Chicago Parthenon Hostel

Super convenient location to downtown. Also right next to Hmart, subway station. so convenient for everything you need! Although shared washrooms and showers, but very clean. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The gentlemen at reception even helped my senior mom to carry the luggage upstairs to the room. Definitely recommend this place.

Perfection travel in your location

The toilets and showers were clean, but it felt like there were not enough. The beds and sheets and covers were much nicer than usual at hostels. The location is fine, walking distance from Union Station and (a bit longer a walk) from the Blue line.

A surprise for sure. The room was clean the bed and linen were very nice. The Bathroom and shower are communal but very clean. There is no elevator so you need to use the stairs. I was on the top floor 3rd floor. And there was someone who helped me with my luggage. This place is .4 miles of mostly flat ground from Union station. And .7 miles from OTC metra station. There are some great eateries close by.

stayed 1 night , friendly host at reception.

I liked the private room that I got, it was very clean and overall quiet!

Amazing!

Clean spartan room with no frills. No power outlet near the bed so an extension cord is needed unless you have a really long cable. I notified Joel that the mattress in my room was worn out from everyone sleeping on the door side.

Rooms clean and comfortable. Bathroom is also clean. Location is great- only 1.5 block to blue cta line.

Great location, close parking garage, friendly staff,& clean room

Good value for the money for the private rooms.

Hostel was great. Plenty of space in the rooms and bathrooms. Nice area to eat and plenty of fridge space. Easy access and nice neighborhood. My only complaint would be the matttess. It was very thin and not the most comfortable after a few days.

Offering cooking facilities, shared refrigerator, free coffee, tea and a common room to watch tv or use the free wifi, this is a great choice when visiting the city for a budget-friendly option to larger hotels. A few issues - the hostel is not wheelchair-friendly; there are several staircases to navigate [which might also be an issue if you have a lot of luggage]. As well, while the building is well-maintained, the rooms [I was in a west-facing room] are very cold at night. I imagine that, in the Summer, they might be uncomfortably warm. I have heard that the owners are planning to install washer-dryers in the hostel, which would make a very welcome addition to the hostel.

Check-in and check-out was simple. Which gave me enough time to focus on exploring the city.

This guest house is IMMACULATELY clean. Beautiful modern showers, with boutique hotel quality toiletries which were such a nice surprise. The Parthenon has a European flair, and great staff.

Everything was immaculate here from the staff to the cleanliness. Would recommend this to many many people

Very clean rooms and courteous staff.

Great staff, clean hostel. Good location.

Clean and great Iocation. Good price

One of the nicest hostels I’ve stayed in. Rooms and shared spaces were clean, guest population was diverse, kind, and mostly quiet.

The reservation was

Close to many bars and restaurants. Bed was comfy.

They let me leave my suitcase before checking in properly since i arrived a couple hours earlier than i expected. No additional surcharges, i was able to prepay over the phone so all i needed was my id and a signature, all in all, for a 2 and a half night stay, it was really excellent!

Nice would use again

Friendly staff! Nice neat clean rooms. Nice bathrooms with fabulous showers - feels like a gentle rain. Nice lounge area with large fridge, microwave, coffee & tea, with a nice view of the street out the windows.

Communication is excellent. I was able to reach people on the telephone. What a miracle! Remember to bring a lock for the locker, if you're sharing a room with someone. I did not, so I paid $10 for a lock. I should have brought one from home. :-( Next time I might not share a room. Not because anybody was problematic, but because I have special needs and I think it's just easier if I'm by myself. I hope they keep it as clean in the future as it was this weekend.

There are plenty of eateries nearby but also cooking/seating areas within the hostel.

I immediately liked that you cannot enter the property without either being buzzed in by the front desk or having the key fob they gave you. The entryway was quite small and that threw me a little. It wasn't really a problem though, until checkout time. Unfortunately there isn't an elevator. Right off the "first floor" (floor above entry floor) is a nice little lounge to hang out. There is coffee, if you're a coffee drinker. I was extremely happy to see there's a fridge guests can put things into... just get a sharpie from the front desk and label your stuff. My room door stuck a bit and was hard to open after I unlocked it. But all the doors have a doorknob and deadbolt lock which made me feel very safe. My room was a 4-bed female only. It was very clean, sheets and comforter were nice and fresh. There are little lockers in the room. It comfortably fit my carry-on suitcase and backpack together. I don't think it would fit a large suitcase. Front desk doesn't have locks for the lockers, make sure you bring one. You will need a wide padlock, not a skinny one. Bathrooms were clean. Separate women's and men's bathrooms with showers in each, but shower doors don't latch, so it's like being at a gym locker room. This hostel was super close to several main bus lines, only 4 minute walk to Walgreens and another grocery/ shopping market (Merinos), and 8 minute walk to Union Station. Finally, you can leave your bags ($3 each) with the desk after checkout until 10pm if needed. 😎

Located in Greektown, this hostel is clean, quiet, and a perfect budget-friendly option for short-term stays if you prefer traveling light and only need the basics.

I had a lovely stay at the parthenon hostel. The staff were very helpful with pointing out a place to park and cleaning quickly to accommodate an early check in. They also did a great job keeping the bathrooms and common areas clean.

The rooms are only accessible by stairs, which was no trouble for me, but would not be accessible for others with disabilities related to movement.

Great place to stay, less expensive then other hotel options. We will thought it was a bit expensive for a hostel but we had our own room so that was great.

the woman’s bathroom has absolutely no lock on it. not even the showers. anyone of the other guest can simply walk in if cameras aren’t watching 24/7. i looked past the extremely small room, almost as if i was in jail, not even a tv lol . just to go use the bathroom and was in total disbelief. but i can say it was good customer service

Good experience.

Good location close to train depot 10 min walk.

I had a great stay at this hostel! The location is right in the center of Chicago, which made it super easy to get around and explore the city. Public transportation access was excellent, so I could quickly get to all the main attractions and neighborhoods I wanted to visit. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, and it really captured the magic of being in Chicago. Overall, a convenient and enjoyable place to stay—I’d definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the city.

Didn't seem to be able to open the windows for fresh air at all, so at night with 6+ dudes sleeping in a room it gets pretty warm... And it smelled badly of BO the entire time every hour of the day. Other than that it was decent, pretty clean bathrooms and showers, in a good area with grocery stores nearby which is very convenient. Pretty close to everything downtown.

This was my first hostel experience so I don't have anything to compare it to, but the staff were friendly and great at giving recommendations. I also felt safe, didn't have to worry about my stuff being stolen, and it was pretty clean.

So good access to transportation, easy to airport, very walkable zone, the personal is the best

Very nice setting. Bathroom is very clean.

There is no elevator so be prepared to haul everything you have with you up several flights of stairs, and if you are in shared accommodation there will be soap + shampoo/conditioner but nothin else. The room doors also stick (they’re old so I assume they’ve swollen up a bit) so trying to enter quietly late at night is impossible.

Very clean and the staff were very pleasant! The lock on my door did not actually lock and would open without a key, however.

Lovely people.

Joel at the front desk was so sweet and helpful—when we were heading out to dinner in the rain, he even offered us his umbrella! That kind of thoughtful gesture really added to the sense of community the hostel gives off. The shared bathrooms and showers were in pristine condition, which made the stay extra comfortable. Our room was bare bones, but perfectly fine for a one-night stay. The mattress was firm, and the pillows were surprisingly great quality. On the first floor, there’s a cozy communal room with free coffee and tea, a microwave, and even a TV. Someone was playing guitar a bit later than I would’ve liked, but overall, we felt safe throughout our stay, and while it’s simple, the hostel checks all the boxes if you’re looking for affordable, clean, and community-oriented lodging in great area in Greek Town / Chicago.

Just felt really welcome. The people that stayed there were helpful and joyful full of conversation. Just need to experience and meet other people while we are on our own vacation. We will be back. Thank you so much. We had a great time.

Manage your expectations and you'll enjoy the property for the price you paid.

1. Air-conditioning is excluded from the bedroom. Imagine the rank smell of 8 adults with closed-up windows and a ceiling fan. The room lacked sufficient air circulation, making it difficult to breathe and possibly unsafe. 2. The internet connection is so weak that no browser works properly. I tried three on my laptop, and other guests in the common area confirmed this problem. 3. The hostel's kitchenette had missing items. It had no utensils, yet it had a portable heating unit while lacking pots/pans and other necessary kitchenware.

Nothing

Pretty good. Some of the bathrooms needed some fixing though. (I noticed a broken stall latch for the men's toilet upstairs.

The gentleman working the desk was very helpful in helping me find the place and he printed out my parking pass for me.

Cheap bed for the night. no a/c but that's the only complaint.

Major issue was no elevator and need to climb two flights with heavy bags. Staff very courteous, able to check bags and late arrival with no major issues, glad to get lower bunk. Perhaps greater information on use of food / refrigeration for those unfamiliar with hostels, but very reasonable price considering difficulty in finding hotel in Chicago for under $200 a night.

I liked the convenience and a location. An elevator would be an improvement. The shower room was awfully small and congested. No air conditioning. The ceiling fan turns off when the light is off. I wish the fan would stay on. That needs to be improved. I liked having the big refrigerator in the common room. Sheets and pillowcases were very nice and comfortable. The number of electrical outlets was sufficient. Overall, it was a decent experience and affordable.

The other residents were exceptionally loud and made significant noise until 3:00 am. The hostel needs a no noise policy after 10:00 pm to ensure the comfort of everyone who stays there. It was also way overpriced for a room the size of a closet with a shared bathroom down the hall.

Extra 50$ can get Single hotel room with own bathroom seems more reasonable price.

My friends and I were looking for an affordable last minute spot and this place was perfect. They have a private room option which fit all of us perfectly -- the bathrooms were really clean which put us at ease. The other guests were also kind and friendly. The hostel was near the Blue line which was convenient for our travels. Since it's in Greektown, there was much to explore in the neighborhood as well as tasty food options within walking distance. This booking was a lovely surprise and I would recommend/ stay again!

Nice hostel, clean and safe. Check in staff was lovely

Everything is going good

I only stayed for one night but I enjoyed it so much! I arrived early and was able to store my bags until check in. The man who greeted me at check in was very welcoming and kind. My room was so comfortable! The bed was extra cozy. I slept so well. I also enjoyed the type of bed fittings.The bathrooms were very clean and functional. I loved the sitting space with all the books you can read. It's not on the quietest street lol horns were blaring for quite a bit but personally I enjoyed the energy and had a nice time just people watching from the window. If noise bothers you, bring ear plugs. 10/10 will stay here again.

Was nervous for my first stay at a guest house the staff was friendly the building incredibly clean

The 3rd floor bathroom sinks didn't have hot water. But I just went down a floor where the hot water was fine so it was a minor inconvenience. All the people were kind and friendly. The manager was helpful and welcoming. The location is perfect, and even as the price went up so much since my last stay, it is still affordable compared to any place in the area.

N/A

Stayed for one night. Room was clean, bedding comfortable, bathrooms clean, common areas clean and comfortable. I would stay again.

Great location

We stayed here for one night to go to a concert at Soldier's Field. Our room was a private room with 2 twin beds. The room had a ceiling fan which was nice because we were on the 4th floor and it was a little warm in there. I didn't see a thermostat to be able to adjust the temperature, which might be a problem in July or August but luckily it was in the low 60s outside that night. The room did have a window but I didn't check if it opened or not, that might also help with temperature control. The shared bathroom was right across the hall from our room which was nice. There were 2 toilet stalls, 3 shower stalls and a double sink. I was worried about it being super busy in the women's bathroom but it was never an issue, we never had to wait to use the restroom or shower. Of note, there was nothing else in our room except the 2 twin beds and a small garbage can. There was no TV, no hooks or hangers, no extra blankets or pillows, but we didn't need any of those things. There was an outlet in the room with a very small shelf on the wall above it so we had a place to charge our phones overnight. It served the purpose of an affordable, safe place to sleep for a night with access to a bathroom and shower.

We took the train into Chicago and it was walkable distance from Union Station. Considering all other options we found for hotels close to Soldier Stadium were over $500 a night this was worth the $200 a night. It wouldn’t be for everyone as you do share a bathroom and kitchen/living room area but we were gone so much that it was a perfect place just to sleep.

Pleasantly surprised !!!

Beautiful classic architecture, newly renovated, located in a nice, safe neighborhood. Easy access to airport and within walking distance to the local attractions. Lovely staff and friendly people.

No Elevator, shared spaces aren't so bad. Reminds me of college. For the rate I can't complain. Very grateful for the accommodations. Thank you.

More importantly, the bed was clean. The price was cheap compared to the hotels, especially in my case. Service was great, check in & check out are super easy. I’d come back for sure.

I like that they had a refrigerator where you could put stuff in, it was located in the common area.

Nice place, nice people. Easy access to airport and good for walking around the city.

Can walk and safe The staff is very nice

My train was delayed by 9 hours so instead of arriving at 430 pm it was 130 am. The gentleman stayed just for my arrival of which I was so grateful as a solo female traveler. He was welcoming and kind for this weary traveler and even said "have to keep the kids safe" when I thanked him. Very kind. Rooms clean. Bathrooms clean. A great place to stay!

I come to Chicago from Wisconsin every so often to see friends, but I'm at a point in life where I can't crash on their couches anymore. I also don't want to pay a crazy amount for a hotel room for one night. When I came across the Parthenon, it was the one solution to my problem! I had a super affordable one-bed with a shared bathroom and shower for one night, and that's honestly all I need. The staff was super friendly. It's very cute and kitschy. The Greektown neighborhood is also very quaint with beautiful tree lights at night. Go check this out for an affordable stay!

Needs better beds not bunk beds mattress was comfortable. Elevator slow and not working properly

Had to climb 4 sets of stairs to our room

I love the location

It’s was a cool stay .. I only stayed one night… it’s small and an old building .. a place to lay your head but that’s it …

This place was just right

ok

AC was not working and they shifted in other rooms. Unfortunately, Room was very compact and not enough space. AC is also not working properly. Their charges is like 5 star but service below 2 star

Very nice place staff was very hospitable and accommodating the bed was just a bit uncomfortable but it was still nice. very clean!

Although it’s small, it is clean and convenient.

This was horrible. I have never had a worse stay in Chicago. Let’s start with objective facts: the bathroom sink handles were broken, the urinal handle was broken, the bedroom doors did not close properly, the doorknob was very loose. The entire building had very harsh chemical smells, and the towels smelled so strongly of chemicals that we could not use them. I would guess that this building as a whole is not even close to being up to code. The floor is horribly uneaten, doors don’t close, outlets falling out of the walls, etc. On top of that, the staff was really nasty during check-in and check-out. One of the greatest cities in the world does not deserve to have such an awful place. There are other hostels in the city that are both cheaper and at a higher quality. Very disappointed with this stay. Certainly takes the prize as worst yet.

Check-in was made very easy by pleasant staff. Our room was very warm at night, but the property was being renovated so that may have been the cause. The area is cozy, with plenty of parking lots nearby.

Great place overall

Super convenient but lacked some comforts. It was HOT in our room, roughly 85 degrees outside, same in the inside. Be sure to bring a fan! And ear plugs! Noise from the street lasts all night. Overall we’d stay again but need some extra supplies 😂

Typically see European eccentric holiday goes galavanting the Western Hemisphere.

Bed mattresses and pillows could use an update. They’re too hard and pillows are flat. Showers are nice and place has been kept up-to-date well. Towels are extra. Recommend using earplugs if you don’t want to be disturbed by outdoor noises.

Friendly service. Good location. A bit pricey for a private room but acceptable. I would consider staying there again.

The staff was very friendly and helpful! I wish they had rooms with private bathrooms.

many pleny dinning options.

Took a very very long time to get hot water in the shower. Common area was a mess

Just Ok

But don't let that stop you visiting right away. Just pardon some of the construction. Easy to get to from the metro. In the middle of Greektown, so if you like that setting, you have a choice of lots of good food places. Big grocery store about 5 minutes walk for thos self-catering

The hotel itself was very clean from what it seemed like it was cleaned every morning, though the room i was in the lock looked a little odd though they were remodeling so i would assume the lock would be fixed, only one lock seemed a little weird luckily the top one was much better. The staff were very friendly and would let us know they can help with anything like towels or sheets as well. Would come here again!

I love this hostel. Easy access to CTA Blue line serving O’Hare and Downtown, and plenty of good food nearby! I had a busy itinerary, but never have issues getting around and enjoying Chicago. Room is super clean. Facilities are in good condition. Tip: bring a pad lock for the locker

Cher tout de meme pour le peu de prestations mais cest Chicago...

First off, Lilly the daytime manager, was superb. Excellent management style, authority of the location, building, expectations and so on. Super-accommodating (where allowable). Top notch. Josh, the overall hotel manager (I think) was awesome in his own way too. The building itself is charming, 3 story walk-up, an absolutely lived-in, historic edifice sandwiched between two much newer, taller buildings on S. Halsted. A variety of room layouts are on each of the three floors with a communal lounge/dining area on the 1st floor. If you can't physically walk up stairs with your luggage, this ain't the place for you. But if you're that physically compromised, why are you looking at this type of place anyway? As far as nits, well, the floors are a bit noisy if the hotel is close to full occupancy. Fact of life with narrow halls and close adjoining rooms. And some people are frigging jerks by continually slamming their doors. Just a-holes. One big thing - the Parthenon needs to invest in new pillows for the beds. The pillows were as thick as a sheet of paper, providing zero neck support. Aside from that, this is a GREAT place to stay for a long weekend. Location, location, location. Two blocks north of the Blue line from O'Hare; 13 blocks (easily walkable) blocks from Grant Park/the Loop/Lake Michigan/Michigan Ave. The neighborhood surrounding the Parthenon, Greektown, is awesome.

Some furniture here and there could use replacement. Otherwise a very clean, safe, and welcoming stay!

clean, quiet, inexpensive,

Good location, very basic amenities.

I love the old style of atmosphere and the closeness of the other guests.

The property is exactly what a hostel should be. We stayed in a twin room and it was very nice. Beds were comfortable, rooms temperature was good, and the room was very quiet. The only issue I have is that the bathrooms could have been a little cleaner. I know they get a lot of use but the condition was the only subpar thing about this place. Again, you aren't spending a whole lot of time in there so its not a huge deal. Other than that the water was hot, the common area was really clean and nice, and the area is very walkable. Highly recommend a stay here to save money and enjoy the city.

Excellent layout. Bedding was great. Front desk guy super accomodating.

Made a reservation the night before; never got a room, so I had to stay somewhere else

Great experience. Friendly and helpful staff. Clean facility

I stayed in a private room with a queen bed and it was amazing. The window by the bed opened up and looked out into this incredible courtyard where they had strung up manikins on a cable to look like they were flying

Great price for a central hostel. You can take the Blue line to downtown or walk. The Hostel is narrow but good enough for a few nights

Very límited dishes; I did wash my cup just to get some coffe.

Worst hostel ever.

Everything was great. I'd definitely consider staying here again if I'm ever in the Chicago area again. Everyone was helpful and friendly. My only complaint would be about the slow Wi-Fi.

Very noisy. Not so much the festival going on outside or the other people in the room. It was the thumping 'music' from the adjacent bar/club under the first floor of the hostel that shook the room and made it impossible to sleep. Old building and facilities but reasonably clean. Close to walk to Union Station.

Stayed in the 6 bed female dorm and loved it. Location was convient and I was able to walk everywhere or get the bus/train. Close to train from Airport which was nice. The staff were kind and helpful, I was able to leave my luggage with them while I explored before leaving. I really enjoyed the dorm as it was social which is ideal when travelling solo. Had lockers in the room so I felt like I could leave my belongings without worrying about them. Would recommend to anyone and hopefully one day I can return! Thanks!

リビングが居づらかった。

Staff was accessible, and the location made the stay very convenient and comfortable. No criticisms come to mind from this first-time stay. This will definitely be my top choice for future visits to Chicago.

I stayed on the third floor. The accommodations were very clean and the single private room was comfortable. The shared woman's bathroom was clean and semi-private. The staff was friendly and helpful. (If you have trouble with multiple flights of stairs, request the first floor.)

I had a good experience with Parthenon Hostel. Its my first time going to Chicago and traveling solo and i can say that its a good place to stay with.it is also my first time staying in a dorm type hotel. Location is good and easy to find with specially if your coming directly from O’Hare airport. The place needs a lil bit of upgrade. The staffs are friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend this for someone whos out most of the time and just looking for a place to sleep.

I did not like not having my personal bathroom

Friendly and accomodating staff

Over all clean was not as the same as pictures in the web. Men bathroom was dirty. Tile and walls needed to be replace and painted. Not good at all.

The bathroom stalls didn't lock and the men's bathroom had a plastic cover as a door but honestly, felt pretty safe still lol