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Margarita European Inn
Rating Details »
Categories: Hotels, Bed & Breakfast [Edit]
1566 Oak Ave(between Davis St & Grove St)
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 869-2273
- Nearest Transit:
-
Davis (Purple, Evanston Express)
- Price Range:
-
$$
5 reviews for Margarita European Inn
$79 for a room? Hoo Hah!
Last night, I stayed at the Maragrita Inn for the first time in several years (I used to be a regular). I am happy to report that the Inn has lost none of its elegant, quirky appeal.
When I made my reservation, all the rooms were taken except one of the pricier rooms with a private bath. When I arrived, though, I was informed that a $79 shared bath room had opened up if I still wanted it. I was impressed with the Inn's willingness to accommodate me even when it cost them a few bucks.
By the way, "shared bath" here means a gender-specific dorm style bathroom down the hall--a couple of showers, three sinks, a few stalls. But to be honest, in all my times here I have never actually "shared" a bath--I always have it all to myself. Nonetheless, if you are bothered by the prospect of running down the hall in a bathrobe, spend the extra cash for a room with a private bath.
I love breakfast time at Margarita. The breakfast room is an elegant sun room with 30s decor. Guests are sipping coffee and munching sweet rolls while reading the Tribune; there are no televisions blasting inane cable news in the background--just the rustle of newspaper, quiet conversations, and the occasional rattle of the antique elevator out the lobby. My only complaint is that this time the breakfast room's radio was turned to a station other than WFMT. Let's go back to classical please.
I stayed here with my gf earlier this year when we were in town for a friend's wedding. Formerly a residence hotel for young professional women, the inn still has the feel of a boarding house. There's a dining room, a shared library, and a rooftop "garden" with a view of the city below.
Because the inn is within easy walking distance of the downtown area and Northwestern campus, I'm surprised I didn't know about it while I was a student. Might be a hidden gem for Evanston!
The staff is friendly and professional, and most of the original structure and layout has been preserved (our room featured a standalone air conditioner -- the inn hasn't been retrofitted with central air). You can get rooms with private baths -- or share a bathroom in the European style.
Also, one of the managers is related to someone involved in Filmfax magazine, so among the periodicals in the lobby, you can find the recent issues of the best American magazines focusing on B movies and genre film -- free for the taking.
A weird perk offered by a hotelier, but a welcome one.
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Wonderfully quirky little hotel right in downtown Evanston.
Talk about personality! This place has it in spades. The Margarita Inn is my favorite little place to stay when I'm in Evanston. I love the history - professional women's residence house. I love the fun features, including the wood paneled library and the ancient elevator. I love the price - a winter special of $99 for a small room with private bath.
The beds/sheets are a little less than perfect - the sheets are itchy and the mattress isn't a posturepedic. But, that's really all that I can find wrong with this place. So, if you don't like the boring, beigeness that is a typical chain hotel, the Margarita Inn will make you smile.
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I give this three and a half stars. The building is very nice and the staff at the desk are incredibly friendly, but I had to stay there for two days for a business trip and their "free breakfast" in the morning is severely lacking. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I actually ended up having to buy breakfast for myself the second day (at yummy Wild Tree Cafe!) because there was nothing much to eat at the hotel.
Also I realize that it's an old hotel, but the rooms were super tiny and there was a HUGE air conditioning/de-humidifer in the corner with a printed off sign that asked the customer to empty the bucket that the water drips into when it gets full. Gee, thanks. Maybe it was just the room I was lucky enough to get.
The hotel is tucked away on a cozy street, and it's only a minute or two walk from the Metra station, so that was very nice. Overall not a bad place.
While Heath gave you the background, I just wanted to chime in and say how quaint and charming this place is. My parents have stayed here a few times when visiting me, because it's cheaper and a little less stiff than the other places available. The woman at the front desk is always so nice and personable, and the public areas like the library, etc. really give it a nice touch...as do the international flags hanging outside. Just to let you know, there are some rooms without their own bathroom, so make sure to specify.
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