The Congress Plaza Hotel Reviews

The Congress usually has great prices for a downtown hotel. Unfortunately that's because the rooms are not so great. My bed was super uncomfortable, and the bathroom was fairly dingy as well. I do love the common areas , as they are very period opulent. I also enjoy the creepy vibe the place gives off at night :)

The only thing going for it is the location. Plumbing is backwards...hot=cold, etc. Room heater didn't work, Windows were drafty. Engineering 'fixed' the heater by unclogging the fan blade....it never got warm. Wanted to charge extra to change rooms. Not well maintained, and what was once beautiful marble, has been 'maintained' by re fastening to the wall with concrete anchors. Our room had a broken lamp, dead insects in carpeting, drafty door and windows. Bathroom was well cleaned, and could have been beautiful had the contractor put some care into the tile installation. All in all, not a good experience....but has potential with the right kind of investments.

Do not stay here for any major events in the city. I live 30 minutes away and planned on staying here for Lolla purely for convenience and to have a nice anniversary with my husband. Got my parents to watch my dog, packed up and paid for pretty cheap 3 day parking a couple miles away. After hauling all my things to the hotel, we were immediately searched by cops with assault rifles who took all our alcohol and said it wasn t allowed in due to the event. I am 26 years old and booked a hotel to be a responsible adult and not drink and drive home, I cannot believe they actually put this rule into place. No notification was sent out to paying customers and hotel staff seems more concerned about arguing with their paying customers than making the situation right. I wonder how many people decided to cancel their room and drink and drive home or drink in their cars instead. They state this was for the safety of everyone even though I visited the lobby bathroom and there were teenagers on drugs falling over, so clearly it wasn t stopping some people from getting crazy in their hotel. This rule created more danger than safety. The hotel states it was a rule put into place by the city but it just sounds like Lolla paid the hotels off so that people would have to buy $10 per drink inside the venue. They only searched for alcohol, not drugs or guns. Had to argue with them to get a refund as there was no other reason for me to stay there since I live 30 minutes away. This was the opposite of convenience as I then had to argue with them for an hour to get my money back, haul my things back to my car, change all my plans around and in the end I ended up losing half my day and half the value of what I got out of my Lolla ticket. Even without an event going on, I would never stay here or recommend anyone stay here after how I was treated by staff.

It was an okay stay. Nothing over the top exciting about the place.

Hints of grandeur but worn down. Clearly needs new management and a capital injection

The room was ok. Just older and dingy. Water pressure was low. I guess for the price and location, you get what you pay for.

The worst customer service ever!!! Very unprofessional and rude!! Not familiar with their own policies when it comes to check in/out! Regardless of the great location right in the heart of the city, not worth it to spend a considerable amount of money for a very very poor customer service!!!
Would not recommend it to anyone!!!

B.Y.O.P. Bring your own pillow...this hotel is in great location and well priced, but the pillows and beds are terrible. The mattress is hard as a rock and the pillows are hard as diamonds. If you can tough it out, then this hotel is worth it!

Old hotel. It was nice 50 years ago. Paper thin walls (noisy). Bad lighting. Feels old. Nice looking bathroom amenities, but not so great feeling. Expensive.

Great location. Some rooms have a good view.

An older hotel that sits in an excellent location in Chicago.
If you want to be close to the action, the Congress is the place to be.
Rooms are clean, bed was very comfortable. Came with a small fridge.
If you want lavish accommodations, not the place to be. It's been around for a long time, and is somewhat dated.
If you are looking for a reasonable place to stay, while you are exploring Chicago, I'd recommend the Congress.

1 star for location. This hotel is overall very sad. I dont think it has been renovated since it opened. The carpets are old, the shower doesn't work, the hallway smell like cigarettes and week. I felt very uncomfortable walking barefeet in my room.

My friend and I loved this hotel! I was a bit weary to stay here based on ppls reviews. we stayed in a corner room with two full beds. It was spacious, clean and comfortable! We had two windows....one facing a building but if you look a bit to the side you could get a lakeview :) and out the other window there was a beautiful city view!! The hotel fulfilled all my previously made (I recommend making requests directly after booking) requests of a fridge, upper floor, room with a view etc... I didn't even book the hotel directly I booked it through expedia and also we got a bargain price (so i know it wasn't because we were paying any extra).

The staff were always friendly and professional. One morning we had slept in so the maids didn't get to our room. When we saw in the evening that it hadn't been cleaned we called the front desk they sent someone up immediately (they were there in 5mins or less)! We stored our bags on our last day after checking out and they have a room just for that with a security guard watching them. Make sure you checkout the gold room when you are there if you are into history and architecture. A security guard took us up there and opened the room just for us to see it and take pics. Probably one of my best memories from my chicago trip.

Pros: safe area, clean, comfortable, bargain price, historic, perfect location!!, service with a smile!

Cons: Rooms smell a bit musty and old as older places do (cracking the windows helps). Can be a bit spooky (for those easily spooked) walking around in a hallway at night considering its haunted history.

We hosted our wedding 8/18/18 at the grand and historic Congress Plaza. There aren't words to describe how happy we are to have chosen this incredible location! Our cocktail hour and reception in the ornate and exquisite Gold Room was beyond our wildest dreams! We were so incredibly proud to host such a beautiful event for our family and friends who traveled from all over the country and Mexico! The guest rooms were very comfortable with breathtaking views of the Buckingham Fountain and our grand city. Everyone we invited could not get over how lovely and elegant everything was from top to bottom. Many enjoyed drinks in The Congress Lounge and are still raving about every detail! A very special thank you to Ruthie Howard, Karen Rodriguez, the Chefs, Waitstaff, Bellmen ,Valet Attendants Housekeepers ,Front Desk Receptionists ,and Bartenders. To the General Manager we say they all deserve very special recognition! Our "downtown" wedding in your hotel dripping with the living history of our amazing city was truly a dream come true for us all!....From begin to end ,every detail perfection!...To you all we say, continued success and many many thanks!...

Pleasantly surprised! Hotel was much better than reviews. Hallways are dated but out room was spotless and updated.

I stopped in for a couple of drinks at the bar with some friends. The staff was quick to respond and very friendly. Restaurant manager Alyssa B. was very friendly and respectful as well, especially considering she was closing the restaurant at the time I was in. She had other duties, but still took the time to greet me and make sure I was properly seen to.

Attended the haunted halloween ball this past weekend and had a great time. Amazing costumes and a overall great event.

The hotel has plenty of cool sights but is a little old.

This is an old beat up hotel, but the staff is friendly, the rooms are clean and it is centrally located if you are going to a conference.

Location and room size are the only positives this place has. We had no hot water for our three day stay and the front desk just kept telling us to let the water run so it could warm up. Cold showers aren't very relaxing.

The wifi was out two of the three nights. The beds are horrible. We both woke up with back and neck pain. Everything needs to be updated a bit. I understand that this place has history but for 150 a night (minimum), I expected a little more.

Im not sure where some of you stayed, but altho this a historic hotel, 16th flr/room a disapointment.
no frig, amazingly small tv, necessary to open windows for air. westside of building very hot. couldnt close darkouts to keep heat out as needed breeze. apparently "air" one all-hotel unit. with windows open, trains running by about every ten minutes unreal for sleep oor conversation. Nail holes and vacent screws in wall, burned out bulb bedside, smoke detector not blinking...?! The best part were the porter staff. Great bunch of well seasoned, gracious but fun indaviduals. Thanks guys.
Too bad this landmark hotel is tattered. Maybe flooors need to be limited to any that have been "updated". If location is everything to you...go for it but don' t expect much standard in accomodation.

Bath tub fit for a child rooms old and outdated way to spend my birthday oh yeah stained sheets only plus is it is near downtown looks like a haunted house and two small garbage cans didn t even have no where to put trash it filled so easily

I had good view from my room , but service and room far from 4 even . Like almost in all hotels in Chicago.

Simple rooms, but great location and pretty building details

Dropped by to check out some of the "haunted" places in the hotel. (Google around for details.) Did not stay in a room, but otherwise the staff was courteous and the common areas were clean. The hotel was fairly crowded due to the recent marathon.

Too outdated in the hallways. I expected it to have a jacuzzi but no. Not really worth my money.

The hotel was nice. Rooms were small and controls didn't work for the AC. The bed was comfortable and clean. Staff was friendly.

This hotel was awful. It is very old and everything is breaking. The bathroom always smells weird, the mirror fell off the wall, the handle in the shower is rusty. I get that the architecture of the hotel is supposed to be old, but this is just a disgrace. For being in the city, not good.

Room ac was on the fritz. But service at breakfast is amazing!

Staff was friendly. It is a older hotel with history so it is kinda cool. Walking distance to lots of attractions.

Perfect location, priced right, definitely will be back

Hotel very nice but for the price the tv are horrible

The lobby was beautiful but the room was just ok. Old but clean! We asked the sales lady for a brief tour and she showed is two ball rooms. They were gorgeous. If you want a hotel with personality and close to lots of cool places in Chicago, it's a great choice!

Very nice hotel, clean, and the location is perfect.

Older hotel but it's well maintained. Great staff. Street noise was loud on the 5th floor, but I guess that's to be expected. Beds are on the firmer side which is ok with me.

The hotel is a great location, but it could really be updated. The room we stayed in had an old moldy smell and was not very clean. I wouldn't recommend unless you want a cheaper place to stay closer to downtown Chicago. I also wish I read a little more reviews on the place before.

Love the location of this hotel but it is very dated. The Wi-Fi does not work at all in my room. The room also doesn't have a fridge or microwave. I don't think I would stay here again.

We traveled from Texas and got the room at the last minute but when checking in were surprised with a free upgrade to a family suite. Although some of the room needed updating (some chipped and peeling paint) it was nice and kind of added character. The best part of the place was Jose who helped us find what we needed and where he sent us we had so much fun! Thanks Jose!

First off, this is not the worst place I have ever stayed at. The rooms were clean and the bed was acceptable. However as a value and place to stay, it falls woefully short in many categories.

The hotel is definitely old, and it adds charm to a certain degree. It was built prior to electricity being commonplace, so the lack of plugs and infrastructure is to be expected. However, the infrastructure is definitely not good. There are limited plugs in the rooms and the lighting is not the best, but gets the job done. The hotel also has a potent musky smell, much like your grandparents house (doesn't matter how old you are- you know that smell). You cannot really escape it.
There are no fridges or microwaves available.
The HD TV's are present, but the HD service is not available- so you are watching SD TV on an HD TV most of time. Which is ok- since you really should not be in your hotel room but out exploring and taking advantage of the fantastic location.
The hotel staff is passable. As I said, my room was clean, etc, but noting special or even above average.
The thing that drives it is the price is very high for what you get. I feel like get Econolodge level hotel at Marriott chain prices. I would definitely not recommend it.
Also- it will take 5-10 minutes to get hot water in the shower most days- again- infrastructure is just not there.

Good hotel and has a pretty fancy looking lobby area and 1st-floor hallways. The hotel rooms seem all fairly dated, however. As long as you don't mind the sounds of the city and a fast elevator though, you'll be okay here.

Location of rooms are clearly labeled. Service is on top of issues like leaks

Great location, great staff, nice rooms, great overall experience!

Terrible experience at this hotel - the rooms are very dated and smell like mold. The service at reception isn t good at all - it took them over 2 hours to find a package I ordered to the hotel and give it to me despite the fact that I had the tracking number and a proof that one of the hotel staff received it two days ago and signed for it. At check out no one offered me an invoice/receipt for my stay, although I had room service and some water. When I enquired they said they charged me already - where is my receipt then? When I eventually got the receipt, they had charged me double for the water. Don t waste your time here - bad hotel, bad service, terrible rooms.

The building is historic, needs to freshen up the decor. Had an issue with the shower, maintenance came up, shower backed up a couple inches of water, he fixed and housekeeping came afterwards to sanitize WHICH WAS GREAT! However, the next early morning had housekeeping knocking on the door about 3x!!

Upon checking out, the front desk displayed an I different attitude, rude!

Okay, it s a historic and charming hotel with some room issues here and there. Meaning, a broken light switch, or noisy heater. But, the history and sense of being in a special place is very apparent. I gave it 5 stars for its incredible uniqueness and representing the old Chicago flavor .

The room is fine and the service is helpful. But the price of parking is stupid

Room itself wasn't bad. The window was just a view of the roof and the next building over. Probably wouldn't pay this much for a room like this again but that's pretty much my only complaint.

The price is great and the service was amazing room was a little bland and tv small but we were not there to watch tv. The historical aspect is what brought us here a little dated but that's the reason to stay here

Front desk very rude. Made us stand outside for 45 min to get in. Checking our bags for alcohol and we are above age. Treated like animals. Hotel is very outdated and run down. Would not recommend.

This hotel is infested with bedbugs! I have more than 500 bites and found live bedbugs in my luggage when I returned home. When I called them to report this, they said they have been in business since the Victorian age and they are not concerned about this problem. Yet bedbugs can cause an infection that is lethal to immunocompromised people and children, DO NOT STAY THERE!

I love this hotel, its got alot of history and class. We had alot of fun here

WORST experience ever. Had $1600 in cash and tickets stolen. Staff completely uncaring. Had to stalk the security and management for days to speak to someone. Still uncaring. Was advised that we wouldn't be reimbursed for anything. Following-up with their insurance carrier, Better Business Bureau, police, etc. If you google this hotel and theft, you'll see they have a history of this.

Decent room, lumpy pillows, lukewarm shower. Four stars

Nice look. Could use remodeling. Lakeview was totally worth it. Good housekeeping service, not so great at front desk for the price per room charged.

Convenient location, great prices, but you get what you pay for...

The Congress Plaza was once a high-class hotel, today it is rather an overpriced stay in the heart of Chicago. Located so that it is possible to go almost everywhere in Chicago city center by foot, it is the perfect location for a city trip. The rooms look okay on pictures, but what looks like neat vintage style is in reality just old and a strange mix of soon-to-be-broken and just old furniture. The bathroom is okay, almost spacy, and the hotel provides a variety of toiletries. The rooms look tidy, but at a closer look they are not as clean as they could be. In addition, there is sweet smell everywhere which - at the beginning of the stay - is so strong, that it seems required to cover something really bad. The staff at the reception is not really friendly, the room maids are.
In summary, the Congress Plaza is worth a stay because of its location, but the rooms are overpriced.

Our room was very nice but the building is very old and in need of a good cleaning. Historically very cool. Even seen the supposed haunted rooms.

Way too old and decrepit to be 3 stars. What a shame since it's in such a great area and in a classic building.

I had my room broke into within hours of checking in. The general manager would not speak with me concerning the issue. I was offered no compensation and was passed off to a security manager whom ultimately passed me to an insurance company. They denied my claim weeks after I checked out.
The lobby is beautiful and the location is great....do not let that fool you. They have had a labor despute with picketting for 2 yesrs. I learned of this from uber drivers after I told my tale of loss. DO NOT STAY HERE!

Long running hotel, I had a decent room with a terrific view of Grant Park... has a personality all it's own.

Be prepared for house keeping to throw away your souvenirs if you leave them in your room. After running the Chicago Marathon for the first time I was given a custom pint glass specific for running the marathon as a gift and house keeping threw it out. When I tried to contact house keeping, all they said was "hope they didn't throw them out". The next day when I followed up with the front desk they had no idea what i was talking about, and sent me over to the security office. All the security officer said was check back tomorrow. It was very frustrating, to deal with the staff and lack of intelligence.

Came through the lobby on a tour. Beautiful space with wonderful history.

I don't agree with these bad reviews at all. We booked 3 rooms and all 3 were great, freshly updated, exceptionally clean and the location is amazing. One of the security guys even gave us a tour of the hotel showing us it's historic features. I would definitely recommend this hotel !!!

First time using the Congress since the end of the strike. Attended a meeting in a very small ballroom. However was shocked to see how much of the meeting area shows signs of neglect. Broken tiles, in changed decor, etc. There is even an entire second floor area that seems abandoned. Dusty, dirty and dark

Great service. Lovely rooms and views. Excellent location close to mass transport and popular attractions.

A fantastic venue for conventions or events. It has a beautiful view of downtown Chicago. The staff is very professional and knowledgeable.

Well, it's adequate. The rooms are spacious, but old and the finish work is poor quality. There's not much to love, but the location is fine and it was cheaper than alternatives in the area. Nice staff, as much as I saw them.

Location, location, location!! I was running the Chicago Marathon so the location was absolutely great! The views in the rooms were also great, even though some windows are small.

Good location..
Big bed but hard as a rock
If you like to spend a night in a place that has the feel of The Shining I have a place for you.

This hotel is historic, built in 1893 and is located downtown. It has plenty of old charm and is reasonably priced. Plenty of hot water, cold water is icy cold, room is very clean with modern furniture. Easy access to bus stops, the 'L' (elevated train), and subway. Grant park and the lake are across the street just a short walk away. I would definitely stay here again.

I stay here every year for Country Lakeshake. The location is amazing, right in the middle of everything. It's an old hotel, but clean and well kept. So much character!

Mike Outlets, the lobby bartender, is fantastic!! The man is very busy since he's the only one that works the bar but makes sure you are tended to. Very nice!

Great staff. Unfortunately parking is very expensive.

I really enjoy the times I stay here. Rooms with views are excellent! It is very cozy and comfortable here, and reasonably priced.

Fabulous reception & function rooms but bathroom could do with an upgrade. Comfy bed plenty of storage space. Black out curtains would be useful. Staff are great