The Willows Hotel

Hotels
9 (989 reviews)
555 West Surf , Chicago , us

Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Heating
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Courteous staff
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Noise from outside

Categories

Cleanliness
8.23
There were reports of a ripped mattress pad and the hotel being old and needing updates.
Service
9.7
Staff were described as courteous and helpful, despite some complaints about the service.
Location
10
Multiple reviews praised the great location and convenience.
Room Quality
8.74
Rooms were generally comfortable, but some had issues like noise and temperature.
Amenities
8.69
Basic amenities mentioned, but lack of some items like coffee in rooms and issues with room service.
Value for Money
9.22
Some guests found it reasonable for the location, but others found prices high for the quality.
Food and Beverage
8.18
No breakfast included and some complaints about room service prices.
Overall Experience
9.23
Various experiences were mentioned, but many enjoyed their stay overall.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 08:09

Property Description

Charming Location in Chicago
The Willows Hotel offers a charming stay nestled in Chicago's prestigious Lakeview and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. Guests can enjoy the serene surroundings of a tree-lined street while being close to the vibrant city attractions.

Convenient Amenities
Experience convenience with complimentary WiFi, round-the-clock coffee & tea service, and comfortable guest rooms equipped with modern amenities. The Willows Hotel ensures a relaxing and hassle-free stay for all guests.

Explore the City
With easy access to public transportation, guests can effortlessly explore popular city attractions such as the Steppenwolf Theatre, Wrigley Field, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the beautiful Lake Michigan coastline. Uncover the best of Chicago right at your doorstep at the Willows Hotel.

Important information:

You must show a valid photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all special requests cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability upon check-in. Additional charges may apply.

Please be advised that charges are applicable for early arrivals. Please contact the hotel directly for more details.

Please note parking fees vary depending on vehicle size. Please contact the property directly for more detail.

Please note that for reservations of 5 rooms or more different policies apply:
-50% of the total amount will be charged by the property after the reservation is made.
-If the reservation is canceled up to 14 days before the arrival date no fees will apply but if canceled later or in case of no show, the total amount will be charged.

When booking 4 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements may apply.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: ORD

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 989 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.23
Service: 9.7
Location: 10
Room Quality: 8.74
Amenities: 8.69
Value for Money: 9.22
Food and Beverage: 8.18
Overall Experience: 9.23
G
Grinage couple us
10
2026-08-20 via Nuitee
J
Jessica couple us
10
We enjoyed the care put into our stay
Pros:

So beautiful and anticipated our needs for our stay. The in room snacks and wine are a great touch. Our concierge Eric was very helpful and knowledgeable got us a cab when we needed a quick lift.

Cons:

We missed the cookie hour :)

2026-08-12 via Nuitee
W
Winifred solo_traveller us
10
2026-08-11 via Nuitee
S
Sheri solo_traveller us
9
2026-08-11 via Nuitee
M
Melissa solo_traveller us
10
Convienent, quiet and beautiful location
Pros:

Great location! Walked to the beach and so many great restaurants close by.

2026-08-10 via Nuitee
J
JOSE family_with_children sv
1
Dirty
Pros:

The property is in a good location

Cons:

Super dirty no room service to clean

2026-08-09 via Nuitee
D
Deborah couple us
2
Terrible Stay
Pros:

The staff were very friendly and the location is good. The lobby always had water. Room was spacious. Bed and pillows were comfortable.

Cons:

Our king room smelled like a hockey locker room
- it was terrible. The shower curtain smelled musty. There was a hole in the robe hanging in the closet. And the teabags they provided were from Kroger. We paid $430 for all that and a ground floor view of a dirty back alley. The bed and pillows were very comfortable, but the smell never improved enough to sleep well. The very sweet attendant at the desk wanted to move us, but did not have the ability to do so on the computer. I have a feeling we were not the first people to have the issue with that room. In spite of kindly talking to the staff about it, no manager bothered to followed up with us at all either.

2026-08-06 via Nuitee
J
john couple us
10
Very pleasant stay . will definitely be back
Pros:

Cozy and close to everything

2026-08-05 via Nuitee
A
Ana couple us
10
2026-08-02 via Nuitee
D
Deborah solo_traveller bw
3
Disappointing - good reviews made me book but the room was small, pokey, poorly air conditioned
Pros:

Location was central- walking distance to restaurants / eating was good.

Cons:

Room 236 was poor - very small, hot, loud air conditioner, small bathroom for US$600 +

2026-07-23 via Nuitee
P
Pamela couple us
8
2026-07-19 via Nuitee
J
jimbW5343BM NONE
10
Wonderful Hotel in Lincoln Park
Pros:

A very reasonably priced hotel in the Lincoln Park area. Convenient restaurant options and easy Uber rides to Chicago attractions. One unusual feature is reasonable prices and options for the minibar items in each room.

2026-07-11 via Tripadvisor
R
raduilie Family Paris, Ile-de-France
10
Nice clean room
Pros:

The room was clean, the neighborhood is safe, it was quiet at night so we slept well.

2026-07-09 via Tripadvisor
3
358shamush Family Lake Mary, Florida
10
Great experience
Pros:

Room was very clean (Jessica was great and very pleasant), front desk always helpful (especially Julia).

2026-07-05 via Tripadvisor
G
Getaway66613715922 NONE
8
Cute and quiet
Pros:

The location was perfect. It felt very safe and tucked away from big city vibes. The room was just a regular older hotel room - a bit outdated but that gave it charm to me. The price was great especially for the location. Our room was clean, the hotel common area was clean and smelled nice. You don’t hear big city sounds it was very quiet and secluded feeling. The young man working the day we checked in was very kind. There aren’t any huge amenities for this place - our room was very basic, a bed, bathroom and shower. There’s a mini fridge stocked with mini bar items. Overall this couple from a rural town in Michigan enjoyed our stay!

2026-07-03 via Tripadvisor
G
Georg solo_traveller ch
6
2026-07-01 via Nuitee
J
Jennifer couple us
10
A cozy boutique stay in a quiet corner of Chicago charming, relaxing, and exactly what we were hoping for.
Pros:

We recently stayed at the The Willows Hotel in Chicago and had such a wonderful experience. We absolutely loved the quiet location, it felt tucked away from the busier parts of the city while still being close enough to everything we wanted to do.

The hotel itself had such a charming boutique feel that made our stay feel extra special. It was cozy, welcoming, and full of character, which we really appreciated over a more typical chain hotel experience. Overall, it was the perfect spot for a relaxing stay in Chicago, and we would definitely stay here again!

Cons:

Nothing really to not particularly like about the property. We’re not hard to please.

2026-07-01 via Nuitee
D
Daphne extended_group us
10
Had the best time! We saw Bertha at Wrigley and Pride Parade right outside the door! Best girls weekend ❣️
Pros:

The history and location were absolutely PERFECT!!

Cons:

Outdated but charming!

2026-06-30 via Nuitee
S
Sallynoble72 Family
10
Classic & Convenient Hotel Stay
Pros:

Fantastic hotel property! Easy to find, friendly staff, great ambiance, clean and comfortable rooms. The teens loved the fresh cookies in the lobby! Easy to park in parking garage right up the street. This was our 2nd stay and we will come again!

2026-06-28 via Tripadvisor
R
Roger solo_traveller us
10
A Genuine Pearl
Pros:

Humorous decor, friendly staff, subdued but responsive clerks. Atmosphere of calm safety.

No bfst. No frills, no parking lot, no in-room microwave
My unit had a mini fridge Packed with sale items.
Near plenty of attractions. Rich in restaurants grocers, coffee shops, other services.

Cons:

I stayed longer because it suited all my needs.
Glad I found this refuge.

2026-06-27 via Nuitee