The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
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US$162
Free cancellation until 27/08/22
US$162
US$127
US$143
Trip.comUS$129
Hotels.comUS$143
ZenHotels.comUS$133
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Travel safe during COVID-19
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What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitised in high-temperature wash
- Face masks required for guests in public areas
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Hand sanitiser available to guests & staff
- Stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
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Updated 18/07/22 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
Updated 18/07/22 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#168 of 216 hotels in Chicago
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Step inside and experience an extraordinary piece of living history during your next visit to downtown Chicago at the Congress Plaza Hotel. This "Landmark of Chicago Hospitality" has delighted business and leisure travelers for over a century. Guests at the Congress Plaza Hotel can explore art institute, millenium park, buckingham fountain, magnificent mile,museum campus all with in walking distance just by stepping outside our front doors. Situated adjacent to Grant Park, our 14-story property is located along Michigan Avenue, providing unlimited access to the city's finest retail stores, the bustling business district and Chicago attractions.
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Property amenities
Paid private parking nearby
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Highchairs available
Taxi service
Business Centre with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Parking
Wifi
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast in the room
Vending machine
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Convenience store
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Shops
ATM on site
Doorperson
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
Cable / satellite TV
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
VIP room facilities
Bottled water
Iron
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Radio
Hair dryer
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Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Park View
Classic
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Urdu
Hotel links
Location
Full view
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
146Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
46Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Contact
520 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
Getting there
HarrisonChicago L4 min
Harold Washington Library – State/Van BurenChicago L4 min
Car HireSee all Chicago car hire
3452Reviews79Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
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+1
My husband and I stayed in this hotel for three nights and thought it was very good value for money. It is in a great location, just a few minutes walk from the Buckingham fountain and waterfront and about a 10-15 minute walk to the Bean and the river cruises etc. The hotel looks very impressive from the outside and the lobby area etc is very ornate with old style charm. Staff were friendly and polite. Our room was basic but had a huge comfy bed and a fridge which was a bonus for keeping breakfast items and drinks. Overall we couldn't fault it considering the price we paid.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
The only plus of this hotel is the location! The staff was not nice nor welcoming at all. And the lack of attention at their restaurant downstairs was just awful. I would normally not write a bad review, but everyone should be warned that you won’t get any nice warm vibes from their staff, if you’re okay with just being a number then stay during your visit bc it is convenient to many of the main attractions. The hotel is really really outdated, looks bad, carpet is disgusting, management should have enough money from their customers for as much as they charge per night, to do some renovations!!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This place is, to put it politely, a DUMP. Here is a little slice of what we experienced. Upon arrival, I decided to take a shower. We had to actually hit the mechanism in the shower that switches water between the bath faucet and shower. The mechanism was so stiff it took a lot of force to get it to switch. As I took my shower, even though the drain was open, the water was filling up in the bathtub. I looked in the drain and it was full of hair. As we were leaving the hotel a little later, we asked the front desk have someone go up and clean the drain. When we got back that evening the bathtub was filthy. They had cleared the drain but left a mess in the bathtub. We called down to the front desk, spoke with the manager, and asked that they have someone come up and clean the tub. We waited, it was getting late and we wanted to go to bed. After about half-an-hour we had to call down again. Someone finally came up and cleaned the tub. The next morning as we were leaving our room, we felt a a drip just outside our room door. We looked up and there was a damaged looking area above the door that was dripping. We stopped at the front desk on our way out and told the manager about the drip. Her first reaction was, "That's strange, I don't think it rained last night." To us, that was a very strange thing to say, showing a distinct lack of concern. We don't know if anyone went and checked it, but it was still dripping when we returned to our room later in the day. What we did notice, was a great deal of ceiling water damage just inside the our room. We aren't sure if it was there when we first checked into the room, but when we touched it it was moldy. I've attached photos of all of this. I realize the place is an old historic hotel, but that is no excuse for dirt and poor cleaning and maintenance. The terrible attention to these issues by the manager is also a sign of a place that has just given up trying. We stayed here because it was a little more affordable than other Chicago hotels. If you can, spring for a little more money and stay somewhere that isn't disgusting.…
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Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Ask for a room that doesn't have a ceiling leak or a hair clog in the drain.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Excellent stay, the staff at the hotel was friendly and courteous. The rooms were average but the lobby and historic feel of the hotel provided the superior experience. The hotel is also located in the heart of the loop and is an Uber ride away from everything one might want in Chicago.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
It was a pleasure to stay here. The location is great as it is very close to the loop abs business side of Chicago while also being right outside the Central Park and the tourists area. Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
We stayed on a Sunday night. The front desk girl was not nice and seemed to care less about us. The hotel is old. The room was very dated. Bed was uncomfortable. The tub did not drain and filled with dirty water after showering. It is located across the street from Grant park. There is a great place to get a good breakfast, good price and fast on South side of hotel across the street Cafe Luna next to the Travelodge.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Breakfast and lunch at Cafe Luna across the street from south side of hotel. Great place for...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
This hotel provides its guests with several quite surprising opportunities for history lessons. When entering the hallway from the lift taking you to your floor, you’ll appreciate the vintage of the dust balls found hiding in plain sight all along the corridor. This is also your chance to take in the spectacle of the change in the carpet color from the somewhat original blueish along the walls – provided the dust balls offer of a view of the carpet at all – to the greyish/brownish faded hues, where thousands of hotel guests (but no cleaners) have stepped before. In our bathroom, we were treated to what we initially mistook for an intriguing collection or hairs in the sink, until we surmised that the cracks in the enamel must originate from Al Capone accidentally dropping his .45 into the basin. The hotel has taken great care to make sure the guest rooms aren’t bothered by the harsh sunlight, in that the windows have accumulated a natural filter for the light in the span of approx. 30 years since their last cleaning. Fortunately, the antique silver curtains may be drawn to further accommodate the occasional vampire visitor. You won’t risk being scalded by the hot water in the shower, and you won’t be rushed showering either, since it takes upwards of 10 minutes at full blast for the shower to turn from icy to tepid. All in all, if you are a history buff with a slightly masochistic vein, go for it. Normal people are advised to stay away.…
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Date of stay: July 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Low expectations are easily exceeded. Knew the hotel was older and likely touristy, not really my thing. But was impressed from the get-go with how clean and well-maintained it all was. Old? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. It was actually a delight and my suite overlooked the lake and from the 10th floor it was utterly breathtaking. My advice - spend the nominal extra $$$ to get the suite facing the Lake. You won't be disappointed!
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: The lake view rooms are well worth the small premium. Go for it, you deserve it!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
We stayed for 3 nights (Saturday-Monday) for a basketball tournament our daughter was playing in at McCormick. Booked here bc prices were so much lower but I almost cancelled several times based on the reviews I read before we arrived. I am so glad I didn’t! We stayed in room 1119 with a lake view and we were very happy with the room. Yes the halls all smell like pot but our room did not. The hotel is old, but the rooms are cosmetically updated. If you are expecting a modern hotel then you will be disappointed. If you like a little charm, you will love this. Location cannot be beat. (We caught a shuttle from the Hilton two blocks down and were at McCormick in 10 min - the Nike tournament offered). We were close to restaurants and activities. We will definitely stay again. Jose the bellhop was a standout.…
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Smells musty. The style is great but I've been to different hotels with similar style and they weren't kept poorly. This hotel needs major renovation and updating. The front desk staff needs to work as a team and not leave one person upfront alone. Internet pictures do not reflect the quality of your room or stay.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Be prepared to miss a day working out. The gym smells musty.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$147 - US$234 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
congress plaza chicago, hotel congress plaza, congress hotel chicago, congress plaza hotel chicago
LOCATION
United StatesIllinoisChicagoCentral / Downtown / The Loop
NUMBER OF ROOMS
851
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
Which popular attractions are close to The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Nearby attractions include Ragnarok Axe Throwing (0.2 km), Symphony Center - Chicago Symphony Orchestra (0.4 km), and The Loop (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Yes, paid private parking nearby and paid public parking nearby are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Conveniently located restaurants include Cafecito, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, and Buddy Guy's Legends.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness centre during their stay.
Is The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.4 km away from the centre of Chicago.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Urdu.
Are there any historical sites close to The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Garfield Park Conservatory (7.8 km), The Rookery Building (0.7 km), and Macy's on State Street (1.0 km).