Name: Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Address: 17 E Monroe St, Theatre District, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Chicago, Cook County, United States of America
Rating: 8.1

What guests think

At Palmer House a Hilton Hotel, travelers consistently admire the grand historic lobby and atmosphere, while recurring critiques focus on dated, small rooms and operational strains such as long check-in lines, slow elevators, and intermittent facility closures.

Many guests find staff warm and helpful, though responsiveness can lag and rooms are sometimes not ready at the stated time. The central Loop location is widely praised for walkability to the Art Institute, parks, theaters, and transit. Expect a striking historic setting and convenience, with variable room quality and service consistency.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Grand lobby bar and lively common spaces stand out, and the gym draws strong praise; however, guests repeatedly report pool closures, long elevator waits, and costly parking/valet, and several dislike the mandatory destination/resort fee.

Related guest reviews

8

Julie

Aug 5, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Love the gym!

10

Justin

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Beautiful gilded age feel. Long wait for elevators is my only complaint

4

Mary

Jul 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Checked in and no one told us pool was closed. We had kids with us looking forward to swimming. When we complained they offered us 2 free brownies.

6

Arturs

May 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

$25 “resort fee” gives you absolutely nothing of value. Beautiful pool prominently advertised was closed.

10

Cynthia

May 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel's history and close proximity to Millennium Park is the reason I chose the property. The gym was huge. Big disappointment that the pool was closed. I realize amenity fees are the norm, but wish they were not.

10

Sherri

Mar 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great restaurant and bar. Beautiful atmosphere. Close to transportation and activities.

10

Jocelyn

Jan 1, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Beautiful historical hotel. Staff is super friendly and attentive. I love that I can text a number instead of calling the front desk for anything that I needed throughout my stay. Also amazing workout facility and pool area.

6

Robert

Nov 10, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is a beautiful building but too crowded with weekend guests to make this a pleasurable experience. Incredibly long,long waits for the elevator and for dining. No taxis in the area make you completely dependent on Uber or Lyft.

4

Thomas

Nov 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Sleeping quarters were fine. Staff was friendly. Cleanliness not an issue. Bathroom was small and outdated. Service at check-in was awful, as was the availability of elevators. Waited almost thirty minutes to check in, and at least twenty minutes to get an elevator from the 15th floor to the street to make my final departure from the hotel. There were two convention groups at the hotel, but I can’t escape concluding that the Palmer House’s best days are behind it. It was certainly over-matched by the demands on it while I was there. Finally, the new mandatory “resort fee” was a rude shock and, in my view, totally uncalled for. The need for staff to explain it over and over to incoming guests at check-in had to be one of the reasons why that process was so slow and unpleasant. I have many fond memories of past stays at this Chicago landmark hotel, but have neither the wish nor the intention ever to go back there.

10

Courtney

Aug 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hotel is perfect. Right in the middle of everything. Only flaw...Parking. Will make you dizzy...Both driving in the garage and paying for it...$54 a night. Be prepared.

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Cleanliness

Reports are mixed: several guests note musty odors, peeling wallpaper, mildew or mold in bathrooms, and missed or inadequate cleaning, while others found their rooms clean.

Related guest reviews

2

Arturo

Oct 13, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

I stayed at The Palmer House during the Chicago Marathon weekend and paid $750 per night. The location is perfect, but that’s the only positive thing I can say. The hotel is old, run-down, and poorly maintained. I requested a non-smoking room, but it reeked of cigarette smoke. The furniture was burned with cigarette marks, the bathroom fixtures were rusty and corroded, and the wallpaper was peeling off and stained with suspicious liquids. There was visible mold and humidity on the walls, ceilings, and even on the furniture. The bathroom had mold as well, and overall cleanliness was terrible. Service was practically non-existent — it’s impossible to reach anyone from the staff. Everything is handled through automated voicemail, and no one ever follows up. For such a high price, I expected at least basic comfort and cleanliness, but this hotel is far from it. Avoid staying here unless location is your only priority.

8

D'Amber

Aug 27, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

It is a beautiful hotel. The room itself, though, was pretty beat up. The bathroom cabinet bottom portion was torn up and you could see the wood underneath and the bathroom smelled like mold or mildew. The rest of the room there were no issues, but the walls on that particular floor, seemed to not be in great shape either. Not sure why the smell as the room appeared very clean and housekeeping was constantly cleaning rooms.

6

Sarita

Aug 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The Palmer House shows her age. Our first room had a leftover beach towel and other evidence that the room had not been cleaned. The second room was better but the wallpaper peeling and uncomfortable mattresses gave an old feeling. Will think seriously about whether to return ever.

4

THOMAS

Jul 23, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I stayed here on a weekly basis back in the 80's. It had been 40 years since I last stayed here, and it was great then. The lobby is still great, but that's it. Our room was horribly musty and dated, dirty towels in the closet, no coffee maker in the room, hair in the bathroom, pillows smelled like dirty feet. The lower level shops are all but gone. I will not stay here again.

4

Nancy

Jul 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very dirty and room was not cleaned

4

Fengcai

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The things in the room are old. Especially the bathroom is very dirty and the toilet hasn't been cleaned.

4

Vannessa

May 26, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Amazing location and near a lot so shopping and sites to see. Unfortunately, that is all. The hotel is old and dirty. Our room smelled so moldy and there was even mold on the ceiling in the bathroom. Extremely small bathroom and the door was dirty and old. The shower curtain has yellow stains at the bottom. Just awful.

4

Derek

May 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I wish I could upload photos here. The halls on floors 14000 are absolutely disgusting the wall paper is falling off with holes in the walls. There was a plate in the hallway with food on it for four days, the clean crew just kept walking past it. The location is amazing because it’s so close to everything but yea as far cleanliness lol no. There was a huge crack in the wall in my room

6

Annamarie

Apr 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Let me start by saying this is a stunning hotel. All of the staff we encountered were super friendly. We had a seamless check in. We arrived to our room and immediately noticed that the room needed some work. The paint on the inside of the bathroom door was peeling off. The wallpaper in the bathroom was separating from the wall in several places. There were mold spots on the ceiling in the bathroom as well. The carpet looked filthy and there were goopy streaks on a piece of the wall art. The washcloth I grabbed to use had a giant brown stain on it. Overall, a pleasant experience but feel as though the room wasn’t taken care of and cleaned properly. For an upscale hotel in the heart of Chicago, I expected a little more.

4

Stephanie

Dec 24, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The property itself is beautiful and historical, but unfortunately, our experience fell short. Upon check-in, our room had not been vacuumed and contained clothing from previous guests. My daughter’s room was even worse — the bed was made, but the room was unclean, with full garbage bins, a leaking toilet, and a dirty bathroom. Despite bringing these issues to the front desk, only the bathroom was partially cleaned, and the toilet continued leaking, with garbage still unemptied. For the price we paid, we expected far better attention to cleanliness and maintenance. Very disappointing.

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Rooms

Rooms are often small and dated with cramped bathrooms and occasional noise from nearby L trains; beds are generally comfortable, and a few rooms feel more spacious.

Related guest reviews

6

Leslie C

Nov 8, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Obviously once a grand venue in the heart of Chicago but rooms a little tired- overdue for updating to a proper Hilton standard.

6

scott

Oct 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff and service was good, room was clean but not as advertised for a Premium King room, much smaller. Small bathroom too.

10

Deziree

Sep 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

My husband and I are architecture nerds. We booked the hotel because of it's proximity to down town. We were very pleasantly surprised by our luck when we walked into the lobby! Gorgeous! Our room was next to the L-train, which we definitely didn't mind as we thought it was fun! Our window opened so we listened to the sounds of the City for a while and the windows had sound proof glass so when closed we had no trouble sleeping. We loved the location to all things downtown and the history of the hotel! We were able to walk to literally everything we came to see!

8

MIKKI

Aug 11, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

I love this place. The lobby is awesome. Great bars and restaurant. Clientele are professional and well trained. The rooms can be small unless you upgrade. Our bathroom was very small this time. I'll still book here again.

10

Jennifer

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Stay here every time I’m in Chicago. Rooms are spacious, the property has everything you need, coffee downstairs, have a drink in the beautiful lobby, the El has multiple stations right outside the door.

8

Kristina

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall, staff was super friendly and helpful. Was able to check-in 2 hours early. The hotel itself is older and a little dated so the shower and toilet were working but could use an upgrade. However the room was clean and beds were comfortable. Super convenient and so many places nearby- walking distance!!! Would definitely stay again if I came back, especially convenient for lollapalooza!!

6

Kiyah

Jun 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hotel gives a vintage feel, for the aesthetic it should have a cheaper price tag. This was the most expensive room I’ve stayed in Chicago and also the most outdated, small and just no perks. Room was very noisy, you could hear the pipes from plumbing when other rooms used the facilities. Overall it was a 5/10

8

Alfredo

Apr 25, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

If you come from a bigger city this might not bother you at all. Room a bit noisy due to proximity to train

8

Tamiko

Mar 21, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The highlight of the property is that is 200 years old. The architecture is beautiful. The bathroom is cramped and my room was cramped. There was not a lot of space to move around.

10

Leo

Jan 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A grand old hotel dripping with style. I would stay there again in a heartbeat. Smallish rooms unless a pricey upgrade is ordered.

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Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly and helpful, but many reviews mention long check-in lines, delayed room readiness, difficulty reaching the desk, and uneven follow-up.

Related guest reviews

10

Musa

Oct 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff is exceptionally warm. Very welcoming place

10

James

Sep 21, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

The hotel and room were beautiful with just the right amount of comfort. My only suggestion is the concierge provided us list of things instead of any real assistance. They did recommend a breakfast place but when asking about theater they gave us some paper and said these are the shows playing. It was sort of odd and something I could do via the internet.

10

Heather

Sep 19, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Hotel was very nice with terrific service.

10

Brandi

Sep 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Quick weekend trip. Beautiful hotel. Great location. Great service.

6

Jordan

Aug 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

check in was complex and busy with a long line

10

Tristan

May 11, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We had an exceptional stay! I planned this trip to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday, and the staff went above and beyond to make it truly special. From the moment we arrived, everyone was incredibly attentive and welcoming. Jay and his assistant Luis really stood out—Jay even made sure we knew Luis would be available if we needed anything when he wasn’t around, which was such a thoughtful touch. Amber, our waitress, and Marty, one of the bartenders we remember, also provided fantastic service. Even with weddings happening throughout the weekend, we always felt like VIP guests. This was a memorable experience from start to finish, and we’ll definitely be leaving five stars for the outstanding service. Highly recommend!

6

james

Apr 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Customer service could of been more informable at check in

8

Cynthia

Jan 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

In general it was very nice. Lobby was lovely, elevators quick, workout room very nice. But we waited in line for over 90 minutes just to check in. There were over 60 people checking in and only one person working the general side and another working the honors side. We nearly missed our show and others were late for a Bears game. It was ridiculously understaffed when you knew how many would be checking in.

2

Aaron

Dec 23, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The check-in was terrible. I arrived at the 3pm check-in time. Waited in a long line for 25 minutes as 1 person at front desk checked everyone in. Then they tell me my room is not ready, they will put a rush on it & they will text me when available. We got tired of waiting around trying to entertain our toddler so we went to dinner. 2 hours later they text it’s ready. We come back after dinner at 7pm to get our room keys, go to the room & find someone is already in the room. Go back to front desk & have to wait for another 20 minutes while they transfer us to another room. All of this is going on while I have a crying toddler that’s tired because I can’t get access to a room until 7:30pm. I tried calling Hilton and the hotel to see if we could get any compensation for these issues. They all said I need to talk to the front desk. The front desk comp’d us free breakfast. Which means nothing since we already have plans for breakfast at a restaurant in the morning. Hands down, worst check-in ever.

6

Sandra

Oct 28, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

They need more (and better) staff. Absolutely no communication with the front desk or operator. Our room was not ready and it was hard to find anyone to obtain another room

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Location

Consistently praised for a central Loop location that is walkable to the Art Institute, parks, theaters, shopping, and multiple L lines.

Related guest reviews

10

Bridget

Sep 6, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Was visiting Chicago to go to an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago. The hotel is close by and close to lots of things to do. Highly recommend.

10

Will

Aug 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location. Very walkable and easy access to food and entertainment.

10

Todd

Aug 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Central location to everything

10

Pam

Jul 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A great place to stay within walking distance of Art Institute, Pfitzger, Bean, and Monroe Harbor.

10

Veronica Faye

Jun 8, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Very close to The Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and other fun destinations. The train from Midway to the hotel is very convenient. The staff is really friendly and helpful. 10/10 would stay here again.

10

Athanasios

May 27, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Location was great, walkable to anywhere in downtown Chicago, Millennium Park, Soldier Field, etc.

10

Victoria

May 26, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

This is a historic property in downtown Chicago. It was close to the Loop, where we wanted to be this trip.

10

Paul

Mar 23, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Great location and wonderful historical hotel with lots of updated comforts.

10

Maurice

Mar 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Pretty lobby with parking garage across the street. Love the location

10

Bianca Nicole

Nov 15, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Great location. Beautiful hotel

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Dining

Guests enjoy the lobby bar, cocktails, and the famous brownie, yet note high prices, breakfast waits, limited room service, and uneven options.

Related guest reviews

10

Jennifer

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We were really happy with our experience at the Palmer House. The room was really nice and the hotel was in walking distance to Millennium Park, Grant Park, shopping, etc. We were dining and a manager came up just to say hi and find out if we were happy (we were). He started talking about how Palmer House invented the brownie and gave us brownies to try (delicious!). This was Lollapalooza weekend and he clearly had a lot to do - he still took the time to give individual attention. Very impressed with the service. The Lockwood Room is also gorgeous. It’s a great place to grab drinks. (And for coffee addicts like me, there is Starbucks on the property.) Very happy with our experience - perfect from start to finish. We will be staying here again.

8

Janie

May 25, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful Hotel. Great history. Comfortable beds. Great Location. Awesome espresso martinis!

10

Erin

May 23, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful hotel, restaurant and bar were wonderful (best burger we have ever had). Staff were very friendly though we asked for extra towels and never received them. Could not have asked for a better location.

8

Thomas

May 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hummus at the bar was good

10

Sherri

Mar 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great restaurant and bar. Beautiful atmosphere. Close to transportation and activities.

10

Christian

Mar 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

From our first interaction with the doorman this hotel proved to be exceptional. Beautiful interior architecture. Great customer service. Plenty of dining options. Definitely will be returning

10

Wendy

Mar 11, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fantastic art deco hotel. Just sipping a cocktail at the lobby bar is a privilege.

10

Larry

Feb 23, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful lobby. Welcoming staff. Difficult to get breakfast table needs 20 minute wait. Perhaps advanced reservation needed.

8

Trista

Jan 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The pool was nice for the kids and it was super close to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. There are no microwaves or coffee makers in the room. So snacking on leftovers in the middle of the night is not an option. And the line for starbucks in the hotel was about an hour wait. Dunkin Donuts is right around the corner. This hotel is gorgeous!

8

Michael

Jan 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Limited bar/dining access.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Palmer House a Hilton Hotel

Amenities

Property description

Amenities

Dining

Rooms

Location

Guest reviews

Very good

Who stays here?

What guests think

What guests think

Facilities

Related guest reviews

Cleanliness

Related guest reviews

Rooms

Related guest reviews

Service

Related guest reviews

Location

Related guest reviews

Dining

Related guest reviews

Location

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

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Palmer House a Hilton Hotel.ec-9g4sk8{display:inline-block;width:var(--layout-spacing-s200);}

Amenities

Property description

Guest reviews

Very good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Location

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Palmer House a Hilton Hotel

Have a question?

Palmer House a Hilton Hotel