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Congress Plaza Hotel

3.5 star property
Downtown Chicago's iconic landmarks like the Museum of Contemporary Photography await exploration, with convenient dining options to fuel each day's adventures

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Congress Plaza Hotel

Lobby - Congress Plaza Hotel (Chicago)
Banquet hall - Congress Plaza Hotel (Chicago)
2 bars/lounges, sports bar, sports bar - Congress Plaza Hotel (Chicago)
Junior Suite, City View | City view - Congress Plaza Hotel (Chicago)
2 restaurants, breakfast served - Congress Plaza Hotel (Chicago)
Experience the vibrant energy of Chicago at Congress Plaza Hotel, where shopping and dining meet. Enjoy a meal at one of the two on-site restaurants, unwind with a coffee or cocktail from the coffee shop/cafe or 2 bars, and stay connected with free in-room WiFi. Guests rave about this hotel's central location near Auditorium Building and Theatre.

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Gym
  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Business services

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 12 of 12 rooms

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Lake View

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(236 reviews)
  • Lake view
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Queen Room

Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Queen Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Standard Suite, 1 King Bed, Lake View, Lakeside

Standard Suite, 1 King Bed, Lake View, Lakeside | Living room | TV

Standard Suite, 1 King Bed, Lake View, Lakeside

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(22 reviews)
  • Lake view
  • 50 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Family Suite

Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Family Suite

  • Sleeps 6
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed | Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

7.8 out of 10
Good
(578 reviews)
  • 26 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

7.8 out of 10
Good
(510 reviews)
  • 22 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Lake View

Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 2 Double Beds, Lake View

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(132 reviews)
  • Lake view
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Family Suite

Family Suite | Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Family Suite

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(76 reviews)
  • 50 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Double Beds
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Accessible Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

Accessible Standard Room, 2 Double Beds | Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Accessible Standard Room, 2 Double Beds

7.8 out of 10
Good
(60 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Queen Room, Interior View

Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Queen Room, Interior View

  • Sleeps 2
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Queen Room, Interior View

Queen Room, Interior View | Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Queen Room, Interior View

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(166 reviews)
  • 18 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free wired internet

View all photos for Junior Suite, City View

Junior Suite, City View | Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Junior Suite, City View

  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free wired internet

About the neighborhood

Near a metro station, Congress Plaza Hotel is in Downtown Chicago, a walkable area in Chicago with good shopping. Auditorium Building and Theatre and Museum of Contemporary Photography are cultural highlights, and some of the area's notable landmarks include Fine Arts Building and Mergenthaler Lofts. Columbia College Chicago and Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies are two other places to visit that come recommended. Looking to get your feet wet? Windsurfing and sailing adventures can be found near the property. Guests love the hotel's central location for the sightseeing. It's also convenient to public transportation: Harrison Station is 5 minutes by foot and Harold Washington Library Station is 6 minutes. Visit our Chicago travel guide
Map
520 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60605

What's nearby

  • State Street
    State Street
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Buckingham Fountain
    Buckingham Fountain
    6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Art Institute of Chicago
    Art Institute of Chicago
    8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Reflection of a Chicago buildings in a mirror of Chicago Bean, Millennium Park, Chicago city, USA., Shutterstock ID 1129809965, Purchase Order: SP-2109, Order Number: SP-2109 Qantas AU US Sale New Ads
    Millennium Park
    9 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Auditorium Building and Theatre
    2 min walk - 0.1 miles

Getting around

  • Chicago Van Buren Street Station
    2 min walk
  • Harrison Station
    5 min walk
  • Chicago O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD)
    37 min drive

Restaurants

  • Starbucks
    5 min walk
  • Epic Burger
    4 min walk
  • Gazebo Restaurant at Grant Park
    1 min walk
  • Buddy Guy's Legends
    5 min walk
  • Fontano's Pizza and Subs
    3 min walk

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet

Parking and transportation

  • Uncovered self parking on site (USD 62 per night)

Food and drink

  • Weekend full breakfast available 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee: USD 16 to 23 for adults and USD 12 to 18 for children
  • 2 bars/lounges
  • 2 restaurants
  • A coffee shop/cafe

Restaurants on site

  • Tavern Tap
  • Tavern Tap

Things to do

  • Bicycle storage
  • Gym
  • Shopping

Family friendly

  • In-room refrigerator

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Guidebooks
  • Hair salon
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 50,000 square feet of conference space
  • Business center
  • Meeting rooms

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Elevator
  • Hand-held showerhead
  • Smooth flooring in room
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible business center
  • Wheelchair-accessible gym
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

More

  • 100% renewable energy
  • 14 floors
  • 3 buildings
  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1893
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding

Bathroom

  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Limited room service
  • Refrigerator
  • Restaurant dining guides

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • LED lighting
  • Phone
  • Recycling
  • Safe
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 49.00
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 59.00
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 17 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 25.0 per day

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 25.00 per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately USD 16 to 23 for adults, and USD 12 to 18 for children
  • Uncovered self parking fee: USD 62.00 per night
  • Early check-in fee: USD 49.00 (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out fee: USD 59.00 (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 25.0 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
This property provides central air conditioning in summer and central heating in the winter. In-room climate control is not available.

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Frequently asked questions

Is Congress Plaza Hotel pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is available for USD 62.00 per night.

What time is check-in at Congress Plaza Hotel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. Early check-in is available for a fee of USD 49.00 (subject to availability).

What time is check-out at Congress Plaza Hotel?

Check-out is at noon. Late check-out is available for USD 59.00 (subject to availability).

Where is Congress Plaza Hotel located?

Located in Downtown Chicago, this hotel is steps from Columbia College Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Photography, and Auditorium Building and Theatre. Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies and Fine Arts Building are just steps away. Harrison Station and Chicago Van Buren Street Station are within a 5-minute walk.

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Congress Plaza Hotel Reviews

8.0

Very Good

8.2

Cleanliness

7.4

Amenities

8.4

Staff & service

7.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 4614 out of 10286 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2695 out of 10286 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1600 out of 10286 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 755 out of 10286 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 622 out of 10286 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location was excellent. Close to all the museums, shopping district and river walk.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ken

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean room, large space, great location
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location and clean
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Darrin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great staff!
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Brooke

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We had a clean room, the staff was attentive. It was a great experience!
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is a very nice hotel in an absolutely ideal part of downtown Chicago. Many areas an easy, lovely walk away and those further out a quick cab ride or train ride. The room was clean and comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Danaca

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a wonderfully old space. It’s been updated in the rooms but remains historical. Services were very friendly!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Misti

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Older hotel but well maintained. Rooms took a bit to cool off during the summer but the view was great!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Erin

Liked: Staff & service, amenities
The location is great for what we were in Chicago for. The property seemed a little dated and bathroom could have been cleaned better. Overall we had a good 2 night stay and for the price and location I would recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Archna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great check-in and good value for money. We had a huge room with high ceilings and an amazing view of the water, marina, museums. Staff were all super friendly, warm and helpful. A little dilapidated due to its history but we understand the hotel is slowly getting renovated. Would recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Renee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel was clean, staff friendly. Old hotel that is being improved. Our room was small but otherwise good for our purposes. Good spot that launch our adventure!
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Bernadette

Liked: Cleanliness
The room was nice and quiet, great location. I did feel it was overpriced.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tanya

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location. Walkable to all the downtown attractions. Historical hotel with updated rooms. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Congress is old but it never fails!!! Great location!!! I have stayed there many of times …
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Concierge Jose very helpful recommended great places to eat. Bell person attentive and anticipated every thought. Nostalgic and well kept and very clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Angel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Perfect location and views!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Lindsey

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The room had been updated, but the halls and some other areas have definitely seen better days. The room was comfortable and the bed was great. You could easily hear the street noise from inside the room with the windows closed. The lobby is still beautifully maintained. Great location with public transportation and great restaurants nearby.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Angelia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The room was small and was missing modern convinces-microwave-better seating space. The staff were friendly and the restaurant was great! I only wished we had gotten a better room! Special shout out to Steve P. the doorman for his service and friendly demeanor!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ivana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Always wanted to stay here bc mom speaks so highly of this place (she only stays here when in Chicago) & the stay did not disappoint! Booked the room with the lakeside view and the view + natural lighting was great! The hotel/property has historical yet modern charm to it. Everything was clean & mostly up to date! All the hotel staff were friendly, helpful & overall hospitable. Enjoyed some drinks at the bar downstairs, which was a great start to the evening. Loved the location of this hotel as well- it is central to everything and being close to the park/water was nice!!! Will definitely be returning.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

LI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location is very good. The room is clean and quiet although the whole building is old. We did not have chance to use the air conditioner because the temperature is not high. It seems there is no heater in this room, so it was a bit cold in midnight.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Tia

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
No heat, toilet was broken, no hot water. I left. Front staff was very rude. The staff who came to fix the toilet and bring me more blankets and a portable heater were very nice.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rosa

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The bell men were very nice and helpful. The hotel clerk that checked me in was very pleasant. The other lady that was a hotel clerk when I arrived was not pleasant and very rude. When I asked a question she was rude about it. My reservation was not what I expected.....I was reserved a lake view and I got a view of mostly trees.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

EDISON

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
This hotel has a lot of history and character, and it’s clear that the management is making an effort to preserve the building while keeping it in good condition. The property may be older, but it is well maintained and has a unique charm that newer hotels often lack. I was especially impressed by the staff. Everyone I encountered was friendly, professional, and hardworking, and their dedication really enhanced the overall experience. My only complaint is the air conditioning. The room was extremely cold, and it was difficult to get the temperature to a comfortable level. Aside from that, I had a pleasant stay and appreciated both the historic atmosphere and the excellent service.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Cheri

Liked: Cleanliness
Staff was friendly, our room was very old. Our bathroom door knob was broken and it took my daughter a long time to get me out. We called the front desk about it but nobody came the entire 5 days we stayed to fix it. The safe was locked when we got there so we had to have security come and open it for us. The bellhops complained a lot which we were surprised since it is their job.we stayed June 4-8/26
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Anelia McLavy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Room was bright and open. Great view. Doorman Steve was so helpful and friendly.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026