Freehand Chicago
19 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611-2707
Lowest prices for your stay
$207
$207
$102
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Prices above are provided by partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and do not include all taxes and fees. Please see our partners for full details.
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What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Floors marked for social distancing
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
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Updated 02/03/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from Freehand Chicago
Updated 02/03/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#11 of 133 Specialty lodging in Chicago
Location
4.7
Cleanliness
4.1
Service
4.1
Value
4.0
Freehand Chicago, located just 2 blocks from Michigan Avenue in the heart of River North, offers comfortable accommodations and great dining all in a building featuring the designs of renowned firm Roman & Williams. Our hotel features queen and king bedded rooms as well as rooms featuring 2 sets of bunk beds (4 twin beds in total), and two Penthouse Suites in a historic building. We have a coffee shop, Café Integral, as well as an award-winning cocktail bar, Broken Shaker.
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Property amenities
Parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Business Center with Internet Access
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour check-in
Wifi
Restaurant
Shared lounge / TV area
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
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Room features
Air conditioning
Room service
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Full view
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
308Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
79Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
19 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611-2707
Getting there
GrandChicago L2 min
ChicagoChicago L6 min
Rental CarsSee rental cars from $34/day
927Reviews27Q+A100Room tips
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Stayed there for Lollapalooza 2022 for about a week, my experience was great I picked the female quad room, everyone there was really cool bunkbeds for everyone, the water there was really cold and enjoyable especially after a long day of walking, but what I enjoyed the most was the customer service when I first arrived there the air conditioner was not working when I told them downstairs they fixed it immediately, will come back again
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We stayed here for 3 nights and while we enjoyed the location and how easy it is to get to and it's proximity to many restaurants and shops, there were a lot of things we noticed. Leading up to our stay, I tried calling several times to get some information from the staff. The phone kept ringing and ringing with no one answering or the option to leave a voicemail. This was extremely frustrating and made me worried about the status of our reservation and why a hotel wouldn't answer a phone. I was finally able to get a hold of someone, but only by email. As mentioned in other reviews, it is dark in the common areas. The elevator was the worse offender and I really had to make sure I was hitting the right button, same thing in the hallway. After the first night, we noticed an ant infestation in our room around the phone on the desk. We called the front desk right away and they said maintenance would be notified to take care of it. When we got back, we noticed a number of ant traps placed around the area. While it fixed the issue, it is alarming that they have an ant infestation. As we were leaving, we asked the front desk if they could store our luggage until we came back later closer to our flight time. The lady working the front desk acted like we were bothering her by asking and had quite an attitude about it. My wife mentioned that she had a pair of shoes she was looking to donate since she didn't need them anymore and the same lady mentioned that there might be some donation bins nearby since "there are a lot of homeless people here". Not exactly the right thing to be saying to guests of your hotel, let alone repeat it a couple of times. The room itself was nice. We had a king size bed, which was very comfortable. The bathroom was rather small, but to be fair, we weren't spending a lot of time there. It is important to note that Freehand Chicago is part hostel and part hotel. When booking, make sure you book a private room if that is what you want. Again, overall it is in a great location, but there is so much potential when it comes to the overall atmosphere, staff professionalism and overall experience. I hope that management gives this review a read, reflect on it and make some much needed changes to this place.…
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Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Make sure you book a private room and not a shared room
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
I have never been to Chicago before, so maybe all of the hotels are expensive, but I was surprised to find that I had paid so much for what is essentially a slightly upscale youth hostel. I was not surprised to learn that this building was a flophouse until 10 or so years ago, before it got sold to a boutique hotel chain and this vintage hipster veneer was added. While we had a private room with a king bed, it was very small with a window facing directly out into a parking garage which provided car alarms intermittently throughout the night. The overhead light flickered, 2 of the 3 electrical outlets didn’t work, and the thermostat on the split AC unit was impossible to read. And this was not the cheapest king room! Adding to the depressing atmosphere, the hotel is very dimly lit throughout. This might be intended to hide the fact that it is not very clean. The carpet in the hall and the curtains in our room were stained. The television was very dusty, which I noticed while searching in vain for a single accessible HDMI port for plugging in a streaming device. Another major irritation was the cramped elevators. There are two, they are small, and they service at least 16 floors. We often had to let one go because it was too packed. On the plus side, our bed was comfortable, some of the staff were nice, and the location was great. If you are looking for a place to crash and nothing more, I suppose it might suit you. But I have to believe there are better deals to be had.…
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Writing this review after seeing a friend book a room at this hotel. I’ve stayed at the Freehand in New York and Chicago and they’re both terrible. The rooms are tiny in both locations, but at the Chicago location the bed is literally on the floor. When we got in the room, we looked under the mattress to see a bunch of hairs and that the bed didn’t have a fitted sheet. We called the front desk and they told us the beds don’t have fitted sheets because they are “layered” which is so weird. The hotel is dark (literally you can’t see anything in the lounge/bar area), dank, and unwelcoming. There’s no water machines (except in the basement gym) and other typical hotel amenities. The front desk staff was slow. Freehand hotels definitely draw people in for being Instagram-able, but lack literally any and all function. Sooo many better hotels you can stay at in river north for a similar price!!…
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Had two nights here, it’s very easy to get to and convenient. Rooms are very loud, a little small, but fine otherwise. Shower was good, our room was mostly clean- but not perfect. They play music quite a bit outside and downstairs, nice communal ground floor and reception service
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Try for a room off the front road
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
If your room is next to an elevator stay somewhere else, trust me. If you need something from the front desk, forget it. My room had dirty sheets, a broken sink, a broken tv, and the elevator kept me up all night. If you try and get help, the manager will talk over you and raise her voice at you
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip: Avoid staying here
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
It's a great location and cozy room with a working TV and bathroom, but my room was never cleaned over a 3 night stay, despite asking twice one day and again the next. There are no USB outlets, only regular outlets. No lotion or fridge, just the bare minimum, which is fine, but the staff should have responded to my repeated requests for a room cleaning at least once during the stay.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
When you read "hostel" you don't necessarily think of staff behind exceptionally friendly, welcoming, and helpful. However, that's exactly what we found at Freehand Chicago. The room (king) was small but very clean and nicely furnished. The building is eclectic and fun. The location is awesome. The staff are truly the best highlight though. From check in to check out, they were among the best staff I've encountered anywhere (including "nicer" hotels). I would stay there again anytime I could!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
The only reason we booked a room here was because we couldn't find any other rooms close to downtown. Everything was booked. This 218 sq ft double bunk bed room cost 650 for one night. Go elsewhere if you can. Other than the outrageous price and super small room, it was nice. The room was clean and the staff was very nice.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
I stayed at the Freehand to attend a conference. I stayed in the 4 bed dorm. It was quite clean, unfortunately the bathroom door could not be locked. My roommates were very nice so that was not a problem at all, but I could imagine it being uncomfortable for some people. Other than that the rooms were clean and the staff was friendly.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$102 - $266 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesIllinoisChicagoCentral / Near North Side
NUMBER OF ROOMS
217
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Freehand Chicago
Which popular attractions are close to Freehand Chicago?
Nearby attractions include The Magnificent Mile (0.2 miles), The Escape Game Chicago (0.09 miles), and EscapeHouse Chicago (0.10 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Freehand Chicago?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Freehand Chicago?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Freehand Chicago?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Capital Grille, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, and Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken - Streeterville.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Freehand Chicago?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness center during their stay.
Is Freehand Chicago located near the city center?
Yes, it is 1.0 miles away from the center of Chicago.
Are any cleaning services offered at Freehand Chicago?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Are there any historical sites close to Freehand Chicago?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Garfield Park Conservatory (4.7 miles), The Rookery Building (0.9 miles), and Macy's on State Street (0.6 miles).
Is Freehand Chicago accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.