Congress Plaza Hotel

This is the second time I’ve stayed at this property. It is conveniently located and the rooms facing the lake have a gorgeous view (request lake view). The room lighting was poor, and I missed having a table on each side of the bed.

What i didnt like? The hotel was clean, but old and in disrepair. Our room was cold and the room's HVAC didnt work. The icemaker on our floor also didnt work. The decor and vibe of the rooms was cheap and out of touch with the rest of the hotel. The only complimentary coffee was the room coffee maker (an old 1 cup maker). Downstairs they charge $4 for coffee at the restaurant. You get 2 bottles of water, but they sell a larger water bottle, for $5, in the room. There's no included breakfast. I also hear that some of the rooms are haunted... Being a guest here felt like you were not valued, but actually as a revenue source. Ive stayed at motels that were on par with this place.

The property was not well maintained, and smelled very bad. My non-smoking room stank horribly of smoke so much to give me a headache trying to sleep. The beds were made well but the whole experience made me doubt the cleanliness of the sheets and blankets. Staff was not very friendly but did their job to check me in and out. Room was very overpriced for the lack of amenities they provide. Additionally the lamp in my room was burnt out and did not turn on and having only 2 outlets in the whole room is very annoying.

The gentleman that checked me in was not friendly. Barely spoke to me at all. Did not really give me any info on where things were located or how to get to my room. Thankfully a kind staff member realized I was walking in circles and helped me out. I get to my room and the tv does not work unless you use your mobile hotspot and mirror from your phone. I ordered room service at 9:30 and the lady was rude telling me the kitchen was closed but she would do me a favor. Per the iPad in the room the kitchen is open till 10:30pm on weekends. The women who brought the food was kind and amazing.

Wish had one more full size towel.

I really enjoyed this hotel. It’s right next to the pier which means great views/ morning walks. Staff was very helpful and friendly

It was an awesome location, clean, and vintage, which I really loved. Walking you will have to go north to everything which is no more than a 20 minute walk. I didn’t use the bar so I can’t rate that. I didn’t like that there wasn’t a pool but overall service was great. I would definitely stay again and recommend to others. No ghosts!

We able to checkin early for a small fee. Room was clean and good size. Shower was nice. Had shampoo conditioner and body wash. Sink was a little small for toiletries. Had a mini fridge and TV was fine. They stored our bags when leaving and concierge was very helpful. Very close to Millennial Park and had a great view for fireworks at Navy Pier. Close to the L if coming from Midway. A very nice stay

Not the best experience from the get go. Was told we could not use the luggage cart by ourselves and then was badgered into tipping. Asked for a crib on check in and was told they would send one up. We never received it and then had to leave for dinner hoping it would be there when we returned. It was not and I sent my husband down to ask. My husband did not realize I asked at check in rather than “booking at the time of the reservation” the manager who was helping him was very rude to him about how that isn’t how it works and you have to ask when you check in (mind you that is exactly what I HAD done). On top of that the rooms are not maintained all that well (though I do understand it’s an old building). The bathroom door didn’t close at all and the light in the closet wouldn’t turn off. Additionally only one elevator was working, which they didn’t realize until my husband asked one of the security guards about it as the lights were not illuminated for the floors. With a jogging stroller we often had to wait a long time for a car that was empty enough for us to fit when trying to return to the lobby.

Exceptional

rooms were close and hotel was located to the attractions and places we wanted to visit. toilet in one of the rooms didn't flush-handle broke but service was called and it was repaired. Hotel needs updates, caulk in bathroom is cracked/has mildew or discoloration around tub. paint is chipped in hallway, around doors and in rooms. wallpaper is bubbling up off the walls in some spots. Parking was at added expense at $62 dollars per day.

Very good

It was easy to check in and out. The room was very clean. Everyone was very friendly. The only thing I didn't like was being charged extra for the view of Lake Michigan and really only seeing trees. Our room was not high enough to have that view.

Great location

The rooms are beautiful! Had really nice staff. The biggest complaint would be that there were not microwaves in the room. (There is one on the ground floor) , and the AC keeps the room at about 73, which was too warm for my family's taste. The halls are a bit dingy, but the location is stellar, the price is reasonable, and everyone was super friendly!

Very old room. Bathroom is disgusting . Definitely needs an update. Halls of the hotel leading to the rooms are stained by water probably . Would not recommend this hotel .

It was a really good experience

Dated hotel.

-

The stay was great! It’s more of a historic hotel vibe. Spent a lot of time waiting on the elevator only one was working. Room was clean and bed was comfy. Tv in the room is from like the early 2000’s. But we didn’t spend much time in the room do that was oaky. I am always a little disappointed when I have to go search for a place to fill up a water bottle. But they provide to complementary bottles of water in the room. Just wish there was a bottle fill station somewhere.

We saw a bed bug in our room. The front desk asked us to pack our things and cone down to the lobby. We had no cart or help to get everything downstairs. They put us on a new room. The room had no wash cloths and there were hairs on o e of the towels. The air in the room cant be adjusted. It was cool but humid. When you flush the toilet you can here the pipes making noises. When it was time to check out we couldn't get a hold of anyone to get a cart to get our things. Way too expensive for the condition and customer service

Great check-in and good value for money. We had a huge room with high ceilings and an amazing view of the water, marina, museums. Staff were all super friendly, warm and helpful. A little dilapidated due to its history but we understand the hotel is slowly getting renovated. Would recommend.

The room had been updated, but the halls and some other areas have definitely seen better days. The room was comfortable and the bed was great. You could easily hear the street noise from inside the room with the windows closed. The lobby is still beautifully maintained. Great location with public transportation and great restaurants nearby.

Great stay!

The Lakeview room was breathtaking. I loved everything no complaints

Pleasant

Good

Pleasant

Our stay here was fantastic! We needed up having a tornado warning and the staff were amazing at keeping everyone calm and happy! The hotel itself was beautiful and in a perfect location! Thank you so much for having us!

Clean room but no free parking

Great price, proximity to the museums & the Chicago Symphony, CVS, etc.

Staff was friendly, our room was very old. Our bathroom door knob was broken and it took my daughter a long time to get me out. We called the front desk about it but nobody came the entire 5 days we stayed to fix it. The safe was locked when we got there so we had to have security come and open it for us. The bellhops complained a lot which we were surprised since it is their job.we stayed June 4-8/26

I was especially impressed by the staff. Everyone I encountered was friendly, professional, and hardworking, and their dedication really enhanced the overall experience. My only complaint is the air conditioning. The room was extremely cold, and it was difficult to get the temperature to a comfortable level. Aside from that, I had a pleasant stay and appreciated both the historic atmosphere and the excellent service.

The room wasn’t clean everyday, we had to request to have our room cleaned. The location is excellent but is too old, not very maintained. Restaurant at the hotel wasn’t good and very expensive for the quality of food. The air conditioning at our room wasn’t working well probably because it is too old. The windows don’t have blackout and the sunlight in the morning was making the room too bright and hot. It’s not worth for the price we paid.

Older hotel needs many upgrades, Air conditioning was horrible, they did offer a fan that was brought to the room but didn’t help much

Had to shut refrigerator off because when running the noise was loud. Restaurant had little staffing and therefore very slow. Fifthteen minutes to get service and cup of coffee.

Concierge Jose very helpful recommended great places to eat. Bell person attentive and anticipated every thought. Nostalgic and well kept and very clean.

It's a very unique and different hotel, however, it's in a historic building, so you will learn to understand it's uniqueness.

Exceptional

The room I was in was great and remodeled although the door was in horrible shape. The shower was great but for goodness sake don't put the rack of shampoo and conditioner holder on the wall right were you have to stand to take a shower as you are always banging into it and takes up space in the wrong spot. Common sense guys. Put it against the main wall where the water handles themselves are at. At least you were reasonably priced so I was willing to close my eyes and look the other way. The property looks very dated and old. The wall paper everywhere and the rugs in the halls are a thing of the past. No decor at all in the hallways and an exposed ice machine?? It needs to be painted everywhere and doors and keys need to work. Having rooms with views to the ceilings of the property that are flooded and dirty make you realize you are in an unclean area/hotel. The location is great and central. You should also make sure the restaurant for evening is better and better food and environment.

The only negative I had with the hotel was that their food choices were limited, and there were not a lot of healthy options. I would have really appreciated more veg choices with the meals, and more salad options.

No parking

The location in proximity to Grant Park and the history of The Congress We arrived Friday 6/5/26 and woke Saturday morning to water coming from the ceiling of our bathroom soaking everything. We told housekeeping and nothing was done. We hung clothes that were wet over the vent. Sunday morning the same thing happened and this time I called the operator and also went to the front desk. The person at the front desk states “ yea we know” and left it at that while my wife and I starred in disbelief at the disrespect. I spend a lot of time on social media reviewing/influencing, mostly places we go to or activities. Im eager to see the response we receive from guest relations. I can be reached at [email protected] for further enquiries and service recovery

I loved the location of the property. It’s right by Grant Park and in walkable distance to the Field Museum or Millennium Park. The room looked much older than how the rooms are portrayed in the pictures. Everything felt pretty outdated in the room. The fridge froze anything I put in it.

Location was great. Easy access to everything. The rooms were very old. There was hair in the shower and the tv was as big as my laptop

Room was clean and staff was nice for the most part the bar staff seemed annoyed about us ordering and being there till 12am. The big issue with this place is the rooms themselves no water pressure and no working tv or fridge. Also would like to add you can tell their refurbishment was half done but the elevator is very fast the placement of hotel is awesome and security is good

The property is old and has so much character. The rooms are spacious and clean and the staff is always ready to help.

Old building that could really use a remodel. I've stayed in many hotels in the loop and somehow the sound from outside penetrated much more than most. The doormen were excellent though. They were very helpful and nice.

Extremely dirty and disgusting place.

The closeness to grant park made it desirable Valet parking was not on option due to Covid in 2020 which is fine, but the parking lot they send you to nearby is incredibly overpriced; 130 dollars for two days is far too much. Also there was a cockroach in the bathroom.

We visited Chicago to attend the Pokemon Go Fest which was in Grant Park, right across the street from The Congress Plaza Hotel. The location was just perfect! And our lake view room was amazing! It was also only a couple of blocks away from the Chicago Art Institute which was the other main attraction we wanted to visit. It was also very close to the Blue Line's Jackson stop which got us easily directly and cheaply to the airport. I loved the beaux-arts/art deco vibe of the building too.

Good

Location was convenient Tv was basic, room was ancient, elevator was extremely slow, room hallways were hot, prices were insanely high for the room to be so basic.

The location was great for our event we attended. The view outside of one of our windows was great! The bed might as well been the floor with some blankets on it. Ouch. As much as we paid for the stay and use of the parking lot, breakfast could have been included. As what you’d expect in the city of Chicago, police sirens sounded at all hours.

Our room was clean, quiet and the perfect location! The staff was friendly. We were there for 5 days and never had room service. We had to request additional towels and were told that room service would come through. We never received the room service.

Tiny bathroom with a step up.

Well, once the cockroach scurried by me as I was on the toilet, it was game over for the night. Best thing someone can do is replace this hotel with a new one.

Add additional amenities like soap bar and toothpaste

Large room with a great view of the lake. Could have used some black out curtains for the morning sun. Bathroom was large but the sink was small with a shelf right over it since it was difficult to wash your face. Room was pleasant and well designed and bed was huge.

The location is great but the hotel seems to rely on its faded glory while not being maintained up to the standards one would expect for the price. The hallways look shabby and the room seemed only superficially renovated. There was hair from a previous customer stuck to the sides of the shower stall, and the pillowcase showed signs of old age. That said, we slept comfortably, and with greater investment in upkeep it could be a charming place to stay. As it is, though, we were disappointed.

Such a beautiful property

Such a wonderfully old space. It’s been updated in the rooms but remains historical. Services were very friendly!

La ubicación es excelente, solo que las instalaciones un poco viejas, pero cumplen con el objetivo

Clean room, large space, great location

General maintenance could have been improved: 1) the room had obviously lost power at some point in the past, causing the mini fridge to thaw, leak, and damage the shelf on which it sat, and 2) the faucet in the bathtub dripped consistently and the shower drain was minorly clogged, preventing it from draining completely while the shower water was running. These were, however, very minor issues. My biggest issue was the noise. It's a historic building, but that doesn't mean it needs historic windows. The windows might as well have not existed for as much street noise as they managed to block out. I was grateful I traveled with earplugs, because if I hadn't, I would not have been able to sleep. Between sirens, engines reving, and people randomly screaming, if you're someone that needs quiet to sleep, this is not the place for you. It would also be nice to have modernized room AC units. Be aware that the units here cannot be adjusted in the room. All in all, a decent stay... But I doubt I'll be back unless they make a big announcement about new windows.

Needs updating

The other lady that was a hotel clerk when I arrived was not pleasant and very rude. When I asked a question she was rude about it. My reservation was not what I expected.....I was reserved a lake view and I got a view of mostly trees.

The rooms were spacious and clean. Our room was not difficult to find. The building is old but historic. The place was well maintained and the staff were very helpful. Housekeeping only comes every other day unless requested. It worked for us. I would stay here again.

Housekeeping did not come a single time in the four days and four nights I stayed there. The beds were not made nor was the trash taken out a single time . I had to phone them twice to receive bath towels. I was using Uber eats take out bags as trash bags due to the lack of housekeeping not coming.

Walls are very thin and could here the room next to ours TV all night long.

This is a very nice hotel in an absolutely ideal part of downtown Chicago. Many areas an easy, lovely walk away and those further out a quick cab ride or train ride. The room was clean and comfortable.

Fantastic room and location.

Good

This place needs some serious updates. Hot humid and muggy in the rooms.

Beautiful hotel with a fascinating and storied history. The lobby looks nothing like the photograph online because there is very little lighting. The hotel bar felt more like a dive bar than a proud part of Chi-town history. The rooms were nice, albeit a throwback to the last century (we liked it) and the view was fantastic. The staffing was another thing entirely...nobody covering the front desk on 3 occasions; nobody manning the concierge desk; local directions to a pharmacy that doesn't exist anymore...the little things matter at this price point, and this beautiful old hotel on Michigan Ave really needed better staffing and lighting.

The hallways, stairs, etc are covered with peeling white paint, which is a huge shame because you can tell the wood work was beautiful before they painted everything. Oh and the no parking requires you to spend $250 (4 nights) to park around back in a public lot. Overall, the room appeared clean so that's a plus but won't be returning unless the price comes way down. I'd rather stay in a much cheaper hotel out by the airport and ride the train into town.

Wasn’t a big fan. The rooms were outdated and kind of crusty in my opinion. The hot water also was hit or miss. The worst part was the bed. It was HORRIBLE, like sleeping on hay bales. The location was good, but I’d find somewhere else next time.

Cool hotel, good history

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Blood on bedsheet, housekeeping immediately addressed. Bathroom shelf wet and slimy. Housekeeping tried entering room and broke security chain. Room was never cleaned as staff was attempting to enter room very early and never returned. Caulking in bathroom very sloppy with large gaps and mismatched tile Building smells super clean and fresh. Property is an excellent location. Staff very professional.

Great location. Walkable to the museum and aquarium. Stately hotel that is showing its age somewhat gracefully.

We love this hotel with its old-world charm. Perfect location for going to the Chicago Blues Festival.

Hotel showed its age but was nice to stay in a hotel with so much history. Bathroom was our only complaint with weak plumbing, no fan, lack of storage and moisture problems. Staff was great and helpful with luggage and getting transportation to and from hotel. View from our family suite was limited but nice. We could see both the city and grant park. Location is ideal as we only had a short walk to millennium park, art institute, Buckingham fountain, food & coffee options. I recommend parking in the lower Grant Park parking deck as it is less expensive and give the option to re-enter in their extended parking offering.

Parking was around the corner but very pricey $60 until midnight or $$65 for 24 hours per day. Distance was not too far but you have to drag your luggage on sidewalk to get there. Bar was excellent. Facilities were excellent. Would recommend this hotel. I would return again as it is in a perfect location with excellent views and walking distance to everything.

My stay was excellent, as long as you acknowledge the age of the building and the limitations that has on the room and facilities and have reasonable expectations you won't be disappointed. The location downtown and to Grant Park/Museum Park is excellent and the primary reason I stayed here. The staff were excellent and the room was clean. If you want a fully modern and updated luxury room go somewhere else but expect to pay 3x+. If you want a nice experience in a historic building you won't be disappointed.

Had to change rooms idk how many times. Crappy water pressure wasn’t even able to take a shower or bath my stay completely disgusted with this hotel and how they handled things. I was so stressed out I ended up having a miscarriage from being so stressed out and not finally getting to sleep at 12 am from the complete lack of adequate customer service.

AC kept leaking all over the floor and the staff couldn’t get a handle on it

Just didn’t feel nice enough for the price

The room was nice and quiet, great location. I did feel it was overpriced.

Very pretty, updated amenities

All that said, if you get city view, the view was amazing and I got to see Navy Pier fireworks from room. However, I would not stay again.

I will say this hotel was ok to stay in for a 4 day event. However, the air conditioning in the room barely worked and our room felt muggy and warm. It was the same case with the refrigerator, barely worked to keep things cold. The walls were paper thin and we could hear every conversation the room next door was having. The lobby was lovely and very kept up with, however the upper levels where our room was located were not in the best of shape (peeling paint, chips in walls/floors). No space on sink to place things in the bathroom, only a small glass shelf to keep bathroom items. We may have just gotten a room in an older wing of the hotel, but based on what we saw most of the hotel was the same. Only place to park near the hotel was a garage - no free parking came with the hotel stay. But if you get lucky there’s a small spot to pull your car up to the hotel.

Convenient to many interesting and beautiful places in Chicago. The hotel was well maintained and the staff was attentive and efficient.

The location is great for what we were in Chicago for. The property seemed a little dated and bathroom could have been cleaned better. Overall we had a good 2 night stay and for the price and location I would recommend.

For the cost, this hotel wasn't that great. I was really disappointed. The rooms and space were clean, but the room was small (not that it has to be huge), the TV tiny, no way to control the temperature of the room, and really there wasn't anything too special about the space for the cost. The only thing I this hotel has going for it is location. It is clean, and the historical look to it is nice, but for the amount of money you pay, I wouldn't seek to stay here again, sadly.

ok

Great stay thanks

The hotel was clean for the most part. Corridors smells like soap because I truly believe the housekeeping works hard to keep them that way. Unfortunately the hotel was just old and needs much needed upgrade. The bathroom was looking noticeably old too and the water in the bath area needs to be at certain angle to release enough pressure and hot water. Still doable and workable with but maybe not for $600 a night... Our room ended being family suite which we didn't realize upon booking much and the front desk didnt debrief it until we reclarify it after. The first receptionist almost said the main room was not part of our room until another lady came to correct her (thankfully). I do wish that the picture of the property on expedia is more reflective to the current hotel situation though. Because it looks similar but the actual looks way older than it actually is....

Además, las instalaciones del hotel se encuentran bastante antiguas y necesitan mantenimiento. También tuvimos inconvenientes con la primera habitación asignada, ya que el aire acondicionado no funcionaba y tuvieron que cambiarnos de habitación. Aunque el personal intentó solucionar algunos de los inconvenientes, la experiencia en general no cumplió con nuestras expectativas. Espero que mejoren la comunicación sobre los servicios incluidos y realicen renovaciones en las instalaciones.

Terrible rude front desk muhammad No hand soap. Rude replies from front desk after paying expensive prices

Congress Plaza is in a great location for walking and taking the train places. The hotel room was beautiful. The beds are very comfortable and the water pressure in great. No mini refrigerator and no microwave in the room. The ice machine on our floor was turned off.

Exceptional

Nice location Mattress was ok but could be better.

Carpets were literally sticky. Disgusting. Shaved facial hair from previous guest(s) on the bathroom counter. Cold disgusting coffee in the common area. Rude, disinterested staff when I asked for something simple. Business center did not work, at all. Room windows are ineffective. Complete light and sound transmission. You must bring an eye mask and ear plugs if you want any sleep. I will never stay here again. I would be disappointed if I had paid $50 per night, and I paid way, way more than that.

The room was so old, dirty and musty. I would never stay here again. Holes in the walls and stained carpets. So nasty.

Location was good to train station and grand park but biggest issue we had is no water pressure and it was at best lukewarm. This makes me now want to always check first before booking anything how their water service is. It was terrible and when I checked previous reviews it was one of biggest complaints. For this reason alone we won’t me back since after checking out downtown and traveling on the L to games and different places from south side to north side Chicago, you want to be able to have a decent shower and unwind.

Location! Pillows a bit too thick! But that’s superficial.

Location is ideal Valet parking would be an asset

Very small window, not the promised view

The location was perfect — close to the art institute and Millennium Park. Some of the hallways were a little dark and dingy.

Exceptional

We had a clean room, the staff was attentive. It was a great experience!

Overpriced, they did not even clean the room.

No temperature controls in room Breakfast was $30. I went elsewhere.

Good spot. Nice staff. Great location.

The view No hot water for a shower, staff didn't help, it was a bit dirty, the whole experience was poor

It was nice

Very good

Well located yet aged facility. Bathrooms are small and frankly nasty. It served our purpose as a base for a 3-day stay in Chicago with errands to run in the nearby area.

Apparently it's haunted and I had the room across the hall from the haunted room. I didn't know this until my third night there, but it was quiet and calm.

The location was excellent. Close to all the museums, shopping district and river walk.

Hotel was clean, staff friendly. Old hotel that is being improved. Our room was small but otherwise good for our purposes. Good spot that launch our adventure!

Good

A bit outdated furniture

Not applicable A bit outdated furniture

Good

Older hotel but well maintained. Rooms took a bit to cool off during the summer but the view was great!

All the hotel staff were friendly, helpful & overall hospitable. Enjoyed some drinks at the bar downstairs, which was a great start to the evening. Loved the location of this hotel as well- it is central to everything and being close to the park/water was nice!!! Will definitely be returning.

The location is very good. The room is clean and quiet although the whole building is old. We did not have chance to use the air conditioner because the temperature is not high. It seems there is no heater in this room, so it was a bit cold in midnight.

Location great, good check in and out policies The room/bathroom in general was just run down appearing. The TV was small and had a blurry picture such that you couldn’t watch it. There was a really ick odor in the hallways.

Location Nothing was clean, things were old, many broken facilities, dirty, and in general disarray

Location great, good check in and out policies The room/bathroom in general was just run down appearing. The TV was small and had a blurry picture such that you couldn’t watch it. There was a really ick odor in the hallways.

Very good

the bed the ac was not cold and i couldnt lower it

the ac was not cold and i couldnt lower it

Do not stay here if you value your money or basic responsiveness from customer service. I booked a last-minute room through Booking.com on May 4, 2026 (reservation 6413977843). The full amount was prepaid through Booking.com that same day, before I even arrived. At check-in, the front desk told me they needed to take a "deposit" on my debit card. The hotel's own published policy states the damage deposit is USD 75. Instead, they charged me the full amount of the stay AGAIN. My bank statement shows this as a completed transaction, not a temporary hold. It has been weeks. There has been no refund and no response to my emails. I sent a detailed written refund request with all the supporting documentation: Booking.com payment proof, the bank transaction, and a copy of their own deposit policy. Complete silence. I sent a follow-up email copying the Sales and Managing department. Still nothing. This is no longer a billing error — it is a customer service failure. I am now disputing the charge formally with my bank under U.S. consumer protection rules and filing a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. If you are considering staying here, ask yourself whether you want to deal with this kind of risk. There are plenty of other historic hotels in Chicago that don't require their guests to chase them for refunds for weeks after check-out.

Do not stay here if you value your money or basic responsiveness from customer service. I booked a last-minute room through Booking.com on May 4, 2026 (reservation 6413977843). The full amount was prepaid through Booking.com that same day, before I even arrived. At check-in, the front desk told me they needed to take a "deposit" on my debit card. The hotel's own published policy states the damage deposit is USD 75. Instead, they charged me the full amount of the stay AGAIN. My bank statement shows this as a completed transaction, not a temporary hold. It has been weeks. There has been no refund and no response to my emails. I sent a detailed written refund request with all the supporting documentation: Booking.com payment proof, the bank transaction, and a copy of their own deposit policy. Complete silence. I sent a follow-up email copying the Sales and Managing department. Still nothing. This is no longer a billing error — it is a customer service failure. I am now disputing the charge formally with my bank under U.S. consumer protection rules and filing a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. If you are considering staying here, ask yourself whether you want to deal with this kind of risk. There are plenty of other historic hotels in Chicago that don't require their guests to chase them for refunds for weeks after check-out.

Location Nothing was clean, things were old, many broken facilities, dirty, and in general disarray

Booked through Expedia. Arrived and was told my booking was cancelled. I had no indication of this by Expedia. Ended up frantically looking for a room in Chicago in the middle of the night. Very bad experience

Wouldn't stay again unless it's free

So if you have a lake view room close to the elevator apparently the sun overheats the ac units in these rooms and they wont work. They offered to move rooms or a fan which actually worked very well but it seemed like it was a known issue so why not find some kind of fix? Other then that not a bad place. Heads up they dont have parking the best lot i found was like 45 bucks for 24 hours so yea go with extra parking money.

My experience at this hotel was incredibly unpleasant, starting right from the moment I arrived. The front desk staff was down right rude at check in. When I simply asked if the hotel had a pool, the receptionist sarcastically replied, Yes, across the street in Lake Michigan. The property itself is older and poor maintained. The room had no heat and there only solution was to send up a small space heater. The bathroom was just bad. There was absolutely no ventilation, mold and mildew in the corners of the shower. To top it off the customer service during the stay was non existent. The front desk simply doesn't answer the phone. Anytime I needed assistance I had to physically walk to the lobby to speak with someone. I will never stay at this hotel again, and I highly recommend you spending your money elsewhere.

Place is a hell hole

No heat, toilet was broken, no hot water. I left. Front staff was very rude. The staff who came to fix the toilet and bring me more blankets and a portable heater were very nice.

Room could’ve been cleaner specifically the floor, conditioner was out. The property is old.

I feel the hotel as presented online differed greatly from the reality. It was shabby and depressing. We stayed one night of our booked three night stay and moved to another hotel the next day. This is a budget traveler lodging.

Great staff!

Bath tub didn’t drain, elevator/s didn’t work, we could hear the people next door like there weren’t even walls in between us.

It was in a great location We weren’t able to turn on the heat and the room was cold

Location was great! Room was basic but updated! Beautiful lobby. The mattress was not comfortable at all. Ice machine was broken. There’s an exhaust fan in the bathroom but no way to turn it on. Had to ask front desk to fix a light bulb because it was a strobe light. Thought the phone didn’t work but realized it was unplugged. The shower head had a couple of the nozzles that sprayed outside the shower, all over the mirror and shelf above the sink. Bathroom was an awkward layout - when sitting, your legs are in the doorway basically but understand retro fitting an old building creates character.

The room was small and was missing modern convinces-microwave-better seating space. The staff were friendly and the restaurant was great! I only wished we had gotten a better room! Special shout out to Steve P. the doorman for his service and friendly demeanor!!

Great stay, wish there were more amenities to enjoy. Some doors were closed or heavy to open.

Great location and clean

I'm 19 and the other hotel I tried to book with didn't accept 19-year-olds but didn't tell me until day of trying to check in. This hotel was amazing the front desk guy answered all of my questions and they helped me get a great deal online 10 out of 10 would recommend.

Great location!!! I have stayed there many of times …

Hotel is pretty "okay" if you are going for business, but our experience was not nice. The Air Conditioner wasn't working on a 65-80 degree outside, I told the front desk if they can help or make a room change but the solution was to give me a floor fan, not the type of help I was hoping and did not do anything to the A/C, it felt like "this is the best we can do, handle it". I've been in the hotel industry for 9 years and that's not how we handle thing. Bellmen and housekeepers were great and very committed to the service.

Air conditioning didn’t work in the room. The only good thing was the pillows and the view of Grant Park.

Very good location right in the heart of Downtown Chicago.

No onsite parking available for length of stay - must use 7th st garage nearby for affordable parking

Everything was perfect. Great customer service.

tiniest room i’ve ever stayed in and shower leaked all over the floor and

Good

Could not come and go from offsite parking without repaying $67.00 Very short on staff.

not much run down hotel

Highly recommend.

400 dollars not worth it period

Did not have hot water when we returned to room after concert. Next morning called and maintenance came to fix. Good location to walk to South Shore train station and Grant Park

As one of my first solo trips, I was glad to feel very safe and comfortable during my stay. I had requested and paid extra for a lake front room. On the fourth floor I could barely see the lake, but did face the park. Good news and bad news because the street noise was very loud at times. I ate in the dining room both evenings and the service was very good. The second evening my order was incorrect, but was quickly corrected. I couldn't get the shower to work and the showerhead was so high I didn't have any chance of reaching. The next day maintenance did fix, so water could be diverted to the shower. I couldn't find any information about the nearby attractions or restaurants. Good think there is Google. Check in was easy. Had a challenge finding the correct elevator. All-in-all, I would stay there again because it is very convenient to the Art Institute of Chicago. I read the South Tower is supposed to be haunted, but I received no visitations.

Could have used a microwave somewhere on property for guests to use. I realized it is an old hotel and the electric probably won't hold up to all room having one. But like one in with the drink machines would be great.

Bring earplugs, people love driving down Michigan avenue blasting music loudly

Excellent stay

Superb

Nice clean hotel downtown.

Good for a sleep and go. Not horrible, certainly not the best hotel i've ever stayed at.

This is one of those grand old hotels that used to be amazing, but has now fallen on very hard times. There's a reason it is one of the cheapest (though still expensive) hotels in the Chicago Loop. The staff seemed absent or disinterested, the facility has peeling paint everywhere, and the vibe is just ....sad.

Exceptional

Exceptional

Clean hotel good location. Toilet in room did not work. No refund issued for inconvenience. Six people in room had to use hotel lobby restroom and/or visit near room on same floor. Because maintenance was in room fixing toilet, shower time was limited for the six people in this room.

I had an amazing view of Lake Michigan and the area but unfortunately Michigan Ave is very noisy at all times of the day and night. In addition, there were no black out shades and due to the rooms facing East, the sunrise was bright and early. I had to buy a sleeping mask just to sleep to 7am. The hotel is located in a great area so if you can overlook those issues, then you’d be fine.

The cool thing about the location is that it's close to a park for scenery, the museum, the art institute and baseball field. The older side of the hotel needs updating in their rooms, and needs a bigger or faster elevator. A.C/heater panel was stuck, so needed someone to get it opened. The floor rug in the hall needs to go, and probably a bigger front desk area for their workers it looked cramp in there. Staff were cool.

Really good place just weird door security people

A old, classic hotel and a low room rate, I was not expecting 'up to date modern'. Plusses: Room was large and clean, no noise from other guests, bag storage free, price compared to other hotels very low. Minuses: Unable to turn heater on _only a thin quilt blanket for bed, noise from toilet filling continously - sometimes had to wait an hour to flush again, hot water from shower took long time to come through. Being alone and not too fussy I was ok with this for the week. Built in 20s ? once must have been quite glamorous but investment needed to renovate a bit.

It’s old but clean

The classic style leads to smaller rooms, but its all part of the charm in tgis historic beauty.

Bed very good and the roominess in the family room was really helpful Old aircon units, leaks in underfloor pipes, gaps in doors and walls

Good

Classic bait and switch. No on gave a damn.

Cons: The shower is not well designed, because to turn it on, you’re forced to stand in the way of the oncoming water — before you get a chance to regulate it. The curtains in the room didn’t close entirely, meaning outside lights were always visible during the night. The sign on the door said to use the door chain for extra security but there was no chain. My check-in time was 3:00 pm but was delayed almost two hours because they were behind schedule with room cleaning.

Overall hotel was nice and very convenient location. AC in rooms definitely need updated.

O

Very old hotel but location is great for Grant Park and Soldier Field. Toilet was extremely low and many chipped tiles in bathroom. Wallpaper peeling in hallways. Service was very slow in restaurant. We left and didn’t eat onsite.

AC didn’t fully work

Love the high ceiling in the rooms Needs more towel hooks in the bathroom and room darkening curtains

Location and historic hotel Bathroom needs attention

I liked I had a city view I love looking at the city at night. I liked that there was a tablet in the room where you could find info on things and that it addressed you by name and welcomed you, and said good night. I like that it came with 2 complamentry bottles of water. The bed and the blanket and pillows where comfortable. I did not like our door, it was a older wooden door that had long painted over glass piece the length of door, didnt make the environment feel safe. Anyone could break that glass and come in room. Also the exhaust fan in the bathroom didnt work made the bathroom and room stuffy after a shower.

Congress Plaza Hotel was overpriced and dated. My husband had to fix the toilet, it was running and the flapper was not functioning properly. We could hear the entire conversation coming from the room next to mine. The bells were clearly overworked, waited 30 minutes for a bell to help me with bags. I will NEVER stay at this hotel again, NEVER!! The maid came knocking at 9 am, check out is at noon!

Always stay here when I’m trying to save money great location and price

Wish the Congress had a pool and on site parking

Really need upgrade ,there was so much noise in the room ,isolation is so bad

: )

Room bathroom not upgraded Tv is the size of computer screen Overall the feel of the hotel was very ghostly and creepy instead of vintage and authentic

older and in a bit worn condition,, but in a great location the staff is fantastic.

The building is old and needs updates. The bathtub wouldn’t drain and maintenance tried twice to fix it. They did respond quickly, so that is a plus.

Hotel is centrally located and it would be the only reason I would consider staying here again. The room itself was clean and has the essentials. However, this hotel is older and is in desperate need of a facelift. Staff was friendly.

We stayed here because we were going to an event at soldier Field. The hotel was in a great location on Michigan Avenue, but it has seemed it’s glory days in the past while they do the best to maintain it. It is a clean hotel but it is nothing fancy at all.

Did not look like the pictures shown online old hotel not update

Very good location - place to store luggage prior to check in. The AC unit is not controlled in the room. The hotel controls the temperature. When we arrived, the room was very hot. We called the front desk and were informed that the best they could do was send a fan. The door was chipping away, pretty old. The hallways were dingy and dated; the hallway carpet was stained. We had a connecting door to another room, but there was no way to verify whether it was locked, which is a security issue.

We wanted to extend our stay for an extra day and the employee said there were no rooms. So we went online and there were rooms available. Not sure why he told us there were no rooms.

The bar was very welcoming and the historic ambience and location was exceptional

The only place I stay in Chicago perfect place right on Michigan ave with a lot of good history

Faded glory. But fine

Great location of the hotel on Michigan Ave. Close to multiple “L” stations. Felt walking around the hotel. Got back from a baseball game around 10pm on a weekday and had no issues. Room was clean. Cool historic hotel

Hotel and room were clean. Bed was a little hard for my liking. Over not a bad hotel. Would stay here again

.

Great stay at congress.

It’s definitely an old hotel but I loved that it was always clean!

Broken hair dryer and bathroom exhaust fan

The tub was clogged so while showering the water was filling up the remote didn't work so we couldn't watch TV the air didn't work it was extremely hot in the room. No one answered when I called and no one was at the front desk. When I checked out I wrote everything down and passed it to the front desk agent and he bald it up in my face. Although this was a bad example it's only one out of many beautiful extremely It is a amazing hotel with a beautiful view of the lake and other attractions so I will be returning

Only thing bad about this is they don’t have parking and parking was $65

Prefect

Superb

The room had an odor and eventhoufh it’s a landmark building with some renovations, there were not enough outlets, no coffee pot just sat on table nowhere near an outlet to plug up and make coffee. Complimentary water should be available not just $5 bottle in room. The hallways need air freshener. It just gives old vibe overall.

Don’t waste your money. While the location is great, the lack of concern, from staff, with major problems that we encountered was unacceptable! There are numerous other hotels in this vicinity. I highly suggest you book with them.

The bathtub had rust spots including tape placed on it. The water was barely warm for washing.

Not the best and not the worst. Tolerable

The hot water didn’t work while trying to shower and there was hair in the bed upon arrival

I liked the location and staff in the front and one of the security guards. I didn’t catch his name but he was pleasant. I didn’t like the air conditioner did not work in my room. I also didn’t like that security wouldn’t allow us in the building.

Location is perfect. Rooms are nice. I like the gym and fitness area. I didn’t appreciate being charged $5 for a water I didn’t drink. I left the maid a good tip and yet she lied about this issue? Petty and small thing but it took time for me to call and have the charge reversed which to the hotels credit was done without drama. Other than this I would have given staff a perfect grade and the hotel an 8 rating.

I didn’t like the air conditioner did not work in my room. I also didn’t like that security wouldn’t allow us in the building.

Location is perfect. Rooms are nice. I like the gym and fitness area. I didn’t appreciate being charged $5 for a water I didn’t drink. I left the maid a good tip and yet she lied about this issue? Petty and small thing but it took time for me to call and have the charge reversed which to the hotels credit was done without drama. Other than this I would have given staff a perfect grade and the hotel an 8 rating.

Superb

Great service and staff

The lakeview was spectacular and the rooms had ample space.

I didn't drive. Was close to public transit. Had construction going on in front of hotel, but wasn't given prior warning. Made getting in & out difficult. Came to check in & system was down, leading to a delay in getting our rooms.

Very clean but ac didn’t work well

Very outdated and the construction is so inconvenient

Clean and check in was easy. Also the parking lot was walking distance! We went out side to smoke and forgot our key so we had a big issue with security. He threatened to call the cops and empty our room out because we couldn’t get in the building . No one told us the doors would be looked after certain hours so we didn’t know and had to ask a stranger to open the door for us because the security thought we were homeless people trying to break in. It was a horrible experience. I had to make my way past the guard with my ID to show to the lady at the check in desk. And after I got my room key the security still was making a big deal not letting my four other guest in even though my reservation included 5 people. It was such a horrible experience!

Very outdated and the construction is so inconvenient

Superb

Very good

Perfect location! Walking distance to the lake and Millenium Park. We booked lake view room and it has, arguably, one of the best views of the city We only got bottled water once during our 3 night stay. Would appreciate new water daily or if there id water fountain somewhere. The bathroom is nice but the exhaust fan doesn't work well or not working.

Clean and check in was easy. Also the parking lot was walking distance! We went out side to smoke and forgot our key so we had a big issue with security. He threatened to call the cops and empty our room out because we couldn’t get in the building . No one told us the doors would be looked after certain hours so we didn’t know and had to ask a stranger to open the door for us because the security thought we were homeless people trying to break in. It was a horrible experience. I had to make my way past the guard with my ID to show to the lady at the check in desk. And after I got my room key the security still was making a big deal not letting my four other guest in even though my reservation included 5 people. It was such a horrible experience!

The bar being open late is nice and the staff are very helpful.

Great location for a good price. Staff was helpful and the place was nice. It’s a little older building and shows a bit of wear here and there but not a bad spot at all. Overall worth the price!e

We stayed in the room 1177. The bathroom is so old. Water is leaking from the bathtub. The sink has a crack line. Pillows are very still. There aren't any variety available. All are the same stiffness. One good thing is the room has one separate king bed in the bedroom and the outside has 2 double bed. One bad thing is the bathroom is in private bedroom. Like the room at howard Johnson hotel, the bathroom is outside. Therefore, the bedroom has privacy and at the congress plaza hotel has no privacy. Hard to close or open the curtains. The door knob is not working. Location of the hotel is good. The hotel needs to remodel and building improvement.

Nice location. Proximity to public transportation. Accept check in under 21.

Bathtub was inoperable, and no ventilation in the bathroom. Parking was easy, desk staff not very friendly.

One night I could hear people screaming and yelling and slamming doors. As a single female, this hotel overall did not feel safe and I’d suggest paying a little more for rooms that have heat and a newer building.

My favorite hotel in Chicago!

Dirty room. Sketchy ppl.

Great location, safe, clean and reasonable price.

Parking lot nearby - no coffe bar - in room coffee machine didn’t work. Good location for walking to Grant Park

It was a great stay and i will be back.

Clean room, good staff

I only chose this hotel cause it was the cheapest but I definitely regret it. The staff were rude, especially security for holding luggage. The rooms are so out of date, weird curtains and bedspread, the bed is hard as a rock and the pillows too fluffy to use. I got no sleep, save yourself!

Disappointing

Very good

Disappointing

Disappointing

The building itself is beautiful. The hotel seemed to have and offer a lot of different things: restaurants and stores in the hotel itself. The room was nice and spacious. The view was unique and location was perfect. Outlets all around the room. The free water bottles were appreciated as we walked a lot around the city. Trying to contact anybody to get answers before my stay was impossible so it was difficult to plan and prepare. Found random hairs on my pillow and bed, other bed had price tag fasteners still on the sheets. Room had no climate control. Bathroom floor could use some work. No remote to the tv.

It was very clean and in a good location It was very very dated

It was very very dated

The building itself is beautiful. The hotel seemed to have and offer a lot of different things: restaurants and stores in the hotel itself. The room was nice and spacious. The view was unique and location was perfect. Outlets all around the room. The free water bottles were appreciated as we walked a lot around the city. Trying to contact anybody to get answers before my stay was impossible so it was difficult to plan and prepare. Found random hairs on my pillow and bed, other bed had price tag fasteners still on the sheets. Room had no climate control. Bathroom floor could use some work. No remote to the tv.

It was very beautiful! Walking distance to a lot of great things. Very clean rooms. The lobby and everything was immaculate downstairs! It was very nice. I will definitely be back! The rooms were very cold. No heat.

Very good

Exceptional

It was very beautiful! Walking distance to a lot of great things. Very clean rooms. The lobby and everything was immaculate downstairs! It was very nice. I will definitely be back! The rooms were very cold. No heat.

Good comfortable room Great location Parking was easy with 2 lots behind the Hotel N A

Nothing at all Worst experience I ever had in a hotel . No parking only a paid parking in the back of the hotel with a 45$ for over night parking I waked to my truck at night and had rats running under it yes big rats . The rooms small the walls so thin you can hear Next Door breathing coughing, and fucking , and that’s a king size bed room with a lake view . Bathroom shower falling apart room not clean properly . I do not recommend this hotel to anybody I have a video and thy thy won’t let me upload it

Doors could be insulated better to reduce sound at the floor-to-door area. Neighbors were very loud waking us up several times. Security was called and promptly responded. Followed their word saying they would remove the guests if it happened a third time. Indeed, police were called and they were removed. The rest of the night was quiet. I would stay again for a short stay, but not an extended stay. Opinion would probably be better if not for the goofy situation. I would stay again. 4/5.

The toilet paper felt like newsprint, and the give you 2 (two) bottles of water *per stay*, not per day. Stingy. Front desk staff were less than friendly.

Restroom wasn’t clean…

Old & dirty, construction on the front of the building, no signs to direct where to enter. On hold for over 15 minutes, delayed our arrival. front staff member was rude and told me not to book through Expedia because there was 2 bookings. When I tried to give her my confirmation/ itinerary number she said she can’t see anything because I didn’t book through the hotel. Building is not kept, the caulk in the bathtub was moldy, the faucets were rusting, the toliet didn’t flush well. We were uncomfortable and left a night early. Do not stay here. There’s many other options on Michigan ave.

Old and historic property. With that being said, not all of the property is renewed but the rooms are kept clean :) service is good and is close to a lot of things in downtown chicago

Hot room; no conditioner; no room temp control; small tv; no free breakfast; over 300 dollars and not even 300 dollar value;

The building is fairly historical, but all the facilities are working well. The distance to the park and lake is fantastic. And the price is very decent No attached parking but there are ample parking spaces nearby

View was beautiful from our window facing Michigan Ave AC seemed not to work for well. Slept with window open for Chicago breeze but it made it loud with sirens

Hot room; no conditioner; no room temp control; small tv; no free breakfast; over 300 dollars and not even 300 dollar value;

Clean and very old

Was woken up at 5:30am by building construction that no one mentioned would be happening or said would start at this time. There are no or conditioners in the rooms and the shower had hair from the previous stay still in it all over.

Very very terrible condition of the room.

Rooms need major upgrade including water, heating, etc

Next to the last day of my stay, the toilet was having a flushing problem. I notified the person at the front desk of the issue and was told that it would be looked at by maintenance immediately. I came back about 6 hours later and it hadn't been looked at. During check out the next day, I shared the information with the desk person. Other than that experience I give the hotel an A+

It was central to what we were there for we didn’t have to drive anywhere. We parked down the street. It was great. The side doors wouldn’t open with our key, making us walk all the way around to the front of the hotel

Room was clean, coffee maker didn’t work but was replaced quickly. Staff all very helpful, especially Steve the doorman/security. Very helpful getting us a cab!

The hotel looks really cool as it’s really old. The rooms are very basic, a coffee maker and a tiny tv. The south tower is right on the train line so it can be noisy with the train rattling past. The staff was nice. We didn’t use many of the amenities (like restaurants) so I can’t comment on them. The location is great for touring around Chicago as you’re right downtown on Michigan Ave

The room was clean but the bed was so hard if felt like you were sleeping on the floor. The mattress did not even give when you sat on it. Did not see any hotel staff around the entire stay except for a maid, a bellman and the security guards that were everywhere, which makes you nervous that they have to have that much security for a hotel. Will not stay at this property again.

Hotel was dated and old. It had some charm, but elevator was scary slow and they had to turn off the water while I was there. Definitely needs some renovation...

For the price this place shouldn’t really exist anymore and the whole property redone. Food is also depressing level. If you come from London you will know.

Hotel has a beautiful lobby but rooms are very outdated. Elevators are specially slow, may take you over 5-7 minutes just to get down to first floor.

Enjoyed breakfast. Liked the extra bedroom and space. The bar/lounge was convenient for the evenings. The property is a little dated/old. Could use some updates for the price.

The room was in need of upgrading.

It was OK. Not the greatest, not the worst. The building itself is old. My room was nice but the bathroom was TINY. The toilet didn’t have a cover, looked like a public bathroom. What makes this hotel stand out is definitely the VIEW. It’s so beautiful. Great location, walk across the street to the water.

Very good location but several in room issues - spotty wifi, vey low, as in trickle, water pressure, rooms only made up every two days - expected better for the price.

room small but clean and adequate - TV with only analog picture, not very sharp - no room temperature control, but room was comfortable - bathroom tiny

N/A

The downstairs was beautiful! All the marble!

Everything

Worst hotel!!! Rooms were NASTY and not even close to what was shown!!!! Definitely not what 400$ should get you!!!! I wouldn't stay there again if it was free!!! I seriously considered sleeping in my car!!!!!

Rooms were cold. Building was cold. Building is beautiful though

Spacious, clean room with an excellent lake view. The property is somewhat old, but there was no odor at all. The only drawback was that the toilet tank did not seem to be properly sealed.

Room was cleaning but hotel is too old, the heat of the room did not work good therefore it was too cold at night. If you are going to stay there it wont be a nice hotel

The hotel is nice, but slightly run down. It does have a history if you like to see some of the pictures on the wall. Good location for Navy Pier etc...

My $375 room was very basic for the price but had a lovely view to compensate for the sparse decor. There was no hot water for the 1st shower. I found out later that you had to run the water for at least 20-30 minutes before it got warm enough to bathe. Old building, old pipes. Helpful hint, I found a bottle opener fixed on the back of the bathroom door! Who would have thought to look there? I was also told the hotel had no parking and that I was on my own to look for a place to park.

Amazing

Lovely room, except that the shower only maintained water pressure with cold water. As soon as you moved the handle to the hot setting, pressure dropped to a mediocre half-flow. Not very enjoyable.

Nothing to complain about

Good.

Beautiful view downtown. I really liked the inside of this hotel! Everyone was very helpful and I was able to get checked in quickly. I know they said they were renovating and my room was very lovely! I would have appreciated some signage of room numbers off the elevator as I was in a time crunch but hopefully they get added later. Would recommend. Shower was amazing!

…. Great location, clean room, but need maintenance

.

3rd time there. Very clean and close to everything

I didn't like that it needs a lot of updating - but when doing so, keep the character of its history.

Coffee was bad . Shower was weak . And the bed was as hard as a rock

No hot water was my biggest complaint ! Mostly old rooms even in the “updated” sections . It was clean- just old. If u are looking for a place to spend the night close to Michigan Ave then it fine but it’s not a fancy place by any means.

Very good geographic location. Easy access, clean room, quick and easy check in and check out.

Really nice place

Hotel very old and outdated several broken furniture in the room. Shower was cold.

Place is in serious need for demolishion. Heater s don’t work, lost room power in a cold night. Nothing the hotel could fix overnight. Dont recommend this place at all.

Really run down rooms and hallways, especially the bathrooms. Lukewarm water - never had a shower that was warm enough - broken tiles, cracked glass shelves. Dingy and dated. Nobody around to leave your bag for a few hours in checkout day. Do not recommend. The only positive is the location near the Art Institute.

It was a nice hotel clean room comfy beds. Definitely would stay here again for the price

The room was ok, no thermostat to control temp and was warmer than i would have liked. The bed was hard and made my back hurt. Staff did not answer the phone for about 30 min between 4 calls that i made before getting extra pillows. The doorman called transport for us and it took forever for him to come get us.

Bed was comfortable. The main floor is lovely. The bar and food were solid. My only complaints were that we could not control the room temperature ourselves and it was either too cold (for which they brought us the extra blankets & portable heater) or too hot, there's no microwave in the room, and I hated the smell of the body wash they provided. We used Uber the entire time so not sure about the parking situation. The location was freaky nice- across from a park, lovely were streets, and literally everything was available in the area.

Superb location, loved the lake view. Room very comfortable. On the smaller size. Water was lukewarm at 9 am

So good place and so central

I would not suggest any one to stay at this hotel.

--THE BAD-- - The floor while it looked clean, left socks and feet dirty. - The AC unit did not work. While it blew air (even when off) it was not cold or hot, as such I would not recommend this hotel for a summer or winter stay, we were boiling with the windows open a crack (security windows on the 7th floor). - Toilet ran and would loudly refill every couple minutes. Also did not flush properly. - broken floor tiles in the bathroom - Water would only get slightly warm IF you left it run for 5-10 minutes first. Hope you like cold showers. - Easy to get lost in this massive old building with many doors and elevators leading to only a select area. --THE GOOD-- - Location was perfect for us, right off of Michigan Ave and a few blocks from the bean as well as the location we were headed to. - The bed, while small was firm, comfortable and felt newer? The pillows were great! - Elevator, while older than dirt (peeling wallpaper) was fast, shook like crazy but fast. - Other than the noise from the open windows (trains constantly going by), it was quiet at appropriate times.

Everything good

The room was clean and quiet, the staff was nice, and the location is great! (We used the grant park south garage to park our car.)

Good

Very nice room, high ceilings and beautiful view. All staff we interacted with was very nice.

The room was cold, temperature in room was about 63 degrees, front desk sent up maintenance engineer, temperature never got any warmer, had to sleep in our clothes with coats.

The staff was friendly, the rooms are dated but the lobby and history of the building is beautiful

Yes love the old fashioned look and the way the whole room was thanks

Location is perfect and rooms are average. I didn’t like that housekeeping stopped late at night once in my 3 day stay to only pick up trash and we had to ask for towels.

The amazing view of the water and park!

The staff are helpful and our room was very clean but the infrastructure *is* 133 years old and remodeled several times, so there are quirks like gaps in the room door itself where the wood panels have been reattached to the door. This is NBD for us, but I can believe the reviews that say you could hear hallway noise on busy nights. It was slow on a weeknight in Feb, we slept in. For wheelchair users: make sure you confirm details with the front desk. We got an accessible room which did have grab bars and extra space with a wide bathroom door, but with a standard tub. The listing shows a roll-in shower, which we didn't need, but fyi for others. There was a small bump from the room to the bathroom. Also, the towel rack and soap ledge above the sink were very high, I think a wheelchair user would have had trouble. The elevator should work but it's a close fit, and our floor had a deep carpet. PS we realized after we got settled that *this* is Chicago's most haunted hotel. Total ripoff. We slept on the 4th floor and not one single apparition or ghostly wail. ;) Not to worry, we'll be back.

Staff was great. Clean rooms ,great location

Kind staff and a nice view of the city, close to a ton of things in the area!

Shortly after our check in when noticed our room did not have heat called the operator only to be told the hotels boiler was out, had to call a 2nd time because the toilet wouldn't flush finally when the maintenance guy came to fix the toilet he said he could get us a space heater we was so excited to get the heater because we was literally jogging in place to warm up when we got the heater we turned it up to 90 degrees unfortunately the room was so cold the heater didn't help we slept in our clothes we had to spend extra money for delivery fees because the hotel restaurants were closed due to the boiler issues I wish the hotel would have informed us/guests during check in allowing us to decide if we wanted to still stay or make other plans we didn't stay any longer the day of check out we slept fully clothed because the room was like a freezer horrible experience for what it cost, I would hope your hotel can make this right.....

My only complaint is that it took forever for the hot water. At first I thought I was going to have to take a cold shower. It made it up eventually. Great location. Close to CTA & museums.

Clean

The room was spotless, security was a great help with everything.

No heat in my room

Overall we enjoy this hotel, some fixtures in the bathroom were missing. But on an important note, we were woken up by the front desk and by security at 3 AM regarding a noise and an assault above our room.

Wonderful hotel close to a lot.

Staff- location!

Great place

Room was very cold, key didn’t work for the side door

It was a large nice hotel but the wing I stayed in was under renovation and looked spooky and abandoned. The room was really nice but the bathtub drain was stuck closed.

Clean room

B

very old, not maintained well, train passing next to the hotel every 5 mins, warm water problematic

When you check in they still have plexiglass between you and the front desk clerk - not very welcoming. The hallways and rooms are very dated. But, most important the room was clean and the bed/pillows were comfortable. Probably wouldn't stay here again.

Roaches in the rooms and have tried to handle this matter with the hotel manager but she doesn't answer emails or call back when I leave a message. I've attempted to reach out several times.

Everything was clean and neat.

The hotel was a beautiful historic property but many parts of it were run down. The room was nice and clean, but we saw several dead bugs and mouse traps throughout the hotel. It was also unfortunate that there was only one microwave for the entire huge hotel. The hotel staff weren't rude, but they weren't very friendly or helpful either. It was ok for our stay but I would definitely not recommend to anyone or stay again.

The room was very hot the hallways were sketchy. It was so hot in our room we had to wake up to take cold showers. However the room was very pretty and the hotel itself was in a nice place. Easy checking in and out

The room and hotel is a bit run down as most places over a century old

No room temperature controls is weird

Room was great

The room was very clean in good condition and well maintained, the staff was very courteous and willing to help, the amenities were as expected the only thing that I would suggest is to update the corridors and aisles of the hotel because they seemed extremely rundown until you get into the room that was good and the restaurant part was closed so we had to sit down at the bar and we didn’t like that because we were with kids.

The family suite was spacious!

Nice room and amazing view of lake Michigan. Very clean and staff was friendly. Only down side was our room was extremely hot.

Bad room

Room clean. A bit dated, bathroom a bit tight. But great location and value for funds expended.

In the middle of the night, the toilet burst and water started pouring out uncontrollably, forcing us to deal with the situation ourselves. The sink stopper was broken as well, which added to the inconvenience. The staff eventually responded, but far too slowly for an emergency situation.

Elevator broke, ice machine didn’t work, I paid for two rooms to be connected and they weren’t. Door greeter was very friendly but check in lady was rude . I gave it 3 stars just because the location is downtown and convenient.

Enjoyed our stay for the most part. Room was clean and location was convenient. The only problem was there was no way to control the thermostat and it was EXTREMELY hot. They did provide a fan to us and offered to crack the window for us, they dropped one fan off but did not open the window so it was still very hot.

Overall, experience was great! Hotel is in a great area and close to tourist attractions. There is a parking lot located behind the hotel for your car that unfortunately cost $62 a night. Room was a little outdated and muggy. Staff was accommodating. Would stay here again.

The room was very small compared to pictures and the heater was extremely loud. The walls were so thin our neighbor was screaming on the phone all day for our entire stay. The location was great and the staff seemed nice enough. This was our second time staying here but we much preferred the first. Don’t know if we will return after this experience :(

no tv power in the room no outlets where working even didnt turn one i couldn’t charge my phone the shower was super small no hot water i couldn’t even shower the shower felt like it was gonna fall to the next room no microwave i ask for a lake view didnt get that either tv in living room channels where frozen need smart tvs

Rooms are full of rust and the overall cleanliness of the rooms/hallways is questionable. Nice staff though

The parking is $63 overnight. You cannot leave the hotel after you’ve paid your parking or you have to pay again. The faucet water barely runs out. No trash can any where in the room. Breakfast is not free

Tv wasn’t working right blanket had spots on it and toilet was working right had to flush 2 to 3 time to get to go down the room next to me was loud music every morning i didn’t want to spend any time in the room

Room view was incredible (10th floor), clean. Staff was accommodating and friendly. The only issues were no ice on 10th floor and no hot water for 2 days. Cold showers in the winter is just unacceptable.

Very clean rooms , some sides have great views on upper floors.

Overall pretty great other than no microwave

It's a very old building so the heating and hot water situation is a little off compared to newer hotels but nothing that would deter me from staying there again for a show. It has a nice bar on the 1st floor that could use more than one bartender when there are shows scheduled at the Auditorium. Bartender was great, but needed some help with a bar full of patrons.

The first room I had had an issue with the door unable to shut properly. The lock was unable to operationally lock the door and I felt unsafe. The other room I got it replaced with had a separate issue where the door doesn't close properly requiring force to close it securely. I would appreciate if there was at least a sign saying so and that these issues get fixed immediately.

The staff was friendly and helpful. The free breakfast was poor and the options on the card to expensive compared to when you eat outside.

Renovation

Great location, beautiful historic hotel with clean, updated rooms.

Great time I had sex 8 times in 24 hrs best Chicago experience ever

Staff was great, room service was quick and affordable. Room was spotless.

Establish was great, Steve the doorman was awesome!

So much character in the rooms.

Decent staff, the room was very clean and modern the tv could of been a little bigger tho other than that 10/10

It’s an okay hotel. Steve, the front door attendant was very kind and helpful!

Good location for many activities. Room was good but less than great.

Great location, clean room, but the walls between rooms are paper thin - could hear the tv and conversations next door.

The bed was very comfortable. I enjoyed the spacious lobby and the history of the building. My room was practical and comfortable

Room old. Need update , hair everywhere need good cleaning

I never got told that there was no parking. Also, the walk from the back to the front was terrible with me having hardware in my ankle. It’s not an ideal place for someone with physical disabilities. The weight room was not open 24 hours as mentioned. There was no breakfast as mentioned as well. The room temperature was outrageous. The bed was hard.

Friendly staff. Clean room.

This is an old hotel that is in need of upgrades to get it to a solid three star rating. Everything was functional. The view of Grant Park is amazing. The room was clean. It’s just very rough around the edges.

Wonderful hotel

Clean room. Historic charm

Absolutely terrible.

fantastic place to stay

Great a+++

No shuttle service to/from airport…surprising for a conference hotel.

Awesome location

I liked the hotel. It

Good

lovely staff, beautiful spacious historic architecture, classy touches like vintage plates and cutlery

Very good

Food menu at bar a bit limited but loads of places around to eat at. Great stay

Old and tired

Hotel is historic but run down, with peeling paint, lots of broken trim, and uneven floors. The room is sparse to the point of feeling like stepping into an unfurnished apartment. Paper thin walls let you clearly hear the conversations in the next room. Good location but otherwise can’t recommend.

Poorly maintained. The heat is brutal. Have to crack a window and let 20 degree air into the room to maintain a comfortable temp.

NEGLECT! I KEPT CALLING ASKING FOR A SPACE HEATER N COMPLAINING THE HEAT DIDNT WORK IN THE ROOM THEY SENT SOMEONE UP ONE TIME AND THE REST THEY DIDNT CARE FOR THE STAY WE WAS FREEZING IN THAT ROOM

Yes perfectly clean

Location to events

The Congress is my favorite place to stay in Chicago. The location is perfect an Steve the doorman makes everyone feel like a VIP. The architecture is beautiful, dating back to the time of the Chicago Exposition. It is easy to walk to most of the attractions that you came to Chicago to see from the Magnificent Mile to China Town.

Beautiful property filled with history

Just a lovely visit all around. Highly recommend

Tablet in room said breakfast ended at 11, but when i called at 10:40 they said it ended at 10. Lobby and room were nice but hallway needs updating and maintenance. Also mattress in room was very hard.

Room was clean. Only interaction i had with staff is when i checked in and checked out. You should add on your advertisement, parking that you pay 62 a day for has no in and out privileges. No one rents a car to leave parked. How many times a day do i have to keep paying 62? I gave it a food rating because i prefer no to be bothered. So no interaction is good. Room was clean and warm.

Beautiful view of the sunrise!

The hotel rooms and hallways are very old and dated but for the price worth the stay. We did have a man named Steve who helped us with our bags and parking, giving directions. He was wonderful!

Great lounge area in the bar

Really interesting place, great price for the location too. Staff was very friendly.

The room was fine was nice.... If you arrive in the afternoon, nothing is open until five.Just so you know, you'll have to go elsewhere for a drink or whatever...

Clean rooms, helpful staff, and beautiful architecture.

Staff was nice, clean room, nice location

The bathtub backed up we didn’t get a chance to shower

Clean and convenient!

Staff was courteous, room was clean, price was worth it, the continental breakfast was a little disappointing, but overall a nice place and would stay again.

Should be better

Very pleased with the staff. There was am issue that was resolved the next day.

My bathroom door locked on its own and that was creepy. Other than that it’s going pretty good.

The presence of a RAT at the breakfast station was totally unacceptable. I will not be able to recommend this hotel to anyone.

The room had a funny smell to it and the hot water didn't Get hot at all. The water was backing up in shower it wasn't flowing while I showered.

It was good

The room was clean, but it was cold temperature wise. The room stayed cold throughout the night, and was really hot in the morning. The water temperature didn’t get hot, even after running the shower for 10 minutes.

Was here a whole 15 minutes. Room was a million degrees, stuffy and then I saw a roach on the bathroom floor. Had to get out of there asap after that.

Clean and courteous

Booked a 4 days, 3-night stay and on the 3rd night our room keys stopped working. We went down to the reception desk to see what the issue was and they said they had only seen us booked for one night total. There was a 25 dollar security deposit per night, and my card on file had already been charged 75 dollars. Instead of fixing the issues right there, staffing explained we would still need to pay for a full nights stay and an extra 25 dollar security fee (that we had already paid for). The shower in our room was leaking and the water was cold. Breakfast was poor, and we had many random knockings on our door throughout morning and night. Only thing good about the stay was the location.

Hotel was great and nostalgic.

Clean & incredible staff. Helpers by the front door were particularly friendly and helpful, give them a raise

The hours for the Restaurant were wrong and we could not get food. Room service did not exist it was an awful experience. Our room was dirty on the wall and in the bathroom. Did not look like online photos. And our card access had issues before our checkout time.

Building was in poor shape and the room smelled like stale smoke. Large ceilings, large bed were a plus.

Two night ‘security guards’ were rude, especially one. When walking around to explore a different floor from our room without any signs/barriers saying we couldn’t, and also when entering the front of the hotel late at night once, we were treated as suspicious. Their tones were rude, and they demanded to see our room keys both times. The second incident mentioned happened two nights after the first. The guard clearly recognized me and my sister from the room exploration, so to speak, but visibly and audibly backed off slightly once he realized my husband was with us, and hadn’t been before. I didn’t get any names, but I really don’t appreciate being talked to like a naughty child rather than a paying adult customer.

That’s a holiday deal breaker. Two days. Ice cold showers for a family of 5. We’ll stay somewhere else thank you

People passed out all over the hotel corridors is too much. Security was all over the building. And the hotel has ZERO warm water. Zero! Not fun when it’s so cold outside. We’ll stay somewhere else next time.

The first room had cockroaches in the bathroom. Soon as we turned on the light one appeared on the outside of the tub. We crushed it left the hotel for about 6 hours. When we got back there were 3 cockroaches 2 by the toilet and 1 by the bathroom garbage can. I went to speak with the front desk agent and she stated I had to wait until 8am when a manager came in but will send security to my room so I can write a statement. When security came to the room he stated that the hotel is 100 years old and cockroaches are common as well as bed bugs. When I spoke with the manager she stated I couldn’t get a refund since I booked through Expedia and I would have to call Expedia so they can send an invoice to the hotel to get a refund. Expedia reached out to the hotel and 72 hours later no response so due to Expedias refund policy I couldn’t get a refund. What’s really wrong is the fact I only wanted a refund for 1 day stay in which the cockroaches were in that particular room. The hotel did offer a new room but that was on my second day stay.

No hot water for showers. Only 1 elevator was working. The staff was great.

They might have been short of staff during the holidays. My room and the hallway needed vacuuming.

Both times I showered the water was not hot it was barely warm. The walls and doors are paper thin you can hear everything. The burger at the restaurant didn’t taste like real beef. The staff was definitely friendly.

The room was terrible it smells

The windows were sealed shut :(

The room was very clean and just the right size and amenities for our short one night stay. The temperature was great on such a frigid night, we rested well during our stay.

This is my favorote hotel in the whole city.

The hotel was beautiful & the staff was amazing

I didn't have breakfast. The stay was pleasant. Was here for the NYE party. Enjoyed my stay per usual and comfort in my room per usual

Got followed to our room and left a day early

Great

Yes. Excellent and very professional staff. Very helpful and outgoing.

Room was very clean and bed and pillows were comfy. Enjoyed my stay. Will revisit next time in Chicago!

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Room was clean

It is in a prime downtown location. The weather was bad so we didn't get to walk around that much, but it is close to a lot of things to do. I'd definitely stay there again if I need to be downtown.

Nice, clean room. It's an older building, but everything was in good working order. Staff was excellent as you must use bell staff to get bags to your room. Parking was $62 for 24 hours, so brace yourself for that.

Bed was very comfortable and I would recommend this to a friend definitely would stay here again

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Friendly front desk person

Good location. Very clean. They run a tight ship on security. But there were some strange looking people there who didn’t seem to be on vacation and who didn’t seem to be able to afford the place. I don’t know what that was all about and the desk clerk assured me that they weren’t doing housing for the homeless. That gave a different vibe to the hotel.

Yes

It was extremely disappointing! We had no hot water and had to take cold showers. They told me to turn on the sink and take a shower that the water pressure would somehow turn it hot. What a joke. Then the toilet wouldn’t work. Had to call numerous times to ask them to fix it. Then when Inwent to the front desk to complain about the cold shower and broken toilet, she told me I reminded her of her grandmother that complains all the time. I was horrified by such a rude obnoxious comment. I don’t think asking for a hot water and a working toilet is out of the ordinary. Never again.

Front desk people was unfriendly and little rude

Clean room, quiet hotel. Nice amenities in the room such as toiletries, bottled water, mini fridge. The classic style of the lobby is beautiful and i appreciate that they kept sone of that old school charm like original wooden doors. Would stay again.

The continental breakfast was horrible and the hotel does not have laundry services

Everything was good. Nice stay.

The location is excellent, and that is the only positive. However, the condition of the property is difficult to justify: the building is old, doors are poorly maintained, and the furnishings in both the reception area and rooms appear worn and outdated. In addition, the ACis inefficient in rooms.

Pros: close to area attractions, clean room, complimentary bottled water in room, cheap rate. Cons: $65 for parking, dated/worn out/cheap room decor, no room thermostat, common areas in need of refresh & felt unsafe.

Vintage decor and feel

Nice clean and friendly

Excellent everything specially view

This review is neutral, because the hotel itself has so much potential to be beautiful. The hallways and elevators are very dingy and outdated. The rooms are modern but not very clean. I had to turn my toilet water off because if ran all day long. The tub wasn’t clean and the shower curtain is very cheap and flimsy. It’s not even long enough to prevent water form hitting the floor. Needless to say, if they made a few renovations, they could easily be a real 5 star hotel. Also, the bartender is extremely rude and needs additional training!

Very clean and even the night staff is very friendly. They take security very seriously.

Everything was great staff room and Bears beat Packers.

Room was meh, tv didn’t have anything more than channels available. View was nice, bathtub was gross.

Clean and silent

Aging. Room comfortable but small and would benefit from upgrades throughout hotel.

Room was clean, bed is a bit on the hard side, shower is hot and very nice. Lobby is beautiful. Does take the right person to stay there.

The hotel and staff were great. It was conveniently located and I want to plan another stay.

Good

Very large room. Good location for subway travel and view of park

Great staff

Stayed here four times within this year and loved every minute of it! It’s a beautiful historical hotel! They do a beautiful job keeping it modern and very clean while yet keeping the historical aspects of the architecture. Love this place! And it’s close to everything!

Nice room and beautiful location. Very walkable to dinner and drinks!

Super fast elevator much appreciated as I was on a high floor. Great staff and spotless room. The temp in the room was way too hot but staff came up right away to open a window and leave a fan so I was quite comfy. The lake view is awesome!

The room given to us felt really damp and had a strong small of cleaning products. It seemed that particular room had not been used for sometime. We requested to change a room and was given a brighter room without strange small. The hotel was dated but the location was near the park.

clean rooms and great location!

The room was clean, quiet and staff were friendly and professional! I did like it

Was good, clean… not haunted just old… but renovated and up to date… I paid an up charge for the lake view. Fairly priced up charge for the difference in view. Staff was friendly.

The bed was generally uncomfortable and the food was outrageously over priced.

My second stay at this hotel, and it was overall pretty good. I would have liked better breakfast choices and maybe cheaper parking for hotel guests, not the same as anyone parking there.

Hotel is close to many things, outdated, tub fills up when showering and mattress was hard.