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Palmer House - Hilton
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: The Loop
17 E. Monroe Street
(between State St & Wabash Ave)
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 726-7500
17 E. Monroe Street
(between State St & Wabash Ave)
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 726-7500
- Nearest Transit:
-
Monroe (Blue, Red)
Adams/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
- Price Range:
-
$$$
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Swissotel Chicago
- Neighborhood:
- The Loop
Located where the river and the lake meet, this distinctive triangle of glass offers four-diamond luxury at every turn. Pamper... more »
113 reviews for Palmer House - Hilton
Hotwire landed me here for $75/night. Since I wanted a Loop hotel that wasn't a hooker hotel but still within my "work is NOT paying for this" budget. So I was not unpleased that I'd be staying here. My grandparents' best friends had honeymooned here, so it had some third-hand nostalgia going for it. Throw in a fab location, and I was thrilled when I walked in.
If the hotel were a person, it'd be old-money. (Like the cranky great-aunt you hope to inherit from.) But like old-money, there's some rust around the edges. The lobby is amazingly gorgeous. No hands down. The guest rooms... kinda small and shabby, for a Hilton. The closet and bathroom were tiny. There was only about a foot of clearance betwixt door and dunny in the loo, and that doesn't really work. There was only about 6" of vanity space on either side of the sink. I'm sure this was standard when the place was built, and it's modern standards that have changed. But still. It's a bit cramped, and it was just me in the room.
Realistically, it's an older building, and a skyscraper at that, which is going to entail lots of structural support to work around. Revamping the guest rooms would probably entail knocking down walls and re-doing entire floors, which would be disruptive to other guests, a loss of revenue, and there'd be fewer rooms available in the end. (I think. I'm a CPA, not an architect, but to my amateur eyes, it does not look like it'd be an easy remodel.) Sorry. HGTV moment. Where was I?
Also like old money, this place can be cheap in irritating ways. $15 (or more) for internet in your room, and wired at that, so no surfing while sitting in bed. $7 for an hour for internet in the lobby. WTF? On the one hand, if I lived in Chicago, and the lobby had free internet, I'd be inclined to take up space there quite often. On the other hand, $7 for an hour of internet in the lobby?? I've never been somewhere where internet in the lobby came at a price. (There was too much stone for my T-Mobile smart phone to get any signal. Which meant I missed a couple calls. Grr.)
Thanks to Yelp I was forewarned about early check-in fees and late check-out fees. I was honestly surprised that storing my luggage didn't come with a fee.
I didn't interact much with the staff, but they seemed very professional, especially at the front desk. (I'd put my hotel room keycard behind the magnet closure in my purse, so I had to get it re-programmed at 1:00am. They asked for ID, which is reassuring, for safety reasons.)
I'm glad I came here, at least once. The public areas are beautiful, and I like pretty architecture. I probably wouldn't seek it out again as a place to stay, though. I would, however, definitely be willing to meet people in the lobby for cocktails. As long as we didn't expect to use our cell phones to find each other.
One of the coolest hotel lobbies around for cocktails! Sure, drinks are spensy (just like you'd expect in a hotel), but this room is so awesome. It's old, rich, opulent Chicago in spades. Grab yourself a scotch on the rocks, pick a high backed leather chair, and soak up the scene.
Rooms are nicely sized, and b&w prints of famous entertainers in the hallways are kind of cool too.
I lived in Chicago for a few years between high school and college (sometime shortly after Gutenberg had printed his first Bible). I was too young and too poor to enjoy many of the places I would have liked, so when I registered for a huge scientific meeting in Chicago I chose The Palmer House as my hotel.
When I was explaining my choice to some colleagues I told them that it used to be very elegant, but now was a little worn and frayed around the edges and the plumbing was a little iffy. One of the younger members of the group said "That sounds just like you, Dr. Rick" to which someone added "When the hell was Rick ever elegant?".
The service was perfect and the room, albeit small compared to newer hotels, was very comfortable and quiet. I have a 3G wireless widget for my computer, so I didn't have to pay for their expensive Internet connection. A coffee pot would have been nice in the room, but there's a Starbucks on the street level. All in all, my stay was pleasant and since it's so close to the museums and other downtown attractions I'd stay there again if I had more time to enjoy the city.
The hotel has a beautiful lobby. Very large. I think the ceilings in the lobby were at least 3 stories tall. Wonderful architecture. Very classy. Now to the rooms. I had a King room that I booked on Priceline. You don't get to select the type of room on priceline like you do on expedia, orbiz, or any other travel site, so I had to call to make sure I had a King room. I was also told by a friend to ask for the more renevated room, which I was able to get, (I guess). The room was very very small. the bed was about 6 or 7 feet from the door. The room had a desk and a chair, but no extra comfy chair. No dresser to store my clothing. The ice bucket and two glasses were stored in the closet because there was no room to put it. The flat screen tv was mounted on the wall but a whole in the wall where the cable comes from was right in the middle of the wall (tacky) including all the wires to the tv halfway hanging down from the tv. (tacky again). The bathroom was ok, small but ok.
I order room service, a $12 cheeseburger and soda turned out to be $32 after state tax, city tax, room service fee, 18% gratuity for room service orders. And the guy acted like he wanted a tip when he brought in the tray. Seriously?? A soda in the vending machine was $2.50 and so was bottled water. Luckily there was a 7-elevan down the street for my late night cravings.
I put the do not disturb sign on the door because I wanted to sleep in late that next saturday morning. At 8am I am waken up by vacuuming by my door. Mind you the bed is close to the door. I felt like I was being punked. I guess do not disturb in only to keep the maids from knocking on your door. They didnt finish vacuuming the long azz hallway til and hour and a half later.
There was no view from my window, only the back fire escape and the building next to me.
I would never stay at this hotel or suggest anyone stay here.
Despite the fact that the lobby is quite nice, my room is huge, and I got a reasonably priced air/hotel package, I just can't give this hotel more than 2 stars.
I'm writing this review from my hotel room, and am paying $14.95 a day for the internet connection. I guess that's not so unusual, and at least there are three differently priced connection options based on speed (I went for the cheapest).
But I just feel nickel-and-dimed! It really started with the $25 extra fee for early check-in (about noon). I've never heard of that before. Kind of ticked me off right when I got here.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a huge room. But was very surprised to find a teeny tiny bathroom, especially given the size of the room. The bathroom is so small, that even though I am the only person in my huge hotel room, I can barely get into the bathroom and have to squeeze around the door, then shut the door to have room to stand at the sink, or anything else. But first I have to get the light to turn on, so it is not pitch black when I close the bathroom door. This is a major production since it is kind of stuck in the "off" position. To add insult to injury, although there is a magnifying mirror attached to the wall (the kind you can use to put on makeup extra-carefully), it's attached at a height designed for someone about 6 feet tall! Since I'm 4'11", I can't actually see myself in the mirror. It just taunts me by being there.
On to the actual room. Clean. Comfortable. Wait, why am I only giving this hotel 2 stars? Well, there is no coffee maker! I can't remember the last time I stayed in a hotel where there wasn't a small coffee set in the room. I guess they want me to buy the starbucks in the lobby instead. But I was kind of counting on the coffee set to heat hot water, so I could make my Trader Joe's instant oatmeal packet in the morning for breakfast. Hmmm. I guess they'd rather I bought the hotel oatmeal for $5 a bowl. And I also guess I could ask for a coffee set to be brought to my room. Would only cost $8.
*sigh* Well, at least I brought workout clothes for the 4 days I'm staying here. At $18 per day (or $45 per 3 days), it's a bit pricey just to be able to work out for a few days, but at least I'll be able to use the spa amenities too, right?. Well, luckily I checked out the fitness center before paying, because I just don't like it. Most folks would probably like it fine, but the elliptical machines (only thing I use) here are *again* made for someone 6 feet tall, not someone my size. And the spa amenities aren't all that appealing. And since there are no 24 hr fitness locations nearby (I'm a member), I guess I brought my workout clothes for no good reason other than to use up the space in my luggage.
Okay, this review is getting kind of long, and a bit too whiney. So for my last issue with this hotel - I tried calling the "guest service hotline" several different times since I've been here to ask some questions, but I don't think they actually staff the "hotline". On four different attempts, I only once reached an actual person, and I let it ring about 20 times each attempt before giving up. Last night all I wanted to know was where I could get some ice. When they finally directed me to the room with an icemaker (near the elevator), it was a room with peeling paint, cracks on the wall, and a flickering lightbulb. Yech. Tonight I wanted to ask some questions about getting back to the airport. I guess I'll just have to figure it out myself.
The first thing we had to deal with here was a line at the front desk that rivaled check in on a Friday afternoon in Vegas. What the heck was going on here? I guess they got us through fast enough. We had left bags with the bellhop, and after the 15 minute estimate became 40 in reality, we had to call back down again to remind them we were still here. The room itself was okay. We were supposedly in one of the remodeled ones. It had a funky art deco design. The TV was outdated, and there was no wireless internet, just a super short ethernet cable and a $15 fee. Luckily I've stayed in enough places to know to bring a long cable with me. Otherwise the stay was alright. I can't say I'd ever make it a point to stay there again, but I have also definitely stayed at worse places. The staff was friendly.
When I won this hotel on Priceline with a $70 bid, I was pretty pleased with myself. The pictures of the lobby looked spectacular! I wasn't disappointed when I entered the hotel last night - it was super swank-or-rama. It lies in stark contrast to the rooms, however, which are outdated and unattractive. My room also smelled of smoke, though it was a non-smoking. I asked where the gym was, and the concierge said it was on the 5th floor, but that it was closed, and if I wanted to use it it'd be $18 anyway. Really? $18 to use the gym? Sigh.
I decided to go for a run outside (it was only two blocks to Millenium Park) and was chilled when I came back (it was 10 PM in mid-October). Fortunately, the shower was great - nice and hot with great pressure, in a clean (albeit tiny) bathroom. Things were OK for a while - I watched crappy movies on Showtime (Bound with Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon) since there was no HBO, and eventually crawled into my huge, soft, king-sized bed, sleeping peacefully until I was woken up at six by the phone ringing over and over - in my neighbor's room. It was a sad morning after that.
To summarize:
The Pros: Location, nice beds, good showers, pretty lobby
The Cons: Ugly, outdated rooms, small bathrooms, paying $$$ for the gym/internet/parking, terrible sound proofing between rooms.
Except for the lobby, this is far from the four star hotel it purports to be.
The lobby is very nice and quite grand. But then you get upstairs. Room is small, old tvs, outdated furnishings, gross looking carpet. Rooms could definitely do with a facelift.
$15 wireless connection seems outrageous when so many places offer for free now.
i and my friend stayed here for lollapalooza this year.
the rooms are small -- i prefer to call them "cozy" -- but the decor of the whole hotel, elevators,bars and all, is gorgeous. you feel like you're *someone* when you walk the halls of the palmer house.
as mentioned, the room's small. there really isn't a lot of space to really walk around. it was two steps from the bed to the bathroom. but i'm not complaining. they're clean and they're a place to sleep. granted, not the best decorated, which is strange because the rest of the hotel's just grand.
part of the reason you go to a lavish hotel such as this one is the service. and oh, we got served. we ordered room service for breakfast and it was really, really good, and it got up to us quickly. everyone was courteous and went out of their way to make our stay comfortable. and when i hung out at the bar, the bartender was accommodating when i asked for drink suggestions. we made nice, it was all good.
i quite enjoyed my stay here, and i'd definitely come back, despite how expensive it is to get a room. oh, speaking of which, we were only a short walk from grant park. perhaps about three blocks. so it's an awesome place to stay if you're going to lolla.
The lobby is beautiful. Other than that, this hotel kind of sucks. Our 14th floor room smelled *really* musty. The bedding would have been beautiful, except for the conspicuous stains on the throw pillows. One can only imagine...
No coffee maker in the room! WTF?
It was really loud as well. We asked for a room away from the elevator to avoid hearing people trekking in and out all night. But nonetheless, constant noise. And there was some mysterious whirring noise all night long that I think was an ice machine. Luckily I brought ear plugs.
The room looked nice, and the lobby was beautiful, but all-in-all, not a comfy stay at all.
Gorgeous hotel! I loved staying here - thanks to good ole Priceline bidding for $65/night. Nice. Valet w/ In & Out privileges for $51? Not so nice. But self-parking at their lot is just a few steps away for $36. My dad chose to park a block away for $25 all day/night. Internet is also $15.
I'd rate this 3.5, but will give it 4 instead of 3 because it's so pretty inside. I'm easily swooned by this type of decor.
We stayed here for the sole purpose of sleeping - I didn't even get a chance to see the pool or anything else. We road tripped from Houston to Chicago to Niagara Falls all within a week! Our room on the 21st floor wasn't small, we were in a corner room so one view was skyscrapers, the other Millennium Park. No complaints regarding room size/view! I didn't realize we were right next to the train tracks, but the sounds didn't really bother us.
We got settled in around 9 PM on a weekday, didn't know where to dine or what was open, so we just wandered and hoped to find something. Sadly, most restaurants were closed or closing by then and the few places I had wanted to eat (via Yelp reviews) were too far. I'm definitely researching more in advance next time!
The bellhops were all really nice - taking bags to the room once we were settled in, storing our luggage, etc. I saw the receptionist offer everyone else in line bottled water - but didn't offer us any! Concierge was not helpful when we were trying to find information about Chicago Trolley tours. She just said "wait at CVS and you'll see someone there." No one was there! Luckily, the Palmer House is one of their stops and we were able to get on when it stopped at the light.
The Corner Bakery Cafe is right next to the hotel, so we ate there for breakfast before going on our tour! I don't think I'll be paying $4 for a banana at the hotel restaurant anytime soon.. If you do want to eat at Lockwood, if the bellhop brings your bags up, they should offer you a 20% off coupon to Lockwood.
I'm totally in love with Chicago now (visiting in the summer helps) and
I would definitely stay here again if I got this deal.
I stayed here two month ago for work. The entrance and lobby was elegant, and the room was nice. It was a bit small in my opinion and the walls wasn't that sound-proof. I remember waking up to someone throwing up on the other side of the walls. I almost wanted to shout "are you ok over there" but figured I should just mind my own business and sleep.
1 star for location, 1 star for price, 1 star for elegance, 1 star for a nice bed and -1 star for waking me up in the middle of the night.
Grande- with the extra 'e' at the end.
Stayed 4 nights.
Room:
Large. But that might not be what you get. The building is sliced up somewhat asymmetrically.
I sprayed the walls with Luminol like on CSI and didn't find any arterial spatter or jizzola. (that would be funny and gross)
Clean and tidy except for a squished mosquito on the wall.
Quiet despite being right on the main drag AND next to the 'el' train.
Staff is professional and helpful.
Skip the restaurant for breakfast. And probably skip it for dinner.
The Bar and Lounge are the pits. Borrrring alcohol selection. Dullsville. Dog whiz on tap. A hotel as nice as this serving mass market Scotch is sinful.
Pool is a disappointment because 1) it's small, and 2) because the chlorine is so scortchingly strong! I used to have nipples but they got bleached off.
Hot tub- Good. I hung out with 8 guys from the American Gay Volleyball Assoc.. They were a little nervous with a straight guy in there, but I told 'em I was from San Francisco and they relaxed right away. Plus I know which pocket not to put the orange handkerchief. That won me some points.
If you like to have yourself photographed, this is the place for it. No matter where you stand, you'll look good. Weddings seem to occur every 15 minutes.
Cons:
- It's big and tall. I forgot my sunglasses in the room room and if fell like a 2k run back to get 'em.
- The Hilton chain buffed away some of the charm. The sucky bar, the Charfucks in the basement. Stuff like that.
- The period this hotel flourished in feels done and gone. They need a jazz trio playing real jazz in the lounge.
Bonus tips. The fireplace in the room isn't real. Don't burn your free copy of USA Today in there.
Ah the Palmer House. Old world craftsmanship my friend. They dont make them like this anymore. Amazing lobby. Great rooms on the 13th floor. Some are ridiculously huge. Bars and the restaurant are servicable but I still love this place. I find myself in rotation between here the James and the Conrad when I hit the big city.
Always happy to go back to the House...
This hotel is a wonder of history and metropolitan elegance. Tucked away deep inside "The Loop", The Palmer House offers convenient access to just about anywhere in the Chicago Area. This area of the City is really safe, even during the wee party hours allowed in Downtown. There are a number of restaurants and bars within walking and cabbing distance from the Hotel, and a 10 minute walk gets you right to Lake Michigan and Millennium Park.
Absolutely gorgeous hotel
" the longest continuously operating hotel in North America" with lots of stories to tell
The bellhop Steve was extremely helpful and a super nice guy... Nicolas, a part of the cleaning staff was very friendly and went far beyond his job duties He gave me a quick tour of the hotel and shared some of its history with me... the empire room is a sight to see and the lobby should be on any tourists must-see list
The rooms are a bit small and like has been said earlier, the walls are thin but I only paid $75 a night on priceline for a hotel that is as centrally located as can be
Having worked at the Ritz Carlton during my younger days, I'm somewhat of a hotel snob. When you're used to providing exemplary service, you kind of expect it when you stay in a hotel right? I don't mean to be a snob but this is one industry where customer service is everything. You're leaving your home to sleep and eat somewhere else. You should feel like you're staying in a second home.
My family and I took a family vacation to Chicago to bury my Grandma's ashes and do some sightseeing while we were there. My Mom booked this hotel from Priceline so I was skerred all the way there. I'd never seen the PH so I was skeptical at best. They were doing some work on the front of the hotel and it was a mess but they were very careful not to inconvenience the guests which was much appreciated. Nothing is worse than fearing for your life by entering a door. (It came out beautiful by the way).
When we arrived, we were given a key to my Mom & sisters room and another key to mine and my brother's room. My room was SO small and on a different floor than my Mom's room so I asked if they could move us. Good thing! We got a room that was twice as big and had a better view. You could have put another 4 beds in that room and it wasn't considered a suite. Sweet for us!
The lobby is amazing and gives you that feeling of old-world Chicago. It was like getting in a time machine but not in a bad way. Everything was well maintained and all the employees made us feel like they were honored we were there. We even got a nice note from the front desk worker a few hours after we checked in. The hotel bar is a little pricey and stuffy so we opted for the dive bar next door with all the pictures on the wall. Help me out with the name here people, I loved that place. It was literally next door from the entrance that faces the El.
I was worried about the location of this place but we managed to walk everywhere we needed to go. It was really nice having Corner Bakery on the corner too, they have great breakfasts. Didn't try the breakfast in the hotel because we were usually in a hurry to go on an adventure.
I guess the only reason why I can't give them 5*s is because I'm still and always be a hotel snob. You're going to have to ramp it up to mimic the Four Seasons or Ritz for me to max it out. I did love this place though, I'd recommend it for people staying in Chicago & not wanting to spend a billion dollars on a place to stay.
This hotel is old and is badly in need of an upgrade. You know, like walls that aren't so thin that I can hear every word of the TV show that my neighbors are watching, with their gaggle of screaming a**hole children. I can hear everything that's dropped, every time someone flushes the toilet, and the footsteps of everyone who walks by.
I should rent a porno & blast the volume. It's not like I can get any sleep with all the noise anyway.
If you want to access the interwebs, it'll be $20. That's for one day... and the internet access is spotty (the connection dropped twice in the past 3 hours). Since the charge was so steep, I figured I'd hop online to tell all 3 people who are reading this how crappy this hotel is. :-)
This is a grand old hotel. I don't think I'd hate this place if I only had to grab a drink or eat a meal here. But shouldn't hotel rooms be restful?
Did I mention that you shouldn't stay here if you want to get some rest?
Signed,
Angry insomniac
Historic old hotel with a lovely lobby and bar area. My boyfriend and I stayed here over our anniversary for semi-cheap because we booked on Hotwire or Priceline or some damn thing. The rooms are only okay, though. We mysteriously had a room with two (comfortable) queen size beds and two bathrooms, so it was large, but it didn't have the elegance of the lobby. I'd happily come back, though!
I would live here if I could..okay, maybe not... but Palmer House Hilton has been the venue for a number of conventions and events I've attended and every time I'm here, I never want to leave!
This hotel is classy and worldly. Not pretentious classy, more sophisticated, aesthetically pleasing and I feel like I'm on vacation in early 20th century Europe. I just love the majestic ambiance of the entire hotel- the ballrooms, conference centers, and lounges are beautifully classic!
The facilities are gorgeous (and squeaky clean).
I was here one week for a work convention, and the next weekend for the White Sox fest. My every experience here is magical, no matter what the occasion is!
My imagination has a lot of fun here, which it doesn't get enough of as an adult:)
The hotel lobby was incredibly beautiful, but our room was the size of a closet and the walls were so thin that we could easily hear our neighbors' entire conversations. Waiting for an elevator down to the lobby around checkout time was a nightmare.
We booked through http://Priceline.com and we definitely ended up with the standard Priceline view: the fire escape.
The bed was very comfortable and the employees were friendly. I probably wouldn't stay here again, but I will probably be back to enjoy the bar in the beautiful lobby and give Lockwood a try.
The hotel lobby is beautiful, and very historic. We really enjoyed hanging out here after hours. The staff is generally helpful. The location is great, and with the shops and the starbucks just down the elevator on street level, it's very convenient. Oh, and the bathroom was also very beautiful.
However, we found our room to be too small - there was really no space at all to even walk around. The bed was so soft my husband opted to sleep on the floor one night. The concierge helped us out a lot, but you can't reach them by phone - it just keeps ringing. And for some weird reason, the stores cannot give you any change - they are not allowed and you HAVE to ask the hotel staff for change. Weird. I think the price is too high considering the cons.
I think this hotel is gorgeous, and the reason it got three stars (instead of two) is its location. I spent a few nights here with my mom for her birthday and we left our car at the hotel, easily walking around the best parts of Chicago and seeing the city the best way.
However, I do think the rooms are on the small and simple side for the money you're paying.
I'm staying at the Palmer House because I have to. And I wish I didn't have to.
This hotel is fine, corporate America fine. But it is a big barn with Fraternity and Sorority conferences, business meetings, and all sorts of madness. The rooms are inconsistent, some being really, really cozy for two adults. Even tiny adults like me and my beloved. I highly recommend the upgrade to the "executive floor" where the rooms are huge and you are afforded the luxury of express elevators, free breakfast and round the clock snacks and drinks.
What really irks me about this place (aside from the scripted corporate speak of the employees [that irks me everywhere]) is all the ridiculous surcharges. $25 to check in early. $20 per day for internet. $18 to use the pool. $20 to use the gym. Really? So what exactly are the amenities of the hotel? Clearly, this place has a lot of rooms to fill in order to pay the wintertime heating bill. It makes me feel like I'm being swindled, and I'm not even paying for my room!
For a little more money, there are better options, and better locations in Chi-town.
Since the recent major renovation project, Palmer House has looked even more phenomenal than before.
Very classy and decadent in it's interior decor, it's a mix of the old with the new. Any personality can take light of the intimacy and nostalgia the lobby brings.
A competent bar and restaurant awaits you on both sides of the main lobby, with reception very close by, and an excellent concierge service. Room service will take a toll on your wallet, but at a place like this - you shouldn't be at all surprised.
The room rates and size vary according to how much you can pay, so expect to show some franklins if you wish to accommodate a large number of individuals to stay. This definitely isn't a motel six where you can cram a family of five for 80 bucks.
My only gripe with the hotel is how the rooms are laid out. It can be a bit of a hassle to reach your final destination - your room. You'd think it was enough to fly, go through security checks, possibly experience the dreaded and inconsistent el from either O'Hare or Midway... but no. It doesn't end when you pick up your room keys. Let's just say I wouldn't want to have a serial killer after me. I'd totally get lost.
Overall, an excellent hotel with great customer service, very convenient location (practically in the heart of downtown), and the historical landmark that it is to boot.
Small rooms. My wife and I had a room with two beds and it was still criminally small , AND both beds were less than a footfrom each other. The bathrooms are barely bigger than the laundry closet in my condo.
Elevators are slower than Paul Konerko(we were here for Soxfest, hence the slow ballplayer reference), and hotel staff was clueless overall.
Overpriced rooms, overpriced parking, overpriced room service, overpriced....well you get the picture.
Dont bother. While it's 'pretty" inside the lobby, it's a dump when you go to your room.
I've stayed at this hotel in two occasions. The rooms are just ok, not bad. For some reason I never get a nice view here. The lobby is what is really gorgeous, I've seen people take their wedding pictures at the lobby. Very pretty. But since you're not sleeping in the lobby, I'm giving it 3 stars. What I don't like about the Palmer House is that so many people stay here that it gets really hectic, so it doesn't feel very cosy or relaxed for a hotel. The lower level of the hotel that leads to the streets, makes me feel like I'm at a mall, with the Starbucks and the crowd in the halls... Location it's awesome though, oh and the restaurant by the lobby is pretty good too. I stay here only when I find a great deal.
Great location downtown next to Art Institute, Mellenium Park and public transportation.
Room was fairly small, but not too claustraphobic. However, the walls are quite thin.
I would recommend this place for tourists and business travelers simply for location.
I'm going to give Palmer House three stars, due to the fact that our stay there was just over a year ago, and a few things have changed since then (which I just learned of when booking another room for next month).
If you will note the photos that we just uploaded, Palmer House doesn't look like that anymore, nor does the Lockwood Restaurant and Bar look like that anymore. As they have completely remodeled. And another thing of note is that Chicago imposed an indoor smoking ban just about a year ago.
While the hotel was most certainly grand, like 3 star (on a scale of 1-3), luxury abounding, I'm not staggeringly impressed by that sort of stuff anymore as I have seen enough of it. But it's nice if you are with your wife.
We arrived at 11pm and while I had reserved a NON-SMOKING room, apparently they were having a large convention and I suspect they gave away my room. I had a room number and they gave me a new one. And what was it? A smoking room. I was told that was the last room left (which was likely not true) or they just bumped me as we arrived late in the evening. I was like "Oh fuck me..." And since we didn't feel like trying to find somewhere else to stay, having just valet parked our rental car, we decided to just stay.
Upon entering the room it did in fact smell like a pink sheet trader had been chain smoking stogies. Revolting. And I say that as a man that enjoys a cigar after drinks. It was just stagnant. Horrible I tell you.
I complained when I checked out, complained on the phone when getting back home a few days later, and Hilton never offered to make amends for this in any way. And to be honest I don't remember if I called my credit card company or not, I don't think I did, but they probably would have covered me, as this was not what I ordered.
Regardless of this initial bad experience, due to the history and location, we will be staying there again. But this time I told them that if you stick us in a smoking room again, I ain't paying for it!
The Palmer House was very nice to me and my compadres when were in Chi-town for the Associated Writing Program's (AWP) Conference in February. I fell in love with Chicago, probably because of how well we were taken care of here. We had one of the fancy pants suites, so we had two beds, a couch, two bathrooms, our own TV, a lot of nice things. We did not get BRAVO though, which severely hampered our ability to watch Top Chef. No matter, the complimentary breakfast and late night snacks made up for it. All the cranberry juice I could drink! The location is wonderful, in the downtown of Chicago, just a short distance from The Art Institute of Chicago Museum. I am certain there are cheaper places, but I really liked where we were.
This is a place that you should se if you are in Chicago. The entrance is amazing. The lobby is huge and very ornate. I was told it just went under a $165 million renovation. Very close to Chicago Art Museum and Millenium Park. Great old hotel. Rooms are small but you shouldn't spend time in there anyway.
This hotel is absolutely fantastic! In every possible way. Despite the fact that the main lobby was closed due to the fact that they were completely stripping it and renovating it, I still had an amazing, two-night stay there with my father, my cousins and their 2 dogs. Yep, dogs. They are pet friendly there...
The rooms are gorgeous and the beds extremely comfortable. The carpet is dark in the bedrooms which is awesome because it absorbs the light although the marble floors in the bathrooms are really, really cold. The hallways air conditioned to perfection and the elevators are numerous... I counted 11 when I was there two weeks ago. Absolutely nuts, but in a good way.
The concierge staff is friendly and the bar is well stocked. Speaking of the bar, the sitting area and the entire bar room is breathtakingly beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous!
I cannot wait to return to Chicago and hopefully stay there in the future. This is one of America's fine hotels. And it shows.
Busy, busy, busy. I think I counted seven large events going on at the Palmer House during the two nights we were there. Think a medley of professional salsa dancers, junior high cheer squads, and large wedding parties. I found that most of this activity was contained on the first few floors and didn't really translate to much traffic in our hallway.
I agree that the rooms are small - but really, how much room do you actually need to sleep? - There is so much going on right outside the hotel that I find it hard to see why people would want to spend the entirety of their stay indoors. And if they did, the beds in the newly renovated rooms are plush and the shades completely darken the place.
One thing that bugged me was the lack of cell phone reception throughout much of the hotel. I could hardly get a signal - which either says something about Sprint or something about the bunker-like construction methods used in the 1800s.
Regardless, the rates we paid (via Priceline) were super cheap, about $80 before taxes and fees. So, I can deal with a small room and having to call for more towels or pillows. One thing that bugged me was the parking, it was super expensive (about $30 - and that was the special deal). Anyway, you don't really need a car here because you are steps from the El and a lot of other points of interest are right outside your door.
Bottom line: if you get a good price, go for it.
I attended a wedding here last month, and it was fantastic! The room was beautiful and the sauteed garlic shrimp appetizer was to die for.
Seriously, that was probably the best thing I've ever eaten at a wedding. I want to go back for more!
It was a pretty big wedding of over 300 people, but I dont think that is an excuse for nothing but exceptional service. Our corner table was forgotten a few times, and I even had to get up to ask someone to deliver our pasta dish. All in all, the food was good even if the service wasn't. Plus, I loved the room the wedding was in. I'd definitely recommend checking it out for your wedding.
Got an unbelievable price of 90$ per night thro priceline. Then, upgraded to concierge level for 40$ more.. Totally worth it! Concierge level gets a free breakfast, which is an extensive spread!. Also, the toiletries are super!
Beds are great. Views can vary depending on your rooms location. Great location as well.
My husband and I had our wedding in the Empire Room in August. Dennis Chaffee is extremely accomodating, organized, professional, reliable, and easy to contact. He gave priceless advice. It is obvious that he is very experienced. No request was too much to ask! The majority of our guests booked rooms at the hotel- he made sure that all of the rooms were available as early as possible. The dinner was absolutely outstanding! Many of the guests remarked that it was the "best wedding food" they have ever had. We served halibut and filet. Dennis personally stayed the majority of the wedding to ensure that everything on time and running as smooth as possible. Thank you Palmer House and Dennis Chaffee!
Word of advice future Palmer House brides: Be sure to book Claudia and Jane from As you Wish as your wedding planners- they are lifesavers!
The Palmer House is a pretty spectacular hotel. When I first walked into the lobby, the ceiling made me feel like I was in Las Vegas, but it a good way. My mom stayed on the Executive Level (gotta represent, son), which she loved. They have free cookies and cokes and other snackies. The best part about it is it's not supervised, so I was able to load up on all the free sweets. Made my day.
The room she had was quite nice. The interesting thing was that her room had two beds and two bathrooms. I've never had a hotel room with two bathrooms. Very unusual. It turned out to be considerably convenient since her friend shared the room with her.
I am told the price of the room was very reasonable. It's right in the heart of downtown. You can't really ask for me. Why my mom loves this hotel so much? It's connected to the Croc Store on State St.
Like many http://tripadvisor.com reviewers said, the walls at the Palmer House are paper-thin. I was awakened by my neighbors' coital activity. Not my idea of a morning call. And I stayed in the renovated room. Aren't things suppose to improve with renovations?
I'm with Jenelle. While the lobby is gorgeous, I'm not resting my head there. I love gawking at hotels, but ultimately, what rates the hotel is its comfort and location. The Palmer House merits its 3 stars with its comfortable bed, tightly-drawn curtains and location. A short walk to Michigan Avenue, Millenium Park, Art Institute and the Theater District.
What more could one ask for, except a little more quiet, unless that wink-wink-nudge-nudge sound system is your kind of thing.
I was here for a conference and if I had a choice, I would never have come back again. Granted, it had a nice lobby and had a great sense of history to it, but it wasn't worth the 300 a night.
I wasn't staying in the lobby, I was staying in some tiny little room that has a television off to the side so you had to strain your neck to watch it. It had only TWO towels per room (what if we want to take more than one shower a day?). The pillows were flat and the walls were incredibly thin. It was hard to fall sleep and stay asleep as the hallways can be really loud. Also, the maid service knocks on your door at exactly 8 in the morning to try to clean your room.
All this might have been forgivable if they didn't try to nickel and dime you every moment. They charged an extra fee for internet service and they charged you 15 dollars to use the gym. They were also undergoing renovations so there was only one entrance from the street. Not the greatest hotel experience, but I guess it was slightly better than motel 6.
This hotel is BEAUTIFUL!
It's a little weird because at street level you have to take an escalator (around the back) to get to the lobby. But once you start going up the escalator, you enter the most amazing lobby I have ever seen. I just kept thinking what a beautiful wedding you could have there! (But, I don't live in Chicago... and I doubt they have weddings in their lobby).
My room is huge - but I heard some of my coworkers complaining about small rooms. Maybe I just lucked out. It also has great decor, and the beds are oh so comfortable. The mirror in the bathroom is lit from the back - so it's excellent for getting ready.
The service has been amazing and the restaurant downstairs is delicious!
