I had high hopes for this place. Really, I did. It looked super cute both inside and out, and I loved that it was located right across from Lincoln Park. Reading reviews on the booking sites and Yelp, most seemed pretty positive and listed this as a 4-star hotel. Our experience was far removed from that. We had an evening flight from Florida, and ended up at the hotel around 11 p.m., which I had noted when we made the reservation. Upon checking in, we were inside the elevator when the front desk attendant called us back. She had forgotten to tell us that the hotel was overbooked for the night, and that our room had bunk beds. But she assured us not to worry, that we would be upgraded to a suite for the remainder of our stay. When we got in the room, we realized why she hurriedly had called us back to the desk to tell us about the bunk bed situation. This was a hostel kind of room... the smallest room I have ever seen in a hotel. We laughed at the absurdity of the situation, took pictures posing on the bunk beds... and then realized we actually had to sleep here. That's when we saw the beds only had a flat sheet folded over the mattress (not fitted), with a thin blanket at the foot of each bed. I went over to the tiny desk (it was literally children's furniture - not an exaggeration) to call the front desk to ask for pillows and sheets... only to realize there wasn't even a phone in the room. At this point, I'm a little annoyed... it had been a very long day, and I had worked for two weeks straight with no days off, so I was REALLY tired. I decided to look up just how much they actually charge for this ridiculously-small space. Turns out, they don't - it isn't even listed on their website as an option. Either this room is used by staff, or it is purely for unfortunate souls such as ourselves who are the last to check in and pull the proverbial short straw when they overbook the hotel (even though we had pre-paid for the room back in June). After the worst night of sleep I've ever had (I woke up with incredible hip and back pain from the mattress, which has never happened to me before), we packed up our suitcases and went downstairs to speak to a manager. I only had to give my name for them to know why I was there - pretty sure they expected that we'd come down for a chat. Pierce greeted us, saw that we had brought down our bags with us since we were not going to spend another second in that room, and told us they were giving us their junior suite, for which they charge $500 a night. But we didn't ask for an upgrade - we just wanted the room we had actually booked, for $120 a night. And quite honestly, we didn't feel like we should have had to pay $120 for the room we got. After all, if it isn't even listed on your site, doesn't that mean it's free? Look, we didn't even expect a full refund for the night, but a partial one should have been offered right off the bat. It wasn't, but he could see we weren't happy, so he offered us up to $75 for breakfast at the rooftop restaurant, which was reasonable... but again, we basically had to ask for that, and we shouldn't have had to ask. We got up to our new room, which was much larger than the kid's room from the previous night. A vast improvement, for sure... but the new bed (a king mattress) was ROCK HARD. This probably is the worst bed I've ever slept on in a hotel. It was just a step or two above plywood. Each night as we laid down, we both lamented how awful the bed was. I can't even tell you how happy I was to go back home to my own bed after sleeping here for several nights. Oh, and my allergies went haywire here because they use feather pillows. I had to request hypoallergenic ones to be sent to the room, and they brought them rather quickly. The room itself was fine, and it was mercifully quiet (especially compared to the bunk bed room, which was inches away from the elevators so we heard them all night long). The air conditioning was quite cold, so at one point we turned it off for a bit... only then did we realize the room had a horrible smell if the AC was off for too long. It smelled musty and old. So the next day, instead of turning it off, I put it on fan instead. Nope, the smell came back... and it only went away if you turned the AC itself on. The shower was noticeably tiny in both rooms. Most hotels have one of those curved shower curtains so you don't feel like you're being attacked by the curtain while you try to wash up... not here. It is incredibly narrow in there. The water pressure isn't great either. The soaps and lotion they provide you with (citrus and sandalwood) are very strong-smelling and also aggravated my allergies a bit, so I went to Walgreen's to buy shampoo that wouldn't leave me sneezing all day. Unless you actually need to be in Lincoln Park, I'd highly recommend staying closer to downtown. I wish we had. I wanted to love this place, but I would never want to come back here except for the rooftop lounge. read more

Location Location Location - and a cool rooftop bar. That is what you are paying for when you stay here. Had a room on the 3rd floor - very loud. Good AC unit but also very loud to the point where you really cant hear the TV. TV channels provided are very basic. Rooms are basic, dated, wall paper is wrinkling off walls. Shower was hot, everything else is pretty 1980s. Wifi was weak and you had to constantly reconnect which is very frustrating by todays standards. read more

Hotel Lincoln... where do I even begin? We booked a room for a single night. 2 beds with included valet parking. The total bill was $311. The hotel advertises itself as a "boutique" hotel experience. I am not sure exactly what that means to them but to me the place is a total DUMP. The hotel is dirty, old and rundown with a design motif that I can only describe as "dumpster dive chic". Aesthetically, this fails to be cute or hip on any level and only adds to the disappointment you will feel with the overall experience. Everything smells quite musty and very little works as it should. Our room smelled badly of dog and smoke and old age. There was no mini-fridge of any kind and no microwave. The phone in the room did not work and neither did most of the electrical outlets. We had a through-the-wall air conditioning unit that barely kept up with the unseasonably warm September heat and probably did a lot to amplify the musty smell that we could not get accustomed to. My wife and I both left the hotel with severe allergies- most likely due to the presence of mold in the musty, stagnant air. The bathroom was small (but not crazy small) and served its purpose (despite having ZERO flat surfaces for toiletries) but was also terribly unclean. The back of the sliding door that closes off the bathroom was covered in mystery filth. Getting in the shower, there was a booger dried to the shower curtain (yuck!) and after turning on the tub faucet a large (2.5 inch) hairy centipede fell out and washed up on my foot. Not cool. The tub was also REALLY narrow so showering was a bit like washing up in a phone booth. We had originally planned to eat at the hotel restaurant but after looking at the menu there was literally nothing we would have eaten and given the unsanitary conditions in the hotel we simply did not want to eat there. I should note we have two children (6 and 8) and there were no menu items for children. Zero. We ended up eating the snacks we packed for the kids and going to bed sorely disappointed. I would recommend staying as far away from Hotel Lincoln as possible. Pros- Friendly staff. Prompt valet service. Cons- Literally everything else. read more

We loved staying here! It is a historic, beautiful hotel. I would love to stay there again!

We loved our stay at Hotel Lincoln. It's fresh, funky and kitschy...all things we love in a boutique hotel. They upgraded our room when we checked in and our standard king turned into a two bathroom room with a seating area. We were thrilled to have a place to invite our local family to chat with us. The restaurant, rooftop bar and coffee shop were all very welcome additions to the experience. We could charge to the room in each of them. The dirty martini at the rooftop bar was one of the best I've ever had - and I love dirty martinis! We used valet parking for our vehicle and Uber or Lyft for our city travel. The front of the hotel has enough room for pickup that we weren't rushed or unsafe transferring from car to car. We'll stay again. We loved it. Keep it cool, Lincolnites. read more

Wait staff was extremely rude. I expected a lot more, it being an upscale establishment. I would not recommend, and I will not be going back. read more

I've been to J Parker (rooftop bar) and Perennial Virant (the restaurant that used to be on the ground floor) several times and food, service and ambience we always great. The hotel is a different story. It's one of the few hotels outside of downtown...so for my sister's wedding in Lincoln Park, this place made sense. We should have chosen a downtown hotel. The suites were tiny. Even the "two room suite" was basically just two rooms attached to each other. Furniture, carpeting and decor were downright dowdy. No refrigerators in the rooms (so glad we brought champagne & caviar!). No balconies. Tiny windows (a real hassle when the make up artist needs natural light). Totally underwhelmed. read more

This hotel is ideally located across the street from Lincoln Park and walking distance to many eateries. Love that it has both a coffee shop and rooftop bar / restaurant. Rooms however are on the smaller side (city-sized) and very thin walls so it's easy to hear into the next room. Something to consider if you are a light sleeper or want more privacy. read more

We booked a suite and block of rooms at Hotel Lincoln for our wedding. Throughout the booking process, the Hotel Lincoln staff were prompt to respond and helped us sort out all the reservations and last minute changes. While the rooms are not large, they were clean and had everything we needed. We highly recommend the rooftop bar, which has lots of cozy seating space and great city views. The location in the center of the city is excellent, with great access to pretty much everywhere we wanted to go. Parking can be somewhat difficult, but the valet at Hotel Lincoln was prompt and available when needed. Overall we had a pleasant stay and we appreciate all the help from Hotel Lincoln staff in putting everything together for our group! read more

This is usually our go to hotel in Chicago. It has been absolutely our favorite place to stay. But this time we really had a bad taste when we were met with a new $15 "amenities fee" per night. The front desk enthusiastically told me about all I would get like access to the J Parker, free WiFi etc. all things I used to get as part of my room fee. Additionally, I could get a free drink at the restaurant during a 1 and a half hour period, the first day I had already missed. I don't like businesses that aren't up front and getting an extra $30 tacked on without notice and for no apparent value is a bad move for what has been a great hotel where the special service wasn't an "extra" you had to pay for. read more

SO LOUD! I had high hopes when reserving, but was disappointed by the room's size and condition (it definitely felt like a revamped 1970's hotel) but mostly by the noise! No double glazing on the windows that overlooked the busy intersection?!? And the paper thin walls allowed us to listen to our neighbors' conversation late into the night. It should have been a much more pleasant and relaxing stay... read more

This may sound harsh, but this was honestly the worst hotel I've ever stayed at. For the price point of $300+ per night, you expect more than 1) a bed that feels like cardboard, 2) ZERO cleaning service (we stayed 3 nights and never got new towels, even despite requesting them), 3) finishes that felt more like 1980 than 2021. There's a window air conditioning unit that makes more noise than my lawn mower, and carpet and walls that give a feeling of absolute filth. DO NOT STAY HERE. read more

This was a great hotel at a phenomenal price! It's located just north of the downtown hubbub but still close to restaurants! The biggest selling point is the phenomenal view of the lake! The rooms are cozy with all of the amenities you might need, and the rooftop bar is great for drinks and views of the lake and city! read more

Fantastic place, my wife forgot something after we checked and Parker Kohl was so helpful, beyond helpful, he saved us. You should stay here for the outstanding service!!! read more

Cute hotel in the heart of a beautiful area. If you want to stay away from the crazy Chicago nightlife, this is the place. Service was fantastic. Rooms are very small but clean. read more

I'd say charming. Our stay was a Monday evening only. I wouldn't spend more than a night here. The room was small. Upon entry stains on the bedding were clearly visible (they were brownish as well as other stains evident once you looked). The room had a very heavy smell of, I don't know how to describe it, heavy perfume like maybe. Possibly the detergent from the bedding? Which contradicts the soiled bedding. Who knows. Anyway, not pleasant for a person with asthma sensitive to strong odors. I did survive it. On a more positive note, the staff was WONDERFUL. Drew at the front desk, Tiffany in the rooftop bar and a lovely gentleman that helped me with the key card (my fault, I was doing it wrong but he did not hesitate to help). It is also walking distance to excellent restaurants. We did not get to experience the Kennison as it was closed for a holiday party. Breakfast on the rooftop was delicious with equally pleasant service. Spring for a bigger room and check it before making it your home for the night. read more

Very cute hotel in a great lively location near Lincoln Park. Has an awesome rooftop lounge which brings with it a great crowd. All around awesome spot. read more

I don't know if it was bed bugs or fleas, but I got 12 nasty bites from my stay here. They didn't all develop until we checked out, so I didn't complain about it before I left. I only noticed a couple, so I didn't think it was a big deal. Then I noticed a few more. And more still, which started off only as faint red spots that turned into angry red lumps. Will never stay here again. read more

Hotel Lincoln - 5 other bites on my neck, face, ankles, and knuckle. - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best rooftops I have experienced in Chicago with a great view of the beach and water. Enough space to spread out, comfortable seating, no reservation needed for rooftop. read more

We had such a nice stay at Hotel Lincoln - albeit only a few hours. We checked in super late after driving all day back from the solar eclipse. We got in around 2am and even at that crazy hour the staff was helpful and friendly. We called ahead and said we were hungry and when we arrived they gave us menus for the places that delivered to the hotel at 2am! Awesome. The room was small but nice enough with a good view of Chicago. They allowed late check out for us (1pm i think?). They also held our bags after check out/before our flight while we explored the city some more. Overall, a cute little boutique hotel right in the middle of a bunch of stuff. We would stay here again! It's very close to the Zoo (which is a must see if you have kids or just love animals). read more

This hotel is in a great location across from Lincoln Park. Great restaurants nearby, Second City comedy, a few blocks to the train. Unfortunately I just had a really bad experience on my third stay at Hotel Lincoln. I booked back-to-back reservations, using Hyatt points + cash to book a suite for one night, and then prepaid a suite for two more nights. I called Hyatt central reservations *before* my trip to combine the reservations so I would not need to check out/check in. The representative offered to call the hotel front desk to confirm this. Lucas, at the front desk of Hotel Lincoln, also confirmed this. THEN, on day two of my stay, the manager "Michael" called me at 2:30 in the afternoon to tell me I needed to change rooms immediately. I said I pre-arranged my stay in the same room, and it was confirmed by the hotel before I checked in. He mansplained to me (slowly repeating the same demand) that I had to change rooms or he would *charge me more* than my pre-paid and confirmed reservation! He was rude and aggressive. I see in other Yelp reviews this has happened before. Seriously, arguing with this bully ruined my stay. The rest of the staff was fantastic, by the way. Here's photos of the small and very expensive *suite*. There is an attached bedroom. read more

Hotel Lincoln - Bath has no counter, only the narrow ledge under the mirror. - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My work had a 2-day event in the city and I was able to stay here for the night last week during the event. I was pretty stoked when I learned where I was staying, though I will say some of the pictures online are a deceiving... all I can say is "wide lens camera". Our block of rooms was in the $230/night range, my room was $140 so I'm not sure if it was a discounted room, or what but it was SMALL, in fact this was probably the smallest hotel room I've ever stayed in on my own. I'm not certain if the bed was a queen or full size, so keep in mind the dimensions...if you're only planning on sleeping here, it should be fine. I didn't spend much time here at all during my two days in the city so it wasn't a huge deal. The staff here are super friendly, I didn't make it to the rooftop bar but that too looked pretty sweet. I did visit the coffee shop twice - the staff there are great, the service is a tad slow but it seems everything is made to order so I didn't mind the wait. In otherwords, they didn't just pour my coffee out of some coffee pot. This place is near some local attractions - so if you're visiting from out of town, it's probably a good area. An uber trip to the loop will cost about $12, further north to Rogers Park $15. read more

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Location: just along the park and lake, close to buses and trains, sandwiched in between great neighborhoods. The blue line is an easy trip to and from O'hare People: I would return just for the friendly employees. We were greeted as though they were awaiting us all day! The energy is wonderful and refreshing. The service is fast and easy. I even got a text the day before asking if we needed anything special. The front desk is a collection of drawer fronts, and some of them open. Try it and find a surprise. The place: coffee shop on the ground floor is highly rated and a nice place to grab a quick bite. The rooftop bar is one of the best views in the city. We had a city/lake view room with a queen bed. The room is small but all you need on vacation- not like I want to hang out in a hotel room all day. We needed foam pillows and the service staff kindly had them up here in minutes. Only room complaint it that the shelf over the sink makes it almost impossible to wash your face without getting water everywhere. The shower also gets water all over the floor. To top it off- farmer's market is right out front! read more

Yep, this place is really cool. I've been to Elaine's and the J. Parker lots of times in the past few years and finally got to stay at the hotel on my wedding night. The staff was super accommodating and let my now husband check in before 10am the morning of our wedding so that he could get dressed and drop off things to our honeymoon suite. So, so helpful and a huge convenience on our wedding day. They also offered us a deal on a J. Parker group event (aka "after party") for after our reception. There was a congratulatory greeting card and bottle of champagne in the room - a nice touch. The suite was on the 12th floor (with beautiful views of the lake and Lincoln Park zoo) and included a small lounge area with a comfy couch, coffee table, a tv, and a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror. There were 1.5 baths, the bed was wonderful, and I could go on and on. It was a smidge loud (we could hear some other guests) but the only real downside was that I didn't get to spend more time in the room...And the coffee in the room wasn't great but that's what Elaine's is for :) Yes, you should absolutely stay here. Go to the J. Parker for the views (and a Suffragette City cocktail) and have a cookie from Elaine's while your at it. read more

We have always had a great experience here, but this time is even more remarkable! Our room is unbelievable! Nick and his co workers out did themselves! read more

Room 717 and I. We had a tumultuous 3-night fling involving highs (in temperature), lows (also in temperature--how do you work this crazy thermo?), and cable TV (with HBO!). Not the highest compliment I've ever paid to someone I've slept with, but the hipster haven that was the rest of the hotel certainly made up for my super small tissue-box hotel room. There almost wasn't even enough room to make a mess (though I somehow managed). And I thought that for a hotel room, you had an awful lot of absorbent fabrics decorating the place. A velvet body pillow? I mean, it looked clean, but I'll bet it could tell some stories that'd make even a seasoned sex-worker blush. But I had none of that unsavory-stuff-on-the-hotel-wares action. I just took one look, and tossed that velvet on the ground amongst a pile of the rest of my crap like I always do when I get to a hotel and try to figure out how much stuff I though I packed but actually forgot. There were two small nightstands, one next to the bed and one inside the tiny closet that made the closet pretty much useless since anything you'd try to hand would just drag into the mini one-cup coffee maker that was also in the closet, despite there being no outlet anywhere nearby. In fact the room was severely lacking in usable outlets. I had to Sophie's choice whether I'd rather watch cable or charge my laptop, have coffee or curl my hair. Obviously watching cable and coffee won every time. So, yeah, the room had cable and every moment I spent watching it was glorious and the highlight of my life since moving into an apartment where not only can I not afford cable, but we don't even get CBS. Talk about being a broke joke. If I want to watch David Letterman I have to wait a week and then stream it off a bootleg Hulu account I scam off my old roomies. At HL, if I didn't have the air on in my room and the tv on, I could definitely hear anything that happened in the room next to mine and the utility closet (also next to my room), but that was fine because I'm nosey and it was just more motivation to watch the TV at an excitingly loud level. I know I'm doing a lot of complaining here, but in all honesty, that's just my nature and the hotel as a whole is probably one of the top 5 nicest I've ever stayed at, but if you know anything about me, it's that I'm not fancy and that when it comes to travel and me, price is pretty much my only priority but even so, it was a really cool place and if you don't believe me just peek in on the lobby. Stylin', yo! The rooftop bar has some damn fine views and the morning cafe looked cute as a button though I didn't manage to find the motivation to wake up early enough to utilize it. I love the colorful lobby and animal pics and statues scattered throughout. I'd stay here again based on that alone. Plus, the staff were really nice and the alarm clocks were top notch and actually woke me up on time, which was a first. I guess my biggest gripe is that the water pressure in my room was non-existent. I could literally count how many seconds from when a drop hit my shoulders to when it finally got to my feet. I felt like I was showering out of an eye-dropper but my cohorts in other rooms on different floors reported that their shower pressure was right on the money, so maybe 717 is just a dud in that department, but I was glad that I hadn't planned on washing my hair for the 4 day duration of my stay because there's no way I would've been able to get any shampoo out of my weave. My group also utilized one of the conference rooms in the hotel for stay and it was fine. We got a corner room which sounds more luxurious than it actually was since it's L-shaped and made it hard to hear and see things going on with my coworkers in the other part of the room, and the chairs, minus 2 recliners and one of the two bucket chairs that wasn't broken were mega uncomfortable. By the end of the first day I opted to just stand by the fridge instead of sitting at the conference table. The area the hotel is located in is really nice and highly recommended for tourists. Just a brisk walk through the park with a free zoo and outdoor farmer's market and you're at the lake with tons of trails and stuff to do and it's easy to hail a cab and get to anywhere else you need to be from this jumping point. If you drive, it'll cost you $49 a night to valet with in and out privileges, but if you've never been to Chicago, you should know that reason there's so many crazy people here is because of the traffic, so you might be better off parking your car in a garage for cheaper nearby and cabbing it than wasting your time trying to get around a pretty congested city and find more parking. Again, there was some stuff I didn't love about the hotel but most was attributed to my 717 room in particular and overall I had a great stay and would absolutely recommend it to friends... if I had any. read more

This review needed a lot of time to think about before I wrote it. Just kidding, I've had it sitting in my "to write" queue for 2 months and in recalling my experience at Hotel Lincoln I'm still getting the warm and fuzzies. This recently revamped boutique style hotel was the 3rd I stayed at while visiting Chicago in late November and was by far my favorite, beating out a national chain and a high end local hotel. This hotel comes equipped with a gastropub style restaurant and an independent coffee shop attached to it, both of which are extraordinary. The hotel, while renovated, has been able to maintain much of its classic look and feel. It likely helps that the staff are required to wear classic uniforms reminiscent of the 1930's/40's - some would say Hipster, I say sheik! I should also mention that those same staff were quite possibly the most willing to help and consistently went out of their way to answer questions and help us out. The rooms, while tiny - perfect for 1-2 people, were quirky, quaint and lovely and I was totally comfortable in the extremely comfortable bed. The washrooms, also petite, had solid water pressure, were clean and the towels were soft and fluffy I was well on my way to writing a stellar 5 star review for this place, but then, as if aiming to earn a 6th star (if possible) a knock came at my room door and upon opening a tray lay outside my door filled with a complimentary assortment of goodies. The hotel staff upon hearing that my colleagues were Chicago first timers and from Canada sent each of us a bottle of red wine, bottle opener, 2 glasses, a book on the history of Chicago and a personalized hand written card thanking us for staying with them. GUSH!!!! I've never had a hotel (or any business for that matter) go so over the top to ensure I was completely and totally happy. Misison accomplished Lincoln. Well done! AMAZING!!! Totally Impressed - this is where you MUST stay when in Chicago! NQA! read more

I've been back in Toronto for about an hour and I'm already writing this review. This place. OH this place! SO GOOD! It is officially one of my favourite hotels. The boys at the front desk dress like Pee Wee Herman and are among the nicest people in the world. I think they gave me, like, 3 complimentary toothbrushes because I kept losing mine. Never once blinked, always made me feel like a champ. Upon arrival they sent me and my colleagues each a bottle of wine, a book on Chicago and a Thank You for staying with us note. I don't think they do this for everyone, we were pretttttay chatty with them. But like. Wow. So nice. The decor is zany and matches my taste perfectly. In the rooms themselves the look is simple, sleek, and to the point. The windows actually open and they bring the heat with their Lather body products. There is a roof bar, which is a bit more corporate than you'd expect, but the cocktails are grand. The coffee shop downstairs is also rockin'. A cornucopia of pleasantries under one roof. Just stay here. PEPPER POINTS: For being so darn great, Lincoln! 24/30 read more

I know this happens at a lot of hotels, but their shitty thermostat made me wanna go Wilkes Booth on the Hotel Lincoln. I slept like a newly committed rehab patient from the temperature being either too hot or too cold. Albeit a biggie, that was really the only downfall of my stay here. Other than being uncomfortable to sleep the staff was great, the rooftop lounge is one of the better views in town, and the water pressure in my shower was set to immaculate elephant which is exactly the way I like to get clean. Maybe it's just the room I was in, but if I could have just been here till was time for bed and then sleep at a Holiday Inn Express I probably would have been a bit more rested. read more

Would not recommend staying here based on my single, quite negative experience (as a local btw, so there are many better options for the cost). First off, I am utterly surprised as to how this place gets decent reviews. At best this is an old rundown apartment building that has had lipstick thrown on it (lipstick on a pig, if you will). Truly, it's actually exactly what Hotel Lincoln is. I actually came in and booked off of the street after finding a good deal on Hotel Tonight and inquired about the best room available which was their junior suite. We were going to a concert that evening and got the room on a whim for fun and it was anything but fun. The room absolutely stunk, literally. Not only did it smell like "old" and/or musty/moldy, it was just a really rundown room that would not qualify as a suite for any 4 star hotel I've ever stayed in. I don't know about you, but when I stay in hotels I really like to walk into a fresh room (fresh smell or no smell, just not like I musty/wet/rundown/old smell), and so regardless of how negative I feel about the rest of the room and experience (which was all negatively, sadly), this is the #1 reason to not stay here. When we complained of the smell in the room (anyone would complain as it was really unacceptable, imo), we gladly accepted another room when offered as we tried to ask for a refund as we wanted to leave but they told us they could only offer another room... When we went back up it was no longer a suite (which was fine because as I mentioned, I didn't really consider what we went into in the first place a suite), but we were swapped from a "suite" with a King bed into a standard FULL bed room - not even a queen. I didn't care if it wasn't a suite, but the front desk person never even mentioned they swapped us into a room they don't even advertise (anywhere, I've checked). Do you see a full-sized bed anywhere on their site or 3rd parties? I don't... it was room 610 if you want to investigate on your own. It's a bed on the floor and I think they put us in there simply bc we complained as they never mentioned being sold out and offered no other explanation as to why they couldn't accommodate another king bed. It truly felt like an employee "nap" room as the bed was a foot off the ground. I won't harp much further as there were cleanliness concerns in the rooms that could be chalked up to a bad day on their end, but the focus on the bad smell is something that is worth warning about and you'll see in other negative reviews as it's reason enough to find another place to sleep. There is no way that smell is going away anytime soon as it's just part of the room at this point and seems like their team thinks it's an opinion vs. a fact. It was really that bad... Anyway, huge hassle overall and management's logic was that if you check in, you owe us something... right? Wrong. The right thing to do is to just refund when people don't stay and hope they stay off review sites. Penny wise and pound foolish if you ask me, and if you read this far then you may as well trust this review as you can't make this stuff up. That's all. PS - I have never had a hotel experience like this in my life which is why I'm strongly recommending you book elsewhere --- even if you are hanging out near Lincoln Park and don't think you have better options. Stay anywhere else and just uber/lyft/cab wherever you need to go. Ultimately we were very happy to just head home and skip the fun hotel night but would have gladly gone to another hotel had they not held our $ hostage like they did. read more

I have stayed here twice in the past couple of months for work. Both were decent stretches of time 8 and 9 days respectively. After my visit to the Hotel Lincoln, I requested that I be put back here for my second trip. I even recommended that my boss stay there during her next visit. She did and she loved it too. It is a boutique style hotel right across the street from Lincoln Park. If I had to guess I would say they have 100 + rooms. The rooms are a little small but I didn't mind. I was mainly in the room to sleep so didn't need a whole lot of room to spread out really. The decor in the rooms were different and kitschy. Photos and drawings of Chicago landmarks. I really liked the backdrop of President Lincoln that served as a head board. The one weird thing was the almost kind of see through sliding door for the bathroom but I got over it pretty quick. The beds were comfortable and the rooms were clean on both of my visits. I like the iPod stereo in the room and there were lots of plugs for charging various electronics we all schlep around with us now. The fitness center met my needs. It has two treadmills, an elliptical and a bike. There is also a selection of free weights. Big ol TV for those folks who watch it while working out. The fitness center didn't seem super popular. I used it everyday and saw someone else in there maybe every other day. The treadmills worked and that's what was important! All of the staff I encountered were very friendly. There was one night during my first stay where all of a sudden there was no water in my room. I called down to the desk and they explained that the water had been turned off for the night due to some needed repairs but would be back on by 4 AM. They offered me bottled water if I needed it. I passed since I was going to sleep but it was nice of them to offer. Water was back on when I woke up at 7 AM so I figure no biggie. When I got back to my room later that night I found a note from the manager apologizing for the miscommunication from the night before. The note was accompanied by a little box full of chocolate covered treats. Not necessary but really nice! During my second stay a couple of the elevators were down for the last few days of my visit. It got a little frustrating with long wait times to get on the elevator but I get it, it's an older building and stuff breaks. I was lucky enough to try all three restaurants during my stay. I'll be sure to review all of them separately but just let me say that all three were great. I ate breakfast at Elaine's almost everyday and Perennial Virant was maybe the best brunch I have ever had and that's saying something! They offer valet parking but I went ahead and parked myself at the Chicago History museum across the street. It's very affordable parking as far as Chicago goes and my rental car was happy and safe. Most importantly for this business traveler, the WIFI was free and worked well. I had no problem getting my work done and was even able to watch Netflix. The next time I'm out this way, whether for work or play, I'll definitely be checking pout this hotel again. read more

I didn't sleep here, but I did spend two days in a conference in a lovely and sunny room on the North end of the building with a fantastic view of the park. Each morning our room was fully ready for our group with coffee, tea, biscuits, fruit, jam, yogurt, orange juice and grapefruit juice. A lovely and perfect breakfast spread. The room itself was interesting. It was obviously a hotel suite at one point in time converted to a conference room. Completely unassuming from the hallway, you would think it's a typical room, but enter and it's got a bathroom, mid-century seats around the room, TVs and a conference table with comfy chairs that seat about 10 people. Service is at a premium here. The front desk team is welcoming and the hotel staff is beyond personable. After the first night I came home and realized I forgot my computer charger. It was 11pm and I called the front desk and they sent someone to the room to look for it. Though I think the person went to the wrong room (because he couldn't find it), I was never so happy to see it there plugged into the wall in the morning - yay! Wine in the lobby early in the evening, a killer rooftop deck for the swanky ones, and a fabulous decor. The only negative...the soap in the ladies bathroom on the 2nd floor was empty for most of the day and when I went back it was extremely watered down instead of just refilled. Also, there was no waste bin in the bathroom in our room. Silly minor inconveniences, but a couple of important ones. The location couldn't have been more fantastic. Within walking distance to several restaurants and the morning farmers markets, I hope I have a reason to come back and enjoy the hotel again! Thanks for a relaxing two days! read more

From the second I walked into the fashionable and funky lobby, I knew I had made the right choice in hotel. We were several hours early for check-in time, and I was expecting to leave our bags at the front desk and head out to enjoy the city. I was so surprised when Edgar at the front desk let us know he could have a room ready in 15 minutes, and would we like a beer while we waited...yes please! All of the staff (but Edgar in particular) went above and beyond to make us feel at home. We were truly treated like honored guests! The room is a touch small but clean and stylish. We were on the 12th floor and had a gorgeous view of the lake which was well worth the extra cash. If you are a bath product junkie like me, you will not be disappointed! There was a great variety of Lather bath products, my favorite was the luxurious bamboo lemongrass body wash. We went to the J. Parker rooftop bar. It was gorgeous, and full of beautiful people dressed for the night. The Water of Life cocktail was dangerously yummy, and the DJ was playing some really fun 90s hip hop which brought be back to my glory days. ;) By far the most impressive part f this hotel was the restaurant, Perennial Virant. I will be writing a much longer Yelp review to try and describe how much I loved the experience of this world class farm-to-table restaurant. We went in for dinner and were so enchanted that we came back for brunch the next day. Prices are on the high side, but quality food always comes at a premium and honestly I don't think you can put a price on this experience. Okay, one teensy criticism...we would have loved to order breakfast in bed delivered to our room, but it didn't appear that room service is available for breakfast. All in all, an amazing place to spend a weekend! Do NOT hesitate to book this hotel. read more

I have just returned from a delightful visit to my former adopted home town, Chicago. This was a short two day trip and it afforded me an opportunity to stay at the Hotel Lincoln. The last time I visited that address was in 1969. I had just moved to Chicago as the new local promotion manager for Columbia Records. My visit to the hotel was occasioned by a tour stop of a new Columbia artist. The group had just released their first album and were appearing at The Kinetic Playground. The band took up residence at the Hotel Lincoln, then a somewhat seedy SRO. The group occupied the hotel, four and five members to a room. The next year found them headlining a sold-out homecoming concert at the venerable Auditorium Theatre. Their recently released second Columbia album was garnering critical acclaim and heavy airplay on local radio stations. The group had just shortened their name to CHICAGO. The Hotel Lincoln has been totally remodeled. It retains much of the funky charm of a landmark gracing the apex of Chicago's legendary Old Town Triangle district towering over its terminus. The hotel's new owners deftly managed to capture the Old Town vibe I first encountered living just two blocks from the hotel. Its clientele appears to comprise a colorful blend of old and new hippies, hipsters if you will. The hotel staff is most cordial and efficient. I casually mentioned my room amenities included a pot yet no tea, only gourmet coffee. The desk clerk immediately searched, later calling my room to inform me of the selection of tea she had procured. My room itself was newly remodeled and quite clean. The bath and bed was comfortable and supplied daily with numerous soft white towels and sheets. The hotel sits in the middle of my Chicago, close to the Magnificent Mile yet bordering on Lincoln Park. Recalled haunts were close at hand. Would I could still walk, I would be traipsing all over my old stomping grounds. As it is the area is only a short and inexpensive Uber or cab drive. I have always subscribed to the axiom "little things mean a lot" pleasant Emails before and after my visit were welcome. I have found my new sweet home Chicago and look forward to being a frequent guest. read more

Lincoln park, where some of the monied residents of the city live. Given that, the Hotel Lincoln is not too pricey. Over looking the lake, and the park/zoo area, it has a good locale. Rooms arent too big and there's a retro chic thing going on. Fashionable lobby, and furniture aesthetics. Not quite as cheap as the hotels down in the loop but if you want something a bit out of the beaten path that's nicer, the Lincoln is in a decent price performance value read more

Super cute and clean hotel room. Small but just enough. Has a very modern yet antique look to it. Staff is very helpful. Restaurant food is great! Will def go back again. Coffee place - Elaine offers really good coffee! All in all very quaint little hotel. read more

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Stayed here with my boyfriend on a weekend getaway and was blow away by this little gem. Great location makes it an easy cab ride to anywhere in the city, we had an amazing view from the room and the rooftop bar. The rooms were decently sized and the beds were fluffy and comfy, the only negative was the thermostat was a little tricky. Being from sunny California we're not too used to working a heater! The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. I travel often for business and never before been so impressed by a hotel's customer service. We came back to our room one day with a note saying my liquid foundation was accidentally broken while cleaning and a brand new bottle left in its place! Perfect brand, and perfect color. You have to check out the J.Parker on the top floor, get there a little early to see the sunset. The small bites and specialty drinks were delicious. I have a couple food allergies and our waitress was so helpful in working to find options I could eat. If I could give it 6 stars I would; I recommend this place to anyone staying in Chicago! read more

We staid here for 5 nights a little over a week ago. We loved the location next to the park and near the lake. Neighborhood is beautiful and Old Town Second City 5 min walk from hotel. Much nicer experience than staying in the loop area where we were last year on our visit to Chicago. Room was a Jr. Suite and was very roomy. 2 bathrooms and son slept on pull out couch and we were able to close off the master bedroom so really was more of a suite than I thought. The main restaurant downstairs really is good. Perennial Virant is run well and the chef was on site for 2 meals a breakfast and a dinner which speaks well for his oversight of all meals not just dinner. He also runs the J Parker on the roof but that is more of a bar. That said you must go up to the J Parker and have a drink and see the beautiful view of the park and Lake Michigan. Truly beautiful site! All in all this boutique hotel lived up to expectations. Rooms not modern but Master bedroom and bath seemed completely updated. Not sure I could say the same of sitting room. We will come back to this hotel. read more

We chose this hotel based on a combination of location and sale price, and could not have been more pleasantly surprised. Should we ever return to Chicago we will most definitely be staying here. The rooms are delightfully furnished and decorated - none of the tired, drab and faded decor we would expect from a hotel in this price range. The entire place has this charmingly David Lynchian lounge atmosphere. Just across the street is Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan. We found the surrounding neighborhoods excellently suited for walking and architecture viewing. Oh, and the restaurant downstairs? Heartbreakingly good food. read more

This hotel is so fantastic that I cannot wait until summer when we can return. It's decor is eclectic, a little old-school, a little traditional, a little modern. The staff is awesome. They open doors and help with strollers. The two-bedroom, two-bath, two television suite was spacious and very clean. The location is perfect for going to Lincoln Park Zoo and restaurants. The hotel offers valet parking at a nearby garage. The rooftop has a panoramic view of the Lake and Chicago which is breathtaking. One of the best parts I noticed was how well the staff worked together to help all patrons. I cannot wait for summer when we return! read more