The Willows Hotel Chicago, Chicago ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2024

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About the Hotel

555 West Surf Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, 60657

The Willows Hotel is nestled in the tranquil Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, a location rich in cultural experiences. Known for its elegant decor and cozy accommodations, the hotel offers a blend of vintage charm and modern amenities. Guests are conveniently situated near top attractions, including the Chicago History Museum and Lincoln Park Zoo. This boutique hotel is recognized for its inviting atmosphere and access to Chicago's vibrant local scene.

Location

Conveniently located within walking distance of public transport, guests can access multiple Chicago 'L' train stations including Fullerton and Diversey. The hotel is less than a mile from both the shoreline of Lake Michigan and major attractions like Wrigley Field and the Lincoln Park Zoo. This central location makes it easy for visitors to experience the best of Chicago's cultural and entertainment offerings.

Rooms

The hotel features 55 guest rooms, each designed with comfort and sophistication in mind. Standard accommodations include elegant wood furnishings, a queen-size bed, and a spacious bathroom equipped with a combination shower and tub. Upgraded options like the King Junior Suite offer additional space with a separate sitting area and a fully stocked minibar. In-room amenities also include flat-screen TVs with cable, plush bathrobes, and free Wi-Fi for added convenience.

Eat & Drink

While The Willows Hotel does not offer on-site dining, guests can enjoy a wide range of local restaurants nearby. One notable option is R.J. Grunts, a renowned comfort food destination known for its all-American menu. Additionally, the surrounding area boasts coffee shops and casual dining experiences that cater to various tastes. Guests have the opportunity to explore the culinary diversity that Chicago has to offer.

Leisure & Business

The Willows Hotel provides amenities that meet both leisure and business needs. Guests can access a local gym and enjoy a cozy lobby area with a fireplace. Business services include 24-hour front desk assistance and laundry services. For those wishing to relax, the hotel is located near picturesque parks and scenic paths along Lake Michigan, ideal for jogging or leisurely strolls.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Deluxe Queen Room

Max:

4 persons

26 m²

Bed options:

2 King Size Beds

Shower

Heating

room details

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Small Queen Room

Max:

2 persons

11 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

Shower

Heating

room details

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Executive King Room

Max:

2 persons

25 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

Shower

Heating

room details

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Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center

Chicago 4.0 mi

Airports

Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) 15.5 mi

Midway International (MDW) 16.0 mi

Train

Millennium Station 3.6 mi

Ogilvie Transportation Center 3.6 mi

Metro stations

Diversey2700 ft

Wellington3000 ft

Bus

Bus stop400 ft

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Spacious Comfort

The room was impressively spacious, making it feel cozy and homey while providing ample natural light.view full review

Charming Ambiance

The lobby had a quirky and comfortable ambiance that was perfect for enjoying morning coffee and people-watching.view full review

Nice Snack Area

The snack area in the room offered a great selection of goodies at reasonable prices, perfect for late-night cravings.view full review

Cozy Decor

The room decor was inviting, contributing to a relaxed atmosphere that made our stay enjoyable.view full review

General

No smoking on site
Parking
Safe deposit box
24-hour reception
No pets allowed
Baggage storage
Elevator
Smoke detectors

Sports & Fitness

Fitness center
Golf course

Services

Housekeeping
Welcome drink

Dining

Snack bar

Business

Fax/Photocopying

Room features

Free Wi-Fi in rooms
Air conditioning
Heating
Mini-bar
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Bathtub
Free toiletries

Media

Flat-screen TV
AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Location

555 West Surf Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, 60657

Map view

555 West Surf Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, 60657

City landmarks

Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo

4700 ft

Stadiums

Wrigley Field

1.3 mi

Museums

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

4400 ft

Garden

Lincoln Park Conservatory

1.0 mi

Gallery

Wrightwood 659

2100 ft

btwn Halsted St & Broadway

Boystown

3600 ft

642 W Deming Pl

Saint Clement Roman Catholic Church

2300 ft

Church

National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

2300 ft

2391 N Stockton Dr

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

4800 ft

Gallery

DePaul Art Museum

4100 ft

875 N Michigan Ave Within Chicago 360

360 Chicago Observation Deck

2.7 mi

2200 N Stockton Dr

Lincoln Monument

5000 ft

Harbor

Belmont Harbor

2800 ft

Museums

Chicago History Museum

1.7 mi

Harbor

Navy Pier

3.5 mi

Lincoln Park

South Pond

1.0 mi

2045 N Lincoln Park W

Alexander Hamilton Monument

2100 ft

2801-2845 N Lake Shore Dr

Calisthenics Park

2100 ft

Belmont to Hawthorne

Lakeview East Festival of the Arts

2200 ft

Parking area

Diversey Driving Range Parking Lot

2300 ft

Church

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

2400 ft

1050 W Waveland Ave

Wrigley View Rooftop

1.2 mi

Parks

Oz Park

1.4 mi

3627 N Sheffield Ave

Skybox on Sheffield

1.1 mi

3633 N Sheffield Ave

Lakeview Baseball Club

1.1 mi

Bordered by Halsted St On The East

Wrigley Rooftops

1.1 mi

University

DePaul University Welcome Center

4400 ft

3458 North Halsted Street

Hydrate

4400 ft

Nearby

Store

Trader Joe's

1700 ft

2800 N Pine Grove Ave

The Brewster Building

1100 ft

Restaurants

Yango's Grill

300 ft

2845 N Broadway St

Yummy Yummy Asian Cuisine

600 ft

2901 N Broadway St

Chipotle Mexican Grill

700 ft

610 W Diversey Pkwy

Crisp

1000 ft

2940 N Broadway St

Nancy's Original Stuffed Pizza

800 ft

2930 N Broadway St

Wow Bao

900 ft

2806 N Clark St - Lakeview

Burger King

800 ft

748 West Diversey Parkway

The Crepe Shop

800 ft

2928 N Broadway St

Bobtail Ice Cream

1000 ft

2951 N Broadway St

The Chipmunks

1300 ft

438 W Diversey Pkwy

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

76%

liked the hotel and would stay again

comfortable rooms

friendly staff

overheating rooms

average dining

7.6/10

Very good

Rooms

7.0

Location

8.5

Service

8.0

Dining

5.5

4/5 based on 1117 review

#92 of 200 hotels in Chicago based on Tripadvisor

Anne

United States of America, April 2024

7.8/10

My stay at the hotel was a mix of comfort and inconvenience. The rooms were cozy and sweet, but the old style radiator heaters made it suffocatingly hot at times. The view overlooking the alley with apartment windows across was not ideal, yet the overall comfort level was satisfactory.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms are very comfortable and sweet, but the old style radiator heaters required manual adjustments to avoid overheating.

Service

8.0

The service was nice and accommodating, with the staff being very pleasant. They even changed our room for Days 2 & 3 at no extra cost after a disappointing experience on Day 1.

Location

9.0

The location is amazing, tucked away on a quiet street off Clark, yet close to a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was decent, with a relaxing setting in the lobby area. The choices were good, but could have been more substantial with a wider variety of items.

Facilities

The facilities were adequate for a comfortable stay, though nothing particularly exceptional was noted.

comfortable rooms

overheating rooms

Harry

United Kingdom, March 2024

7.4/10

The hotel's location is super safe, ideal for those late-night walks, just a few blocks off Lakeshore Drive, close to everything we wanted to see and do. The rooms were a mix - spacious for some, extremely small for others. The service was excellent, very accessible, courteous, and knowledgeable, with great housekeeping and a lovely welcome drink. Dining options ranged from hearty and plentiful to awfully poor. The facilities were okay, with a cozy lobby and good WiFi.

Rooms

7.0

Service

9.0

The service was excellent - very accessible, courteous, and knowledgeable. The housekeeping was top-notch, and the welcome drink was a lovely touch.

Location

9.0

The hotel is located in the Boystown neighborhood in North Chicago on Surf Street, great for quick access to the Briar Street Theater, numerous restaurants, coffee shops, small grocery stores, and decades-old local charm.

Dining

5.0

The dining options varied from hearty and plentiful to disappointing with some being awfully poor.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were decent, with a comfortable lobby area, excellent WiFi, and friendly staff.

Jerry

United States of America, July 2023

7.2/10

Wow, what a mixed bag! The hotel rooms were a bit of a letdown, old-school vibes, and those manual heaters were a hassle. Yet, surprisingly clean, spacious, and comfy. The service was top-notch, super friendly and efficient, making up for the room quirks. The location is a gem, surrounded by dining options, but that dirty alley was a downside. The dining experience could use some serious upgrade. Overall, a decent stay.

Rooms

7.0

The room was clean, spacious, and comfortable, despite the dated 1950s decor and manual heaters.

Service

9.0

The staff was incredibly friendly and efficient, making sure everything was sorted out promptly.

Location

8.0

The hotel is ideally situated near Wrigley and the lake with fantastic dining options, but that dirty alley was not appealing.

Dining

5.0

The dining experience, particularly breakfast, left much to be desired with a limited variety of items.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were adequate, but nothing exceptional to note.

Bryan

United States of America, June 2023

6.6/10

My stay at the hotel was a mix of positives and negatives. The room I was shown was cozy with a very comfortable bed, but it was smaller than expected and lacked a desk chair. Despite the promise from the front desk lady, there was an issue with the room temperature being too cold.

Rooms

7.0

The room I stayed in was cozy and the bed was very comfortable, but it was smaller than usual and lacked a desk chair.

Service

6.0

The service at the hotel was a bit of a mixed experience. While the staff cleaned our room promptly and was great about arranging a taxi for me, there was a less than welcoming attitude when I raised concerns about the room comfort.

Location

8.0

The location of the hotel is excellent for those looking to explore the beautiful Northern suburbs. It was convenient for running errands up and down Lake Shore Dr and close to the Lakeview area of Chicago.

Dining

5.0

The dining options at the hotel were not impressive. The continental breakfast was basic and lacked variety, which was disappointing given the hotel's desired image.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities at the hotel were satisfactory, although nothing exceptional stood out during my stay.