Freehand Chicago

What a sweet surprise! We've never stayed at a hostel before. We had our own room with a queen bed and our own bathroom. It looked just like a hotel room with about 25% percent of the cost of other hotel rooms in Chicago. Very convenient location and a quick 20 minute walk to Navy Pier. Also, it was a quick 12 minute drive to Chicago Union station. The room was quiet and I would highly recommend!

We liked it all!

Only had drying towels and no wash cloths, empty soap bottles.

From the bottles to the tiles in the shower to the phone booth restaurants and overall atmosphere. This place is such a hidden gem in Chicago. Thank you for everything!

To me and my family. It was a OK hotel. Very outdated and we had to asked for towels and there was no shampoo or body wash so we walked next door to Walgreens to buy some. Our light in our room was very dark. I give it a 6/10.

My A/C was broke (and I was here in June), which I noticed as soon as I entered room. I notified desk on night 1, who said maintenance would address on day 2. Nothing was done day 2, so I went to front desk again. They said to come back day 3 morning and also gave me manager email for any complaints. I emailed manager and also went in day 3 morning to ask again if my A/C could be addressed, which they assured me it would. Yet again, when I came back to hotel day 3 evening it was not working. At this point I have up on the matter as it seemed to be a futile effort. Also, the manager never responded to my email from what is now about 4-5 days ago. No partial refund was given to me either for this issue.

Room was not cleaned. Covered heavily in dust that it made me sick. No working a/c unit, tv, or bedside lamp. Dana was apologetic and helpful during checkout.

Okay ish

The staff and bar were great! Location was nice with plenty of dining options within walking distance.

It’s convenient location

It was good place to stay for the Go Fest Event

I haven't stayed at a hotel/hostel before, so I don't know if my expectations were unreasonable. First, the good. The staff were friendly and helpful. The location was perfect. The hot water and AC were plentiful. I felt safe and wasn't bothered by noise from neighbors. I didn't see any bugs. They even had a live musician during at least one of the evenings I was there. Now the bad. We had a private quad. It was dirty. The walls, some of the bedding, the bunk bed curtains were stained and gross. We found trash from the previous guests. There was so much dust and debris, especially in the part of the bunks that held the mattresses. The shower curtain and tiles were moldy. The room needed a good scrubbing and a fresh coat of paint. I wouldn't stay there again unless they improved their housekeeping.

The property is close to areas you want to be and that was attractive. The entry to the hotel was attractive and the bar was really nice. However, when you got to the elevators and the rest of the hotel, that’s where it felt outdated and done poorly and cheaply. The room was very small, the sewer system smell was strong throughout our room and we couldn’t adjust the AC. I would not stay again as it felt more like a hostel stay than a hotel stay.

El hotel está bien ubicado, pero está muy descuidado en limpieza y atención al cliente. La habitación estaba muy sucia, con olor a humedad. El ascensor suena terrible y todos los pasillos están sucios

The room was not what I expected for how nice the hotel looked. I did not want to sleep there, it was dusty and smelled.

Room was clean, staff friendly

The location Staff fees room

Location. Bar. I spent 4 nights with AC. With no possibility to open a window either. But that was not so bad because the noise was so much from outside that I slept with ear plugs. They gave me a Fan… Days with 90degrees.

Disappointing

I booked at king size bed room and ended up being put in a room with other guest when i didnt book a a quad room i booked a king size private room. Very disappointed.

love the place!

Not very helpful on the phone but were nice in person

Me and my friends stayed here for three days. The front counter girl was so incredibly nice The location and the room was delightful.

Clean room, convenient location.

I requested facilities to look at it 3 days in a row, and it wasn't until the end of the third day a tech came to the room and told me it was just broken. Front desk staff begrudgingly listened to my complaints, but were unable to move my room as the hotel was full until Monday (my departure). Understandable issues given the volume, but being treated like an annoyance for a legitimate complaint left a sour test in my mouth.

The best thing about Freehand is its location. Bang in downtown, walking distance to everything there is to see. The building has an old world charm and the theme is African - the tiles, wooden panels, rugs, upholstery, artefacts - gives an exotic feel. We stayed in a room with king bed and the room was astonishingly small - barely any place to walk - but hey, for the price and strategic location - you can’t expect more

staff was helpful, room is old, curtains have stain all over.

the room was supposed to be only female. it was not

The room was okay, not very spacious, didn't have any soap in the shower, otherwise was okay.

Cool architecture, great location easy to walk everywhere. Room could have been cleaner. Staff could have been friendlier.

horrible stay, dirty room, rude staff, misleading as i booked a double bed but got a single bed, extra resort fee

Lighting was a weak point too, both natural and artificial. The room faced an interior space, so there was little daylight, and one bulb was a low-CRI fluorescent that clashed with the warmer tone of the other fixtures. On the plus side, I loved the bathroom tile and the design of the common spaces. One frustration: the staff gave confusing information about dry cleaning, which turned out not to be available at all.

I was only there for one night but I felt safe and the space was clean. Will come again.

The room cleanliness was less than stellar as the walls looked dirty, trash left behind, and the lamps did not work.

The only downside was that the room had a slight musty smell, which could be improved. Aside from that, the hotel is very good, the facilities are pleasant, and the atmosphere is very positive. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a great place to stay without overspending.

Window was broken, everything is just cheaply painted over, the amenities don’t pertain to me, and it was constantly cold in my room due to the window being broken.

The Freehand is my go to place every time I'm in Chicago. It is a bohemian treasure and attracts interesting tourists, many from Europe. Good location, just by Eataly in the River North area, and I always have no trouble finding nearby parking on SpotHero. I've stayed here a few times now, and it feels like my 2nd home in Chicago. It has some hostel like qualities, but I've stayed in other hostels and this one is an upgrade. Reminds me of The Jane in New York. We especially love renting a full room with 2 bunk beds then having a fun old school slumber party. Try it out!

beautiful interior, super cozy and warm. as a frequent solo traveler, with amenities like a washing room and work out area is well appreciated. Bar environment was top tier

Staff was quick and efficient, friendly. Clean, quiet rooms Good location It was very loud in the main lobby area

I will say that housekeeping and maintenance staff we encountered were very friendly.

Useful amenities, location was even better than anticipated.

It was a really neat hotel. I liked the style. Wasn't sure why we had to make our own beds though. Also, the phone didn't work in the room, so I tried to call the front desk from my phone. They immediately put me on hold "for a minute", which turned into 5. I hung up to call back thinking they forgot about me, they did the same thing AGAIN. I thought, "Well third time's a charm, right?"-- wrong. Same thing! What if it had been an emergency(flooded room, or something-- not 911 eligible)? It's not like a short trip to the front desk to ask in person. The lady at the café was nice and the food was decent.

If you’re looking for a bare bones place to stay, that’s very reasonable. If you don’t need a television in your room or amenities in the bathroom. It is a great place to just lay your head and sleep while you spend the rest of your time out in the city.

It’s a vibe

Nice location clean and convenient

Superb

Good

Beautifully maintained historic, but updated property. Incredible views, great walking area, full of just about anything! Great trip!

Even if the rooms are clean, the state of the walls and carpet, the sad window covering, the lack of reasonable light, makes it a very sad place to spend the night.

Outside of parking lot is noisy.

Bad

Pleasant

Dumpy old hotel with many issues. The room was barely bigger than our queen sized bed. A/c didn't work, blinds were totally broken, and the sink leaked. Room wasn't very clean either. Pay a couple bucks more and stay somewhere else

Our room didn’t have a working AC. They were sold out, so we had to downgrade our room to a queen. I doubt we ever see the refund for it.

Exceptional

The shower!!! In general, everything worked. The staff is very competent but agressive. No place to open the luggages. No service room at all in five days.

No toilet paper. Stained curtains. But bed was ok.

Good stay during a busy weekend. A bit over priced, but I think the event effected the increased cost. Good safe clean stay in a pinch, but definitely a no-frills stay.

Disgusting rooms and rude front desk staff

Very gross couch in my room. No washcloths, hand towels or shower supplies. Disappointing.

Amazing and incredibly helpful staff. The room was great and the hotel is in a phenomenal location. Second time staying there and look forward to doing so again in the future.

Great price, the bunk beds were fun!

Exceptional

The staff was great, location was great, and the bar was literally the coolest thing about the place and I didn't even go there but to check it. The beds were almost on the floor and not very comfortable. The price was very high for next to nothing space. Bed in the middle of what was called a room, with maybe a foot on each side. The shower was decent aside from it cutting in and out while showering.

Bad

It’s the worst place I have stairs at. Rooms had paint peeling off. Dirty carpet and over all not what we saw in pictures while booking. Room,

Love the bar, great coffee in the morning and the lounge is a great place to get some work done. Location is amazing for jazz clubs and restaurants.

Everything was disgusting will not be working with you guys again.

That said, there were several areas that could be improved. We requested extra towels and asked for our body soap dispenser to be refilled, but neither request was fulfilled during our stay. Customer service was hit or miss. When we asked the front desk for recommendations on nearby restaurants and attractions, we were simply told to “Google it,” which felt dismissive and unhelpful. The biggest concern was the bathroom—there appeared to be mold in multiple areas. Overall, the hotel has a great location and some convenient amenities, but improvements in housekeeping, maintenance, and guest service would make for a much better experience.

It was ok the sheets are itchy and overall our room was really dusty and barely clean there were so many stains on the couch and the sheets and blankets aswell we ended up ditching the hotel and staying somewhere else because we couldn’t stand it

Musty, moldy room! Sneezed for days afterwards...never again!

Only stay here if coming alone or you’re a backpack traveller. Will not be coming back to Chicago Freehand.

I was really looking forward to staying at the Freehand Chicago.

Very good

Worth the cheap money at heart of downtown to stay, but the reception was a bit rude. Overall I give 7/10.

It was soooo cold, the heater didn’t work at all

It was soooo cold, the heater didn’t work at all

Worth the cheap money at heart of downtown to stay, but the reception was a bit rude. Overall I give 7/10.

Not very clean at all. Comforters were stain even the ones we asked for after seeing the ones in the bed were stained. The curtains were stain, old and wore out with holes. Not convenient at all even for parking.

I loved how close it was to everything I needed for my quick stay. I was also in the heart of the city, like a couple mins of a walk to the lake too! I didn’t like the fact there is YEARS OF BUILD UP DUST I SEEN! I woke up with the worst allergy symptoms due to it, and it was hard to sleep due to my allergies. I also got a lil bumpy rash due to those dust mite allergies….

Cozy and stylish and location could not be better. Very friendly vibe - looking forward to returning!

the staff was wonderful though, especially front desk staff.

10/10 highly recommend!

The Hotel is in bad need of a update & remodel. Rooms are very small and dark and Dingy. carpet is very warn. We went to the room we were given an there was some kind of very loud running contently outside the window had to go to the front desk and ask for a new room. The next room was on the same side of the building but higher up still noisy but not as bad. There are plenty of other options in the area of town would suggest checking them out.

I honestly dont have any complaints. it is an older hotel but it was still pleasant and clean.

Great location nice room

It would be helpful to keep the beddings clean and furnitures dustedincluding the bathroom.

The staff was kind and helpful

Carpet in our room was very dirty and our overhead light did not work. Called the staff to address these issues and they were not resolved during our stay.

Good staff clean good people

This hotel is showing its age and it’s in need of a good deep cleaning. The carpet is worn and stained in many areas. The A/C doesn’t seem to work in several rooms and the staff isn’t super concerned with customer service. Wouldn’t recommend staying here

Within walking distance to a lot of the popular/touristy spots in Chicago which is one of the reasons I liked it. Also right next to a great breakfast/brunch spot the Goddess and the Baker, food was delicious.

Very bad

The staff was lovely as always. The room was nice and clean.

Small room, good for short term stay

Everything was perfect! The vibes were great. Bar was fantastic ✨

Room was very small

The room was clean. We were surprised how quiet it was even though it was facing a main road. It was also close to the red line which was very convenient.

The lights in the room didn’t work. The door didn’t close properly. There was about 12” of free space surrounding the bed.

I might have managed by myself but my wife was deeply upset, so we asked for our money back and booked a room at a nationally recognized chain for about $100 more for the night. , which

The hostel itself is a nice place. The staff is friendly, the bars and cafes are also very clean with some good drinks and bites to eat… however comma the room that we stayed in was a private quad suite that didn’t have a working AC unit. We tried to get someone to come and help but the “engineer” that came in told us the AC couldn’t go below 72 because the system in the hotel would shut it off. I’m not sure that is the case but who am I to say. I would honestly reconsider staying but absolutely should be a place you should visit for a night out with your friends!!

Our room was clean and efficient. Very content with our stay. Just had the premium quad since there for a short time and wasn’t in room much. I recommend staying as the location is good for sightseeing with everything in walking distance

I booked a single room, king size bed for my sister and they tried giving her a shared quad, twin bed. We canceled immediately but still have not receive a refund. Ive called and left a message, no reply. 2nd time I called, I was placed on hold till the call dropped.

Rated 3 as We stayed at a 1 king bedroom on the 3rd floor for 3 nights. Room was a bit dusty and only provided 2 towels. Our shower gel was empty when we got to our room, good thing we had extra. We asked for refill 3 times but was never completed. Room was dark and didnt have a rug for the bathroom everytime you shower it floods. I would recommend this place if you want a affordable and want convenient location to trains and busses and tourist spots like michigan ave/river walk. Near to restaurants and bars as well.

This hotel is well located but not clean at all. I asked for room service and they never cleaned the room (we were there for 6 nights).

The location, staff physical place were all great. The bed was clean and super comfortable. Unfortunately the last roommate I got was super noisy. He came in after midnight and switched on all the lights and once he was in bed—he coughed all night. I thought he was maybe really sick…I sort of wished I had a 95 mask. Luck of the draw.

This was my first stay at Freehand. I was in a shared quad dorm. Obviously you do your best to be a good dorm mate (ie be quiet when others a sleeping, dont take forever in the bathroom etc). I was surprised that the bar was so lively. They have a laundry room as well as a fitness room. Proximity was perfect. I decided not to pay $60 for an Uber to Midway and instead walked around the block to the Red Line and for $2.50 road the L. Staff was friendly and I'd definitely consider staying there again.

The room was really clean and the bunks were nice. There was also a bar and restaurant on hand. There were multiple parking structures nearby at various prices. And it was really close to the music venue , I was going to. I would definitely stay there again

Rooms are really small and it seems like they didn’t take their time to clean it. The bathroom was not clean and had empty body wash and hand soap dispensers. The staff there weren’t welcoming either. Overpriced for a room that was dark and had a bad odor to it. Spent the night then checked out as soon as we could. Never again.

PROS: great location (within a few minutes walk to starbucks reserve, trader joe's, and most importantly to the red line), price is cheaper compared to most hotels in the area. overall, hotel works only if your budget is tight. but if you want a truly restful vacation where you're not dreading going back to the hotel, then i'd recommend finding somewhere else to stay.

Property is conveniently located near grocery & pharmacy, and 1 block from CTA Red Line stop. Clean room and overall quiet. It was a great location for a weekend getaway. Room lighting level is low.

I enjoyed my stay. The room was clean and the staff were pleasant. I accessed the hotel easily using public transportation. I had a great experience at the cafe for breakfast during a previous stay.

This hotel is at a perfect location. Would 100% recommend. Just be ware the rooms are in the smaller side and bathrooms are a bit unorthodox. The staff was amazing and very helpful. This hotel would be a 5-star hotel if they did some minor upgrades in the rooms. But the location is what makes this a great place to stay.

It was extremely dusty as if no one had been in there for months. Went to the front desk to ask for washcloths since there weren’t any in our room and I was told someone was gonna bring them up. NO ONE CAME! There’s also no water fountains or ice on the floors, you’ll have to pay $3 for bottles. They are not worth it and extremely unprofessional.

I loved my stay the parking was very close i wll be back

pretty good

The hotel is good, great location, great price, great staff, and very clean. The rooms are quite small but the main issue I had was the noise. The walls are so thin you can hear everything going on in the hallways, in adjacent rooms and the floor above and below. If a good night sleep is your priority, I would not book this hotel. I would not stay here again because of this.

No help at all

The room is dated and overpriced for the lack of amenities in the room. Heater was not working during stay. Not properly cleaned with left over hair ties. The breakfast bar and lounge bar are a nice touch, however the staff is rude and not very willing to help. The manager of the hotel being one of the worst. We had left items and had an incredibly rude experience trying to get them back. The front desk was rude and unprofessional. When we got the manager he said “this is more of a housekeeping issue”. This is clearly a hotel/management issue after 10 days with no contact. The manager begrudgingly helped us finally get our items found. Honestly feel if we hadn’t hounded them I never would’ve received my items. Do not recommend this hotel. Will be writing an email to corporate as well.

The hotel has an amazing vibe and was perfect for walking downtown. Rooms were what you expect from an older building, but the showers were hot and the room was quiet. All in all, a great experience.

Dirty, rude, extremely small room with nothing but a barely working tv.

The room was okay for a short stay and mainly good for resting/sleeping. The washroom had a slightly stuffy, damp smell, which made it feel less fresh than expected. I also noticed some dust around the bedside table area. Staff was decent overall, but the room could benefit from better cleaning and ventilation.

Hostel side was perfect. Great rooms and staff

The staff was first rate!

I liked that I was able to choose an option with only women. as a solo traveler I felt safe because of it. the other girls in the room were kind when our paths crossed when getting ready in the morning. there is only one bathroom in the room for 4 girls so if you need a lot of time to get ready you could be waiting a while. it didnt bother me as I had no plans, but something to think about if you like to take your time getting ready!

Stayed solo for one night. Very convenient location, will stay again!

The design of the property was cool and it was conveniently located but the queen room we stayed in didn’t have air conditioning and it was hot in there some days/nights and also there were some stains on the bed sheets. The faucet in our room also kept dripping. Also has no fridge or microwave:(

Clean.

The room was small but great value price wise. It’s a nice spot for a couple just visiting for a day or two. The bathroom was really tight but we managed. Only complaint I had was the fact that the heat is controlled for the entire building. It was freezing in the room because they said it was out of season to have the heat on in May (ppl are still wearing coats in Chicago in May lol) but they were nice enough to provide a space heater which made it comfortable! Would stay again.

Dirty curtains/ mould in bathroom. Simple. Friendly staff, nice bar.

Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The room and bathroom were small but clean and comfortable. The curtains did have small stains on them. The TV only had cable and there was no way to cast content from my phone onto the TV.

Great place to sleep, not a great place to stay. Probably worth it for a night or two given the price, but if I wasn't traveling alone or I needed anything more than a crash pad, I would go somewhere else.

Front desk was incredible helpful and friendly. The location is incredible. The room was clean but the furniture and bed in my king room were well worn. Overall it was a great value for the location.

Best hostel experience ever! I was hesitant of staying in a hostel after not doing so in years but this was so nice and very centrally located. Would stay here again!

Did not park

Clean room and safe

I would say if you're looking for a place to lay your head and sleep at a good deal then this is your place. The room is really small and there isn't a lot of room but I didn't mind. The only complaint my wife had was the small bathroom and that there wasn't any wash cloths. I think the staff was great and I recommend staying here.

This was actually my second time at freehand Chicago. The hotel is clean, comfortable and conveniently located. Will definitely book again whenever I return to Chicago.

How long my deposit back to me?

Great central location, lots to do nearby.

Clean room, looks older, bed was comfortable.

Our room smelled terrible and the sheets were dirty so we did not stay. We also felt uncomfortable with the people standing outside in front of the hotel.

Right when we got there they rolled out a dead body off the elevator…also gets loud from bar at night

The hotel was in a great location, and the lobby and public areas were well maintained. The room was pretty dirty and moldy, but got the job done. The rooms are very tiny, like 100 or so square feet, so it’s also pretty cramped. They do however book to 18+, whereas most chicago hotels are 21, hence my reason for staying. Overall okay price for a great location, but small and dirty room, but if you are over 21, choose a better deal. ($600 for 3 nights in May).

The staff was extremely friendly, helpful and welcoming. I took a chance on a hostel and I was not disappointed. Just for those in my shoes, I will save you the research: bring a lock because they do have assigned lockers for your stuff. I wasn’t sure so I “pack muled” while I was there, ending with me needing to acquire a backpack. They do not supply toiletries other than dish soap (which I used to shower with; low-key no shame). But I stayed in a shared female quad dorm. I got lucky and they were very quiet and respectful. They have laundry facilities but I will warn you, the whole city runs on card and phone pay so either bring your own quarters or do what I had to do and wander the city at 1am carrying my laundry to a Walgreens to find change for $5 because the front desk didn’t have enough and most places don’t have expenditure capita ($2.50 to wash/$2.50 to dry). They do have tide powder soap for $1 at the front desk so that was nice. I never got to utilize their bars or dining area but they looked hoppin’. I went for a concert and didn’t have time to enjoy those things. You need your keycard to use the elevators, get into the laundry room and your obviously your room. The main level is open to the public up until 0230 and if you’re out and about after that time, you need your card to enter the building. But all in all, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend Freehand!! Amazing pricing, multiple options and right next to Pizzaria UNO as it turns out. Safe Travels! 💜

Staff was wonderful, ambience was great, room was clean. Had trouble trying to control the temp in the room, we were cold our entire stay. I recommend splurging black out blinds as our room was so vibrantly lit during the night we did not sleep.

Super chill place!!

Room was filled with dust... like literally dust everywhere. On the bed lamp, table/desk covered with dust as if no one ever stayed/cleaned there... carpet floor is very sticky and damp... the smell of room was very mouldy... But!!! The location and price are golden. It is located in the center of Chicago downtown and so close to everything. Only 4min walk from red line metro, We walked everywhere. And it is very safe around the hotel even at night. We were busy exploring the city of Chicago so didnt mind of the condition of the room much since we were going to just get some sleep and get out again during the days. It got really cold at night (late Apr.) but the room has no heater, we asked fromt desk to see if we can get extra blankets and staff was so nice to offer us a small portable heater. If you are looking for something affordable, just to lay your head down at night but somewhere close to downtown, pier and riverwalk, this is the place that you need to pick to stay.

Friendly enviroment, great service, room clean

Very old and dark. Bed was clean though.

The breakfast options were really good, me and my boyfriend enjoyed the burritos. They had a really nice recreational area, that I enjoyed while waiting on my room.

Try it ! It’s worth it and you get so much for your money! Wonderful Service, top notch staff and it’s right in the heart of City two blocks from Mag Mile shopping district..

This is the best deal in the city! Whether you choose to share a room or go solo the place is big on making sure each guest feels welcomed. the front desk staff either with Dana or DeAnte 5 star service all the way. You get a lot for your money and the location is perfect and the vibe is always upbeat and very chill!

When I complained, the front desk claimed there was “no availability” and immediately tried to pressure me into paying for an upgrade, which made no sense while online platforms were still accepting new bookings at that exact time. This felt less like a capacity issue and more like an attempt to upsell instead of fixing an unfair assignment. To make things worse, this dragged on for nearly an hour starting around 10:30 PM. At that hour, being dismissed and left without a reasonable solution is not just inconvenient—it’s irresponsible. I seriously considered leaving the hotel late at night because of how poorly this was handled. Only after a staff change was the issue finally acknowledged and resolved with a proper bed shortly after midnight. Basic, equal accommodation should never require prolonged arguments at that time of night. I stayed over 15 days at this property this year, but I will never return. Management seriously needs to address bed standards, room assignments, and front‑desk accountability. No guest should have to fight at midnight just to be treated fairly.

Our room was small but had a comfortable bed. Great location in River North.

I would tell people it is a good place for stay over and if you have good weather to be outside Wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time in there pretty much used it to sleep and then get going in the morning. The price was unbelievable I would like to find a few like this in New York. Let me

The property was located literally in the center of downtown. Everything was accessible and walkable. All the major attractions were within 2 to 5 km of what Chicago is really advertise to be. Staff was great open bar was amazing. Vibes were nice and other guests were on the same vibe levels.

Location was great and they have additional restrooms downstairs. and also have laundry room, gym as well. It was great stay.

1 day stay everything was great. The staff and manager were terrific. Place was sold out and staff was super accommodating! Bars were both enjoyable!

Great bar

Good room

Nice Place to Rest and have fun. You only need to considerar the $50 dolar deposit

Really enjoyed our stay here! The staff members were so friendly, and went the extra mile to ensure we enjoyed our stay. Loved the room, but they could do a better job at dusting some of the natural textures employed in the decor. Bar area was a very nice place to relax and unwind at the end of the night. Would definitely stay here again!

I stayed in a shared bunk. There are lockers that can fit a carry on, but you need to bring your own lock. The staff tell you some info up front, but don’t hand a paper or anything to help you remember. The room key is required to use the elevator, didn’t realize that at the start. The doors might get slightly stuck or squeak.

Is a quaint older motel. Staff were all amazing. The location is superb. The room was tiny.

I had a nice stay here. I didn’t have any issues with my roommates. You only get one towel but I wish we had gotten some small ones as well. It was a bit smaller than I expected. It wasn’t very quiet in the room because of the outside noise but I had brought some earplugs just in case and they helped. The only thing I didn’t like was that the temperature of the shower water wasn’t very consistent. It kept going from cold to hot and vice versa. Other than that I would say it was a pleasant stay.

Good Staff | Bar

Other than the above, it was a very pleasant time. And the location is very convenient.

Kind of ugly room

Friendly staff and perfectly suitable room, parking was across the street so unpack any luggage to avoid hauling it around the public self parking garage. Beautiful building, definitely a rowdy younger crowd but little to no noise in our room!

The tall, beautiful bartender was an expert server and took care of everyone in the whole lobby, in addition to those at their bar

An early April heatwave isn't all that common, I get it... but not turning the AC on because it's too early in the season is pretty rough when you have an inside facing room with zero breeze and no fan in your room when it's 80 overnight.

Todo bien en general

Super dirty room and sheets, AC didn’t work either and didn’t clearly state it when booking.

My fav place to stay!!!!!

It’s the best place to stay in the city . Good value for your money. Coffee beds, Front Desk Staff are the best in the business.. walkable greet location! Give it a try

Amazing location, staff was friendly and accommodating, bar was amazing, vibe was immaculate DJ was insane, only complaints were ac wasn't available and shower curtains weren't long enough and water gets all over the floor would definitely return tho

Nice interior decor

Cons - the room and bathroom were small and very tight. Our room door was difficult to open and close. The cafe was not serving breakfast the one day I was there without explanation. The bar had a very small wine selection - no Chardonnay. The front desk was usually manned by only one person and they had to answer the phone while we were trying to check in and out. It was fine for our purposes, and not too expensive, but even though I gave it 4 stars I probably would not stay there again. I need a little more room and doors that close safely.

Property is extremely well located near the Red-Line and downtown. Staff was fantastic. Room was small and dated, but adequate. Clean. Bar and lounge area was very nice. Was there 3 nights, would definitely stay again next time in town

Great location, amenities, vibes, will definitely be staying here next time I’m in town!

Clean place good location

Check in/out was easy with friendly staff. The room was lesser than ideal however good enough for not spending much time in it. No circulating air in the room with musty/mildew smell, made for a lesser cleanliness situation. Location was great with lots to do nearby!

We had to stat here last minute after we accidentally canceled our reservation at another hotel. We did not realize it was a hostel unit after we had booked it & it was a non refundable room. We had a queen room on the 4th floor. It was very tiny & clean. We had no view at all so that was a bummer. The Cafe was closed all day on sunday & when we tried getting a coffee on sat they said they couldn't make one it was for only certain hours that they could. The broken Shaker bar was nice to grab a drink. It was located in a very walkable area. If you want something cheap this will work.

Staff were helpful, the room was clean and hotel location is great. We stayed in a room with queen bed which is unbelievably small, and the bathroom is small as well. It is very outdated, it has such a poor lighting to the point where I had to use natural sunlight to put on make up. The room doesn’t have a fridge nor coffee machine, and it might be big enough for a twin bed.

The curtains on the bed don’t quite cover all the way, so there were little gaps in privacy here and there. On a particularly humid day, the AC didn’t kick on, so it became a bit stuffy in the room. At night, the lower floor becomes a popular cocktail bar, but impressively no noise reached my floor (4). Generally the building is older and needs some paint and repairs here and there, but it gets the job done. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe and comfortable throughout. Would stay here again for the cost.

Great hotel in an amazing area!

it would've been nice to have a parking pass or amenity towards parking. Your staff was not very helpful. We did however, enjoy being downtown Chicago and we were able to walk to the restaurant we ate at. Deborah

I understand it’s an old building but there’s zero excuse for sheet stains and the dust.

One of the nicer hostels I’ve stayed at. Beds were comfortable and private, although the one small pillow was underwhelming. Everything was very clean. Only four beds to a room made it feel almost like a regular hotel.

it was cool but the rooms smelled bad like musty, and there was no microwave and the ac didn't work. But other than that it was alright. atmosphere was good. Girl with the green hair was amazing

Garbage was not collected from Room for 4 days. No AC in the room, No fresh towels provided in Room, Fan was provided. Basics like shampoo , or a bath soap also not provided. Location was good but the vibe was like I am in a Risky neighborhood.

Staff was very helpful and in a good area in the center of everything.

The Lounge was very good.

Great stay

I got what I paid for: it was cheap, and the experience fair but unpleasant for a hostel. My bunk mates did not follow some of house rules set by Freehand which made rooming with those folk’s difficult. I complained to the front desk, and yet nothing was done. Ultimately, I checkout early on my last night rather than try (and fail to sleep) for another night in a row. I spent that night reading in the nearby Subway restaurant and at Union Station which proved more relaxing than the room I paid for.

Not applicable.

It was very centrally located to see all the sites and get anywhere I wanted. Housekeeping did not visit the room at all. And the room was badly lit.

It's definitely worth what you pay. This was my first time at a hostel, and as an introvert I would go back. You need somewhere to crash, and dont plan on hanging out all day, its perfect for getting ready in the morning and just leaving and coming back at night to sleep. I brought my own lock, I believe they rent them if you forget one. My roommates didn't even lock their stuff but I don't trust anyone so use your own discretion. The locker is about 15-18 in wide and around 30 in tall and 12 deep. The staff were always nice and helpful. I do believe they could clean a bit better as far as dusting and washing the shared couch cushions. Maybe clean the windows too every now and then, tourists like to look out the window. I didn't use the bar or lounge but they are really nice. 4.5/5

Resort fee unwarranted. Few/slow elevators. No coffeemaker, fridge, microwave in room. Couldn't open bathroom door all the way.

I asked to fix my outlet on my room to fix it to give me extension cord but seems they don't have time to do it .

love the atmosphere it brought out, like vintage type.

Hidden fee when we arrived

Looking forward to come back again soon

Clean, comfortable, conveniently located, small, reasonably priced. Two of the electric outlets didn’t work and the blinds didn’t open. But I’d still recommend it.

Great value and great location. It’s an older hotel with lots of character. The rooms are small but absolutely adequate, comfortable and clean. The location is great and surrounded by good bars and restaurants.

Great bar areas! Very clean rooms

Great location, clean and decent sized room, staff was helpful and amenities are very convenient!

No better place to stay in Downtown Chicago for the money, comfort and easy walking district for shopping or dinning or nightlife. Casino across the street for added fun if that’s your thing! Book it and you will be happy!

This is the best hostel I’ve ever been to and what makes it so fabulous is the staff. Anything you need they are there to make your stay comfortable and wonderful! Give it a try!

Centrally located, the price was just right, staff was friendly, room small and kind of worn down but adequate for our needs. Would stay here again!

The staff was courteous and very accommodating. The location was extremely convenient. However, the room was not as nice as presented in the photos we saw upon booking. There was also some confusion/miscommunication about how to receive housekeeping services; we used the "Please clean" door tag that was in the room, but no one came to clean the room while we were out. The staff then told us that they don't actually use the tags to communicate room cleaning and that it was too late to get our room cleaned. I don't think we would stay here again, but it seems to be a decent choice for folks who won't be spending much time in their room on a trip.

Staff was nice and very accommodating. Was worth the price, I had to pay a fee that I was unaware of due to booking on a 3rd party site. Had some issues with the bathtub not draining.

Clean room, nice vibes, close to so much, and great staff. I’d just tone down the essential oils in the lounge area it’s a bit overwhelming

People were nice. Room was tidy and welcoming.

The pictures were not like the room. The room was tiny and we barely had any space.

Con Slow and small elevator. room temperature all over the place Pro The lounge is a vibe location price fun photobooth in the lobby aesthetically pleasing Bar and cafe

Some areas were clearly untouched by housekeeping like under the bedside tables and there was a cup we didn't use crammed under one of them. Nice bathroom but all of the shelves were loose and even the wood paneling on the wall was loose. There also wasn't a wastebin in the room? The bed was nicely made. The phone and radio didn't even work LMAO. But the sculptures outside the window are really amazing

Great staff! Can’t beat the location!

I was charged an extra $140.88 when checking in when I was told by Expedia that what I paid included all taxes and fees. Thus I was lied to when choosing the hotel. At the hotel, the front desk was fairly rude and condescending. And the hotel room itself the curtain to the window did not work, the lights flickered for about 30 seconds before they finally calm down and the bunkbeds had maps attached to them that looked like they had been destroyed some 30 years ago. They could’ve at least put new ones underneath. One of my friends mentioned the fitted sheet on her bed had holes in it. Beyond that the bathroom was fine. There’s no way to add heat to the room and the fan system they have in the room was broken. Also, in the mornings all I heard was loud music through the walls. There’s no way to call the front desk because there are no phones in the rooms.

Room was clean, cozy and very comfortable. Staff were all friendly, and the atmosphere around the bar and café area was eclectic. Hustle and bustle, close to so much including the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Water Tower Place, etc. It's got a different feel from chain hotels and if you're looking for something unique, this place deserves your consideration. We will be back!

The room was cold, the heat didn't seem to work. They did bring a small space heater when I asked about it. After 3 days of staying there, they didn't take out the trash or bring towels despite hanging up the sign on the door to request it. The curtains were nasty and stained.....the decor downstairs is nice, but a minimum of service would have gone a long way.

For the price it wasn’t bad, however I had payed for a king room and I was told I was upgraded to “queen premium” which was not the case. According to their website, I got a regular queen room. Upon inspection, the room cabinets were falling apart- the screws were easily removable so it was hard to open the cabinets. Housekeeping didn’t come by despite having the sign outside the door- trash started piling outside from other people staying. It worked for what I was staying for- but if I was gonna be staying in my hotel room for longer, I would have found somewhere else to stay.

The room.felt very neglected. I don't understand how they are running a business downtown Chicago with no heat in the rooms. What is that foul odor in the lobby? Water stained ceiling. Carpet looked out and saturated with filth. I will say the room attendant makes a mean bed. Minute the disgusting throw pillow that need to be thrown away.

I enjoyed my stay

Good yeah GOOD........ They have 4 person room...... And if I'm Honest this is best with a group of people your FAMILIAR with.......... And then I got Queen Elizabeth's room on the 13 th Flower.......... Amazing........ Absolut VODKA and many of RushAAAs finest Communist Community Commissary QUEENS

Always is a pleasure stay in Freehand Chicago.

the room was good and everyone that worked there was super nice. the room was a little chilly but we've been in a deep freeze for solidly three weeks so it seemed to be a known issue and they brought us a space heater right away. the main issue was that nearly outlet didn't work, including the radio, TV, and bedside lights. had we been staying for longer than one night we might've tried to get a different room but there were a couple outlets that worked where we were able to charge our phones

Very clean room, excellent building, amazing part of the city

The room was not as advertised. In addition, there was no heat. An extreme situation as such during Chicago winter season should have been disclosed prior to completing check-in.

Its never Easy retracing your Old Footsteps in a WORLD that has changed so much....... but my STAY Here in this Schmoozie Hotel...... has definitely been a REAL Blessing....... take me Home, Country Roads>>>>>>>>>

1613 yes everything was immaculate

This place offer everything and anything you need ! It right in the city and offer a good night sleep without breaking the bank ! Give it a try

The first room our heat didnt work the madw us move all our stuff down to the lobby only to move us to another room on the same floorth

Good

i've stayed here twice now and its so incredibly charming and beautiful, staff is friendly, and very affordable, HIGHLY reccomend!!

Great staff and clean room. However the rooms are really poorly insulated and it was absolutely freezing both times I’ve stayed here.

Nice staff, clean and spacious room

Room was clean, very nice bunkmates, amenities are nice and staff was amazing.

They didn’t care and said “those amenities don’t exist here.” Then why are they advertised? That is illegal. It was like being in hell for a week. DO NOT STAY HERE. They also gave me a towel with blood on it. Zero housekeeping service, nothing was as advertised and I regret paying extra for the tiniest room ever. I am fairly certain the King bed was twins pushed together. It was incredibly uncomfortable.

the room is too cold and the AC did not work bery well. No drinking water provided.

heaters as well.

Super friendly staff. Amazing location, keep it quiet, we do not want this to get out

Great staff, great atmosphere, great location, comfy bed. LOVE the Broken Shaker. Would definitely stay again.

This was the worst place I have ever stayed. It was the middle of winter, and the heater in the bedroom was not working. I asked multiple times for a portable heater because I was freezing, but the staff ignored my requests. The heater was only turned on after I complained several times through Hotels.com. Even then, Hotels.com had difficulty getting in contact with the receptionist. Overall, the lack of responsiveness and basic comfort made this stay extremely unpleasant. I paid to stay in a freezing room.

Kind of outdated and pretty small rooms but vibes are good. It was very cold though the entire time and the heater did not seem to be working very well

Very Nice atmosphere and staff. Older building with limited heating in rooms

The room was very dusty, and I have a dust allergy. When I complained, they showed no responsibility or concern. The door did not lock properly and kept getting stuck, which made me feel unsafe. The room was extremely dark with almost no outside light. There was only one power outlet near the bed, and no proper charging point. I had to charge my phone in the bathroom, which is completely unacceptable. Housekeeping was another nightmare. I had to call every single day just to get them to come, even though they clearly understood the situation. Their service was slow, unorganized, and completely unreliable. The front desk manager and staff were rude, unwelcoming, and unprofessional. They ignored my complaints, gave empty responses, and did nothing to resolve any issues. To make things worse, I still have not received my refund. For the price and reputation of this hotel, this experience is unbelievable. I do not recommend this hotel to anyone. Avoid this place.

nasty managment

The heat did not work and it was -12 outside. The rooms are small. Had to move to a new hotel. Never going back there.

There was no heat in the room. With temperatures as cold as they were, we were extremely uncomfortable.

My girlfriend and I stayed in room 810 and we had to leave early because of having no heat in the middle of January.

Clean room, comfy bed, hot shower, great cafe and bar. But don’t go when it’s frigid temperatures outside. Even with the space heater, the room was pretty chilly. Otherwise, great!

Rooms and dingy and dusty. Paint peeling off the walls. They must have used up all the budget on the bathroom tile work. The heat did not work in our room and when we brought it up, they made it seem like we were inconveniencing them lol. After we brought it up a second time, they did begrudgingly move us to a new room. They also don’t have any wash cloths??? Which is strange for a hotel but whatever I guess. Spend a few extra dollars and stay somewhere with actual amenities and customer service.

It was good but heating in my room wasn’t working so they moved me to a different room

I happened to stay at the Freehand while visiting Chicago, which

yes

The room was less than clean & smaller than my closet, the lighting was very dull, the heat was broken so the room was about 58 degrees, the body wash was completely empty, some of the staff was extremely rude.

Best staff best place in the city for your money if you’re willing to share your space and meet new people!

would definitely stay again, good price point

It is what it is. Id stay here again but not for a trip you plan on spending a lot of time in your room good place to just rest your head

Minor issues with first room and lacking some more modern amenities but great value and comfy

It was clean room but only bad thing was the bed was really low to the ground

Enjoyed the bar

Everything was great

Room heater was not working had a little space heater for the night.

Very clean room, attendant, staff, lovely amenities, and very convenient location

Great location. Safe

Great fun place to stay close to most things in downtown

Staff very nice

The staff never came to clean and the shower is really small, other that i like it.

Good clean

As someone who has stayed at the Freehand for 4+ occasions and it being my go-to place when staying Chicago, this visit around was sorely disappointing. Our heater hadn’t been working in all day, so when we returned to our room, it was FREEZING. (It was 20° in Chicago - if not lower by the time the evening came around.) When calling to ask for help from the front desk, the rep on the other line was short and simply said they’d send someone up with no ETA. It was VERY cold in the room, as the window seemed to be very drafty as well. After 15 minutes went by, I called the front desk again to get an ETA - only to be hung up on before I could even say “hello”?? It took me asking my roommate to make a 3rd call after another 15 minutes had gone by and only for them to say “we know, we’ll have someone up”. When someone did come by, they didn’t enter our room to inspect the heater, they simply handed us a SMALL space heater and said “turn the heater to 78° should come on”. After they left and we turned the temperature to 78°, the heater only came on for about 10 or so minutes before shutting off again and not coming on again at all during the night. Thank God we at least had the space heater or we definitely would have needed another room or another hotel altogether, but just an insane, disappointing experience here at the Freehand. Will not be returning.

Quite area in a good location to walk to different locations.

The heat in the room did not work, so our room was freezing cold.

It was very bad, no cleaning, disgusting smell and they charged me extra.

Do not stay here. None of the rooms have working heating units and they were trying to hand out tiny electric heaters that kept tripping the power. I thought it was just my room but I could hear other people calling down to tell them their rooms where freezing too.

The room was incredibly cold!

Very polite. Easiest check in I’ve had at any other place!

grea as always

Freehand is always a wonderful place to stay. I'm a regular from Cleveland. Everything was great. I'll be back.

I was told to tell you to call the hotel. There was a broken heater in bathroom and they said they would pay for 1 night but you need to call them

love it

Good experience and the staff was very courteous and helpful

Room could use some heavy dusting, but other than that it was nice and easy to stay here for a good price.

The hotel is absolutely gross. The elevator and hallways feels and smell like a crackhouse. Maybe this is just for the hostel and there is a different part of the hotel that is cleaner. I don’t know. The door was open when I arrived late and dark inside the room was so gross I immediately turned around and left. There was no way I was sleeping in that room. The mold, the smell and the vibe is seriously so gross. I went to the google reviews and everyone says you pay for what you get and so nice because it’s cheap and location is good.

We love the Freehand! They treat us great and are super accommodating! Outside the hotel is rough, lots of homeless yelling in the street and hanging in the alley! No police presence. Stay in inside the hotel bars or walk fast to Ballys, UNO Pizza or Weber Grill! Room was clean, did not use the laundry!

Amanda is the best!

Everything was good, except that there are no ice machines on the floors, the beds sit too low, and we could not adjust the ac/ heater.

Comfortable stay great for 1-2 people in the queen room. If you go during a cold time I would ask the front desk for a heater helps a lot.

The heat was broken so a mini heater was provided, it kept the room warm enough. The hall near the evlevators smelled like urine and mildew. The curtains where stained as well as the towels in th bathroom. Feel like the stay is an overcharge.

I came in super late from my flight being delayed- I was still met with patience and kindness after the online latest check in time. I stayed in a quad shared room and when I got there, everyone was asleep. There was a small space heater that worked well for the space and it was clean throughout. The bed was comfy and I didn’t feel unsafe or uncomfortable at all as a young woman. I slept in and everyone was very courteous, I didn’t feel disturbed by my roommates at all. Thank you for the amazing affordable stay!!

Easy check in & friendly staff! Also in a good location. Rooms are very small though, and heater did not work.

Fun Experience

This is a treat if you treasure customer service at the front desk! Luce remember my name every morning and is so helpful to learning just how things operate in this accommodations for first timers. They go above and beyond to make your stay peaceful and enjoyable. Thanks a million… will come again!

It's an excellent place.

First time visiting Chicago, love this place and will definitely be coming back to stay the next home I'm in the city!

Super affordable, right in the middle of the action. We walked everywhere! Super cool place and will definitely stay again.

Very clean room and bathroom.Staff was friendly and location was great. only negative was very dim lighting.

The staff and the peaceful environment.

Great location. Ideal place to get round in the loop.

Great customer service, clean, friendly, easily accessible to everything, friendly staff, comfortable rooms.

It was 14 degrees and the room was 44° with the heater on max, just did not get warm at all.

No heat.

We checked into our room 8:30pm & found that our room had no heat. It’s Chicago so code is that the room needs to be 68 degrees. (Outside temp 4 degrees -2 overnight) The room was well below and no heat was able to be adjusted. We found out that the hotel was aware of this issue but did not provide additional blankets or heater. They offered no remedy or solutions, the front desk person was incredibly rude & defensive about the situation saying we could go to another hotel at 9pm at night and no refund was offered for $50 parking. Will not be staying there again.

Lady came in my room at 9 am and yelled at me for having a can next to my bed like I’m a child. Very annoying and I didn’t get my free drinks upon arrival

Sadly would not recommend this location, which is unfortunate because the Brooklyn location was special.

The front desk eas very easy to deal with and helpful

Great stay. My room was originally drafty and the heat wasn't working. The staff quickly assisted me and gave me a new room. The bar and cafe were lovely additions to my overall Chicago experience. I hope to stay here again. **I still have not received my deposit back and it's been almost 3 weeks**

The staff were great. We mostly enjoyed our stay. Our bed wasn’t very clean and the heater didn’t seem to work very well.

Staff was freindly and helpful definitely enjoyed our stay.

Everything is excellent especially customer service

The room was spotless and the staff where great!

A lot of noise the entire night. The police even came to the next room

Great location

The room was cold, I had to request for space heaters.

No heat in the room.

Awesome interior design they have a super cool amenities for example their Photo Booth. The bar area is cool dark and has a great ambiance.

It was ok and they were friendly.

It was clean and there were enough towels and toilet paper for us!

Accommodation and great customer serbice!

OLD quit hotel. Good for a fast place to crash for the night. Have a small lounge and bar at bottem floor

The property lacks simple amenities like HEAT. I stayed one night in this hotel and I was freezing! The

Habitación pequeña pero muy confortable, baño completo y bien equipado, excelente ubicación del hotel.

Excellent location. Perfect for traveling solo

Cons: Hotel is currently shabby, not chic. In particularly the rooms need renovating. Paint chipped, awkward dark lighting, broken window shades, light bulbs out. No towel racks on the bathroom walls. Room door did not shut completely on its own. No water, mini fridge, coffee or tea in room. View from 15th floor was of a parking garage. No rooftop pool or bar like at LA Freehand. Lighting overall in hotel is a bit dark and dingy. Apparently they are planning a room renovation in 2026. If they follow through well I would consider coming back again.

The Freehand is a lovely hotel with a great vibe about it that was perfect for my first time in Chicago. Even though my room had an issue with the heat, the staff were quick to provide another solution that made my stay comfortable.

A very clean and comfortable environment. And the staff were extremely helpful and patient! Will definitely be staying here again if I have the opportunity!

Had an issue with the blow dryer not working and the light bulb in my pod not turning on but it was all fixed within 5 mins of reporting to front desk. Also, the shower curtain had some moldy spots. Other than that I had a wonderful 4 day stay! Second time staying there and will repeat in the future.

Clean, close to everything.

It was alright. Vibes are really great and location is good! The rooms are REALLY tiny. I stayed in a quad room and it was hard to have two people in the room trying to do things at the same time. It also wasn’t super clean. The curtains on the windows and beds both had brown stains and the curtains on the beds were too short not really giving a lot of privacy while sleeping. If you bring a suitcase of any time, even a carry on, it will not fit in lockers which further cluttered the already small space.

Yes It’s very nice will stay again

Neat little hotel with a cool vibe. Didnt get a chance to get a drink at the bar due to its hours but its a trendy little spot. The room was great. Suited my needs well.

The staff is fantastic, the rooms teeny but cute, lounging areas very loungey and fun!

There is no coffee, tea in the room, not even in the entire hotel. I had to buy a cup of coffee in the bar at the lobby for $6.60ish.

When you just want to sleep it’s the easiest in and out check out there is. Beds are comfy the rooms are clean. Just do it you won’t regret it !

The entire room is just a bed. No room to walk or unpack. Barely functional, closet doesn't even fit a small suitcase.

The whole space has such personality and doesn’t feel like a cold, formal hotel. The staff is personable and the bar is second-to-none. The only thing I disliked was not having a fridge in the room, but I 100% will be staying there again next time I find myself in Chicago, or any city with a Freehand location for that matter!

Going back asap

Excellent! Best location !

The room was really cold. Heater wasn’t the best.

room could have used a dusting. light fixture was loose.

Location-Amazing, Overall Vibe-AMAZING Service-Phenomenal but the actual room was eh at best. The size is why you pay for so no complaint about being too small, the walls were just dirty. Corner of the rooms dirty with dust. I will say the mattress was insanely comfortable.

We loved the retro style of the hotel. It was also in a great location to all the things we wanted to do and was affordable compared to other hotels around it. With it being in a popular area it was quiet at night which we loved.

Could have been a little cleaner in the common areas but the value was good staff was very nice

The room was TINY. No reading lights next to the bed (no room for nightstands on each side of the bed! No room for a closet. The bathroom so small the door hit the sink. And the parking situation was ridiculous--we were able to get our money back, but the guy at the front desk was NOT as communicative as he should have been, causing us a great deal of headache to get back the $63 it charged us for 2 hours and 15 minutes of parking.

Super friendly and helpful staff, environment felt warm and welcoming. The people who stay there are pretty cool as well! Rooms were clean and cozy. Would definitely stay there again if I’m in Chicago again.

Really nice room

The gent at the front desk was very friendly. The room and hotel were clean. Was the room small? Yes. Buy I don't need a ton of space. I'd stay here again.

This was my second time staying there. Staff members are great, helpful. The rooms are ok for the price. Both times the curtain in my bathroom has been very dirty. Other than that all good.

It was wonderful. The room was cozy. I loved the radio and just the whole decor and I definitely look forward to staying there again.

Rooms are clean, staff are nice and friendly

Good option on a shoestring budget.

Overall my stay went fine. Very affordable for a short weekend visit and amenities were ok. Nothing fancy about the hotel was clean and i felt safe. First time staying at a Hostel and things were fine.

Cozy clean room, heater didn't work, but staff were very quick to bring us extra blankets. We did not ask to swap rooms since we only stayed two nights but I imagine they would have if we requested. Everyone was friendly!

This is NOT a hotel but a very cheap hostel. The description was obviously misleading as I was not supposed to be sharing a room. I paid $290 a night for one bed in the tiniest room I've ever been in and shared with 3 other people. I was supposed to get a normal room from my booking. This was an absolute rip off.

Really small room but good for solo travelers, the workers were so nice and helpful. The vibes were amazing and there is also a photo both!

Hostel works well for what it is. Location is great, lots of food and interest nearby. Room is small, and lockers were also too small for a normal small roller bag. There are a couple corners to stash them, but it does start to interfere with walkways if the room is full and everyone had a bag too big for the locker.

This room was filthy.

1st thing I NEED TO TELL EXPEDIA…at this FREEHAND Hotel/Hostel in downtown Chicago, YOU CAN NOT STAY HERE IF YOU LIVE IN THE 606 (Chicago Area) ZIPCODE! This is not listed anywhere on your website for this place, nor is it in writing ANYWHERE at the hotel!? I’m grateful that they let me stay after I basically begged and told them the situation, but this needs to be put on your website so ppl from the city know before they go! Oh and the restaurant part of the hotel is no longer in service NO DINNER OR BRKFST just bar food from the bar. Besides that everything was great! I expected much worse, but the room & bathroom were clean and the bed was comfortable, they had locks available for your locker & my roommates were quiet & respectful.

Everything was amazing

Room was freezing, light didn’t work

Wi-Fi rarely worked, AC didn’t work well, ceiling was falling apart, blinds had pieces falling off and sticking out. Mostly a subpar stay

When you walk into the hotel, you see a well-stocked bar to your left and a nicely decorated check-in area in rich reds and muted golds. The elevator has too many coats of black paint. The painted directional signage with arrows looks as if it was painted by an amateur artist. The room was dark and dank. The privacy curtain was dirty. The sick was held up by a bootleg prop. The room was cold and drafty. The best part of the experience was the green tile in the bathroom. However, the sink was propped up with a metal rod that wasn’t attached. The windows are thin and allowed air to pass through and the heat was a joke. The great advantage of this experience was meeting someone who I connected with over academics. The hotel has the potential to be better with updates and remodeling. I hope they consider it.

Staff was great. A few minor issues with the room. But the worst is what happened a few days later when they put a $150 charge on my card! STILL fighting it.

This is the perfect place to stay. The Red Line station is 1 1/2 blocks away and is the key to public transportation in Chicago.

The room felt neglected

Staff interactions were excellent in every aspect.

Good vibes. It was my first time staying in a hostel. I liked being in downtown Chicago. Quadmates were quiet. There was a bit of staining on some furniture and a random empty water bottle somehow found its way into my bunk. But I enjoyed myself

The room was very small, the bed was uncomfortable and hard to get in to. The bed was blocked on one side due to it being fitted in the wall. There was no microwave or fridge. The rate was incredibly high for not having these amenities. The curtains were dirty and had stains all across. Not worth the money.

Being from Texas, Front bartenders were very friendly and nice. Every other employee especially front desk were very very rude and degrading when I was tryi g to check in and schedule another reservation. Will not recommend this hotel to my colleagues or anyone. Rude service. And I've been in the restaurant and hospitality industry for 27 years. They need a reality check.

Yeah my dates got booked wrong so I never even got to stay at the place and lost my money-- booked me for the 30th even though I know for CERTAIN i booked my stay for the 31st to the 2nd. I want my money back

Room was clean and stocked with bodywash, shampoo, handsoap. Staff were courteous.

Great place.

Beautiful place and discounted parking

The staff was really kind

I was so excited as I had never stayed in a hostel before. The men and ladies at the front desk were the BEST!! When I am back in Chicago this is where I'll stay. Room was the perfect size for me. The food and drinks were outstanding and the staff just made it all the more everything! Very personable and easy to talk to. Can't wait to visit again!!

Good room good vibes kind staff

Great spot

The lobby and bar were nice but the whole place is too dark overall. But I believe that’s the vibe they’re going for. Be aware that this place is basically a hostel with no customer service. I went in October. Room was freezing and you can’t control the temp so they gave me a space hearer. I did not delve into the reviews and I got what I paid for. Spend a little more and stay at CitizenM. You’re welcome.

It is not fancy, but the room was clean and quiet. The staff let us check in early and even brought me a fan. They were lifesavers as we were tired from our train trip and needed a little nap before an evening of fun! Close to stuff too! I recommend for the budget conscious traveler. Will stay again.

Laundry for credit card

Friendly and complimentary yummy snacks!

Great stay!

Excellent location close to everything. Room with a double bed was small but had a nice bathroom. Nice and friendly staff.

Charming design and otherwise clean. Pretty bare bones amenities (no coffee pot/ironing board, place to hang your things, but it was one of the cheapest options for that part of town. Definitely a get what you pay for situation.

It stated there was on site parking, there wasn't. It's in a parking ramp down the street, also the $49 rate is only valid if you nake a reservation for the parking ramp prior to parking. This information isnt shared until physically checking in. We had already parked and obtained a ticket, so the reservation I made was not honored and i ended up paying the ramp fee for $64 for the night. The attendant via the parking ramp help line would not honor my parking reservation, so parking was deceiving. The lock on our room would also get stuck when trying to key in. We had to try 10+ times. The one light source in our room was blown out so we just had light from the bathroom.

It was super great

One point taken away from old stains on sofa pads.

The lights is too dark in the room

Everything was great

Excellent

A lot of things could be better…a little rude, inattentive, but, you get what you pay for.

Bed was comfortable and the room was clean. There was no fan in the bathroom and a moldy looking spot on the ceiling near the shower. Lighting in the room was so dim it was difficult to apply makeup. Staff was pleasant. Parking issue- supposed to be a discount so we did the prepay but the parking garage scanner wouldn’t accept the prepay. We ended up paying for parking twice. No one at the garage to help and talked to hotel staff who said there was nothing they could do.

Hotel should be marketed as a hostel. Hotel is rundown, gross and dirty.

Everything was amazing, the only issue during my stay was that the heater didn’t work.

Room was clean. Small but comfortable. Air conditioning did not work and made the room extremely stuffy

Front desk is very rude

Location is good

Very accessible location and amazing staff.

The mattress was comfortable and the shower was nice.

Love the live jazz and vibe in the cafe and cocktail lounge. Overall, as expected for an upscale youth hostel.

Elevators were not functioning, air conditioning unit in room did not function. Room was adequate but could have used a deep cleaning. Bed comfortable.

Thin single pane of window that is painted shut, made room so noisy and cold. Heat didn’t work. So dusty and so dirty. A lipstick on a pig for sure. Booked thinking it’d be like the one in NYC. Basically good for young travelers as an option to a youth hostel. If you book a private room, go elsewhere. So many choices in Chicago. I ended up here due to last min work trip and city was practically sold out. They need to clean this up and Expedia needs to reduce the stars it’s listed as.

Great Vibe!

No room service, no refrigerator, lavender Fabuloso all over first floor including bars :-((

Bathroom recently redone and was fabulous, but room was old and tattered. Bed was nice and comfy. Nice crisp sheets.

Honestly the only bad thing was the lobby and check in. The lobby smelled like weed, the rooms did not. Check in was at 3 we arrived at 445 and had to wait 20 min bc our room wasn’t ready. The hotel bar drinks are very expensive and not very good. I paid less other places in the area for really good drinks, so lesson learned there. Room was nice, a little noisy but i expected that. I would stay here again and just be prepared about checking in.

Super clean, very good staff services, very convenient location, quiet, easy checking in and out

Clean room with decent size lockers and bunk beds ok as well.

Overall clean. Room small but cozy. Bed and pillow was comfy.

Location is excelent. Beds are confortable and A/C fine. But, staff no friendly, cleaning room service wasn't daily, no common areas. And they didn't give me back de $50 deposit. I asked another guy who stayed there by the same time, and they didn't get it back to him either.

Great location. Close to everything. Clean room. My husband and I got complimentary breakfasts. Thank you, Staff, who were friendly and helpful.

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I was there for the marathon and had a shared female room — the three others ended up being runners too, which was great. The location is fun and lively, but my room on the 9th floor was quiet. The staff were really nice — one of them even lent me his luck for the locker and gave me a card for the train. Very close to the start line. Amazing shopping and restaurants around. Loved it!

good

Basic clean rooms , small gym in basement. Good value for money

Room needs to be cleaned a little thoroughly and then repainted but generally, I like the place

Front desk staff were wonderfully helpful and friendly. The location was amazing and the place was clean, safe, and quiet.

Super disappointing stay. The room was dirty and poorly maintained. It was filthy when we checked in. Dust covered pretty much every surface of our room (baseboards, headboard, AC unit) and there was even trash from previous guests between the desk and the wall. We asked twice for our room to be deep cleaned or to be moved to a different room. I even explained about the trash behind the desk along with the dust and while the cleaners did come (once out of the two times we asked), they only changed the towels, made the bed and vacuumed the floor and never addressed the leftover trash or dust that we called out. The AC unit looked like it had never been cleaned or dusted. Dust covered the entire machine and it wasn’t reliable. Working sometimes and then not. There was also peeling paint on the window sill and the bottom of the bathroom door. Was really disappointing to pay for a dirty hotel room that was poorly managed with staff that didn’t seem to care at all.

Good experience, would go back!

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Great location and proximity to events downtown. The front desk staff was not very attentive but after asking 3 times finally gave us a space heater for a room where there was no A/C as advertised. Older building , dark, uncomfortable beds. Price was not worth the stay but for maybe half as much as we paid it wouldn’t be bad. Not for $500 a night though IMO.

Convenient location with very helpful staff!

Very convenient location downtown at an affordable price!

Wonderful hotel. First time staying at a place like this. Ended up having the quad room to myself for both nights I was there. Will definitely try to book there again if traveling solo.

All the staff had great energy and were very helpful. Nice bar/lounge area and cozy space. I had a private room and though it wasn’t huge, it was exactly what we needed for our staycation.

Clean room, accomodating staff, convenient to everything.

Good for the price

It is perfect for young people who arent in fhe room much and it was more economical than other places. Both pros and cons.

Room was nice but not the roommates.

N/A

A letdown overall after a great stay at Freehand NYC. Other than the AM female barista/bartender, who was great, the staff was not the best. Property is not in the greatest shape, particularly our room. Some corners cut with renovation. Rooms are original size from the early 20th century.

No frills but all the vibes and so convenient

Freehand Chicago is very affordable and clean. Staff are incredibly kind. I had an amazing time. The only negative thing I have to say is my house white wine was $18. That is quite above the going price. Also, know ahead of time if you booked a private room or a quad. I was unaware that it is a hostel.

Staff was so friendly and accommodating! Would definitely stay again!

Great place

Staff was wonderful, the building charming. Broken shaker is always solid.

Update tvs for streaming devices and elevators need to be fixed they just go where the hell they want to go

Fabulous and helpful staff. Thank you.

Excellent location, clean and good room partners

Fun atmosphere, great location and amenities. Kind staff and a nice shower (dealbreaker if a place doesn't have one!)

Rooms were small and very old

The pillow was the smallest and lumpiest pillow I have ever seen. I stayed in the 4-person shared room, and the room was very small. It was clean, though. Don't forget a lock for your locker, shoes for the shower, and your own shampoo.

The room was a little small but perfect for me as a solo traveler. I spent most of my stay out of the room keeping busy. I appreciated the in-room air conditioner that I controlled directly. The bed was very soft and plush. For the location, this was the best price hands-down. Extra nice amenities include the gym (which I admittedly did not use) and the coin operated laundry. The hotel bar/lounge was very cool and had a chill vibe/atmosphere- I ordered the Spring Sling cocktail which was perfect.

This weekend was a full house but even with there being so many people for the dorm rooms the staff still tried to accommodate as much as possible.

Quick easy check in and accommodating for early check ins.

Wonderfull

Good staffs service

It was my second time staying at this hotel, and unfortunately, this experience was not as good as the first. The front desk staff seemed resistant and unwelcoming this time around. People travel to Chicago from all over the world, and everyone deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect. I hope the staff can improve their attitude moving forward.

Convenient location

N/A

The staff was nice, and the price was acceptable compared against other hotels in the area. BUT I have never been in a hotel so dirty. The first room was awful, like a cave, the main door was hanging, there was leak in the toilet, the faucet, and shower, the ceiling was in bad condition, and everything was extremely dirty.

The room was misadvertised on hotels.com. I was under the impression when I booked it that it was a single hotel room not shared. After I booked it, I got a communication that it was a quad shared room. Hotels.com won’t refund me and neither will this hotel. I understand that I booked it, but it was not as advertised. I never stayed and therefore should get a full refund.

Staff very helpful and polite

The general building is likable.

Walkable and clean

Quirky cozy and clean. Perfect for our stay.

This is my first experience with a shared room and I was pleasantly surprised. The room was very nice , and I slept so good. The room was set for four but there was only 2 of us and we both slept good . We had privacy while in bed I will go again

I stayed in a shared quad with females, The room wasn’t bad for the price they do however need to install more lighting in the rooms because there was only one light working in the room plus the one in the bathroom so the room was very dark. The staff are great!!! They were super helpful answered all my question and they were very friendly.

(Private queen room) the room was small but very comfortable. Everyone was very nice and friendly. Would absolutely stay again.

Great Experience!

The hotel, room, and hallways smelled of cigarettes and mildew. We booked a queen bed, the bed was clearly a twin xL. The floor was damp. The bedding was stained / dirty. The window shade was broken and stained / moldy. There were water stains on the wall under the window. The hot shower water was luke warm. The room was hot and the AC unit barely worked. The lamp plug in was extremely loose and did not even work. A "clean" bathroom towel had a black stain on it. The location was noisy and the walls were like paper thin because we could hear the people next to us. The bed was not comfortable, it was hard. A refund was refused. I recommend paying extra to stay elsewhere. If you do stay here, use Spot Hero to book a parking garage spot so its not $50 to park.

I was not aware that it was a motel/hostal

It’s the cheapest hotel in downtown for a reason. Everything is just passable. The staff is cool, very friendly and helpful, but the room itself was dusty and way too dark. I had to use my phone light to see in the middle of the day. But you get what you pay for. Cool vibe in the bar downstairs, but again, way too dark. Parking also sucks big time.

The price was right, the location excellent for shopping, riverwalk, other attractions within walking distance. The rooms are tiny, the bar and breakfast inconsistent. The mattress was terrible and needs to be replaced. The lobby area is beautifully refurbished and a place to spend time reading, or on the computer because the rooms are too small for that. The woven light fixtures need to be vacuumed. The lighting in the bathroom was not sufficient for makeup application but the shower was wonderful. It was a good fit for a 3 night stay.

I really liked the vibe and location, easy walk to many Classic Chicago scenes. My room was very clean but small and dark. The sink faucet and shower head both leaked. Both should be monitored and repaired in order to maintain an environmental consciousness.

Rooms were clean and staff were always happy to help

Great deal, is as expected.

Great walkable location to all the sights!

Great experience. Staff is very helpful.

Double charged me

I don’t think the place was worth $200 a night. Very cramped and not that well-kept.

The room was tiny, and decorated like a summer camp bunk. Lots of wood. A piece of trim on the bathroom door fell off and there was a wall lamp dangling as if it could fall any time. The air conditioning barely worked and the room was stuffy. The bed, while comfortable, was not a standard height -- closer to the height of an air mattress. But the biggest concern was that the door to the room was tight and VERY difficult to open and in the event of fire we would have had great difficulty getting out quickly.

The information about shared accommodations with other people is very poor, and I didn't want to use the reserved accommodation.

Everything was great

Staff was unfriendly and stood there talking while trying to check in

We had to complain and they gave us snother room. The 1st room the tv would not turn on and the curtain did not cover all of the window exposing our privacy. The rooms are very small, way too small. The tv only had local stations.

I stayed in a

(For bed in room of 4) Cheap and good location but you’re in a room with 3 other people. Sometimes everything’s fine sometimes somebody else in the room keeps talking on the phone at 1 in the morning.

Overall good stay. Great location, and nice staff. Room was quite small but cute, the room was a little dusty as well. The elevators are quite small and always busy had to wait a while for the elevator. Parking is a little rough you get a slight discount to park at the garage but it’s still pretty pricey ended up paying around 200, but it was better than street parking.

I was being cheap which I never do so this was a once in a life time experience for me and I will never do again but The room I had was cheap about $50 a night and I was there for 2 nights only and it was like 4 bunk beds and I had share with four other adults male and females, the room was out dated and the carpet and couch was old with stains and there were lockers in the room so you could lock up your items. The hotel had a bar and the did serve food so that was nice and then they had night bar at night with music, a small workout room which I did visit and a laundry room both in the basement but I did it so I could be walking distance to the Riverwalk which was only a 10 minute walk so the hotel is convenient and it was close to everything I needed it to be close too so it was ok!! One of the male staff did lookup my number from the check in info and he messaged me which was very odd so be careful that was very weird and I didn’t like that at all

The first thing I noticed was the amount of dust in the room. The nook in the wardrobe by the bed had a substantial amount of dust that I decided cleaned myself because I was too tired to complain. This was also right next to a ton of dust on the floor. After visiting my friends room next door I realized that the over head light (above the mentioned nook) was completely missing. In addition to this the bedside lamp bulb was burnt out. The final thing I’d like to mention is the air conditioning. I honestly could not tell if it was working or not. I could hear some humming but couldn’t tell if it was blowing or not because it was so high up. Temperature upon entering the room was very warm but cooled down over time but I’m not sure if that was just my body regulating its own heat.

It felt cozy and comfortable. The room was a little bit dusty and the night light was not working.

Clean room

Staff was not that friendly. My ac in my room didn’t work. One of the days I was there they didn’t have any food in the hotel because the chef didn’t come. I paid for early check in and I asked th front desk lady to check if it’s ready she kept saying no and wouldn’t check. I called the hotel from the lobby and they said my room has been ready for hours

Super convenient location, very clean, never done a hostel before, would do this one again

The bed was not clean for me at all. I found food crumbs and other peoples hair. The staff was kind.

Very helpful and knowledgeable. It was my first time alone in chicago so I was nervous. The lounge was beautiful and musical talent of the singers was beyond beautiful. My only problem was that I only got to stay for a couple days. Much love!

Amazing

Clean rooms and nice helpful staff

It was the first time I used this type of accommodations. It went smoothly

The hotel was beautiful and unique, and the staff were friendly! We enjoyed the cocktail lounge on the first floor. My only complaint is that our Air Conditioning unit didn’t work, but we also didn’t bring that to the attention of the front desk because we had reservations somewhere and weren’t back until late, so I can’t really complain!

Cute and quirky, centrally located.

It would be great to have a microwave on site

The room was teeny just enough walking space around the queen size bed. The bathroom door was about a foot away from the bed. When door open you could hear neighbors in their bathroom. We could not control the AC and there was no fan in there. We were very warm for two nights we were there.

This is my third time at this hotel . Staff are so nice . Front of house, Jordan’s attention to detail in assisting me with a special request while i was here was next level . I will be back .

Freehand is cute and eclectic, but the lack of cleanliness, working outlets, water stations, in room trash cans, and several other things result in a first-&-last type of experience.

Front Desk is very accommodating and bartenders are fun! Atmosphere is lively. Perfect place to just drop your stuff off and hit the city events running!

My partner and I came for my birthday and the check in process was super easy. The building was secure in the aspect of getting to your rooms, and service was overall good. When we checked in, our wall mounted AC unit was not working, and a manager on staff ended up getting us a new room later in the night and helped fix the issue. The surrounding area was amazing, and with beautiful weather the possibilities were endless.