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Ambassador East Hotel - CLOSED
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
1301 N State Pkwy(between Goethe St & Banks St)
Chicago, IL 60610
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Gold Coast
(312) 787-7200
- Nearest Transit:
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Clark/division (Red Line)
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
56 reviews for Ambassador East Hotel
Review Highlights
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"...all from the Clark/Division red line stop), and the staff..." In 8 reviews -
"This hotel is tucked away in the Gold Coast, where the..." In 4 reviews -
"Comfortable bed." In 3 reviews
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56 reviews in English
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Review from Forrest A.
Pasadena, CA
5/12/2012
How sad it's closed ! From the late 60's through the late 70's this was one of my favorite hotels in the entire US. Pure Class. The hotel in it's entirety made you welcome and answered your evey need when I was there. I would love to have the written and photo history of this beautiful old place and reminisce about the numrous notables that stayed over the years. I'll miss it !
Forrest, So. Cal. Formerly in the Textile Industry -
Review from Tiffany L.
Wausau, WI
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Well, got a good deal on Priceline or Hotwire, I forget. It's going through construction right now and while there are some things I would like to look past, it's kind of difficult. The rooms are insanely modern, which doesn't match the overall feel of the beautiful, old building set in this particular area of Chicago. Our shower/tub didn't drain. The toilet is so close to the wall you almost have to sit sideways. The in-room entertainment wasn't yet working and there are NO soda machines, etc. anywhere to be found. No proper ice machines either, I believe my fiance had to go to the front desk to get some ice. An elevator was down most of our visit. I'm just really overall disappointed with what they're doing to the rooms. I've stayed in many chain hotels for well under $100/night with more luxurious beds, linens and overall accommodations.
If money is tight and you're looking to stay in this particular area, go ahead and book a deal through Priceline or Hotwire, do NOT pay full price for this place and just know what to expect. -
Review from Brian B.
12/23/2010 8 photos
Ever since mom sold the boyhood home back in '93 (give me a moment- fighting back the tears) and moved into her bachelorette pad, the Ambassador East has been the only hotel I stay at when I come back to Chicago to visit. I am so disappointed that there have been so many tepid reviews about this hotel. AE has been my home away from home for years and will remain so for years to come.
First, let's talk history. This monument to Gothic beauty was built back in 1926 and is just as stately now as it was then. Its heyday was definitely from the 1940s to the 1970s. Back then Sinatra and the Rat Pack and other famous Hollywood types boozed away at the Pump Room, AE's bar/ restaurant/ lounge (more on that shortly), before and after living it up at the original Playboy mansion, located just down the street. Now it's quietly nestled in the Gold Coast neighborhood along well-manicured, maple tree-lined streets and million dollar gated row houses, just a stone's throw away from the lake, Lake Shore Drive and the Magnificent Mile. I wonder how many past, present and future guests know that AE is a National Historic Landmark. Google this place if you want to hear more about the hotel's rich and colorful past.
The rooms vary from small, single room suites to 1400 sq ft fully loaded penthouses. The hotel is always offering cool deals. Last year I booked a small-ish executive suite for about $80 and signed up for a really cool offer. I paid about 15 extra bucks and was guaranteed the highest available upgrade upon check-in. When I finally arrived, I got a 1000 sq ft Celebrity Suite for no additional charge, and it had so many amenities I felt like royalty.
And then there's the Pump Room. It's a dark, classy and (formerly) smoky restaurant and jazz bar with walls covered in autographed black and white pictures from every star worth his or her salt from the past 80 years. They frequently have live jazz on the weekends, and it's a great excuse to throw on a nice suit or gown and party like it's 1962. The food is above-average modern-contemporary, and they serve breakfast and dinner only. The real draw is definitely the bar, though. The bartenders are old-school and know how to pour a drink. PR is the perfect place to drown a sorrow or two and reminisce about a simpler time. Speaking of which, I'll be down there for a drink at the conclusion of this review.
You can be a douche and stay at a newer, hipper, trendier, garish and more expensive hotel, or you can stay here in an incredible, historic, beautiful hotel in a great location with walls you really wish could talk.Listed in: Five Star Establishments!, Chicago Hope
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Review from Liz H.
Austin, TX
7/19/2010
I lived in Chicago for 20 years and moved away 5 years ago; I know the city and its hotels very well. For years I stayed at the Ambassador East when I returned to Chicago for either business or pleasure and if you had asked me a year ago I would have told you it was my favorite hotel in the City. But everything has changed since its new owner, Ian Schrager, purchased the place.
My husband and I stayed at the Ambassador East this past weekend. We had one of the celebrity suites. Here is what things are like at this hotel now:
1. They fired all the long-time employees (front desk, bellmen) who knew us by name and treated us like family. One of the doormen, in particular, Blue, had been with them for 14 years and was just let go so the new owners could replace him with younger staff.
2. No room service. this hotel used to have a wonderful room service menu and I always treated myself to at least one meal from room service. No more.
3. They have closed off about half of the famous Pump Room restaurant.
4. They have removed the mini-refrigerators from the rooms - even the suites. I don't care about the minibar...I just want a refrigerator for cold drinks and leftovers.
5. They have replaced formerly lovely bath products (Aveda, Crabtree & Evelyn) with crummy no-brand lotion and shampoo that looks like it belongs at a Motel 6.
6. Facilities aren't being maintained. In our 4-room suite, the doorknob was falling off the bathroom door. Unbelievable.
7. As an IPrefer member of the hotel I was always given free Wi-Fi access. No more.
I am so sad to see how this beautiful and historic hotel is being ruined by new owners who just don't seem to care about its history. I have always thought that you could find a more comfortable hotel bed, nicer sheets, and better a/c at other Chicago hotels but I always chose this hotel because I felt like I was visiting friends when I stayed there. The Ambassador East always stood out for me because of its amazing staff who made me feel like family, its great food, great location, and general ambiance.
This visit was disappointing and sad. I now need to find a new place to stay when I return to the city I love. -
Review from Anthea H.
Dallas, TX
7/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Ambassador East is Classic with a capital C. Just a block off the lake in the Gold Coast neighborhood, you walk in the marble lobby and you think you're in for a treat.
I'd Pricelined a room for me and 2 of my friends. I went to check in, presented the girl at the counter with my info. She looks up at me and my 2 friends and says, "Okay, you have a room with a king bed." No problem, I think. You can always fix that. I ask her if we can get a room with 2 beds by any chance and she kinda smirks and simply says, "No." No checking the computer, no apologies that they were completely booked, no explaining that I'd done something dumb when I reserved and her hands were tied. Nothing. Just a smirk and "No." I ask if we can get a cot, she says, "They're all taken." Then, she looks up at the three of us and says, "You're small. You'll fit."
What?!
Beyond that rough little intro to the hotel, our stay was pretty much hitch-less. It's a hotel in need of an update, everything just seemed worn - especially the carpet in our room, which we quickly decided nobody would be sleeping on. But it's in a great location, and we loved walking around the neighborhood. It's just a couple blocks from the Red line to get anywhere you want to go. We paid less than $100 a night, which is always welcome/borderline required for me. The doormen were attentive and smiley without being creepy.
Oh yeah, all 3 of us slept in one bed. Good thing we're small. -
Review from Jen L.
Chicago, IL
8/23/2010
Well, 2.5 stars really. The boy and I stayed here this past weekend due to a power outage (ComEd, you'll get yours...you just wait!). It is definitely an older hotel which appears to ride on it's old reputation rather than the quality and value of its current accomodations and amenities. Everyone we encountered was friendly, but the room was small and the decor dated. Thankfully, the bed was comfortable and the shower equipped with hot water and a decent water pressure...can't complain there.
We went through Priceline and got the hotel for $67/night. At this price, the hotel was good. However, if I had to pay full price for this hotel, I would feel utterly ripped off and pissed. I can't recommend it without a decent discount. -
Review from Ryan P.
Long Beach, CA
2/6/2009
I stayed here for business and I'm glad that I was able to relax and finish up my reports while I'm at the hotel.
It is a little far from the McCormick convention hall, but it was worth the taxi ride to see other parts of Chicago. McCormick area does have a lot of place to go, but if I would have stayed there, I would have never seen other parts of Chicago.
I like it that I was able to go run by Lake Michigan and it was not that crowded from where I was staying. There were a lot of sushi places near the hotel, just walking distance.
The bed was very comfortable, but they do need to update the design. The toilet space was puny and my shower tub at home is a lot better than what they had at the hotel.
Overall, it was a quiet place for a business traveler like me and I was able to see more of Chicago by staying at this place. -
Review from Lissa -.
Los Angeles, CA
10/15/2010
Got this off of Priceline for $80/night. It's a historic hotel that could use remodeling, that's for sure. The comforters and linens seemed kind of old, and the signs on the beds about being green and not washing the linens very often made me think that they didn't wash them between customers either.
I also found a small bug on one of the beds and woke up w/ a red spot on my leg one night. I was fearful of bed bugs the rest of the time there. Ugh.
The location is pretty good and very walkable to shops, restaurants, bars on State St., and to the metro.
They could do better w/ offering local maps and info about the area, though.
Also, beware of the loud noise from the shower. It actually sounds like the water is struggling to move through the pipes and makes the most wrenching noise.
TV also sucks and the picture quality would sometimes go on the frizz. -
Review from joel r.
New York, NY
6/11/2011
Stay Away! After generations as an old-world, cozy and stately, if a bit tired oasis, the AE has been purchased by Ian Schrager and taken down so many notches it's almost not functional. Allowing for the fact that the hotel is under renovation, the entrance is not handicapped accessible, and I saw several hotel guests with canes, casts, etc (including myself, recovering from foot surgery and in a cast, with a cane) struggling with the up and down outside stairs one has to navigate just to get into and out of the hotel. With luggage, it's almost impossible. This is simply inexcusable.
I've been a customer of the Ambassador East for decades--but no more.
The hallways are so dark one can barely see. The rooms are stark white, which in and of itself, isn't a particular problem, but it is jarring and almost painful as one's eyes adjust from the dark hallways. The furniture--stark and scant--looks like something from an Ikea closeout. The bed is comfortable--what a relief--but only about 15 inches off of the floor, a real problem if you're at all physically challenged, or even elderly and less flexible than you were in your salad days. The problems don't end there.
My room had a horribly uncomfortable wire/metal desk chair, and absolutely nowhere else to sit. No arm chair, no demi-sofa, no ottoman. With a foot in a cast, it would have been nice to be able to sit comfortably, perhaps even with my leg elevated, while in the room. No way.
The bathroom has absolutely nowhere to put any of your toiletries. Not a shelf, a small table, a nook, or a medicine cabinet. If you want to put a razor, shaving cream, makeup (for women) or anything else down so that you can use them, you're sh*t out of luck.
Repeated requests for a small table or some sort of chair went unmet. A borrowed umbrella from the front desk was broken and unusable, something I didn't discover until caught in an expected downpour. I was tempted to throw it out, but remembered that they would charge me for it if I didn't return it, in spite of its total lack of usefulness.
Refrigerator--forget it. Shampoo? For two days in a row, the housekeeper left several bottles of lotion, and no shampoo. Room service--not available. If you want breakfast, the front desk will sell you a small, pre-wrapped, commercial grade muffin for $4.00--something you can buy in any gas station for $1.00. No added value whatsoever.
The photos show a nice entrance, and a large lobby for which the AE has long been famous. Unfortunately, that lobby is closed off, under construction, and the temporary lobby is on the second floor, difficult, again, for handicapped access. Thermos-bottled coffee and water for tea were stone cold, at 8 in the morning.
When confronted with these various misses, the front desk staff repeatedly shrugged their shoulders and said, "Yeah, we know, you're not the first to tell us this stuff." All this shows is that Schrager doesn't even care to make an effort to make his guests comfortable, and that the staff is either too indifferent or too amateur to know the difference and even make an effort to get it right. It's one thing to get a good price on a hotel room when it's under renovation. It's another thing altogether to get screwed in the bargain, particularly after booking a non-refundable pre-paid reservation.
Again, avoid this hotel like the plague. -
Review from Brent W.
4/18/2008
The famed Ambassador East, it definitely had its day.....'had' being the operative word here. It's a "Vintage" hotel (read: old & somewhat dated) but the service and adjoining Pump Room are both great. I've been on a few occasions for weddings and it's not too bad for a night or two.
The rooms are pretty small and leave you feeling cramped, as do the bathrooms and shower space. The Hotel and the Rooms are also not very feature friendly either.....and that's not necessarily an indictment on the place, rather just an inherent problem you run into when dealing with a building that's over 80 years old; it's a victim of circumstance, if you will, and no amount of "light rehab or refurbishment" will change that.
It does have an attractive looking lobby area, and as mentioned, the Pump Room is on the ground floor too, which is an icon of Chicago. Overall a 3/5, (service, lobby, Pump Room being the main draws) but at the end of the day, it is what it is, just a rather dated Hotel that had its day. -
Review from Bruce K.
9/19/2009
The preferred hotel for my client, it was suggested I stay here as they get a special rate. It's pretty close (three blocks) from the Red Line station, so it wasn't too much of a hassle to stay here instead of one of the hotels closer to the River. It's in a nice neighborhood with plenty of restaurants within 5 or 6 blocks. I felt safe enough walking the streets in the evening as there is plenty of foot traffic.
The room was decorated nicely but only of an average size and without much of a view other than tall condos and a very narrow slice of the Lake. Mostly quiet, I could only hear the neighbors if I was perfectly quiet, such as without the TV on that I never watched anyway. The bed was comfortable, but with a flat bottom sheet that was almost big enough, it kept coming loose and leaving me on the mattress. Ick. Ever heard of fitted sheets, people?
Tons of in-room food options, they leave a massive tray of goodies on the desk plus the mini-bar over-stuffed with booze. I was able to put all of this crap on a side table so I wasn't tempted to spend $8 for a can of popcorn or salted cashews. There's also a room service menu that's not insanely expensive. I kept meaning to try their club sandwich (only $2.75 delivery charge plus 18%), but i wound up eating from many of the nearby restaurants instead.
Free wireless Internet worked only reasonably, getting very slow after 9 PM. Overall, a nice enough property. Since it's not affiliated with Marriott/Hilton/Starwood, you're not going to be accumulating any points with those.
If I'm back in Chicago for this client, obviously I'll be here again. If I am in Chicago for another client, I'll stay elsewhere. -
Review from Zach T.
1/4/2011
I'm going with Yelp on this one.
Classic Chicago Hotel. Word is it's about to undergo a multi-million-dollar rehab from some famous hotellier. It needs it. The lobby is spectacular. Cozy and classic. The floors seemed fine, and our room was indeed a classic hotel room (small-ish rooms, several coats of paint... looking like it has for years). However, everything looked pretty dinged up; someone had 'partied' the doors off the TV armiore. The entire floor reeked of smoke/weed smoke. We visited friends in a suite, and someone had 'partied' a hole in the couch. That someone may have been the female employee who had a lot of difficulty checking us out and looked like she had stayed up all night and dragged herself to work. There are plenty other options in this area. I'd look elsewhere first. -
Review from Susan D.
Pittsburgh, PA
2/25/2008
Faded Glory!
And that works oh so well for the Ambassador East. On a recent trip to Chicago, this is where my husband and I stayed. We ate dinner at a company function in the Pump Room. The food was absolutely wonderful. The service at this hotel was absolutely impeccable!
Our room was clean, but a little small. Also, the carpet was a little worn. But the bed was enormous, perfect for two people to sleep and, well! Just avoid the mini-bar unless you want to pay $6.00 for a bottle of water! The Ambassador West was across the street, but it is no longer functioning as a hotel. They were once connected by an underground walkway.
The Ambassador is, as another reviewer said, hidden away on a side street and it is definitely part of the neighborhood. It is a few blocks from the "L" but there are buses nearby on Clark Street to the west and Local Lake Shore Drive to the east. The buses on Local Lake Shore Drive will take you to the museums, the zoo, North Michigan Avenue. So you really don't need a car here.
So if you want some boring Ramada Inn with a pool, then by all means stay in the suburbs or near O'Hare. But if you want a nice old place, with a lot of character, that is close to the best that Chicago has to offer, you should give the Ambassador East a try.Listed in: Travel, A Pittsburgh Girl's Trip to…
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Review from Anne P.
Cedar Rapids, IA
1/12/2011
When you're standing in a craptastic excuse for a shower buttnaked and cold with soap in your hair because the water from the shower head has gone from a weak spray to a dribble to nothing coming out at all, nothing in the world will ever convince you to stay here again. The worst part is that the hotel knows this is a problem (they told me that it happens to the upper floors, and I wasn't even staying on the highest floor!) as if that makes it ok.
I can look past the "rustic" decor of the room and take it for what it is - an inexpensive place to crash, but c'mon, a girl's gotta shower. -
Review from Mary L.
VA
7/22/2008
I really enjoyed this place. The staff was SO friendly, helpful, and hospitable. The door man/valet always greeted us with smiles and the lady at the front desk was just so nice. They felt like family by the end of the week.
We lucked out on the room and it was really great! We had a huge king bed, comfortable pillows and comforters - a clean bathroom. What more could you ask for of a hotel room?
Additionally, they supplied robes for the room and what's more fun then walking around in robes all day? :)
As far as the area goes, it's in a nice upscale residential area. I felt very safe there. It's also not far from The Magnificent Mile which has lots of great shopping (Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Tiffany's, etc). Just beyond that is Millennium Park which is also a great tourist attraction. This isn't very walkable from the hotel, but it's just a short cab ride away.
Overall, I would stay here again if I found myself headed to Chicago. -
Review from Natalie S.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2008
I was hesitant about the hotel after reading the 9 prior reviews, but I have to say I liked this hotel. It's tucked away in the Gold Coast but it's really close to Michigan Avenue, Division Street and La Salle. Immediately upon trying to park, the bell hop advised that he knew of a cheaper place to park (instead of paying the $41 daily!). So we parked a block away for $20 (still expensive but much better). The lobby is old school quaint. They even have a fireplace in one of their rooms. The concierge was super friendly, same with the check-in counter and they even gave me a bandaid so I could run with my i-walked-too-far-in-uncomfy-shoes ankle.
The rooms were "ok". It's old school, so the rooms and bathrooms are smaller. But everything was clean and it had all of the amenities one would need. I barely stayed in my room except to crash late at night and I was outta there early enough.
The bellhop and other people in the lobby told me and my friends that they loved having our company - I guess we provided entertainment value for them and to come back and forget all those other hotels (i.e., drake and omni) on Michigan. -
Review from Rebecca M.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2009
We had our wedding guests stay at the Ambassador East. The Ambassador East is so easy to work with and incredibly responsive. The hotel is so charming and in such a nice area. Our guests loved the feel of the space. For many of them, it was their first trip to Chicago & they were very pleased with the hotel.
It was a great home away from home the weekend of my wedding. Highly recommend it. -
Review from Rachel L.
Sterling Heights, MI
8/28/2010
Okay, so, I--like many other people writing reviews on here--booked this hotel through Priceline and got it for about 70/night from 8/22 - 8/25. I was a little skeptical at first about this hotel, as so many people seemed to have such negative opinions (chipped tubs, dirty carpet, poor service, etc.), and I really did not enjoy the idea that I was going to rot in a hotel for three nights. Overall, LOVED the location, enjoyed the hotel.
Overall, I want to say that there is NOTHING that obscenely wrong with the hotel. The lobby is beautiful, the location is ideal (not far at all from the Clark/Division red line stop), and the staff were all amazing and super helpful. The door men always held the door for me and offered their services in any way they could.
I have stayed in many hotels in Chicago, and all about the city (Hyatt Regency, Palmer House, Hard Rock, Best Western Hawthorne Terrace...pretty sure the list continues to go on). I would say, by historical default, Ambassador East is most similar to the Palmer House, in recognition with the notion that it retains its historical charm and glamour! Sure, there was literally like, one stain on the carpet (humanity is gross; let's not go blame a hundred year hotel for one stain), and the television was not HD. Anyone who has recently stayed in any hotel, however, should know that just because a television is HD does not automatically imply the reception is going to be up to usual snuff. Honestly, the reception on the television here was far better than any reception I have received at other Chicago hotels.
Still, one should not spend even that much time watching the television. Utilize everything the area has to offer! To your south, there is a bunch of delicious restaurants and even an outdoor park vendor serving fresh squeezed orange juice and fruits. To your north (and within walking distance) are both the Museum of Surgical Science and the Chicago Historical Society. Check out these both! Lincoln Park is just adorable.
I would say, if anything, the only problem I had with this hotel in an entire three days was one little bump in with a seemingly affluent man in the elevator. He apparently thought he owned the elevator, and I was obviously intruding on that. I took comfort in the fact that he was probably paying 300/night and I only paid pennies of that. -
Review from Claudia S.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2010
I expected a little more out of this hotel...and I wasn't even paying for it. My boyfriend stayed here for about 10 days or something like that, and it was just alright. The bathroom was nice. A mirror that went all the way across with a nice full-length mirror on the door. The step out of the tub was a little bit of a stretch, seeing as how I'm 5'3" and all..........but come to think of it, the sink was a push faucet/handle one! Really? I can't turn the water on and leave it running as I see fit?
The snacks in the room are way over-priced. Not that we would have eaten them, but we couldn't help but imagine the laziness of people who wouldn't walk a long block to Walgreens for the same products but cheaper.
Anyhow. I loved the comforter, but the fitted sheet wasn't so fitted as I'd frequently wake up touching the mattress. EWWW, and I wasn't even tossing and turning in my sleep! The pillows were also small. Fluffy and soft, but small. We got a nice view of the Hancock and the sidewalks were shoveled which was nice because we were there during that slushy crap we just got, but I still expected more out of this hotel.
However, it's about 3 blocks to the Red Line/Jewel and 2 blocks to Walgreens and a bunch of bars I'd never step foot in *cough*Mother's*cough*......but it was convenient enough to get around when I didn't have my car. Come to think of it, I never had a problem finding (metered) parking a block away by the Hotel Indigo. That was pretty sweet considering there's plenty of areas with no parking while the rest is permit-only. -
Review from Jess R.
St Petersburg, FL
12/21/2010
I wish I had read the reviews here before staying at this hotel. The one thing I did like was the location - but that's about it.
Here is a summary of why I give this hotel only one star:
- Someone on our floor was smoking pot in their room. Every time you got off the elevator, that's all you could smell. I reported this to the front desk and nothing was done.
- There was a domestic dispute on our floor and the Chicago Police were called which isn't exactly the best of morning wake-up calls.
- The bathroom reminded me of my college dorm bathroom (crappy tub and toilet, poor water pressure).
- The wireless was expensive and S-L-O-W.
- The heater in the room made a loud clicking sound every few minutes and was actually so noisy that it woke me up throughout the night.
- The decor was old, outdated, and stained.
- I'm not one to stay in the room and watch tv, but if you are - note the TVs are small and old tube televisions.
The hotel has a lot of potential - the lobby is beautiful, the location is great. But the rest of it is was a complete fail for me. -
Review from Nicole F.
10/2/2010
As a first time visitor to Chicago, staying at a Pricelined hotel ($80/nt.) in this area was great. Close to the train, safe neighborhood to walk at night, two blocks from the beach/ water/ lakefront trail.
But, the other reviewers are correct--the hotel is outdated, there is no free WiFi (they charge $10/day), and if you don't mind standing in your own junk in the shower (doesn't drain well, so you're standing in water)--then this place is fine. The place isn't bad, it just isn't fab.
I, too, would be pissed if I had paid more than $100/nt. here. Plus, the bartender in their Pump Room seems to invent prices for drinks off the top of his head ($11 for Baileys on ice? Give me a break!) But, he told us that Ian Schrager is the new owner and they are going to start renovating the hotel around Feb. 2011. -
Review from Karen G.
Santa Clara, CA
8/8/2011
Hotels in downtown Chicago are pretty expensive, so I booked this through an online deal which they offered because they're under renovation right now. I would only recommend staying here if you get a similar deal because it's definitely not worth full price.
The renovations look like they're being done on a dime and don't look very professional. The room was very sparse, but on the plus side, the bathroom was very clean since everything was brand new. The lobby is a bit of a pain to enter and exit with heavy luggage since you have to take some stairs to get to the street. The hallways were very dark and musty but the rooms have large bright windows. The beds are very low to the ground (like 1 foot above floor), but it was actually a pretty comfy mattress, pillow and duvet. Overall the area seemed pretty safe and the staff was pretty friendly so it was a decent stay. I think if they get a professional touch to the changes they're making it can be a great hotel and not look like someone's basement apartment renovation job. -
Review from Jamie G.
Elgin, IL
6/26/2011
The room looked like a country club prison cell. Flat paint on all walls, doors, trims, not especially clean. A platform bed and a long shelf/desk with an iron chair. No amenities, no homey touches, nothing on the walls. No room service, no gym, no concierge. The air conditioner clunked off and on all night. On the plus side, the bedding was nice and there was a large screen TV. Don't waste your money.
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Review from Ray L.
San Diego, CA
9/30/2008
I'm rating the amazing restaurant the Pump Room - home of the Sinatra Booth. The restaurant has an amazing atmosphere with excellent servers. This is the real Chicago, the old school Chicago that can never die. In one word: classy. This is something that is becoming a treasure as dining experiences become corporatized and commoditized. The elegant decor and ambiance make this place excellent for taking family from out of town or a special night with an SO.
So let's talk about the food. Their scallop appetizer is the best appetizer I've ever had, bar none. The scallops melt in your mouth and are paired with a delicious chorizo (best chorizo ever) that makes it Latin America's #1 ambassador, what Benjamin Franklin was to the US. However, nothing can compare to their duck breast, it was beyond sensational. It was the best meat I've ever consumed, and I would rather go to hell eating that than become a pure vegetarian (which I am in the process of becoming). I hope people don't find out about that duck meat because if they did, we would have no vegetarians nor ducks left on this planet. In fact, we would just have huge duck farms and chefs that could make that dish would become king of the world, not just the god of my soul.
Yeah I could talk about the delicious goat cheese cheesecake or the best sorbet desserts ever, or their excellent wines and strong drinks. But really, I'm still obsessed about that duck. The duck is cheap too, only $25 for the best meat dish on the planet? Out of control. But don't forget the rib-eye though... god that's so good too.
Sorry Ruth's Chris, we have a new #1. -
Review from Abbey A.
Chevy Chase, MD
12/18/2008
I stayed at the Ambassador East for a business trip - unfortunately, it was a very quick trip so I didn't get to explore the area, but appreciated that it was tucked away (read not a lot of outside noise) yet still very accessible to the rest of the city.
I was very pleased with the staff. When I arrived at the hotel, the doorman, immediately greeted me at my cab, helped me with my bag and directed me to registration. Laura, the woman at registration was very courteous, and welcomed me to Chicago. When I went up to my room, I found that it wasn't made up - when I went back down, Laura was VERY apologetic and immediately moved me to another room. This one was made up and had no problems, and about 30 minutes after I arrived in the room, Laura called up to make sure that everything was fine and to see if I needed anything else. The room wasn't huge, but if you've ever frequented New York hotels, you really can't complain. The bed was comfortable, I had space to work, the bathroom was a nice size - my only real complaint was that the towels were a little small and not terribly plush. But in the long run, not a deal breaker for me.
While I was there, I also attended an event in the Byfields Lounge, just off the lobby. It was a beautiful space, and the service was great - very attentive.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay, and was pleased with the price. It'll remain on my list of Chicago hotels. -
Review from Amanda M.
Columbus, OH
4/28/2010
I was very disappointed with the customer service at Ambassador East. The conceirge never returned our calls & the gentleman who checked us in was rude. Also, the room's 'private foyer' as pictured & described when making the reservation online was a short hallway, not an additional room or additional living space.
There was no free WiFi, but that may be a norm for Chicago hotels, I'm not sure.
I wouldn't stay there again. However, I would definitely recommend a stop to the Pump Room, the famous restaurant located inside the hotel! It's amazing & has SO much history. -
Review from Kevin S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/18/2011
I received a thoughtful reply from the General Manager. His letter addressed all of the concerns including the fact that a large majority of their reservations are being made through a third party. I would like express a special thank you this new manager. Don't we agree, a simple apology is good enough. Kudos to you, Mr. Bowman.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/6/2011
I emailed the general manager and asked him to explain how this hotel continues to take reservations… Read more »
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Review from Tara V.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2008
I would love to give these guys a better review... but their management is really disappointing. I love that there is a lot of history but lets not rest on our laurels guys.
They need to "freshen up" the place a lot. It is very close to teetering over the edge towards run down. The hallways smell. The decor is tired. The furniture is overbearing in the smaller rooms.
If you are planning to have a room block here be aware of the poor management. We were promised, in writing upgrades for all the rooms. I was there when my parents checked in with the letter promising upgrades but received some story about how that was only certain rooms... um yeah that is not what it says. They were to deliver the welcome bags for my guests... they did not deliver a single one. I had to have my guests go back to the front desk to pick them up after the rehearsal when I found out that none had been delivered. Then they gave my sister the welcome bag for a different wedding that was there that weekend. Nice.
They were to have the "skyline room" all set up for us with beverages and what not... the room wasn't even unlocked and they sent my hair stylist to the wrong floor.
They are very unorganized and need to rehab before they fall much further. It is a fine hotel for visiting if you can get a deal on the room but I would not pay full price and would very cautious with using them for a wedding room block. -
Review from Jacque U.
4/11/2011
Stayed here over the weekend for a Bachelorette party. The hotel was, just as it says, A-OK. It definitely worked for what we needed.
Yes, the hotel is older which shows in the rooms and the renovation makes it a little hard to get in and out and pull up in front but as far as having a place to shower and sleep, it worked just fine.
One odd thing was that even though the reservations were made at one time, by one person, they did not bother to put us on the same floor or remotely close to each other. 4 floors apart. And there was a huge difference in the room size. One was standard hotel room size plus a little dressing area which was nice, the other was HUGE. Everything about it was huge. Room, bathroom, tub, etc.
The location was great! Close to everything we needed, a very quick walk to Clark/Division for the Red Line, down the street from 2am pizza and a CVS.
I'll be curious to see how this place looks when the reno is done. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd stay again. -
Review from Kat F.
7/8/2010 3 Check-ins Here
When I checked into the hotel, I noticed that all of the other guests looked homely and scared, like they'd been victims of an abduction. This should have been an omen of what was to come.
Check in was quite easy (except for the fact that, without warning $700 - double the amount of my reso - was held on my credit card. I hate it when hotels do this). I might update this review to 1 star when I check out, depending what happens.
My standard three pieces of criteria for a hotel are:
1. Under $100/night
2. Safe
3. Clean
Ambassador East started out at a rating of 3 stars, adhering to my three standards: it's in a convenient location, right off the red line and some surprisingly handy bus lines (#22 and 72 will take you to cool places). I felt safe walking home at night and there was nothing shady about the hotel or surrounding area. And I got a good rate ($75/night). However, there were many cons of an unacceptable nature (even by my low maintenance lodging standards):
CONS:
1. You can only leverage the coolness factor of your hotel on the fact that "Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart used to hang out at the Pump Room" [downstairs] (which incidentally has the worst logo I've ever seen - terrible typeface that renders it mostly illegible) for so long. Do I care? Is Frank Sinatra's one-time heyday at this hotel going to change the fact that there are cigarette burns in my bedspread, the DNA of former hotel guests on my pillowcases (last time I checked my hair was blonde, not black and waist-length - I had to ask for new sheets and it's frightening that this isn't standard practice between guests), and evidence of some small snacking visitors having also shared the room at some point? Or how about my non-flushing toilet (three flushes for urine and standard amount of toilet paper) and clogged sink that was laden with dinner mints after every tooth brushing? Or chipped bathtub and the dubiously stained, musty carpet in my Queen Elizabeth II-approved 1890s-decor room? No.
2. Free "wi-fi" = walking two blocks to the nearby Starbucks, which is open daily till 11pm (sweet!) and has free and reliable wi-fi courtesy of AT&T. Wi-fi isn't included in all reservations (reminder: it's now 2010) but mine was a "special rate" that alleged to include it. For reference, a 4 minute YouTube clip would take upwards of 10 minutes to load and buffer, and the "speed" was laughable. You also have to reconnect to it every time you close the lid on your laptop. I ended up doing a lot of surfing at the aforementioned Starbucks instead, so don't dare come here on a business trip looking to accomplish work in your room. On day 3, wi-fi stopped working entirely and couldn't establish a connection. When I inquired about this at the front desk, the smug concierge told me that I had the wrong password, because of course, the password changes weekly on Wednesday. APPARENTLY I WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THIS?? I'm at Starbucks again as I write this review, but I'll be sure to let you know if my internet comes back up.
3. Every morning from 7am-11am, there was a piercing, high pitched screeching sound akin to raccoons fighting directly outside my door or an ungreased 1920s elevator shaft. It made me absolutely mental and forced me to wake up hours before I intended to. The source, I finally discovered, was this: http://farm5.static.fl...
A goddamn vacuum cleaner. And every time housekeeping wheeled it by - or used it - it made that screeching sound. How can such a small appliance make such a loud sound?? This beast needs to take a dip in the BP oil spill, STAT.
PROS:
* Synthetic bedding
* The king bed is actually quite comfortable
* Housekeeping obeyed my "do not disturb" sign on the door, however, they disturbed me in many other ways (see #3).
* Neighbourhood is quiet - you'll sleep through the night
* Water pressure surprisingly good
FINAL TIPS:
* The entrance and address is actually on Goethe (I would love to hear a local pronounce this), not on N State Parkway as the map (and their directions) indicate. Also if you google N State Parkway you'll get no results; it's called N State Street.
* Soviet-era toiletries (ie none) and no bathrobes. Thank god Bravco is only a few blocks away (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) .
* Parking nearby is in the realm of $30/day so don't park here. -
Review from Steve P.
North Hollywood, CA
3/11/2011
If yelp had zero stars this would easily earn the rating. What a dump of a place. The only thing I dislike more than the experience I've had here is the judgement of the person who booked me here.
The whole place is under construction until sometime in 2012. To check in you need to walk down a flight of stairs to the basement then take an elevator up to a make-shift "check in slap in the face desk" where an attendant named Ronnie who has no idea how to authorize a credit card but every idea on how to be rude, condescending and antagonizing gives you your first impression. Other highlights include:
- super EXPENSIVE and SLOW Internet
- rooms that smell like ash trays and are poor
- you have to carry your luggage from the curb to the basement then find the lobby several floors up
- no fitness center
- bar/restaurant is closed
The good:
- ice machine works (but they're not on ever floor) -
Review from Christopher C.
Chicago, IL
8/21/2010
An elegant neighborhood featuring an equally elegant hotel? Hardly.
Ambassador East suffers from "Once Great" syndrome: though I have no doubt that this esteemed location was the apex of luxury accommodations in 1952 (hot and cold running water!), it has clearly suffered from neglect in recent decades.
You won't find any amenities that one could not readily find in a discount hotel chain: the room is small and in need of new paint and new carpet, the television is twenty years old and produces distorted images, the ice machines are empty and scarce (there are two for fifteen floors!), the furniture is old, the bathroom is tiny, and the wifi is $10 a day and spotty at best.
To be frank, this place doesn't offer value for the money. On its website, it's priced to compete with the luxury chains on the Magnificent Mile; in the actual hotel, it's barely competing with Motel 6. It seems to be clinging to old splendor: the bell hops and doormen are friendly and helpful, the concierge and front desk workers are great, but the physical property is deteriorating and the amenities are entirely absent.
This place seems to ride on the Pump Room. But I expect more from my hotels than a famous restaurant attached to the side. If you want to spend this kind of money on a hotel, spend it on the Mag Mile and get what you pay for. -
Review from Melanie S.
Warren, MI
3/20/2011
I really had high hopes for the Ambassador East. This was my third experience using Priceline and I'd hoped for the same great experience we had the past two times going to Chicago. I'm VERY wary of using it again based on our experience at Ambassador East.
I'm fairly sure that the Ambassador East Hotel puts its Priceline customers in the worst rooms next to the elevator on purpose. This is based on the Yelp reviews and our visit to the hotel with another couple. The Ambassador East put us in hotel rooms on different floors, both were next to the very creaky elevator. When we asked if there were rooms on the same floor, the grumpy front desk lady told us she doubted it (without checking).
The front desk staff is AWFUL. We asked for directions to a particular well known location in the neighborhood and was told by the same grumpy front desk lady, "I have no idea." Gee, thanks for the help.
Our room was a fair size and clean. Don't plan on using the internet unless you wish to pay a fortune. Also this is not a hotel that is handicap friendly. It is several stairs down to the elevator. -
Review from Whitney B.
Chicago, IL
6/27/2009
I live in Chicago, but I stayed here with my mom and brother when they came to visit me in march. The hotel had a very classic look, and I loved how it was tucked away in a quiet area, but still close to public transportation and to division street. The staff was very friendly and accommodating, and I think one of our nights was free! The room was more than big enough for the 3 of us. If it wasn't snowing and really cold that weekend, I would have taken advantage of how close the hotel was to the lake and walked over everyday! This is a great hotel, and I would recommend it to anyone coming to Chicago to visit, or to anyone in Chicago looking to have a mini-vacation in our own city. Pretending to be a toursit for a weekend in the city you live in is much more exciting than I expected it to be, I did all sorts of stuff I've never done here before, it was great. Wonderful hotel.
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Review from Tim F.
Saint Paul, MN
5/31/2010
I think we got the theme room. The theme being dirty old Chicago hotel room; carpet stained, paint chipping, pieces of wood traumatically excised from furniture. In the end, centrally located for all endeavors while visiting. Most don't visit Chicago to sit in the hotel room. Would go back, but wouldn't expect much.
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Review from Rob R.
Geneva, IL
7/18/2010
I must preface this review with the fact that I was booked this room via "Priceline" which I have NEVER had an issue with....UNTIL Ambassador East!! Ugh!
Where do I begin? Oh yeah, here's a little factoid about the hotel; it is the same hotel used in the movie, "My Bodyguard" where the main character's father was a manager and where they lived with their eccentric and flippant grandmother. This movie was released in 1980, but no doubt filmed in 1979; which became the running gag between my wife and I when wise-cracking about the hotel...we would say things like, "That must have been the same carpet walked on by..." or "I think that is the same shower curtain used by..." (you can fill in the blank with whatever character you wish.)
Here are some of the glaring negatives about this place:
1.) OUTDATED!!! This place is seriously stuck in the 80's. The carpet was torn and stained in numerous places. There were cigarette burns everywhere.
2.) The TV!!! I didn't expect a 52 inch plasma HD, but I didn't expect to open the 10 foot tall entertainment center and find a 19 inch standard definition television that had knobs on it that were barely functional. Our television had a channel button that only worked if you scrolled forward. The picture quality on the TV was what you would expect as well; it had an orange tint to it; which mean that it was in need of a new tube. Ok, that's enough with the tv.
3.) The Bathroom. We had our kids with us on this trip and we wouldn't allow our kids in the bathroom for anything other than "official duty"...it was terribly cramped, the tub was peeling (probably lead pain I presume?) , the vanity could barely hold a toothbrush and I'm not exaggerating about that. Oh, did I mention that we received one bottle of shampoo for the entire trip? I had to ask "TWICE" for more shampoo. The Ambassador East had some notes placed in the room mentioning how they were attempting to be "green" by not cleaning our towels, but anyone with half a brain knows they are just being cheap by conserving water and electricity.
4.) The Air-Conditioner. We just returned from this trip, so I'm writing this with a fresh mind, but we stayed up in Chicago during the hottest few days of the summer of 2010. The air conditioner is a window unit that was VERY loud. It made it difficult to sleep and I would have gladly turned it off if the air temperature in the room wasn't already hot enough, because this air conditioner wasn't exactly the coolest unit I've seen.
5.) Amenities. No pop machines, no candy machines, no anything! This hotel had NOTHING of what even a basic Motel 6 has nowadays. One thing that was super frustrating was the fact that the ice machines NEVER had any ice in them. They were only located on two floors which meant that the entire hotel had to share TWO ICE MACHINES!!! Thus, no ice was available...oh wait, last night my son and I went to the 8th floor ice machine and were able to shake 5 or 6 ice cubes out of it. (We felt like we just won a jackpot from a slot machine!!!)
6.) NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY I'm not referring to the staff, because they were about as nice as could be, but what I 'm referring to is the fact that there was no WAY TO GET THE STROLLER into the building without putting the doorman through a huge effort to collapse the revolving door. The standard door wasn't even close to being wide enough to getting a stroller through it. I don't know how people with disabilities get in that place, because I didn't see anything that even remotely resembled an easy access point. (I did see a very small elevator, but I didn't even attempt to get in that ice box...)
5.) This may come off as "smug" but the area the hotel is located in a very "upscale" and "ritzy" area. I cannot tell you how many dirty looks we received from the locals who thought our stroller had no right to be riding on their sidewalks. The area is home to either two types very rich retirees who have come to the area to escape children or rich (or pseudo-rich) young socialites (20-somethings) who just rolled out of bed (around 2 pm) and are looking for the nearest club with the latest "hipster" crowd.
Positives:
1.) Comfortable bed
2.) Friendly and helpful staff. We asked for a "pack and play" or "portable crib" and they were quick to get one up to our room. I was also impressed that it wasn't the usual Portable Crib that we are accustomed to. This seemed like an actual crib and our 15 month old boy seemed quite comfortable in it for his stay in the room.
3.) The doormen: always friendly, always helpful with out stroller and getting in and out of the building. I made sure I gave them a NICE tip when we left.
4.) Quiet Neighbors. (We never heard anyone around us, EVER.)
I would only stay there as a last resort. I am also surprised at the amount of positive reviews of this place and I'm dubious that some of them aren't from the hotel staff themselves... -
Review from Alexis B.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2009
We've reserved a room block for our wedding guests at the Ambassador East. Not only have they been very accommodating in negotiating a contract for the rooms at great rates and guaranteeing particular rooms for our bridal party, but Rebecca (in sales), responds quickly to my emails and always puts me at ease whenever I come up with a new concern, such as "what if some of our guests need late check-in" or "what if others need their bags held at reception if they arrive prior to check-in." Rebecca takes care of it all. She's been great and a pleasure to work with. Can't wait to see it all come together!
Listed in: Nuptial Bliss
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Review from Will K.
New York, NY
8/2/2009
Clean rooms, Great location. Not right on the bars so it's not noisy but the whole city is really within walking distance from the hotel, and it's close to the red line "L". Doesn't have the most modern amenities in the rooms, but i don't need that when I'm only in the hotel room to sleep anyway. Courteous staff, And the pump room is a legend. I highly recommend
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Review from Ellen M.
10/10/2005
Two memorable events were the prom (I was a sophomore dating a senior) and the rehearsal dinner the night before my wedding. The building is an old hotel with classic fixtures and lighting. You can imagine the Burnham's hanging out in the olden days. I'm just saying that - I have no clue if Daniel Burham actually hung out here. They put on good hospitable conferences and large dinners, and the meals are good to very good.
Listed in: Nuptial Bliss, Great Chicago Hotels
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Review from Sara G.
Carpentersville, IL
9/19/2009
My friend book this hotel for us for a girls weekend in Chicago. Lets just say we were thankful we didn't have to spend much time in the room. The carpet was so stained it looked like it was suppose to be that way. The furniture was worn and outdated. The place was gross and just wasn't worth the money we spent on it. The only redeeming quality was the door man, we was very nice and helpful.
