The Varsity Hotel & Spa

Rooftop bar, not common around these parts. When the weather is nice, can’t be beat. Get a Pimms pitcher for 4, £40. Sirloin steak sammich is £15.50 and is an actual steak, not steak shavings. Limited beer selection, mostly a cocktail bar.

My friend took me to the rooftop bar for the sunset on a visit to Cambridge. It was a gorgeous sunny day so we knew the sunset would be good
She’d been a few times before for the sunset and has had the same gripes time and time again — but you just can’t beat the view
You can’t book a table so we turned up at 7. We were told it was fully booked until 7.30 so we’d need to come back. On our walk past we could see all the seats were empty so questioned this and he then explained it was because there was a private function that would be finishing soon — coulda just said that! He was a bit odd and rude so we phoned and the lady said that we would be able to go straight up so we went back
On arrival it was absolutely freezing and we were dressed for drinks however we were able to choose a seat with a gorgeous view and they brought over blankets. I asked for one for my legs and one for my shoulders but they said no as they only had a few left (it was quite empty).
Once I opened up the blanket however it was pretty big and I could wrap myself in it
Overall the staff are not very attentive and we had to wait a long time for the drinks to be ordered and then for them to arrive
I really liked mine — strawberry daiquiri but boring glasses and my friend didn’t enjoy her lychee and passionfruit Collins (prob more personal taste). We weren’t asked how our drinks were at all and had to make quite a lot of effort to get the bill.
The sunset was beautiful so I guess your paying for this rather than the drink and poor service. I would go back as it is stunning location but they need to work on their service

Happy Hols!
I stayed here recently for a friend’s wedding. I was floored in the best way by the high-​end customer service and very careful, intentional, and thoughtful attention to detail. The staff from the concierge table to the barman at the rooftop bar were divine! When you’re treating yourself to stay somewhere special, then having people giving that extra bit of special treatment to you is appreciated!
This establishment is in a great location for sight seeing and enjoying all Cambridge has to offer. Time and time again the view from the rooftop bar and lounge is breathtaking. We actually stayed in the penthouse suite for one night (pre-​wedding treat!) and it was amazing to have the same view from the bar above. But you don’t have to stay in the penthouse to enjoy that view! It’s available to to the public who fancy a cocktail or two while floating by River Camb.
While you stay in this hotel, you are footsteps from restaurants, bars, clubs, shopping, punting, and more! But you might not want to leave the hotel, because it’s that beautiful. The entire atmosphere is luxury and clean, modern, looked after, and full of English charm.
I would go back and test out their spa! Enjoy your stay!

This review is actually for the Varsity Hotel and Spa BAR on the roof. Didn’t stay in the hotel. By the looks of the place, I’m not sure I can afford to stay here! It was beautiful. But… I can afford to drink on the roof! So up we went!
We had a couple of glasses of chardonnay or two as we enjoyed a late summer evening and the amazing views of the historic European city of Cambridge.
Go check it out!

Perfectly well located boutique hotel, a stone throw from the river Cam. Very nice modern and trendy design with a hint of tradition. The top floors have a stunning view on the city. Very clean amenities.
The staff is friendly, discrete and professional. While booking, I specified I wanted a bathtub in the bed room but on arrival, our room had a shower only. They exchanged it immediately with no question.
I also ordered food on room service but it came late and cold. They exchanged it immediately and didn’t charge us for it.
Little failing can happen, they just handled it very well.
Highly recommended.

Have not stayed at the hotel, but had a fantastic spa experience with Stacey. I went for a bikini wax, and she was fast and very good at keeping the pain minimal. I’d send friends here, and I’ll definitely be back.

My wife and I went big and stayed in a beautiful corner room on an upper floor with floor-​to-​ceiling glass exterior walls and a balcony.
I can’t imagine anything negative to say about the Varsity Hotel. The views are beautiful. The location is central while being just far enough from the busy main streets. Meals at the River Bar were very enjoyable and who doesn’t love a roof terrace? The room was fresh, clean, roomy and tasteful and the bed was very comfortable.
There are certainly more luxurious hotels in this world, but given the room rate and location, it’s worthy of five stars. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

The Varsity Hotel is a pleasant place to stay.

Had a very good experience here. This a unique hotel and they paid a lot of attention to detail in the renovation. Lovely, comfortable room, with a great view! Very helpful and responsive staff. Close to everything in Cambridge.

The Varsity Hotel & Spa has been recently built in a 300 year old building in the heart of Cambridge. Everything from the rooms to the carpets to the floors has been recently renovated within (I would guess) the last 4 years. The rooms vary in price and size.
My co-​worker was put into a suite that had a claw foot bath tub, a separate shower, and a large king-​sized bed. My room was slightly more traditional European room in that it had a small stand-​up only shower, no bath tub, and a Queen-​sized bed with a nice armoire in which to hang my shirts and pants, and a great chest of drawers for the other clothing items (socks, undies, etc…).
The hotel staff is overwhelmingly friendly and helpful, and the breakfast and dinner are actually pretty appealing considering it is hotel food and a hotel restaurant.
Overwhelming positives:
(a) Get a high room (5^th or 6^th floor) and enjoy the ridiculously stellar views of Cambridge. I am not kidding. The views are the bomb-​diggity.
(b) The hotel is connected to a spa and gym. You get a free membership to the gym with your stay in the hotel and you get a discount on the spa treatments.
© Within walking distance of everything… and I mean everything.
This was a really great hotel and spa experience in the UK.