Chicago Athletic Association Hotel

This is the 2nd time in the past 6 months that I've stayed at this hotel, and some things were great, but some really important things were awful both times. Last Thanksgiving, the room we were staying in had some sort of water leak in the ceiling caused by the massive building-wide HVAC system leaking over our heads. We started hearing a drip drip around 2AM, and it was getting worse until it was basically pouring through a light fixture. We called down to the front desk and got moved to a smaller and worse room at 3AM. Not a lot of sleep that night. Many hours later (honestly, after our breakfast time) they offered us a free breakfast for our troubles, which really didn't seem equal to the harm done... This May, I came alone, and the toilet had some sort of leak at the seal. They needed to rip it out and fix the plumbing beneath--I was trying to do work in the room during the day. The engineer said he would ask the front desk if they could move me to a different room, but the front desk decided against it. So, I got a lot of banging and grinding and clattering for a few hours. And after it was all over, the toilet still didn't work right. On multiple occasions, I had to go downstairs to find a public restroom to use (to relieve myself, to wash my hands, etc.), because mine was either toilet-less or really dirty from having just had a toilet re-installed in it, before housekeeping could clean it up. No one from the hotel offered me any compensation for this disruption at any point. The building is beautiful, and the people you interact with face-to-face are great. The people who answer the phones and the texts are just out there trying to ruin their guests stays, or something. They are the absolute worst. I can't imagine I'll ever go back. The back-office service does not come anywhere near the level you would expect for such a nice hotel.

This is a beautiful historic building and hotel. It is a little pricey but a nice place to stay. The rooms and common areas were clean. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I would recommend staying for a special occasion or just to try the various restaurants and bars.

The location ideal for walkability and views. The hotel is one of a kind and the service is impeccable. Food on site is wonderful, make sure you visit the rooftop for a cocktail. Many thoughtful features throughout. If I could rate them higher, I would.

Absolutely LOVED everything about this hotel: stone’s throw to the bean and park, excellent service, luxurious bed, amazing housekeeping.

I recently stayed at this hotel in Chicago, and it is truly a special property. If you are looking for a place with authentic charm and a deep sense of history, this is it. The atmosphere is unique, and the location is absolutely perfect—offering plenty of opportunities to explore both within the building and in the immediate neighborhood. The Room Experience The hotel itself is lovely, though my personal experience with the room was a bit of a mixed bag. While my colleagues and clients were lucky enough to have spacious, bright rooms, I happened to be assigned a very small and dark room. It was clean and nicely appointed, but the lack of natural light was a downside. If you book here, it might be worth requesting a room with a better view or more sunlight in advance. Dining & Breakfast The food quality at the hotel was impressive, and I genuinely enjoyed the meals I had on-site. However, I found the breakfast voucher concept to be somewhat questionable. The "value" of the voucher didn't quite align with the menu prices, and it felt a bit restrictive in terms of ordering options. It’s a minor administrative frustration, but one that the management might want to look into. The Verdict Despite the "luck of the draw" regarding my specific room and the slightly confusing breakfast system, I would still say this hotel is highly recommended. The character of the building and the excellence of the staff and location far outweigh the minor inconveniences. I would definitely stay here again—hopefully with a bit more luck on the room assignment next time!