Edit: In response to the owner’s reply: Our concert did not get cancelled. We did not even attend a concert, so I am not sure what the owner is referring to. Also, I never stated that I was going to give the hotel a terrible review… In fact, in my initial review, I stated the staff was great and tried their best to fix the issues. Additionally, I never even requested a refund… FYI- I always submit reviews to the places I visit, whether it was a positive or negative experience. As an avid traveler, I appreciate reading reviews from other customers, so I try to return the favor. I would never “threaten” a business by claiming to write a negative review. I simply just write my personal experience with the establishment. Original review: First, let me start off by stating that I really wanted to like Hotel Royal Oak. I researched it prior to staying here and thought that it looked like an incredibly cute and quaint renovated hotel. I knew it wasn’t going to be a 5-star premiere stay, but the website made it look significantly better than it was. Upon arriving to the hotel, we went and checked in at the lobby. I thought the atmosphere was cool/retro looking…just like I expected it to be. The front desk attendant was very friendly and nice. When my husband and I arrived at our room, there was an overpowering smell of smoke/weed in the air. The scent was incredibly strong and unbearable. I informed the front desk clerk about this and she was able to move us into another room, which I appreciated. Please note, she was very accommodating and understanding about the situation. Thankfully, the new room did not smell like weed. However, there were several other issues that were just as undesirable. First off, the bathroom was filthy. There was dirt and hair in the shower/tub combo and also debris on the floor. I did inform the front desk (again) and the (same) attendant kindly offered to come and clean it for us. However, afterwards, it still looked dirty, so perhaps that’s just how it is? (see photos). Next, the bathroom door was difficult to shut and did not slide/maneuver properly; it was very janky. Additionally, the tv stand drawer was also broken and would not close all the way. Honestly, everything just appeared to be cheaply made and not the best quality. Finally, the bed was very, very uncomfortable. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever stayed somewhere with such an uncomfortable bed. I almost drove back home (an hour and a half) because the bed was so unpleasant. Also, to top it all off, the hotel was very noisy (pipes making loud noises, building creaking, dripping noises, loud traffic). Overall, Hotel Royal Oak did not accurately represent the vibrant photos and description shown online. The website states that it is a “modern, all-inclusive, resort-type boutique hotel” and that certainly was not at all the experience that my husband and I encountered. The only positive to this experience was the staff, who tried their best to accommodate a very poor experience.

I have nothing but great things to say about my experience! My room was cleaned and put together nicely, my stay was welcomed, and I appreciated the service! I've been here quite a few times, and might I add, each time was wonderfully stayed. Olivia at the front desk was the best part. She treated me with the best professional and courteous attitude, and made me feel comfortable and welcomed into the environment! Shout out to Holly as well, who also kept a professional and positive attitude, as well as contributed to my 5-Star experience! If you haven't had the Hotel Royal Oak experience, I'd recommend!!

Had a fabulous stay here 1/20/24 8 adults stayed 1 night while we were in town for a birthday party Every member of the staff we encountered from booking to checkout was helpful and friendly. It’s clear that they all have a lot of pride in what they’re doing there! The room was cool decorated nicely - the bed was comfortable and the stay was excellent! Thanks team hotel royal oak you made our stay great!

Best experience ever. A very fun hotel with very good service. Came for their Saturday night concert and ended up staying a couple extra nights. Holly at the front desk was so helpful as was her team. Can't wait to come back.

In short: Stay here. Please stay here. This is not only a great place, but well maintained and so worthy of your business. Stayed here a couple days during inclement weather conditions just to be close to work. I have to say—as somebody who avoids AirBNB to stay in actual hotels whenever I can—this was a fabulous experience. The base setup is more akin to a motel, with the complex set up in a two-level horseshoe shape, smoking section in the middle of the lot. Do NOT let that “motel” statement fool you—it’s a 5-star hotel’s approach to an affordable and equitable hospitality model. They literally provide a complimentary breakfast voucher for their neighboring diner. No bugs, no mess, absolutely no issues regarding the cleanliness of the room. Toiletries were provided and the lobby’s receptionist was careful and thorough enough to ensure my bases were covered before so much as stepping out the door to go to my room. I don’t recall their name, but blown away as to the level of service provided. I have literally no reason to stay here again soon, being local, but looking forward to my next excuse to spend a night (or two, or three 👀) here. Thank you for accommodating me on such short notice, best wishes to the whole staff—happy holidays!

Stylish little hotel with awesome customer service! Everything from the lobby to the rooms is modern, put together, clean and inviting. The bed was super comfortable and not lumpy and worn out like the ones you find at many other hotels. The staff were lovely too, genuinely friendly and helpful. Lobby has a fancy coffee machine and all sorts of snacks and other random things you might have forgotten. Can't beat the location either in DTRO! The price is comparable to many budget hotels in the area and the room we had was a little on the smaller side, but the overall experience was so much better! We'll definitely be back next time we're in the area!

Pleasantly surprised. A motel that feels like a hotel. Clean rooms with comfy beds. Vintage decorum that works really well. Creative lounge area in the middle of the property that is very inviting. I would definitely recommend. Not to mention the whole check in on the phone and getting your key on your phone is amazing.

The living worst customer service. Can’t speak enough on that. Holly, the GM hung up the phone twice when trying to express my experience with my stay. Very disappointed and 10/10 would not recommend staying here. The location was great, but there are a couple hotels around that would be able to provide top tier customer service and better rooms.

Friends of ours were in town staying at a relatives house in Royal Oak and were also going to see Laura Rain at the Saturday event at Hotel Royal Oak. Instead of driving back and forth to our home 35 minutes away, we decided to stay the night at Hotel Royal Oak. The hotel has a cool vibe, but I think the rooms could have been remodeled better for the price ($250 king signature). Bed was comfortable, but pillows need upgrading. As with any hotel bathroom, needs a couple hooks. The bathroom barndoor is cheaply done and doesn't close properly. Nice towels, shampoo/conditioner and shower head. Very small vanity, so not much room to put makeup/accessories. The air conditioner kept the room cool, but had to be kept on lowest temp setting, fan only had one mode HIGH, and compressor noise woke me up several times during the night. When I turned the a/c off in the morning to hear the tv, general noise could be heard from outside (cars, voices, etc). The summer concert in the parking lot was nice, nice staff, great location to Main Street and Farmers Market, and nice casual restaurant next door (Village Grill). Also, when staying, check out their Local Perks for discounts or free food items and several restaurants.

My wife and I booked out most of the hotel over the past weekend for us and our wedding guests to stay at for 2 nights and it was PERFECT for a wedding party (about 80 guests). Holly and Mark were extremely accommodative, helpful, and cool folks that took care of our group in every way possible. The courtyard is absolutely ideal for big groups and highly recommend if you're looking to book a block of rooms. It's a unique setup because most hotel block scenarios have you feeling isolated from other guests. The Cafe next door had great diner coffee and quick egg sandwiches for our guests. The rooms were quirky, clean, quiet, and had a unique vibe. The music on Saturday nights is also a cool perk! We recommend booking the entertainment suite if you have a wedding as it is massive and sprawling which is perfect for storing event flowers and other supplies for a wedding day. Thanks for hosting our group!

Check in was great. We received a room on the second floor and brought all of our luggage up only to discover it was not clean. We were quickly given a new room which we were assured had personally been recently checked. It was also not clean. Hair in the tub, balloon and feathers under a bed, surfaces not wiped. In both rooms the beds were the sloppiest I have ever seen in a hotel. Management offered us a third room or refund. I chose the refund and got a cancellation notice but no refund notice. I have called them and they told me if they said they were going to do it, they would do it, but I checked with my bank since it has now been over the week they said it would take, and their is no pending refund. So I have opened a transaction dispute.

I spent a night here and had a pleasant stay. The hotel is a bit different. It’s kind of like a motel model, a bit of a unique room layout and somewhat very retro in places. The staff was super nice and friendly. Overall it was clean and quiet.

My boyfriend and I were in town to see a live podcast, and while the staff was incredibly nice and accommodating, this place just wasn’t for us. When we walked into our first room, we realized that there was stains on our mattress cover. The front desk was more than happy to switch us to a different room, but that also didn’t hit the mark. The bathroom, while clean, had a sliding door with gaps in the sides and the bottom, and did not close completely. There was also stains on the carpet. We ended up checking out after our show. Everyone working here was very kind, it just wasn’t what we were expecting.

Would not recommend. Was told free breakfast at diner next door, was not free-only received $2 off meal. It’s an old motel that has been renovated but is still kind of creepy. Air conditioner ridiculously loud, tv remote didn’t work. It’s a great location nearby a lot of places downtown but that’s really the only highlight.

Hotel Royal Oak is the answer to the question of “What if drive in motels didn’t feel sleazy?”. It’s easy to misjudge this place as your typical motel, but doing so is a disservice to them and a missed opportunity for you. Their rooms are clean and comfortable, and they have character to boot. The walk from downtown Royal Oak is easy and worth it- this place is a great value and the staff are always super pleasant.

Hotel Royal Oak was the designated hotel for my wedding, and they made everything easy! I’ve also stayed there a couple times since personally and have been thoroughly impressed with how clean the rooms, linens, and towels have been. The front desk staff are always fun and looking to be helpful.

Came here just to enjoy an outside music event on the property. We were able to view one of the rooms and use the restroom there. Staff was nice and accommodating, the room we viewed was cute and clean, but I thought a little pricey.

I've stayed here twice now, each room has been unique & lovely! The renovations included keeping the original bathroom tile that elevates the vintage hotel experience. I keep forgetting to take pics of the rooms before I check out, but the outside is a great indicator of the vibes this place gives off. Staff are always very nice & accommodating, & your key (cards available but the remote app key is better) gets you discounts at a couple places. And you can't beat walking distance from downtown Royal Oak 😎 will stay here any chance I can!

This place has the perfect vibe throughout !!! From the front lobby with free suckers in a huge bowl and an excellent selection of snacks to the community chill room with the arcade game . Outside is a fantastic chill spot with fire pits, picnic tables and baggo/corn hole! The room was perfect! Clean and decorated awesomely fun! Bed was comfy! AC worked great! The staff was super friendly and professional ! Just genuinely nice people. The place is very inviting and chill! Definitely going to be back for another long weekend! Absolutely recommend if you are looking for a relaxing atmosphere to stay while in Royal Oak !

This place completely changed my perception of Michigan! I had prior arrangements with multiple other hosts before but boyfriend found this place. The area was amazing, the staff made us feel so welcomed and the rooms were comfortable, clean and the decor was cute. All in all, this hotel and my stay is my reasoning for wanting to revisit Michigan. I think it’s safe to say this is where I’ll be looking for my hotel accommodations every time.

Had a great time staying here. No frills but clean and comfortable rooms. Quirky and fun outdoor gathering space where there was a free concert during our stay. Mobile check in and bluetooth keys were cool. Free breakfast at the diner next door. Walking distance to downtown Royal Oak and the farmers market.

This is such a cute little hotel. It’s one of the cleanest hotels I’ve been to in a very long time. The desk staff is extra friendly.. just everything about this hotel is a vibe. I enjoyed my stay. I will be going back..

Rooms were clean and have some nice modern updates but still have some vintage motel charm. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Gave some recommendations and directions while we were there. And I unfortunately left something behind in the room and didn't realize it until I was home. They were wonderful in helping get it shipped back to me.

Hotel Royal Oak offers a delightful stay with its charming ambiance and attentive staff. The rooms are tastefully decorated. Overall, a pleasant choice for those seeking a relaxed atmosphere in a convenient location.

Even though it may remind you of a motel, it has some cute updates i.e.. outdoor area , fun front desk lobby filled with beverages, snacks, ice cream etc. The rooms are clean and the decor is cheerful. There are some nice updates to the room like a rainfall shower head, and a large desk. However, my room had poor water pressure , poorly installed a/c unit and a severe maintenance issue (hole in baseboard of the bathroom)that should have been fixed before this room was sold. A waste paper basket was used to hide the issue.:( The front desk was nice and helped with dinner reservation inquiries. It's a hotel that is definitely trying to improve its image and worth a visit if you need local accommodations

From the exterior this hotel looked just like the photos online. When we enter the lobby to check in there was another guest complaining of a odor in their room. They were informed that no other rooms were available for the evening however, if they would like to change rooms the following evening that could be arranged. My thought was immediately please do not let my room stink. We were given room 118 we walked in at a glance it did look just like the photos however, upon further inspection, the chairs in the room were dirty from being used they should have been cleaned or replaced a while ago the arms were brown and grimey there was a used sucker stick on the floor and the room smelled strong like mold or possibly like somebody had smoked in there. Knowing that the guest that had checked in prior to our arrival was informed that there were no additional rooms available for the evening. I knew we would be stuck in there. We opened the window and cracked the door to try and air out the room that helped a little the air conditioner also said that the filter needed to be changed so possibly that could be the source of the odor. The smell even followed me home in my CPAP. Also, could not get TV to work. Ac unit was very loud buttons were worn down you could not read the settings, bathroom door was hard difficult to open and close there is no track at the bottom to keep it from swinging around. Curtains do not block out the sun very well overall was underwhelmed with the property. The room was just barely acceptable, based on the price of the room I was expecting it to be much nicer cleaner, and well maintained.

Reply to business: To hit the mark you would have simply just needed to clean the bathroom between guests and have standard bolt locks on the doors... Pros: Friendly front desk staff, convenient location. It's clearly trying to do something cool but definitely missing the mark. Cons: 1. Our room had no bolt lock on the door just handle lock - serious safety issue when the rooms open right to the parking lot. 2. The bathroom was gross. I put a towel down because I didn't want to walk on the floor in my socks/bare feet. We only stayed one night and the towels had dirt marks on them from where they touched the tile floor. 3. There was a pile of wet used towels underneath the sink wrapped around the hair dryer when we arrived. It just didn't seem like the bathroom was thoroughly cleaned. 4. There was no temperature control in our room. There was a thermostat that we had tried all night to set to cool but the room was roasting. Overall, it just was definitely not worth the rates they are currently charging.

We booked this hotel for a company training in Royal Oak. We were drawn to the outside gathering area and location. It was a great decision! The staff was amazing, Holly is a rock star, and Jim the owner is a great guy! We gathered every night outside for hours, and we had a great hospitality room for some of our smaller events. We loved the Saturday night concert (they have them weekly), and the overall experience was wonderful!!

My partner and I stayed here for our anniversary weekend and had a great experience! Super cute retro bathroom and decorative decor in both the lobby and our room which we loved! the staff was super friendly and check in/check out couldn’t have been easier. Will definitely stay here again when visiting royal oak!

To get right to it. The bathroom stole the downtown charismatic experience that the website presents. I wouldn't take a shower there let alone walk bare footed in there. There are cracked tiles. Dirty tiles on the floor and in the SHOWER. It just looked germ infested. The pictures on the website shows great gathering spot outside, and modern head board, sink, shower head, and light fixtures. But the status of thw bathroom ruin it. It was not worth $200.00. It worth $59-$79 like a Motel 6. My family travels the country a lot. We will never stay here again. "Customers beware "

My partner and I found Hotel Royal Oak for a planned night near Ferndale. After being helped by Mark during our check-in and receiving recommendations for food and activities, we decided to stay for two more days and celebrate my partner’s birthday. During the mornings, Olivia ensured we were comfortable. We couldn’t be more pleased with our decision to stay or the experience we had. We highly recommend staying here and will be returning!

My family was in from out of state and booked a room for a few days. Very cute. The facility is nicely maintained, and the rooms are larger than expected. Cute deco decor, and close to the downtown strip.

Enjoyed a three night stay at this unique lodging. Loved the atmosphere provided by attentive, responsive and accommodating staff. Loved the live music and reading material left in the room. 3 stars for the condition of the room though. Furniture needed repairs; chips and broken hinges. Same with the bathroom door. Stains on furniture. Lastly, time to retire that worn king spring mattress! Despite this, you could tell care was taken in making sure all surfaces were wiped and clean. Wrinkled bed sheets were a “meh” too.

I was quite surprised. The hotel is actually very nice. Very modern and artsy. The staff was extremely helpful and nice!! The location is everything!! This has become my favorite hotel!

First, staff was very nice. Now the room; dark and musty. IMO, calling something “boutique” doesn’t change the fact it is a dated motel with window A/C. The online pictures are misleading. Don’t be fooled. Maybe it’s close to hotspots but we moved to the Marriott - 3 miles away for the same price.

They were able to switch us to a first floor room easily, which I really appreciated. My friends are lazy and my sister has a bad knee and we didn't know until we got there that there is no elevator. Cute decor. Fun outdoor stuff; we had a nice little campfire. Walking distance from downtown. Not quite as swanky as the pics suggest (but I mean c'mon, who is?) But overall it's a nice place. You can tell they've put some real effort into fixing up the dump it used to be.

Honestly I liked the casual motel vibe, but in the end this place is just not for me. Service was excellent and they go above and beyond to try and add items to make this motel enticing, but I can’t get over the aged rooms, bathrooms, road noise and thin walls. Traveling for work, I really wanted to find a hidden jewel, but Hotel Royal Oak won’t make the list for my next trip. Note - Young’s Chinese food a few buildings down was serviceable but not great

Nice newly remodeled hotel/motel. Rooms are modern and clean. I will stay here again. Forgot to add that the breakfast next door was really good and the attendants in the lobby at night and in the morning were super helpful and very friendly.

The hotel was very cute, comfy, and clean. It’s a quick walk to downtown at a decent price. I love the contactless check-in and Bluetooth room key capability. Will definitely be staying here again over the summer!

Very pleasantly surprised and an incredible value. You would not think for the price we paid you'd have such a lovely accommodations. Our suite was cleaned well and turned down well. Everything in the hotel was pretty clean actually.

Room was clean and very comfy. The employees were all super helpful. We loved the live music on Saturday and the location was perfect! Overall, a great experience!

We stayed here for my sisters wedding this past weekend and we LOVED it! The place is hip, clean, and unique in all the right ways. While there, we were able to text a number for any questions or needs we might have, instead of having to walk down to the lobby! As an introvert, this was amazing. We were within walking distance of everything, the hospitality was incredible, and everyone was super friendly! Recommend to anyone looking for a fun weekend getaway :)