Congress Plaza Hotel

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Google Rating

MonicaMonica
15:15 30 Jun 24
Lee GeraldLee Gerald
16:06 29 Jun 24
Nice rooms and location..However, they don't have a heating system in the rooms, and it's also very cold on the first floor. Wish they would save that unnecessary energy, so upgrades would be affordable !!
Pirate SlappyPirate Slappy
15:30 29 Jun 24
Meh.Follow-up: They're asking for me to reply to them. They're listed as a 3 star hotel. I give them 3 stars and a, "Meh", & they want to "discuss" it. Interesting.
Toby VogtToby Vogt
11:45 29 Jun 24
We stayed for two nights in June and booked in advance.We parked in the Millenium Garages a block next to the hotel. There you save 50% when booking online (€50 for two full days).We were warmly welcomed at the hotel and were able to check in straight away. The staff is nice and easy going and the lobby is really nice. The hotel is over 130 years old and that's what counts. Our room was modern, comfortable and really clean. Contrary to other reviews, the hallways are anything but scary (they are just hallways in a large hotel).We were also able to reach everything we wanted to see very easily on foot (Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and even China Town if you walked longer).
Alli DiBenedettoAlli DiBenedetto
05:23 29 Jun 24
Great location, but the service was sub par. Almost all of my interactions with the staff were, in some way, negative. Our stay started at check in, where the receptionist was short and unwelcoming. I was impressed by the gorgeous lobby and elevators though. When we got to our room, I quickly spotted two long black hairs on the bathroom wall tile. Gross :) We then had to park our car, and I obviously expected to pay a lot for parking in the city, but I didn’t expect the garage to not offer any in/out privileges upgrades. We had to pay to park in a separate lot for a few hours, then $62 to park for the remainder of the night. Not the hotel’s garage, but it’s the closest parking option and the one the staff will refer you to. After we parked for the night, I was up late working, and intended to sleep in the next morning. However, at 8:23AM, we were awoken to a knock on the door. I opened the door to find a housekeeper, saying we were supposed to have checked out already, and they were there to clean the room. Check out is at noon. I told her that I didn’t understand why we needed to leave this early, and she told me she didn’t speak much english. So I called the front desk, and spoke to the same, cold receptionist, and explained the situation. She said she would transfer me to the housekeeping supervisor. When housekeeping supervisor answered, she also didn’t speak enough english to fully understand what I was trying to say. So I was tired all day, after paying for a hotel room for the night, which was not ideal.Overall, it’s a gorgeous hotel, and hopefully my stay was merely an outlier to their normally good service.
Doug McCullochDoug McCulloch
16:59 28 May 24
To quote my daughter, “this seems like type of place that would be haunted.” Everything feels rundown. There is no temperature control in the rooms, everything smells like a fabric softer sheet, the rooms seem very very dated. The shower has 2 temps… very cold, and lukewarm. The tv in the room is easily 10 years old and the remote doesn’t work well. The bathroom ceiling drips water after a shower because there is no ventilation.We are in town for a conference and I chose it because the price seemed good and the website makes it look upscale. I overpaid.
Mary MMary M
11:53 28 May 24
Pros: great location, fast elevator, and areas of beautiful old architectureCons: no cribs available for babies , wall paper peeling off in hallways, room reeked of paint, hard hard beds, shower was clogged up and wouldn’t drain, you had to walk through two heavy doors in hallway to get to room, bought a drink in vending machine and it was frozen solid , took multiple trips to front desk and waiting on a long line to be reimbursed for soda, porters have an attitude and have it setup that you must tip two of them ( there is a porter to bring your bags from front of hotel to lobby then another from lobby to room - stand and look at you for tip when they stop rolling the bags mid way through front hallway), restaurant has extremely slow service - it looks and feels like management and ownership doesn’t care about the up keep of the place
Virgen S. ChavarriaVirgen S. Chavarria
01:58 28 May 24
karl donneralkarl donneral
18:05 26 May 24
Lots of other places to stay.Smelly room and rusty faucets and bathtub. Restaurant service when open is deplorable. Room door had painted plywood on it.Other doors looked all chewed up and chipping paint everywhere. Elevators are another level of hell more than 3 floor choices it cancels stops.Very disappointed and do not recommend staying here when there's other choices nearby
Alan HilliardAlan Hilliard
03:23 26 May 24
A.T. WallaceA.T. Wallace
02:34 26 Apr 24
For as lovely as this hotel appears to be, what it offers in basic accommodations is shockingly lacking. One would think in a hotel room which you're paying over one hundred dollars a night for, you would have control of the temperature in the room. It is April and the night is still quite cold, yet when we turn on the radiators which would provide us some basic comfort, they do not work; and when we ask the front desk about it, we get an excuse of "we turned off the heat for the summer." I beg your pardon, but what about a 40 degree April night says "Summer" to you? You charge your guests for a luxury experience and then allow them to freeze with barely more than a "too bad, so sad!" The location and views, while beautiful, barely make up for the discomfort you are causing your guests. I want a refund.
Lance LubelskiLance Lubelski
16:24 23 Apr 24
Very affordable but crummy rooms. Great views. Great lobby. Great location.
Farzan FarnaghiFarzan Farnaghi
10:45 20 Apr 24
While the lobby of the hotel showed its age in an effective way; the suites did the opposite. Our Double room didn’t look like photos online and was quite dated. Our bathroom sink somewhat fell apart after turning on the water and dirty water started rushing out.For someone who has stayed in Chicago a couple times, there are nearby options in a similar price point which are better choices. Location is good however, right next to grant park on Michigan ave. Don’t make the mistake we did, skip this one!
Brian MarsBrian Mars
18:06 19 Apr 24
Fantastic hotel. Love the ATM.
Alyssa HiseroteAlyssa Hiserote
02:25 24 Mar 24
We walked into the room and immediately left. Dirty, incredibly hot with no way to change the temperature, drippy faucet, incredibly outdated. The most disgusting hotel I’ve ever seen. Front desk staff were so incredibly rude. Do not stay here even if your life depends on it.
Susan ParrySusan Parry
23:38 22 Mar 24
Super reasonable place to stay for concerts and shows in Chicago
Chris ParryChris Parry
00:38 22 Mar 24
Kristen Ortiz-CottonKristen Ortiz-Cotton
00:51 20 Mar 24
Abigail Elder-MullanAbigail Elder-Mullan
13:17 19 Mar 24
We were happy with this hotel until they denied entry to my husband late at night because his name wasn't on the booking for the room. This happened because the staff member who checked us in, despite checking his passport, did not add his details to the booking. He was put out to the street in a foreign country with absolutely none of his belongings and left to wander around by himself until morning. When I challenged management as to why this happened, I was offered nothing but a watery apology. I am absolutely appalled by this disgusting treatment, the ultimate deterrent for your foreign visitors: to be punished for the failings of the front desk employees and have your security guards laugh off how they put my husband in danger by exclaiming, "Welcome to America!". Reminder to those who read this, I already spoke to management about what they did and they did not care.
Haseenah MuhammadHaseenah Muhammad
01:17 11 Feb 24
We stayed in the "family suite" it was cool. Good for families. Hotel was quiet as it was Chicago winter. Not a lot of people in the hotel. Ice machine didn't work that well.
Magby DesignMagby Design
18:36 10 Feb 24
The location is near some beautiful buildings in Chicago and I profited the occasion to pay myself a visit.
ABDELLAH BYDIABDELLAH BYDI
15:17 10 Feb 24
We found this hotel on Airbnb and were pleased with its affordable rate given its location, despite its age. The facilities, including the plumbing, are quite old, so it's essential to handle things with care. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness throughout the premises, from the hallways to the rooms, indicating frequent maintenance. For us, the combination of safety, cleanliness, and affordability made it a definite win.
Chrissy HernandezChrissy Hernandez
08:56 09 Feb 24
I love the old school charm of the Congress. The history of the hotel is very interesting and it makes you want to know more. We stay here a lot when we go to Chicago. The rooms are very reasonable and it is in a good location. The hotel offers a bar and restaurant.
Bert VerbeekBert Verbeek
19:23 05 Feb 24
Great location!
Keshia WhitakerKeshia Whitaker
17:20 08 Jan 24
Nice place the breakfast was delicious me n my babes enjoy it For New Years.
Harsha RajawasamHarsha Rajawasam
08:06 08 Jan 24
Shelby FinklangShelby Finklang
02:44 07 Jan 24
We loved our stay at this place. The hotel has so much history and classic beauty of its hay day. The staff were so helpful and kind. The rooms were a little outdated, but had been recently redone. The hotel definitely shows it's age, but I felt it was part of the charm. And with that location, well, you can't beat it. We will definitely be returning.
Lynette StruckLynette Struck
08:23 03 Jan 24
We paid for the all inclusive VIP New Year's Eve party.It was nothing like they advertised. We received nothing. As far as the venue went. We went home hungry the same night. It was awful. I would never go again. As far as I'm concerned, they can refund my entire fee and I will remove this review. Otherwise find another venue in Chicago to attend! I am born and raised in Chicago That's pretty bad.
Jennifer HippJennifer Hipp
04:40 02 Jan 24
We stayed New Years Eve night, although we were not attending the NYE party. My birthday is New Years day, so we were celebrating that as well. The staff did an excellent job handling the high volume of people checking in at once and managing the event people traffic throughout the evening. Security at the hotel did a fantastic job allowing in only those who were hotel guests or event attendees. (There were several party crashers attempting to get in, they did not.)The hotel had the old building charm we were looking for. It isn't a swank modern place, and we love that. Our room (619) was clean, decor pretty updated, with gorgeous high ceilings and a huge bay window. Beds are firm but very comfortable, and we had a great night's sleep. The lakefront room has fantastic views of the lake, the Grant Park area including Buckingham fountain, and Navy Pier ....the perfect for angle for Navy Pier firework veiwing. We did hear the people in the room beside us through a locked connecting door, however, we just left our TV on a low volume, and it wasn't bothersome at all (We did not hear the neighbors on the other side).Restroom sink/tub drains are both slow so be aware in case you like long showers. Small fridge is in the room, microwaves located downstairs in vending area for communal use. Worth noting...there is a covered area for smoking outside on the north side of the building (not near the main entrance).We wished the dining options had something vegans could eat besides a veggie burger, salad, potatoes, bread, and fruit....I would've loved a birthday breakfast in the hotel 😫...but Starbucks and Stans donuts up a few block on Michigan Ave saved the day. But we would definitely stay here again.We didn't experience any paranormal activity, just fyi 🤷‍♂️
Geumsan JoGeumsan Jo
06:41 07 Dec 23
OMAR REYESOMAR REYES
03:25 07 Dec 23
陳惠萍陳惠萍
16:16 05 Dec 23
The room is very bigAlthough it looks really historicalBut well protectedThe scenery nearby is beautiful and the transportation is very convenient
adela rodriguez fasadela rodriguez fas
15:13 05 Dec 23
A central and economical place, the rooms are quite good, in the bathroom you have a bathtub, they are spacious, warm and with very good views.
Shannon KleeShannon Klee
17:25 04 Dec 23
Tony MesaTony Mesa
17:59 02 Nov 23
Perfect location and service
Otis B.Otis B.
05:03 02 Nov 23
Great location and views if you get the right room.
Shane HughesShane Hughes
03:10 02 Nov 23
Deborah GannonDeborah Gannon
19:43 01 Nov 23
I enjoyed my weekend at the Congress Plaza Hotel. We attended the Halloween Party. The Hotel needs some remodeling, but the ornate details of a Historical Building are breathtaking. The view was amazing and the room was very clean.
David HarrisDavid Harris
17:05 01 Nov 23
All these reviews are complaining about how outdated this hotel is... it's pushing 150 years old! Our room was small, but neat and clean. Plenty warm when we went in October. (Apparently there is no air conditioning, so summer visitors beware)On site restaurant is so-so, but there are places near by.It's old and beautiful, but it's not a 5 star hotel!We will definitely stay here next time.*beware though, overnight parking is 62 dollars a night!*
Hyojin YooHyojin Yoo
05:57 30 Sep 23
This whole place smells like old wet cigarette - including inside the room and no sound proofing at all. Also I couldn’t sleep at all because you can hear elevator dings from hallway and chatting sound from next room. I mean I couldn’t believe I was hearing normal conversation.
Mario LehmannMario Lehmann
00:30 30 Sep 23
Kaleigh SouzaKaleigh Souza
00:26 30 Sep 23
I was pleasantly surprised. Old but clean and a great location.
Mark DickersonMark Dickerson
00:25 30 Sep 23
Great room, good price for being Chicago. Will be back. Only downsides are the hours of ordering food and can not see my car until checkout. No in and out for the parking.
Wietse van der HoekWietse van der Hoek
08:01 29 Sep 23
Scott MathosScott Mathos
23:00 30 Aug 23
AC didn't cool the rooms. Room was near 80 during the day. Toilets don't flush well. Bathtubs have cheap lay in liners that cover old tubs. They were extremely slick and felt like they were gonna break. Encountered lazy and rude employees as we were checking out and trying to load our luggage. The only redeeming quality was the location and there beds were comfy. We did have a nice view of Grant Park
marty manesmarty manes
18:49 29 Aug 23
Great location, rooms are a bit dated but affordable and lots of places in walking distance
Wanderlei ButtarelloWanderlei Buttarello
18:39 28 Aug 23
Excellent value for money, great location.
LIZETTE PAVIALIZETTE PAVIA
17:11 28 Aug 23
I was reading the opinions and it scared me a little! But everything is very can the room is very clean and the bed is very good the location is very
Habte tekleHabte tekle
23:28 27 Aug 23
heather s.heather s.
15:01 01 Aug 23
The hotel was very cool & the location is great! There are so many great places within an easy walk. The downstairs bar was nice. I wish the bath rms were cleaner. The shower needed attention in the bottom corners of the walls & the base of the toilet was dusty.
Landon WellsLandon Wells
05:41 30 Jul 23
First room they gave us was a corner room the mattress was 6 inches off the floor and everything looked dirty. We asked for an upgrade and they gave it to us which was nice. It looked like it had been newly renovated and seemed cleaner. So that’s definitely why there are some 1 star reviews and some that are 3-4 stars. I give 1 stars for the fact that they would even put someone in the first room we had. And I give service 1 star because we tried to get a drink at the lounge and we waited for over 30 minutes watching them take others orders ahead of ours. Even though the location is great I will never stay here again. I can’t guarantee if you will get a clean room or dirty room/ good service or bad service. For us it was mostly bad.
Matthew schmittMatthew schmitt
21:56 21 Jul 23
Definitely a mixed bag here.Pros: Amazing location, great views, low price point, historic and solid service at the front desk. Very cool aesthetic. Bathrooms were big.Cons: Rooms were super out datedBed was just okayTv was extremely outdated and the channels were not greatShower wouldn’t drain.Overall it’s a great spot to drop your stuff and go adventure because of the location, but in need of a renovation. The paid parking was a little steep. 58/night.
Robert KizerRobert Kizer
06:21 13 Jul 23
I have stayed here many times in the past and have always had a nice experience. Unfortunately, my experience with my last stay. My room was sub paar and quite shabby. The room had been recently painted. But doorknobs and window trims were painted over. There was even paint on the window sills. The restaurant was also a disaster. After being seated for breakfast and waiting over an hour, without even ordering anything, I left. The best part about my stay was the view of Lake Michigan.
Manoj MehraManoj Mehra
18:26 02 Jul 23
The location is good. The hotel is OLD. Smelly corridors, peeling wallpaper. The $25 breakfast is nothing to write about. Motels have better breakfast. The biggest challenge is talking to staff. Except for the people at the reception, no one speaks or even understands English. The room service staff or the people on the phone cannot speak any English. We had to use a phone translator to make the attendant bring tea. The parking is a sham. $58 with no in and out options. It took the security 3 hours to find a package that was delivered for us. There are much better options available in the neighbourhood at cheaper prices.
JC OlsonJC Olson
21:49 26 Jun 23
I did a lot of thinking giving this historic hotel just a 3, but really there are so many nicer rooms and accommodations in and around Chicago. It does have a great location, and the lobby has many amenities, but $58 for parking with no in or out, when its $27 3 blocks away, or less if you time it right. While the bathrooms were alright, the room was small, the beds mediocre and the air never seemed to cool the room. Internet was spotty and the TV just lost all channels at midnight (I don’t know why, nor did I investigate as I just went to bed after this could have been some other issue). Out view and the view of our friends were lacking so unless you get a lake front facing room you’ll be looking either directly at a neighbors room or you can kind of see out and at the city. I will say the elevators are very fast.
Alex BarronAlex Barron
01:31 20 Jun 23
To put a mildly, this hotel has seen better days. On my visit, wallpaper and paint were peeling, and there was a leak coming from the ceiling. Service was unresponsive. No one came to replenish our towels or turn down our beds on the second day.The room was no frills, but was basically comfortable. The main selling point is the location, which is hard to beat. I'd stay here again based on location alone. Still, if this your hotel choice, I'd advise you not to expect too much.
Ashley WilliamsAshley Williams
21:27 18 Jun 23
Beautiful fairly well maintained historic hotel. No frills. The entrance smells like cigarettes during the day only. Workout room was decent with several types of exercise bikes a compliment of weight machines, barbells, some treadmills. Room was very clean. Oddly enough only two pillows for a king bed but they happily gave us more. Coffee pot in room, not Keurig. Very quiet.
MFPhoto1MFPhoto1
02:40 18 Jun 23
One of several historic hotels in the downtown Chicago area, the Congress Plaza rates high in the most important categories. The rooms are large, clean and comfortable. Service is friendly and reliable. The location is great.There are a few small problems. Not all the rooms have a good view. The TV seems to be satellite rather than cable, meaning that the digital signal sometimes gets lost or scrambled. Breakfasts are OK, but if you don't mind spending a bit more, there are places serving much better breakfasts within walking distance. And the building overall is showing it's age.
Elishah VElishah V
18:21 16 May 23
The hotel is in a beautiful location and kept up well. There is a bar and restaurants on site and they also offer room service including beers + cocktails. The staff was nice and they held our bags for us before check in and after check out, which was a huge plus! The building itself is old but has been updated and maintained - the rooms were decently sized with a good view even though we were facing the alley. We had to change rooms on the last night due to some plumbing issues but other than that, everything was smooth.
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