Hotel Lincoln

The upgraded room was 100% with the money. Clean and big

The location of Hotel Lincoln is great and very convenient if you want to be near Lincoln Park and explore that area of Chicago. However, there were a few things during our stay that could definitely be improved.

Parking information was very unclear. I called ahead for assistance and the phone system’s option for parking help didn’t connect to anyone. When I was transferred to the front desk, the phone rang repeatedly without being answered. I ended up briefly stopping in front of the building and going inside to ask in person. While my partner was still trying to reach the front desk by phone, the front desk attendant was sitting there with headphones on and the phone ringing. Once I spoke with her directly she was friendly and explained where to park, but it took much more effort than it should have to get that information. There was also no valet attendant present when we arrived, which added to the confusion.

Parking ended up costing about $80 for two days. That’s somewhat expected for Chicago, but it didn’t seem like the lot was owned by the hotel. I was also surprised by a $15/day amenity fee that is billed at checkout. This wasn’t mentioned at check-in and I wasn’t told what amenities it covered.

The room itself was smaller than I expected. I had booked a “park view,” but the view was mostly a busy intersection with Lincoln Park visible in the distance. The building also felt older than I anticipated. The room didn’t look visibly dirty, but it also didn’t feel particularly clean or fresh.

Overall, the hotel has a great location and the staff we spoke with in person were friendly, but clearer communication about parking, better phone responsiveness, and more transparency about fees would have made the experience much better.

I rarely write negative reviews, but my stay at Hotel Lincoln (February 28) was disappointing enough that I feel future guests deserve an honest account.

From the moment I arrived, things got off to a rough start. Despite having completed mobile check-in, I waited 10+ minutes in line while a front desk agent stood visibly idle, not helping guests, not signaling availability... while her two colleagues scrambled. It was an odd and frustrating welcome.

Our room was the biggest letdown. It was not clean, not well-maintained, and frankly not what the hotel's website depicts. See photos below.

The next morning, we had coffee with friends who were also staying at the hotel, checking in four hours after us. They had received welcome amenities (coffee vouchers, water bottles) upon arrival. We had received nothing. We later discovered at checkout that we had been charged an amenity fee for those very amenities we never received. A front desk agent acknowledged this and said it would be removed, but it shouldn't have happened at all.

The parking situation was also mishandled. We were told at check-in that the rate would be $35/night. We were charged $88 at checkout with no prior explanation.

To top it off, the same front desk agent who was unhelpful at arrival later pointed me upstairs when I asked where the restroom was — a restroom that was, quite literally, steps away from where I was standing.

I had just signed up for a World of Hyatt rewards membership before this trip. This stay has me seriously reconsidering that. The staff at Elaine's coffee shop and Americano restaurant were fine, no complaints there, but the front desk experience and room quality fell well short of what you'd expect from the Hyatt brand.

I've since followed up with Hyatt's consumer affairs team and hope this gets addressed. Posting here as well so that both the hotel and prospective guests have the full picture.

Very friendly staff, great roof top bar

Great location. Very clean. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We may have found a new hotel for our summer trips to the city.

Great location! Beautiful views from the rooftop lounge.
We were there for a wedding and the staff was extremely helpful.
Lots of places to eat nearby. Right across the street from the Lincoln park zoo!

The hotel is, unfortunately, lipstick on a pig. The toilet leaked onto the bathroom floor, not all of the outlets worked, the fridge never really got cold, and the shower door didnt close all the way so I had to hold it closed or the floor got wet.

Beautiful historic property in a great neighborhood. Room was large, clean, and comfortable. Service was great! Rooftop bar is a great spot for a drink!

We do an annual trip to the city in February, just something to look forward to in the middle of winter. Our usual hotel was booked so we decided to stay at the Hotel Lincoln. Pictures online looked great and the price was in line with the usual Chicago prices. We were able to check in an hour early. We went up the tiny elevator (can really only hold 2 people with their suitcases and came out on our floor. There was a smell that was overwhelming, like old fried food and bleach, the hallway was dingy and dark. We reserved a Lakeview room which is a little higher in price. When we opened our door I was totally underwhelmed. The room was dark, it was dingy, the shades were all messed up and it was boiling hot. The bathroom looked like it had not been updated and the bathtub was absolutely disgusting. It was clean as it could be but had permanent stains. The bathroom is no larger than an airplane bathroom. We decided to turn on the TV... Didn't work, tried to call down to the front desk, phone didn't work. Needless to say I was very disappointed in the room and for the price we figured one and done with this hotel. I went down to the front desk to ask what the magic formula was to work the TV. Cindy at the front desk gave me these interesting instructions (would have been nice if they were written down in the room) and I just mention that I was very disappointed in the room, that it was old and outdated and kind of gross. Cindy explained that the hotel is under some renovations and that we got a room that has not been "refreshed" and offered to move us. YES! I took her up on it immediately. The new room we got was beautiful. Why they offer the other rooms is beyond me as they are just plain gross. Thanks to Cindy! That is Customer Service! Couple of things on the new room. Though refreshed, there is still no place to put your belongings (no dresser and only 5 hangers in the closet), only one suitcase stand (no dressers means my suitcase was on the floor). No directions on how to use the coffee maker (which was a nice upgrade from the room prior), and lastly the bathroom, I get it there is little room, but if you are a large person (whether tall or wide) you will have a lot of problems sitting down on the toilet. It is crammed in there. Overall, it is a great location, and it seems to be a "wedding stay" hotel. I am not sure if we will consider this hotel again for our trip next year. I guess we will see.

The location of this hotel is very convenient for visiting family in Chicago, so we have stayed here multiple times. This time, we were upgraded to a spacious, comfortable suite. The price of the room was a good value in November.

The hotel staff were great and welcoming. The pictures of the trim are fantastic…our room must not have been updated because it did not meet expectations from photos. The roof bar is nice with a nice view. It was the day after Valentine’s Day so they were out of a lot of the wine I would have chosen. Overall, welcoming and friendly staff with a great location.

To be honest, I only chose this hotel to get the Brand Explorer Reward with Hyatt, but… I was surprised by how much nicer the hotel was compared to the photos on the Hyatt app. Definitely need to hire a new photographer. The room was completely updated, very cute, overlooking the park. I think it was a junior suite? It was perfect for a one night stay. The bathroom was the smallest I’ve ever seen, but again, for a short stay it was fine. The hotel has charm and character, in a good way.

The front desk and valet staff were both really friendly and helpful.

Breakfast is grab and go only, which was fine for me. I had a breakfast sandwich and yogurt and the yogurt was super rich and thick, probably the best I’ve ever had. I did not expect it to be so good.

Overall, it was a really nice experience.

You would think a Hyatt property would be nice, but in this case you would be wrong. The location was convenient, but the hotel is badly in need of renovation. The carpeting is old, the wallpaper in the bathroom was peeling, the shower curtain was stained. There is a tankless “kick flush” toilet in the bathroom and the smallest pedestal sink you’ve ever seen, with no place to put toiletries. The wall unit for heat/air couldn’t be regulated so it was either sweltering or freezing in the room. The walls are thin so you can hear your neighbors, and the busy street that made it convenient also made it loud. Sirens sounded like they were coming right into the room.

My room wreaked of chemicals/cleaning supples, and while that may seem to suggest the room was clean, my room was dingy, dark, and worn down. The furniture and bed were horribly uncomfortable. The elevators smelled foul and strangely enough I had dinner at the rooftop restaurant and the food tasted like it had absorbed the foul smell. It was a bizarre twilight zone experience. The hotel is currently operating while being renovated and has very little charm, which is disappointing as it seems like the space has potential. (I went in a newly renovated room and it was soulless).