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278 USD
The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Chicago
🌍 United States, Chicago, Illinoys, SShA
● Center: 3 km
🌞 Beach - 1.8 km
☎ Phone: +1 312-427-3800Show
✅ Rooms are spacious with plenty of storage and clean, some featuring lake or city views ✅ Excellent location close to many tourist spots and public transport ✅ Friendly and helpful staff noted by multiple guests ✅ Complimentary bottled water provided, unique among local hotels ✅ The hotel’s historic architecture and lobby receive positive mentions ❌ Several guests report maintenance issues such as non-functioning air conditioning and heating ❌ Some rooms have peeling paint, outdated décor, and noisy environments near the subway ❌ Service inconsistencies including difficulties contacting staff and unresolved complaints ❌ Reports of overcharging and billing confusion during check-in and check-out ❌ Housekeeping problems noted, including lost or mishandled guest items and pest sightings
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Rooms and prices
2 guests
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4 x
Accessible Quadruple room
Private bathroom
Beds:
298 USD
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Standard Double room with lake view
Wireless internet, air conditioning and private bathroom
Beds:
476 USD
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4 x
Standard Quadruple room
Private bathroom
Beds:
488 USD
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4 x
Standard Quadruple room with lake view
Private bathroom
Beds:
497 USD
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Standard Double room
Wireless internet, air conditioning and private bathroom
Beds:
530 USD
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Double Suite with lake view
Air conditioning and private bathroom
Beds:
546 USD
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Family Suite
Family room with internet, air conditioner and bathroom
Beds:
580 USD
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Double Suite with city view
Air conditioning and private bathroom
Beds:
702 USD
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Deluxe Double Suite
Private bathroom
Beds:
705 USD
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Accessible Double room
Private bathroom
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Description
The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Chicago is a historic 3-star hotel built in 1893 and renovated in 2000. It offers a variety of room types including Standard Quadruple rooms, Family Suites, and Deluxe Double Suites, some with lake or city views. The hotel features amenities such as free parking, WiFi, a fitness center, meeting facilities, a restaurant, and a bar. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, heating, and safety deposit boxes. Despite its age, the hotel maintains a central location near key attractions. Reviewers note spacious rooms with good storage and some recent updates in furnishings, although air conditioning and heating can be inconsistent. The hotel also provides facilities for disabled guests and accepts service animals, but pets are not allowed. The Congress Plaza is noted for its old architecture and historic charm, but some guests report maintenance and service challenges.
Location
Located at 520 South Michigan Avenue, The Congress Plaza Hotel is approximately 1790 meters from 12th Street Beach. It is within walking distance to significant landmarks such as the Begin Route 66 point, just 481 meters away, and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 593 meters from the hotel. Nearby dining options include Subway at 202 meters and Mercat a la Planxa at 222 meters. The hotel is about 121 km from Plymouth Airport (PLY). Its central position makes it convenient for exploring downtown Chicago and nearby attractions like Grant Park and Cloud Gate.
Tips
- Expect some rooms to have outdated fixtures and possible maintenance issues like weak air conditioning; consider requesting a room with a lake or city view for a better experience.
- Contact the front desk early to clarify billing and parking details.
- For snacks, use the vending machine on site to avoid going outside in cold weather.
Policies and conditions
- Child policies: Children of all ages are welcome at this property. Additional fees may be charged for children using existing beds. Add the number of children to get a more accurate price.
- Cribs and Extra Beds: Extra bed and crib policies may vary according to room type. Please refer to the room type details for more information.
- Breakfast: American A la carte [Mon - Sun] 07:00-11:00 Open Additional breakfast fees are not included in the total and need to be paid at the property.
- Deposit Policy: Deposit required The deposit is determined based on the duration of your stay. The charge is US$25.00 per night. This property accepts credit cards and debit cards The deposit will be returned to the original account of payment within 14 days after check-out.
- Pets: Pets are not allowed
- Service animals: Service animals are allowed
- Age Requirements: The main guest checking in must be at least 18 years old
- Paying at the hotel: Visa, AmericanExpress, MasterCard, DinersClub
- Check in time: 15:00. Check out time: 12:00.
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Services and facilities
General
- ATM
- Shopping on site
- Air conditioning
- 24-hour reception
- Elevator/lift
- Smoke-free property
- Heating
- Security guard
- Newspapers
- Gift shop
- Express check-in/check-out
- Upper floors accessible by elevator
Rooms
- Bridal suite
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Fridge
- Family room
- Smoke Detector
- Cable TV
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Shower/Bathtub
- Bathtub
- Shower
- Linens
- Alarm clock
- Toiletries
Accessibility
- Accessibility features
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Wheelchair access to restaurant
Services and amenities
- Iron and board
- Ironing
- Luggage storage
- Laundry
- Safe-deposit box
- Concierge services
- Dry-cleaning
- Shoe shine
- Luggage storage
- Wake-up service
- Telephone
- Iron
Meals
- Bar
- Coffee/tea for guests
- Breakfast
- Breakfast in the room
- Cafe
- Restaurant
- Vending machine
- Coffeemaker
- Bottled water (at extra charge)
Internet
- Free Wi-Fi
Transfer
- Airport transportation
- Taxi booking
Languages Spoken
- Spanish
- English
- Multi-language staff
- Arabic
- Chinese
Parking
- Parking
- Garage
Pool and beach
- Beach/pool towels
Business
- Business center
- Event facilities
- Fax and copy machine
- Meeting and presentation facilities
- Conference Hall
Sports
- Fitness facilities
- Golf course (within 3 km)
Beauty and wellness
- Doctor
- Beauty services
- First Aid Kit
Kids
- Family/Kid Friendly
Pets
- Pets Not Allowed
The nearest beach is located on the distance of 1790 m. It takes 27 minutes To the beach!
Video: New Year's Eve Chicago - Congress Plaza Hotel
Map
Reviews
28.03.2026
Excellent location , old hotel , many good restaurant nearby .
24.03.2026
The room was a good size, had plenty of storage, was clean, and was in a great location that was very walkable. The staff were helpful, although I had trouble contacting them before my stay (I attempted both through the chat here and by phone, but neither was successful).
15.03.2026
Horrible. Because of this scam of a company (Trip.com) not paying the hotel, they refused the reservation and tried to charge us double. Ended up having to drive 4 hours home in the middle of the night. Also, the Congress Hotel is a filthy DUMP. Avoid that rathole motel and Trip.com at all costs,
15.03.2026
The room was prepaid through trip.com, but I was charged again by the hotel after checking out. It was a terrible experience. Tried to contact the hotel, but never answer the phone.
28.01.2026
The location is great walkable to so many places. The room is clean and cozy. Hotel also provided a vending machine which’s I love cos I just don’t wanna go outside for some snacks in the cold weather
05.01.2026
Unfortunately cannot recommend despite excellent location
I wanted to love this hotel given its prime location near Grant Park, but several issues made our stay frustrating.
Maintenance concerns: Multiple rooms in our party had non-functioning air conditioning, which made sleeping difficult during our visit. Given the age of the building, this seems to be an ongoing maintenance challenge that should be addressed.
Noise and responsiveness: Our room shared a connecting door with neighbors who were quite loud past 1am. When I contacted the front desk for assistance, I was told there was nothing they could do. I understand hotels have limited options with noise complaints, but some effort to address the situation would have been appreciated.
Communication difficulties: I accidentally left earphones on my bed before housekeeping (my oversight for not using the “do not disturb” sign). When I returned, one was on the floor and one was missing. While I take responsibility for leaving them out, I spent several weeks attempting to follow up via phone and email. I eventually reached both the front desk and security director, but neither was able to help locate the item or offer any resolution.
Bottom line: The location is genuinely excellent, but the combination of maintenance issues and difficulty getting responsive service made this a disappointing stay. There are many hotels in this area—I’d suggest exploring other options.
I wanted to love this hotel given its prime location near Grant Park, but several issues made our stay frustrating.
Maintenance concerns: Multiple rooms in our party had non-functioning air conditioning, which made sleeping difficult during our visit. Given the age of the building, this seems to be an ongoing maintenance challenge that should be addressed.
Noise and responsiveness: Our room shared a connecting door with neighbors who were quite loud past 1am. When I contacted the front desk for assistance, I was told there was nothing they could do. I understand hotels have limited options with noise complaints, but some effort to address the situation would have been appreciated.
Communication difficulties: I accidentally left earphones on my bed before housekeeping (my oversight for not using the “do not disturb” sign). When I returned, one was on the floor and one was missing. While I take responsibility for leaving them out, I spent several weeks attempting to follow up via phone and email. I eventually reached both the front desk and security director, but neither was able to help locate the item or offer any resolution.
Bottom line: The location is genuinely excellent, but the combination of maintenance issues and difficulty getting responsive service made this a disappointing stay. There are many hotels in this area—I’d suggest exploring other options.
02.01.2026
I like the place beacause it is quiet and clean! Also, it is near downtown Chicago, which is very accessible to some attractions! The staff in general is friendly! Love it
14.12.2025
This is my third time staying here. All three times I've had different style of rooms. All of which is beautiful. The hotel doesn't offer much as far as breakfast, staff does their job but not much more but that's ok. The real charm of this is the architecture, history and the spirits. Place really is like no other. Kinda cool really.
13.12.2025
I came here in 2024 for the NASCAR race and I expected top level service. I heard some decent things about this hotel and that even Presidents have stayed here. Expectations were high and this hotel disappointed. To start I called in advance to ask where to park. Douglas received my call and was straight rude. He was yelling at me, interrupting me, and even hung up on me when I’m asking one of the most simple questions. As if that wasn’t bad enough, when we got to the hotel it took longer than usual to check in and finding our room was a nightmare. The hotel hallway was icky, smelled like old raisins, and had peeling paint everywhere just to name a few issues. When we found our room, just 30 minutes walking in circles later 😒, the number on the door was practically invisible and the only real way to make it out was the slight indent blending in with the door. The hotel room itself was mediocre with more peeling paint and low-quality doors. The only good thing was the bed which was comfy and the view was nice, I could even see the track. However, everything else was terrible, and I will probably never come back here, even if you paid me.
11.11.2025
I am extremely disappointed with my experience hosting my wedding at the Congress Plaza Hotel. What should have been one of the most special days of our lives turned into a nightmare due to unprofessionalism, missing items, and services we paid for but never received.
When we first began planning our wedding, we were working with Melissa, who was absolutely amazing. She was organized, professional, and truly cared about making our day perfect. Everything ran smoothly under her direction. Unfortunately, shortly before our wedding, she reached out to let us know she could no longer work there, explaining that she was dealing with theft and major internal issues within the hotel.
After Melissa’s departure, everything completely fell apart. The hotel provided the new planners, including Itzel Torres, with countless photos, details, and instructions outlining exactly how we wanted everything set up. She assured us she understood and would execute everything properly. However, nothing was done as promised.
First, the liquor package we paid for was not offered to guests, and much of our décor was either mishandled, damaged, or stolen during cleanup. I repeatedly asked our assigned “planner,” Itzel Torres, about our missing décor, but she refused to communicate with me. Several items we were told the hotel “didn’t have” were later found in the possession of other staff members after another employee helped us locate them.
The décor that was set up was thrown together carelessly, and much of it was damaged. Meals we had carefully selected for our guests were not served as planned, leaving many guests without the food choices we paid for.
To make matters worse, one of our guests found roaches in their hotel room. When they reported it to the front desk, they were told, “What do you want me to do about it?” — which is completely unacceptable.
The front desk and reservations staff also showed a lack of professionalism and basic courtesy. Several members of our bridal party had issues checking in because of confusion and poor communication from the reservations team. I had to contact Vanessa, who handled our group reservations, and even she expressed frustration with how poorly everything was managed.
There was a long list of problems, missing services, and unfulfilled promises that made this experience incredibly stressful and disappointing. We paid for a professional, organized wedding experience, and instead, we were met with disorganization, disrespect, and missing items. I would strongly caution anyone considering hosting their wedding or event at the Congress Plaza Hotel to think twice.
I will be in contact with the BBB as well.
When we first began planning our wedding, we were working with Melissa, who was absolutely amazing. She was organized, professional, and truly cared about making our day perfect. Everything ran smoothly under her direction. Unfortunately, shortly before our wedding, she reached out to let us know she could no longer work there, explaining that she was dealing with theft and major internal issues within the hotel.
After Melissa’s departure, everything completely fell apart. The hotel provided the new planners, including Itzel Torres, with countless photos, details, and instructions outlining exactly how we wanted everything set up. She assured us she understood and would execute everything properly. However, nothing was done as promised.
First, the liquor package we paid for was not offered to guests, and much of our décor was either mishandled, damaged, or stolen during cleanup. I repeatedly asked our assigned “planner,” Itzel Torres, about our missing décor, but she refused to communicate with me. Several items we were told the hotel “didn’t have” were later found in the possession of other staff members after another employee helped us locate them.
The décor that was set up was thrown together carelessly, and much of it was damaged. Meals we had carefully selected for our guests were not served as planned, leaving many guests without the food choices we paid for.
To make matters worse, one of our guests found roaches in their hotel room. When they reported it to the front desk, they were told, “What do you want me to do about it?” — which is completely unacceptable.
The front desk and reservations staff also showed a lack of professionalism and basic courtesy. Several members of our bridal party had issues checking in because of confusion and poor communication from the reservations team. I had to contact Vanessa, who handled our group reservations, and even she expressed frustration with how poorly everything was managed.
There was a long list of problems, missing services, and unfulfilled promises that made this experience incredibly stressful and disappointing. We paid for a professional, organized wedding experience, and instead, we were met with disorganization, disrespect, and missing items. I would strongly caution anyone considering hosting their wedding or event at the Congress Plaza Hotel to think twice.
I will be in contact with the BBB as well.
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POIs near hotel
The Museum of Contemporary Photography (2 min)
Features contemporary photography exhibitions highlighting diverse perspectives and innovative techniques.
Begin Route 66 (7 min)
Starting point of the famous U.S. Route 66, known as the Main Street of America.
Pritzker Military Museum & Library (9 min)
Museum and library dedicated to military history and citizen soldier stories.
Money Museum (11 min)
Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago showcasing currency and monetary history.
Home Insurance Building Site (12 min)
Historic site of the first skyscraper built using a steel frame, constructed in 1884.
Cafe and Restaurants near hotel
Restaurant «Subway» (3 min)
Restaurant «Mercat a la Planxa» (3 min)
Frequently asked questions about The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
Are pets allowed at The Congress Plaza Hotel?
Pets are not allowed at the hotel, but service animals are permitted.
What types of rooms are available at this hotel?
Room types include Standard Quadruple room; Standard Quadruple room with lake view; Standard Double room; Standard Double room with lake view; Accessible Quadruple room; Accessible Double room; Family Suite; Double Suite with city view; Double Suite with lake view; and Deluxe Double Suite.
Is parking available at the hotel?
Yes, free parking is available on site.
What is the policy on children staying at the hotel?
Children of all ages are welcome. Additional fees may apply for children using existing beds. Crib and extra bed availability varies by room type.
What dining options does the hotel offer?
The hotel has a restaurant and bar, and offers American a la carte breakfast daily from 07:00 to 11:00, which is not included in the room price.
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