The Palmer House Hilton

We love the charm and ambiance of the Palmer House - especially at Christmastime. It’s so close to everything - walk to Millemium park or Michigan Ave or just around the corner to Millers for a late night snack. The new workout facility is top notch! Great to have a pool again too!

Well - we arrived right at 3 on a Friday and check in took over an hour. This needs some work - I’ve never experienced this and it was very frustrating (especially since we had young kids). Everyone knows historic building’s require more maintence and are typically smaller than newer hotels - it seems the rooms are in need of some updating (wallpaper coming off and the vent in our Bathroom rusty - furniture / dresser was dilapidated). The executive tower has always been a perk to have the coffee / lounge area (especially since there are no coffee makers in the room) the lounge area on the executive tower needs some love and the perks need to come back - at least coffee!

Overall, the Polar House is a very nice place to stay. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The location is perfect for walking to shops and restaurant. It was easy to find a taxi if you needed to get a ride somewhere. Parking was literally right across the street and the Palmer house paid for it.

The only negative I could really say regarding the hotel is that because of its age there was some paint in the hallway walking into the room that was chipping on the ceiling and in the bathroom. This would not stop me from staying again. Given that the rooms were very clean.

Staying in this legendary hotel was an experience. The beautiful lobby/bar was always enjoyable to spend time in or walk through. The staff were friendly and helpful. We were at the hotel during the annual lighting ceremony of the huge Christmas tree which was a fun event.

The room was small, but that is understandable for an older hotel. Housekeeping service was available only upon request, which seemed for a hotel of this type. Wifi reception in the lobby was poor; I more easily connected from the lobby to the wifi from the Starbucks downstairs.

I enjoyed the bed and the staff was very, very nice. Also, the location was outstanding.

The wallpaper was coming off the walls, the hotel was so busy that room service wasn't available. No coffee machine or kettle in the room. The cost of the hotel is expensive for what you get. The elevators were super busy and we had to leave the room 10 minutes earlier to wait for the elevator for 10 minutes.

We loved the beautiful, historic lobby, the lobby bar, and the location. The lobby bar made the best old fashioned we have ever had. Service was excellent and very friendly and helpful staff

The room, especially the bathroom, could have been a bit bigger and roomier.

hotel is absolutely beautiful and very comfortable

had trouble getting enough towels. this would not stop us staying there but it was just a bit of a pain to continually request as we had 4 travellers and 2 towels

Very large and totally quiet (on interior court) executive room at floor 22 had 2 bathrooms, very practical. The grand and superb common spaces are spectacular, including some fine bronzes. Perfect location, 2 minutes to the Art Institute, aim of my trip.

Professional but unfriendly check-in. Room is anonymous, dark and sparsely and tastelessly furnished, with just one vinyl-gold (!) armchair. No sense at all of being in the mythical Palmer Hotel. The 2 bathrooms are both incredibly small, need to close the door to get to the bathtub, and without windows nor ventilation. Service is reduced to minimum. Loud fridge. Restaurant not functioning, bar is overcrowded.

the property is beautiful but the cleanliness in the rooms are a different story. the little mirror attached to the bathroom wall had other people’s fingerprints and dirt on it. If they are so worried about Covid, maybe they need to train the cleaning staff to clean better. They took room service away. Starbucks was closed. They didn’t have much to offer anyone the next day. The room prices are fair if they had other things to offer. I know room service wasn’t happening due to Covid regulations but then why were the rooms dirty?

The dirty rooms, which I have pictures of. Starbucks was closed. No room service. Prices would be fair if they had more to offer. They are worried about Covid so then why was the room dirty and not cleaned to Covid standard?

The Palmer House is an excellent choice for tourists and first time travelers to Chicago due to its central location and historical decor. The valet service parks your car in their secured valet only garage under the hotel - at the time we stayed there were news reports of many vehicle break-ins in public parking around the loop, so we felt much better with our car and items locked away with the valet.

Paint on the bathroom ceiling is bubbling off, the mattress is a little worn, the closest smelled musty, and the rooms are rather small. This hotel is best for tourists, not a special night to enjoy lounging in your room.

The history of the hotel is what first caught my eye. I brought my daughter here to celebrate her 21st birthday. We had a really fun time. The beautiful lobby all decorated for Christmas is what we liked best. We also saw the Magic Parlour and Dennis Watkins is a phenomenal performer! The location is also fantastic. We visited the Art Institute after checking out and we able to walk to Millennium Park.

Could offer free wifi in the rooms. I am usually always working, so being able to check my email or do a few tasks on the computer,is usually important. Also, I was charged twice for our dinner in the lobby/bar. This made me extremely worried (and almost ruined our trip). However, someone called back and was very kind, professional, and understanding. The extra charge was removed and possibly a hold? I'm not sure why this happened, but please tell people so they can plan for it (and not worry). That's a lot of money to some of us.