If you enjoy nostalgia from the 80s you will love the television remotes at this establishment which are provided with no intended irony since the rooms look like they haven't been updated since that time frame. The staff also does not enjoy giving out late checkouts and is generally unhelpful or apathetic. Honestly, the view is probably the only thing going for it because the rooms are small, and the restaurant only serves a sushi special with no appetizers (no other options). I would avoid this place and stay at the virgin hotel which is worth the $180 for the night!
The old world charm of Palmer drive, its central location and Hiltons tested customer service made this stay a perfect win! The building is showing some age in the rooms side, but the lively lobby and the great restaurant and breakfast (free for diamond members) is an amazing deal in Chicago city. Absolute value for money!
Love the Palmer House. Its been my GO TO HOTEL in Chicago for many years! Grand Lobby Entrance and a style that feels like its the best Hotel in the world. Great [people from the Door Greeter to the Maid, the hotel staff is among the best in the city. EASY ACCESS to the best parts of downtown for shopping, theater, art and museums. MUST STAY LOCATION!
We stayed for 3 nights over super bowl weekend. Service was efficient and professional. Our room was clean and well-appointed. The view from the corner suite was fantastic. We enjoyed the full buffet every morning. The fitness center was huge offering everything one might need for a full workout.
A Grand Hotel in Chicago Before October, I had never stayed at the Palmer House - a Hilton Hotel at 17 East Monroe St, between S Wabash and S State Streets, in Chicago’s Loop, but my wife had. She was there for meetings, several years ago, and had been unimpressed by the room, to which she was assigned, even being a Hilton HHonors Diamond member for over a decade. The tiny room stuck in her mind, so when she informed me that she had meetings there, I made sure to book a suite, even though we are now “Diamond for Life.” We arrived from O’Hare, just as her first meeting was to begin, so I checked us in, and was offered a Diamond upgrade, and accepted that. We had Suite 20150, and it was quite nice, and spacious, though with a bit of an odd floor plan. My check-in was very friendly, and easy, but when I got a bit lost in the lobby, and asked the Concierge for directions to the proper elevator, things were not so warm, but I did get a few gestures, grunts and enough info, to make my way to those elevators. Now, the Palmer House is a rather old structure, and has been on this spot, in one iteration, or another, since 1871, though the first hotel, “The Palmer” burned in the Great Chicago Fire. The next was soon built on the site, and then parts of the second, were incorporated into what we see today. Because of the later construction, some areas are not as linear, as one might expect in a more modern structure - hence my getting lost in the lobby, or just off of it. I am not sure, but would assume that others have had the same fate, but hope they got assistance from a more friendly Concierge. In 2007, through 2009, the hotel was completely renovated, and restored, and the result is gorgeous. I was up in Suite 20150, when our luggage was delivered, and got a bit of a guided tour of the suite, from a very friendly, and helpful bellman - maybe I can recommend him as the new Concierge? This Suite is spacious, but as I mentioned, with a bit of a odd floor plan, especially noticed in the bedroom. That is, it was quite linear, and the bed seemed oddly placed, or maybe it was the dresser, with the TV, which was oddly placed?. There was a small desk w/ a tablet “Concierge,” and chair, than a chair in the corner of the room. Off in the opposite corner, there was a small, stocked mini-bar, and then a King bed (fairly comfortable), and two night stands, with nice lamps. The bathroom and a hallway with the closet, were off of the bedroom. There was another small closet in the hallway, but the one off of the bedroom was more than adequate for our clothes on this stay. The bedroom closet was quite spacious, and had a horizontal safe, mounted on a pedestal, attached to the floor. We like a horizontal safe, as it is easier to load with one’s tablets, computers and devices. There was also an iron, and ironing board, hanging on the closet door. This room had one window in the long wall, in front of the bed, which could be partially opened, and then another in the corner, by that single chair. The room entrance opens into a U-shaped hallway, with the livingroom/dining room to one side, and then the bedroom and bathroom to the other. There is a connecting room door, but we did not see the room, that it connects to. We had a livingroom/dining room, with another TV, and a few windows, plus a small bar, with a mini-sink, and another mini-fridge, and this one was empty. The dining room had a large table, with 6 chairs, and then the livingroom had a sofa, coffee table and two chairs. These combined rooms also had one window each. There was another small bathroom off of the livingroom. Note: there was no coffee maker in the room, but then there is a Starbucks, plus the Lockwood lobby restaurant, down stairs. The main bathroom was small, as was the second, with single raised sinks, and a combo tub-shower. There was a lighted, magnifying mirror in each, and then a single, small glass shelf. We had good water pressure in the master, and also found the lighting in both to be good. About the only differences were that one had a stone back splash, while the other was tile. Both had a full compliment of Crabtree & Evelyn bath products (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and soaps), plus a hair drier. Now, storage of cosmetics, etc., was difficult in each, and my wife used a table in the livingroom, and claimed the bathroom there, as her’s. There were plenty of charging outlets, and each table lamp had 1-2 AC outlets. The desk had a combo AC/USB hub, and then there was an iHome combo radio/alarm/iPod docking station. We were able to easily charge all of our devices, and with plenty of flat surfaces to put them on. The rooms had two separate thermostats, which seemed to work well. The décor was a bit eclectic, with some slightly modern pieces of furniture, plus some, which came from a different era. The artwork was a mixed bag, but I enjoyed the B/W historical photographs, mixed in, and then the B/W photos of celebrities, who had stayed at The Palmer House, in the hallway leading to our room - also, look all around the vast lobby area, as there are mor historical displays to be found. I would have loved to take an historical tour of the property, but that will have to wait for the next stay, as we just did not have time. The lobby of the Palmer House is grand, harkening back to a totally different era - about 1875. The ceiling soars about 40' from the floor, and is ringed by a Mezzanine, with small viewing balconies along both sides, and some with seating areas. The views from the primary end, are also from a balcony. The architects, Holabird & Roche, knew how to showcase a grand lobby, of marble and then a colorful fresco, in the ceiling. While the lobby is beautiful from the floor level, one must ascend to the Mezzanine Level, to get a complete view - it is worth the effort. From the lobby floor level, be sure to take in the iron railings, and shields on those Mezzanine Level balconies. While we dined off-property the first evening, for a working dinner for my wife and her senior management team, I dined at Lockwood Restaurant & Bar in the lobby, and had wine at Potter’s, a Burger/Sports Bar. I also stopped into the Starbucks off of the lobby (Pumpkin-spiced Latte season), and the HHonors Lounge - but I was informed that the latter would soon be closing. The hostess did not know what was planned for that space, so if important, check the schedule. While nice, it was nothing special, and I also got breakfast at Lockwood with my Diamond level. There were many pluses on this stay, and they offset the negative ones: the aloof Concierge, the bartender at Potter’s, the tiny bathrooms and a few others. The rest of the staff, with whom I had any interaction was great, and very helpful and welcoming. I would return, and as we are now in Chicago almost monthly, likely will soon.…
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