he was so thorough and diligent, it let me focus on other things. He was incredibly nice and pleasant while he worked the issue. ||Lastly, I'd like to recognize John, who was all over the place, but mainly in the lower lobby as you came in and went out. He was always, and I mean ALWAYS interacted with guests, asking us about our day or if he could help in any way. He was so genuine about it, you naturally wanted to stop and chat with him. To have him in a customer-facing role is a huge advantage for this property, because he really does enhance the overall property experience. Like the others, he's a hospitality asset, and it made for a fantastic stay. I would come back to this hotel over and over again if I could because of how nice it is, but mainly for the hospitality poured out on you from the entire team. ||I also received a wonderful note and dessert plate from the front office manager, Peggy White. She deserves the gift for the absolutely fantastic service her people provide! Even if the Oaklander costs a tiny bit more than the other properties in the area, I believe you'll see and feel the difference!

Mark

Positive: The staff is what made the hotel so fantastic. The girl at the checkout was amazing. The bar and restaurant staff were beyond great. In room dining personnel were fantastic. Negative: Very expensive parking, especially since there?s a better option directly across the street. The rooms are nice but a lot of rooms (like mine) look out onto a wall or window of super close, adjacent building.

Rodney P.

3/5

My family stayed at The Oakland 11/15 until 11/18 when we left. The hotel was outstanding and the staff was great while we were there. John who took us to our room was outstanding and was great to us every day we saw him. I would have given the hotel a 5-star review. However, our experience has been ruined by how the staff has handled the items that I left behind. I understand that it was my fault that I left the items behind but if house keeping and the inspector of the room had done their jobs my items would have been found before I got home and discovered I had left them behind. I called within 6 hours of leaving the hotel and have gotten the run around since. This was on Monday, I finally received a call on Saturday to be informed they couldn't find my items. We paid a lot of money to stay there and the hotel should protect our belongings if left behind. I was told the procedures they have in place for left behind items. They were not followed, which means my items are lost for good. I can't seem to get any management to call me back. Again, I understand it was my fault that I left items behind, but if this was handled better and in a timely manner. I would have my items. I will stay there again because the hotel itself was awesome and the location was great. I'm just sorry that the upper management doesn't treat their guest as well as the staff does when you are there. We are still your customers even after you get our money.

Abby L.

This is our second stay at the Oaklander. It’s great especially if your focus is the university or want to be near Shadyside or Squirrel Hill. We got upgraded as a platinum for the second time ( several days before check in on the app) to a room with a view of soldiers and sailors. We went with pts instead of breakfast bc there’s not much to offer for those with dietary and allergy issues. I think it’s a croissant and yogurt as a choice. The woman who checked us in was so nice and helpful and gave us drink coupons.|It was raining and I recall last time there was a golf umbrella in the wardrobe.. when I asked at check in if they were in the rooms the woman told us they weren’t in the room but she would grab us one from behind the counter. She realized they didn’t have anymore and said housekeeping would bring up one to the room. I appreciated the offer.|A while later a man knocked on the door; his personal phone was absolutely blasting music and a game he was playing and he yelled over to me and said “isn’t there one in your closet?” I looked just in case and no of course there wasn’t. He basically threw the thing at me. He was rude af and I didn’t appreciate his vibe as I was certainly planning on tipping.|Other than that, it’s a nice place and the rest of the staff is super accommodating.

Courtney C.

5/5

We had our wedding at The Oaklander in October and we truly had the best experience from start to finish! We were wowed by Becky when touring, Lauren was incredible throughout the entire planning process as well as the day of the wedding, Caitlin made room block booking so easy, Charles and John helped the day run seamlessly. Truly the entire team at the hotel amazed us with their kindness, attention to detail, and ability to make the day happen. Our guests raved about the entire experience from location to the rooms to the food. We cannot recommend The Oaklander or their staff enough, truly so thankful for everyone!!

Alvin S.

4/5

Great hotel in the heart of Pitt. Spacious rooms and an affordable price. Close to everything. Only gripe was the restaurant in the hotel is to really kid friendly, but there are plenty of places to eat around the hotel. If you don’t valet, you can park in the garage across the street. You may run into an issue as you try to load your luggage outside the hotel as parking is limited. The attendant helped us figure out where to park the car while we loaded our luggage as we checked out (family of 4).

Rebecca R.

5/5

The Oaklander was a very nice hotel. We stayed there for a few nights and it's was very relaxing. There is plenty of grass nearby for pets, and overall it is such a nice hotel. If you happen to came across a book that says autograph collection on it in your room, the Oaklander is #176😊

B_BGnome

Quirky in all the right ways, this hotel sits pretty in a charming part of town. Check-in and the restaurant are perched on the top floor. Fantastic little piece of furniture that the suitcase rests on with clothes drawers below. The closet even came with a just-in-case umbrella. Breakfast was delish, however the night time food choices at the bar need to be less upscale, and more like typical bar food. Oh and a sign pointing to the garage for valet would save a loop around the block.

FaithDriven

As a Marriott platinum member, I was disappointed at what was supposed to be a four-star hotel. I had stayed here previously and did not have any problems whatsoever, but this week-long visit was one thing after another. Some things might seem petty, but when you've traveled to Marriott properties for years, you come to expect a level of excellence and consistency. I have only complained two other times where there were insect problems on the properties, on the higher floors nonetheless. |On day one, arriving at the Oaklander, we found that the desk chair in our room still had food crumbs in it and what appeared to be pet hair all over it. Keep in mind that this is a pet-friendly hotel, and if you are not into sleeping where other people's animals' pet dander, hair, and rear ends have been on the carpet and furniture, then I'd find a hotel where pets are not allowed. I find it quite disgusting, but that's strictly my opinion. |Room service came up and vacuumed the chair for us, but we still placed a towel over it as it appeared to be stained. On different days, you received different surprises with room service. Some days, they took the towels; another day, they took the towels and didn't leave any; another day, they left their cleaning rag between the shower and the sink; also, on the the first evening, we found out the body wash was empty. We typically hang our towels up to reuse them from a common sense and environmental standpoint. The majority of Marriott hotels ask if you want to keep your towels to hang them up. You never knew what you would walk into later in the evening. |Thursday morning was probably the biggest thing to happen that has never happened at a Marriott property for me and the main reason why I decided to go ahead and list all of the inconsistencies. We got ready to go out for the day, and the perfume my daughter had just purchased from Wildcard Gift Shop two days before was missing. We both knew what was in the brown bag, which was kept on the desk in the room placed up against the wall. We searched everywhere for it and did not find it. We even looked in the trashcan that had not been emptied from the day before. We know mistakes can happen, but where the bag was placed, there was no reason for anyone to think it was trash and to discard it unless they were going through all of the items on the desk. Unfortunately, with this many problems, that was our last stay at the Oaklander. My daughter asked why I stayed there in the first place, and I told her that I had a great experience with the Oaklander a couple of years ago. |I went to the hotel website to send this message and concerns to their team, but there is nowhere on the website to contact them via email. There are also lots of hotels in the University of Pittsburgh area.

mikeindc1969

As we were setting up a new home in Pittsburgh, we stayed at The Oaklander Hotel on numerous occasions - more than anticipated when our furniture didn't deliver as expected. What really stood out to us was how consistently amazing the staff were from management to the front line and from the valets to the housekeepers. Clearly there is a sense of pride in the service provided at this hotel. In particular we wanted to mention Autumn who works as a bartender. We took most of our dinners at the bar and received exceptional service from her. The hotel itself is thoughtfully designed with limited but nice amenities such as the gym. Funny, we never saw anyone use the podcast studio...LOL. The rooms felt spacious and were comfortable - high end but not luxury. It is located very close to the campuses of Pitt and CMU and only a short drive from the other areas of town we visited. Only downside is that if you're looking for a room with a view, we never had one - always looking at the side of a building or a parking lot.