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Freehand Chicago Hotel
Availability
Online Reservation:
Available Rooms
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Flat-screen TV Free WiFi
This room features a private en suite bathroom, work desk and flat-screen TV. It also includes free WiFi access.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 1 extra-large double bed (181-210 cm wide).
Room Facilities: Tile/marble floor, Wake-up service, Bath or shower, TV, Toilet paper, Private bathroom, Air conditioning, Bathrobe, Radio, Free toiletries, Heating, Wake up service/Alarm clock, Towels, Carpeted, Toilet, Linen, Shower, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Laptop safe, Flat-screen TV, Cable channels, Telephone, Ironing facilities, Safety deposit box, Hairdryer, View, Iron.
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Free WiFi
This quadruple room has a private en suite bathroom, air conditioning, work desk and seating area. It also includes free WiFi access.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 4 bunk beds (variable size).
Room Facilities: Hairdryer, Safety deposit box, Ironing facilities, Socket near the bed, View, Iron, Towels, Heating, Shower, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Carpeted, Toilet, Linen, Toilet paper, Private bathroom, Bathrobe, Air conditioning, Tile/marble floor, Bath or shower.
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Free WiFi
The dormitory offers a seating area to be shared with up to 4 total guests of the room, en suite bathroom, desk and air conditioning. It also includes free WiFi access. Each bed has individual dual outlets, reading light and is draped for privacy.
Please note guests booking from Chicago zip codes (60---) are not permitted in dormitory rooms.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 1 single bed (90-130 cm wide).
Room Facilities: Shower, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Toilet, Carpeted, Linen, Towels, Heating, Safety deposit box, Hairdryer, Shared toilet, Socket near the bed, Ironing facilities, View, Iron, Bath or shower, Tile/marble floor, Bathrobe, Air conditioning, Toilet paper, Private bathroom.
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Free WiFi
This female dormitory offers a seating area to be shared by up to 4 total guests, en suite bathroom, desk and air conditioning. It also includes free WiFi access. Each bed has individual dual outlets, reading light and is draped for privacy.
Please note guests booking from Chicago zip codes (60---) are not permitted in dormitory rooms.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 1 single bed (90-130 cm wide).
Room Facilities: Linen, Toilet, Carpeted, Shower, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Heating, Towels, View, Iron, Ironing facilities, Socket near the bed, Shared toilet, Hairdryer, Safety deposit box, Bath or shower, Tile/marble floor, Air conditioning, Bathrobe, Private bathroom, Toilet paper.
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Free WiFi
Please note the room type and bed type will be allocated upon check-in. It might be a higher room category but is subject to availability upon arrival.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 1 large double bed (151-180cm wide).
Room Facilities: Safety deposit box, Hairdryer, Ironing facilities, View, Iron, Carpeted, Toilet, Linen, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Shower, Towels, Heating, Bathrobe, Air conditioning, Toilet paper, Private bathroom, Bath or shower, Tile/marble floor.
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Flat-screen TV Free WiFi
This room features a private en suite bathroom, work desk and flat-screen TV. It also includes free WiFi access. The room offers a city view.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 1 large double bed (151-180cm wide).
Room Facilities: TV, Bath or shower, Tile/marble floor, Wake-up service, Radio, Air conditioning, Bathrobe, Private bathroom, Toilet paper, Laptop safe, Shower, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Linen, Carpeted, Toilet, Wake up service/Alarm clock, Heating, Towels, Free toiletries, View, Iron, Telephone, Ironing facilities, Safety deposit box, Hairdryer, Cable channels, Flat-screen TV.
City view Air conditioning Private bathroom Flat-screen TV Free WiFi
Featuring a private bathroom, the king room includes a minibar, flat-screen TV and cable. It also includes free WiFi access. The room offers a city view.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 1 extra-large double bed (181-210 cm wide).
Room Facilities: Air conditioning, Bathrobe, Radio, Toilet paper, Private bathroom, Bath or shower, City view, TV, Tile/marble floor, Wake-up service, Telephone, Ironing facilities, Safety deposit box, Hairdryer, View, Iron, Flat-screen TV, Cable channels, Carpeted, Toilet, Linen, Shower, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Laptop safe, Free toiletries, Heating, Wake up service/Alarm clock, Towels.
City view Air conditioning Private bathroom Flat-screen TV Free WiFi
The spacious suite features air conditioning, a safe deposit box, as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower and a hairdryer.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 4 single beds (90-130 cm wide), 1 large double bed (151-180cm wide).
Room Facilities: City view, Bath or shower, TV, Wake-up service, Tile/marble floor, Bathrobe, Air conditioning, Radio, Toilet paper, Private bathroom, Toilet, Sofa, Carpeted, Linen, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Shower, Additional bathroom, Laptop safe, Free toiletries, Towels, Heating, Wake up service/Alarm clock, Hairdryer, Safety deposit box, Ironing facilities, Telephone, Iron, View, Flat-screen TV, Additional toilet, Cable channels.
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Flat-screen TV Free WiFi
The quadruple room provides air conditioning, a safe deposit box, as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The quadruple room features a tiled floor, a carpeted floor, heating and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit offers 4 beds.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 4 bunk beds (variable size).
Room Facilities: Radio, Air conditioning, Bathrobe, Private bathroom, Toilet paper, TV, Bath or shower, Tile/marble floor, Wake-up service, Iron, View, Telephone, Socket near the bed, Ironing facilities, Safety deposit box, Hairdryer, Flat-screen TV, Cable channels, Linen, Carpeted, Toilet, Laptop safe, Shower, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Wake up service/Alarm clock, Heating, Towels.
View Air conditioning Private bathroom Free WiFi
The dormitory room provides air conditioning, a safe deposit box, as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. Rooms on the upper floors are reachable by lift. The unit offers 4 beds.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Beds: 4 single beds (90-130 cm wide).
Room Facilities: Towels, Heating, Linen, Toilet, Carpeted, Upper floors accessible by elevator, Shower, Iron, View, Safety deposit box, Hairdryer, Ironing facilities, Socket near the bed, Tile/marble floor, Bath or shower, Private bathroom, Toilet paper, Bathrobe, Air conditioning.
Offering both private and shared rooms, the property provides a seating area, desk and air conditioning. Linen and towels are provided as well. Select rooms include a flat-screen TV.
Featuring a restaurant, Freehand Chicago is located in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Free Wi-Fi access is available. Both the John Hancock Observatory and Millennium Park are within 1 km of the hotel.
The Broken Shaker offers up signature cocktails and small bites in a relaxing and unique space. Cafe Integral serves Nicaraguan gourmet coffee and creative breakfast dishes.
A 24-hour front desk welcomes guests to Freehand Chicago, which includes a shared lounge. Other amenities offered include lockers and luggage storage.
The hotel is a 2-minute walk away from the Magnificent Mile and a 10-minute walk from Water Tower Chicago. Chicago O'Hare International Airport is 25 km away.
Nightly rates
from
Phone: +1 312-940-3699
Address: 19 East Ohio Street, River North, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
E-mail: reservations.chicago@thefreehand.com
Number of rooms: 217
Day +46°F , Tonight +41°F
Wind: southwest, 11 mph
Reviews of Freehand Chicago 4*
THE WORST HOTEL IN THE WHOLE WORLD! I humbly ask the receptionist and the restaurant if I can store the food of my in the FRIDGE/FREEZER and I WOULD EVEN pay extra just to store it cos my SON IS IN A SPECIAL DIET, I travelled all the way from europe and kept it in a cooler hoping that this hotel would allow me to use there fridge just FOR ONE NIGHT! But UNFORTUNATELY THE RECEPTIONIST WASNT HELPFUL AT ALL! I was alone travelling with my 2 year old boy and they didnt even OFFER A LITTLE HELP! Please do not stay in this HOTEL!
I booked a room with King bed bei Agoda and when I arrived there I become a shared room. Was horrible I need to stay with 3 women's who are living there till they find an apartment. They cook in that small room and was smelling bed. So I need to book another place and they refuse to give me my money back because they selling me a room that doesn't exist.
BLACK MOLD lined the shower. It was everywhere! When I talked to the front desk they made it seem like it was nothing, like it had happened before and had someone go clean it up but you could still see black spots. No bleach was used, we would have smelt it. The rooms are the smallest I’ve ever seen. The beds are tucked in a corner sideways so the other person in bed has to climb over the other. The mattress was the worst I’ve seen. Every time I moved the springs moved and poked me. I’m a side sleeper and my hip touched the platform it was on. My hips were sore the next day. No box springs here. The elevator is what nightmares are made of! There are so many rooms to this hotel that every time you use it you’d have to cram in there and it’s so small and dark. The staff was highly unfriendly. They acted like they just wanted to get through the high volume of people and hope no one would complain. They seem very guarded. When we left they didn’t even ask how are stay was. Barely looked up from the computer. Oh and nothing else was done with the black mold. I can’t believe we paid $200 a night for black mold, barely there broken down mattress, no breakfast, cramped shower and no consideration for guests.
Everything. What was the point of preregistration when it took you over an hour to get me checked in. And why was housekeeping knocking on my door at 10am when checkout isn’t until noon?
The manager Stacy was horrible. She was rude and unprofessional. She cancelled my room without my permission. I wouldn’t stay here based on my experience with her….
Beautiful building, at home feel and very nice staff!
Great host and atmosphere. Staff was phenomenal, and the security guards will be your guardian angel. If your a unique soul, or looking for a loving experience. Stop at the freehand when your in Chicago.
So comfortable. The beds were great. The whole hotel smelled incredible. Would stay here many more times.
Awful dirty and just filthy. The room was not clean, the walls had stains, curtains and shower curtains as well. The first comforters had a massive red stain and the second one has a yellow stain. The staff was nice but wow would not suggest this to anyone.
Absolutely lousy staff and embarrassing management. Rooms were not temperature controlled and staff was not Covid compliment amidst a pandemic. Will not recommend to anyone I know and will not work with this hotel for artist housing.
Disrespectful staff — doesn’t abide by safety protocols (staff have been seen not wearing masks) — room was super cold and Maintenence staff is anything BUT helpful. Waste of your money and far better locations in Chicago that are more worth your money! DON’T BOOK HERE.
Staff and other guests were not wearing masks and it was not being enforced. Refused to fix the heater in a guest room resulting in an early check out right after checking in, bc the room was too cold to even take coats off and they refused to fix the issue, and didn’t offer a refund. Then, the front desk manager verbally assaulted my friend and called her a “dumb b*tch”. Honestly appalling and the most unprofessional, horrendous experience one could have at a hotel. If I could rate — 10 out of 10, I would. Stay elsewhere, like literally anywhere else.
No refund despite the Covid time? Never seen before. It should be illegal. They’re a scam, no discussion possible, nothing. Never never going to book with them again!
Won’t refund me for my stay even though they aren’t open. Disgusting company.
Pros: the guy when we checked in was very chill. Great location for what we paid. Cons: When we arrived in our room, we realized there was no hand soap in the bathroom and the lighting in the rooms were awful. The worst part of stay was getting stabbed in bed with a nail poking out (attached pictures below). When I told the front desk about it, the man cut me off while I was trying to show pictures of the nail and the cut. He asked what room and quickly (and insincerely) apologized before asking, "anything else? " He didn't seem apologetic at all and seemed to think it was an inconvenience more than anything. They handled this extremely poorly. I'd say stay at any other hotel downtown, you may pay more but you'll get a much better experience.
They put my friend and I in a room with a chic who had the plague. (not literally but she was obviously sick af. ) Upon asking to be switched to a different room I was completely ignored and told it's not their problem. Now I'm sicker than I have ever been in my life. The rooms are so small there's nowhere to even walk. Our room stayed freezing even with the "heat" as high as it would go. (Obviosly broken. ) Due to several other negative reviews I've seen for staff negligence and freezing rooms this is an ongoing issue that Freehand has no desire to resolve. Stay there at your own risk!
Great place, family atmosphere, good bar, excellent location.
The rooms were super dusty and quite dirty. The cushions were stained and the thick carpet throughout was disgusting. Dealing with the flu now and pretty confident where I got it. Would not consider staying there again.
A very nice place and prime location just steps from the Mile!
Cool lil spot can’t beat the location friendly helpful staff.
Excellent location, personal service, a site where you are going to live together with people from all over the world, clean, comfortable.
Beautiful space in a wonderful location! Love!
Great downtown location! … Loved the room decor! … Check in super nice!
My stay was very nice it was very clean just what you need when you're on vacation just enough space not too much hassle to worry about with cleanup and pick up I enjoyed my stay at the bar was fantastic the bartender's the food was great and the drinks I will stay there again if I came back to Chicago.
The quirky style is AMAZING, the food is Fantastic, & location is Perfect. What else do you need to know?
Really enjoyed our stay here. Rooms aren’t big, but just what we needed — a clean, safe space to sleep. Perfect location, super central and in walking distance to pretty much all attractions. Close to public transport. Nice bar, even though server was not very friendly. Other staff was really nice and helpful. Would absolutely stay here again!
Rooms are cozy and clean! close to lots of great places to eat and shop, staff is nice and friendly.
08/29/2018
RespondIf you are looking for an extremely hipster hotel look no further. If you are looking for any amenities in your room, you're at the wrong hotel. Not even a cup for water in the room. Priced decent for the location but not my cup of tea. Drinks at the bar were good but a little overpriced. I personally hated the atmosphere but you may enjoy that type. Shower was extremely small and Lighting was very dim.
08/11/2018
RespondAmazing place, it has everything you need: kitchen, gym, bar, food. The people are very welcoming and helpful, seem to enjoy themselves. Room was a shared occupancy, very clean. Can be inexpensive. Highly recommend if your looking for a nice, easygoing, hostel like location in the middle of downtown Chicago.
Great, especially for the price. Close to trains, restaurants and blues clubs. The bar downstairs was great with a cool vibe. The staff were helpful and there is a laundromat and gym. The room was tiny but we hardly spent any time there so it never mattered. Would definitely reccommend.
07/25/2018
RespondNew review: Not quite sure what happened, but these guys seem to have lost their way. This morning, as I headed out, I complained to the front desk (bearded gentleman who assured me he'd personally look into it) that I had no soap, no shampoo, and no glasses in my room, and when I called to complain about it twice, nobody answered the phone. Tonight I return to my room, and I find no soap, no shampoo, and no glasses… The private rooms are not cheap, so to not offer the basics is absurd. I am responsible for recommending places to stay to people in my company. I had Freedhand in my list: I might be removing them. Old review: When I come to Chicago, this is my go-to hotel. Great location, great attention, and a weird vibe that I just love. Some floors are hostel-style, some are hotel style, and the mix of crowds ans styles makes for a unique experience.
New review: Not quite sure what happened, but these guys have clearly lost their way. This morning, as I headed out, I complained to the front desk (bearded gentleman who assured me he'd personally look into it) that I had no soap, no shampoo, and no glasses inmy room, and when I called to complain about it twice, nobody answered the phone. Tonight I return to my room, and I find no soap, no shampoo, and no glasses… What kind of hotel are these people running? It's not cheap, so to not offer the basics is beyond ridiculous. I am responsible for recommending places to stay to people in my company. I had Freedhand in my list: they are out starting today. They lost our business. Old review: When I come to Chicago, this is my go-to hotel. Great location, great attention, and a weird vibe that I just love. Some floors are hostel-style, some are hotel style, and the mix of crowds ans styles makes for a unique experience.
The hotel was hard to find at first, it doesn't look like a hotel from outside. Once we got in, it was immediately a cool and relaxed vibe. The staff was friendly. The room was very small, but we didnt plan on using the room for anything but sleeping, so it was sufficient. The sheets were clean, the room was cold, but we were able to get a good temperature before we went to bed. The room had a few books, which I thought was nice. There was a very comfortable, stylish, bar on the main floor, but my one complaint was the exceptionally high cost of drinks, that I did not feel were worth the money spent. I would definitely stay here again, happily. I just wont be drinking here again.
There’s nowhere else downtown you’re going to get this great of a price for the location and quality. Have stayed here a few times and always enjoy coming back. Coffee shop + bar downstairs is a great place to hang and meet people.
I had a great time at the Freehand. Besides being really decent people, my roommates (3) were interesting, fun, from all over the world. Clean, furnishings were fine, breakfast fine, staff helpful. Easy access to trains and buses in the Loop area was a huge plus, and good proximity to sightseeing attractions. Will definitely stay there again. It exceeded my expectations.
The hotel has a good central location! The rooms are very small. But in everything very clean and lovingly furnished. We were also allowed to move into our room earlier after we had a super jet lag, so that we could rest for the first time…
The atmosphere in the hotel is relaxed! Down in the bar there is always something going on. Around the hotel there are many ways to buy food or go out for dinner…
If you are looking for a hotel to sleep in good hands, those who want more luxury and relaxation are here at the wrong address.
The place itself is excellent. The room was clean and quiet. My only complaint would be the loud band that played in the lobby area. It was really unbearable. I went down to the bar to have a drink and conversation but that was nearly impossible. I would suggest an acoustic band or something that doesn't crank their equipment to 10. I'm sure people trying to sleep on the first 5 floors would appreciate it too as I could hear it all the way up the elevator.
Great customer service at the front desk and unique/aesthetically pleasing rooms. I loved the combination of green subway tile and rich wood accents in the bathroom and euro feeling of the bedroom. While it was smaller than the average queen room, it's quite an efficient use of space. Would definitely come back.
This hotel was very interesting. It felt like a hostel, but everyone had there own room and bathroom. The rooms were small, and there was no shelf space to keep anything, so we had to just throw things on the floor. Walls are thin, so it was loud during the night. There was a suspicious stain on a pillow, too. That took away a star. For the price, I'd consider going again.
It is difficult to rate the hotel or hostel, some find it good others. The rooms are clean but small. What bothered me was the check in. I wasn't greeted very kindly, they preferred to talk to themselves. Welcome are different. The location of the hotel is good.
The staff is amazing and the rooms are quaint. This is walking distance from just about everything. They coffee shop inside was the best coffee we had all weekend. And the broken shaker located inside is the perfect hidden gem. We will never stay anywhere else now!
PROS: This hotel is really beautiful. The coffee at the cafe is great. The service is wonderful. I knew about the small rooms going in, and that was totally fine with me. CON: If you are a light sleeper, I would strongly recommend another place. I can normally sleep through anything, but I found that the doors for all rooms slam shut and actually woke me up several times throughout the night. I realize this sounds like I'm insane and not the heavy sleeper I claim to be, but it was bad.
Room was better than expected for the price we got and location is absolutely fantastic. We managed to walk everywhere we wanted to go. Art institute and the bean are roughly 15 minute walk from the hotel. Also getting to the hotel from/to the airport was pretty easy, 15 min walk to blue line which takes you directly there. Overall, we would stay there again, for the price and location I am sure there is no better option to choose from.
Very nice hotel! Was a very good experience! The staff was nice, the room was also very nice and I definitely enjoyed the bunk beds. Freehand Chicago is literally in the middle of everything and for the price it was definitely a steal! I would love to give this hotel 5 stars but I can’t. The 4 star rating is based upon me and my best friend getting pink eye. We are both very clean people so I’m very sure that we didn’t give it to ourselves so I’m assuming housekeeping didn’t wash the pillowcases properly or there’s someone going around the hotel passing gas on people’s pillows… either way we came home with pink eye and aren’t very satisfied. BUT minus that, it was a great experience, very lovely hotel! I’d tell everyone to stay here :)
Hipster vibe. If that is where you are comfortable more power to you. If not, you can avoid hearing pretentious conversations in the lounge. Absolutely awesome location, I scored a room for $25 after taxes. It is worth $40 to avoid cab fare.
We booked a queen size room on Groupon. The hotel was really cute inside and decorate nicely. The people working the desk were really accommodating. As soon as we parked, a man approached us. We paid him for our parking ticket, only to realize he stole our $20 and didn’t work in the parking garage. We did park at the Grand Plaza which aside from that, was secure and really busy and very close to the hotel. When we checked, we told the staff about the man stealing our $20 and we got a free parking pass. Our room was very small maybe, 12x10ft. The bathroom was also very small but the hotel was cute and close to almost everything we needed. 100% would stay here again.
Tiny ass room. Put two people in a hostile room with two bunk beds totaling 4 twin beds. No tv. It’s a joke. Won’t refund either. Do not stay here.
Check In was EASY AND FAST, the atmosphere is very eclectic, clean, and totally worth it! The location is amazing, walking distance to everything in River North and River South. Room was small but they made it work out wonderfully and so clean! Plus their bar serves delicious drinks and chill place to kick back.
My friends and I booked the quad room. Very comfy for 4 guys staying over downtown. It's cheap, and perfect for a place to stay. We did happen to find bondage cuffs under one of the beds, which made a great story. Other then that cool place.
The entrance is covered with ample heating in the winter (including exterior heat lamps). The area was well maintained and staffed. I was getting coffee at the Integral café, which has quite good espresso and large drinks. Good pastries too. The seating around the ground floor is mostly big couches with throw pillows and the rugs on the floor give a very warm atmosphere. Was pretty cold inside even though I was far away from the door. The bathrooms are nicely setup with gender neutral stalls and a communal bank of sinks. A bit too dark in the bathroom though.
We're staying in a queen room. It's snug and just enough space to have a cozy stay. The hotel feels really hip and stylish. The prices are great (especially if you look into a Groupon). We loved our stay!
The freehand has by far the best contemporary hostel experience. It has all the bare necessities, and bring them into the new world. Comfortable beds, updated decor, updated restrooms, full kitchen, free simple breakfast, laundry center, and full gym. I️ would dare to say that you cannot truly experience Chicago without staying here. Meeting new people, and being dead in the center of downtown makes it ideal. 5 minutes walk to magnificent mile, 10 minute walk to millennial park, over 40 bars within 10 minutes of the hotel, and countless restaurants nearby. Will try and stay here every single time I️ come to Chicago.
Great location in the city for business, attractions, and city exploration! Welcoming and hip lounge area, cafe, and bar. Community centered — listings of curated local events. Great price! Well-designed queen room! Thank, would have liked more space as a couple (we stayed 10 nights). A bit of a wait at the 2 elevators, and could use more sound proofing.
This is the fanciest hostel I've ever stayed! Every room has its own bathroom. Bunk bed is really clean and spacious! My fav is the communal area they offered! A cafe and a bar area! Very decent cocktails and great service! I came back twice already!
I stayed in a room with four bunk beds (private quad) and the twins were pretty comfortable and spacious. The TV was a generous size and the bathroom gorgeous. Gave 4 stars because we had the thermostat up to 85 and all had to sleep in sweatpants and sweatshirts.
Dark room next to a noisy parking garage. Bar is cool. We were in a king on the 3rd floor. When we asked to switch rooms after 2 nights, we were told all the kings are next to the garage. Stay in any other room or on a floor above 7 and that should be better. Maybe you willl get natural light. No joke 12AM leaf blowers and power washers at 1:38AM. Rooms are nicely decorated though and great location. I wouldn’t stay here again, therefore I’ll stick with 1 star for the hotel.
Free Wi-Fi, breakfast. Very clean rooms and linen. Located in central downtown very convenient to visit the main attractions. Helpful staff. Checkout the hangout in the main lobby. It is fun.
Rooms are small, but nice. Great place to stay with a nice bar and coffee shop on the ground floor. Will definitely stay here again.
A very good central hotel. I would highly recommend.
A great surprise qd to my stay at Freehand Chicago. Location, service, cleanliness… TT was at the top.
For a hostel (and I tested several) and for the price I was well served.
I'm very recommended this hostel for evry thing.
I had a positive experience at Freehand Chicago. Check in was easy, the bed and room was very clean and the bed very comfortable. I stayed in a quad female room with three other solo guests. I didn't check out the lounge area as I just wanted a place to spend the night, but it seemed many others were there enjoying themselves. I'd definitely stay here again. Lots of touristy things are all in walking distance and the price was great for my budget. It helped I had roommates that suited me! But that part can't really be controlled. Staying here with friends would probably be great fun.
Great vibe! I would definitely stay there again if I return to Chicago. Well located and modern. Different style of hostel to the normal one. It's a mix of hostel and hotel with great prices. The beds are very private and comfortable with their own light and "table" to put your stuff there so you won't be bothering your roommates. The bathroom is always clean and well stocked with good smelling amenities.
Three of us stayed in a quad and we find it very clean, cozy and has a lot of charm. The people at the front desk were extremely helpful and detailed. Good stay so far!
Convenient downtown location close to a lot of attractions. The interior appears to have been recently remodeled; everything looked fairly new. The rooms could use a good dusting and vacuuming, but otherwise seemed pretty clean. We had the quad room that features four bunk beds and a couch space. It was just enough room to relax and sleep. TV, phone and shampoo were not included but we had free Wi-Fi and breakfast. Paid parking is available one block away.
Nice Hotel. I stayed there with 3 friends and despite the small room, we all slept comfortably in the bunks. We stayed here because the room rate was a good, low rate. Can't speak to the bar area as we did not have drinks but it had a cool vibe.
If anyone is looking for a great deal on hotels you can check it out on HotelRaven. Com Booked a room on there and they had the cheapest rates around… We booked a four-person room (two bunk beds) for the week, and it's been great so far. The bunks are spacious and have dividers so you have your own space. There are two outlets per bunk, which is excellent for charging and staying plugged in. The breakfast is so-so (coffee, fruit, toast, and cereal), but that's alright because there is so much else around. Great location, walking distance from the museums and the river.
Sat down in restaurant looking for a quick bite and a strong drink. The menu was promising! Cool bohemian hostel vibe. Waited a while to see a waitress but not obscenely long. Ordered an old fashioned and a bottle of beer and food. 28 minutes later the waitress comes back telling us our food choice is no longer available. Still no drinks. Reminder, one was a beer. We walked out.
Service and stay were great! Checked in to a friendly staff with ease. Rooms are a bit small, but that is to be expected in Chicago. Their is no Heater in the room, so if it gets cold be prepared for that. The beds are a good size, and they are set a little lower on the floor level. They are comfy, though! Our room was kept clean during our visit, and we had no other cleanliness issues. The walls here are pretty thin, so you can hear people in the hallway or your next door neighbor, so be conscious of that. There is also only one elevator so it can sometimes take a few minutes to go up or down. We ended up taking the stairs a few times. There is a really great bar and third wave coffee shop with great bartenders and baristas. Definitely enjoyed the conversations there. The clientele seemed to be mostly younger people, but we came during NRA Show week, so we saw a diverse crowd at the hotel. I would recommend!
Good location and economic.
Located in the center and very comfortable rooms. Breakfast modest. Price too high to be a hostel for my taste.
I am highly impressed with this place! The room is so cozy and came with mini bar options and room service available, the TV has an HDMI cable, there are outlets everywhere, the decor is warm and relaxing, there is plenty of lighting available, the window looks out to a cool alley way, and the bathroom is beautiful. And that's just our room! The lounge area and coffee bar are amazing, the espresso is crazy strong, the bar is open until 2:00 but charges $10 for well drinks unfortunately, there is an awesome shared kitchen with community refrigerators, etc. Can't wait to come back! They have everything I could need here and it's right in the middle of downtown, so close to everything we wanted to do.
Super clean, affordable hip hostel/hotel. If you're scared of hostels because of cleanliness do not be afraid to stay here — it is spotless. Good community vibe in the communal areas, staff are attentive and helpful. Close to shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and transit. Will absolutely stay again.
Some friends were staying here for a conference so we hung out for a bit. What a cool place! Very bohemian/speakeasy vibe, not like anything else I've seen. It looks like they have regular rate rooms as well as cheaper dorms with a shared kitchen. My friends were in a coed 4 person dorm with bunk beds, very cozy. The lounge had great music, I think I would like to stay here sometime.
The hostel is amazing in every aspect except one… the Internet service is a pure shit!
One night stay with a view! Loved my stay back on Labor Day Weekend 2016. The check-in staff were super friendly and welcoming. I stayed in a room with two bunk beds and an en-suite bathroom. When I first walked into the room I was pleasantly shocked by the level of detail in the design and quality of the bunks. The sheets were comfy, the room had a nice woodsy smell, and the carpet was clean. A+ The bathroom was nice and very clean as well. Also, the hostel is in a great location in Chicago. I definitely encourage you to venture out farther than a 10 minute walk from the hostel because Chicago is a great city with very unique neighborhoods and amazing restaurants and bars.
Very cool hotel, has a hostel sort of feel. Nifty, economical 4 person rooms and friendly staff. There is a coffee shop in the lobby and the location is in the middle of down down. Parking is crammed into a TINY garage down the road so you do have to hoof it about a quarter of a block. Location is perfect for down town events.
Good hotel for the price. Very central. As he sticks the rooms have windows that are very old and gets very cold, my stay was in November with between 0 and 5 degrees, and the heat pump that has the room is not enough to heat it. Otherwise, clean, average size, and well located.
Excellent atmosphere and facilities are just what you are looking for a traveler of the city and the unbeatable price considering the perfect location. Don't miss the pizzeria Uno.
Really cool hotel. Very small room, but comfortable and stylish. Honestly don't miss the space. King size bed, huge TV, well appointed bathroom. What else do you need? I paid under 150/night for a room dead center of downtown Chicago. The other guests tended to be young European or Asian business travelers or tourists. Really cool vibe. Will definitely be back the next time I have business in chi town.
Coolest of the cool in Chicago. Bohemian classy is the best way to describe this spot. My visit was actually to Broken Shaker, the bar in Freehand. The drinks are arguably the most creative in Chicago. They change regularly, so you'll never bore with what they have to offer. It's a little up there in cost, but I willingly pay the premium prices for drinks that I definitely couldn't concoct myself. Great place!
I don't usually leave reviews, but this is by far the best hostel/boutique hotel I've ever stayed in (I've stayed in a lot all over the world). Friendly staff, beautiful rooms, and a central location. What more could you ask for? I also hear the bar is nice.
Best hotel I've ever stayed at. It has a very unique feel and decor. Lots of dark wood and patterned, colored designs. So beautiful and slept great.
The hotel is comfortable. The rooms are quite small compared to other hotels I've ever been to. The location is perfect if you want to go out in downtown chicago and the surrounding area. There are several restaurants nearby including pizza one.
It's a very old building that was xonverted to a tiny hotel. The mattress was on the floor and the rooms n lobby are decorated in 1970's chic. The room was so tiny that there was no way to get between the bed and the wall on one side. The electrical was wired outside the walls son on top of the drywall. Veiw of an air shaft, wasn't horrible, they had suspended art there. Upon checkingbout, there was only 1 clerk. They also charged my CC $50 for inculdentals, upon checking in. I would never stay there again, for the price I would rather stay at a chain hotel.
Rooms are fine, cleanliness and Wi-Fi. The location is very close to the centre and around the Block a U-Bahn Station. In the Bar in the Hostel, what's going on in the evening, also good city guides, which are offered. Negative was that the Stopper in the bathroom door was a rail defect, which led to a contusion!
Everything perfect just a bit old but with a lot of personality!
I did a 5 months internship at the Northwestern University and stayed at the Freehand during my entire stay. The place and the downtown location are pretty awesome. Everything is at walking distance. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this place.
Really enjoyed our stay here. Good location. Cool hotel. Bar was cool. We stayed in one of the quad rooms, which was perfect for a bachelor party. It would have been nice if the AC could get a bit cooler. Overall, it was good and the price was good.
I stayed in a four bed dorm and it was really nice. There are lights, power outlets and curtains in each bunk and a seating area. Linens and towels supplied, locker (best to bring your own lock) and the bathroom was spotless. The lobby area was very welcoming and a great place to hang out. The included breakfast was fine and there are lots of dining choices nearby.
The room was small but the staff was very accommodating. It's a cute room with a pretty nice bathroom. Unfortunately there are only two elevators and quite a few floors so that trip can take awhile, but that's the only real complaint, which isn't even an issue. The hotel is a stones throw away from some really nice bars and restaurants. Freehand has a really great location, and it is very easy to navigate through the surrounding areas.
The vibe was awesome. Chill without pretense. Staff was great… check-in and out simple. Location was perfect. Will def be back. Next time will have to spend time in lounge and coffee shop.
Our room was clean, quiet, and comfortable. Check in/out was easy and fast. The staff was pleasant and helpful. The hotel had lots of cool amenities. The atmosphere was very chill. I'll be staying here again in the future.
Environmental good, rooms open view, price still acceptable.
I scouted the Freehand in advance for my bachelor party, which is in a couple months. I looked the bohemian vibe, and the staff was very pleasant. Hey accommodated my by showing me one of the quad rooms. The room was small, but larger than I had hoped considering my part experience with reasonably priced hotel rooms downtown Chicago. The Freehand is in a fun neighborhood, which is promising for the bachelor party.
Front desk staff was extremely rude. I checked in and the bed was surrounded by three wals so I went back to front desk to see if I could get another room. The young lady said that was the last king bed left however they had queens available. I asked her if I could see the room to make sure the bed was large enough for two people she told me no. When I asked why she said "it is against hotel policy to show me an additional room. " I've stayed in hotels all over the world and have never heard about such a policy. I asked, "well what if I get up there and realize it is too small? " She said that I would be stuck with the room anyway. An hour later my husband showed up but couldn't get up to the room for security reasons. He then asked the same young lady if she could give him a room key. She said no that I would need to call downstairs. He asked her if she could just call my room and ask me to let him up because his phone was dead and again she said "no, that's against hotel policy. " Sounds like "it's against hotel policy" is just a mere excuse for her laziness because when I stayed there the week before and had the male staff call up to the room he did it with no problem.
A site very impersonal, but very well located. Congratulations to the service room (5th floor). Was flawless, I have not seen a room and bathroom as clean or in hotels category. Thank you very much.
Buena habitación y muy buen servicio.
Amazing place to stay at a great cost. The lounge area is a perfect way to start your evening! Short walk to anywhere downtown. I would stay here again in a heartbeat!
ONE FREAKIN AMAZING HOSTEL! TRUST ME I have stayed in so many hostels around the planet … This one is SO awsome … very friendly people… every one from the room service to people who are at the welcome desk. Met some amazing travelers … If u want a place to stay in chicago… THIS IS IT! Dont think twice just book it! I wish Freehand All the success in their business venture. They are starting a new one in LA… JUST BOOK IT! Dont think twice… GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Good price-performance ratio, Central location, clean.
What a great place! At this price, I think it's an amazing place to stay in the heart of Chicago! The interior decoration and ambiance are great, feels like a 5 star hotel. The room I had was a little small, but felt cozy rather than cramped. The bathroom had a good size. Friendly and efficient staff.
Friendly service, great prices, and a good location! Surrounded by many restaurants, bars, and shops. Loved the laid back style of the hostel — highly recommended! Offers both private and dorm style dwellings. Two thumbs up!
I attended a bachelorette party here in September 2015 and really loved this place! It is a charming mix between hotel and hostel, and really creates a fun experience for its guests. The service was absolutely AWESOME — from the front desk, to the hotel bar, to the coffee shop — the staff really goes above and beyond to take care of it's patrons. I have to mention the security guard, Brian — who was an absolute JOY and really took the extra time and effort to make sure we were safe and welcome. Brian is truly an asset to the staff (and any place of business). Thank you brian!
Just got back last night from a conference. It was tiny, but neat, clean and cheap. My friends were all jealous of my room rate. When we were cashed in for the night I told them I had to jump on the red line and get back to the Hipster-Hotel! I might need to go buy a beanie and wear it around now.
I came here last week with my boyfriend and it was one of the worse experiences I've ever had. I travel and have stayed at MANY hotels in my life but this place by far had the worse customer service. We got to our hotel and proceeded to check in. We had a reservation for a city view queen room and the guy checking us in was nice and polite but seemed to have trouble locating a room for us. He said they were at capacity last night so it was hard to find a room. He finally finds us a room, hands us our room and tells us to enjoy our stay. We go upstairs only to find our room is NOT a city view room at all and IT WAS DIRTY! The sheets were if someone had slept in the bed, there were wrappers and garbage all over the desk and in the bathroom the little bottles of lotion and soap were left opened and used. I was honestly disgusted. We went back downstairs and told them that room wasn't a city view and that it was a dirty room. The man at the front desk that had glasses and dirty blonde hair is who took care of us when we came back down. He looked at me and said, "oh it's dirty? They said it was clean" I said, "yes, it's dirty. " He looked at me and said, "well we are at capacity". Then he proceeded to radio someone to check on two rooms. He asked to see our reservation on our phone again because it didn't say in the reservation that we had a cityview room. It was in my boyfriends name so he shows him and said, "it says city view here and points on the phone".
Great hostel in a great location. Clean, high standard of build, good customer service, and an amazing bar with good, cheap drinks.
Best option for the younger crowd within the River North area. To preface this, I had a private king room for the stay. Although this was one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in, the room was pretty small. Between 1-3 feet of room on any side of the bed and a closet less than 2 feet wide your room certainly isn't glamorous. But lets not even talk about the awesome view of the parking garage ;) (they're not lying when they say unless you pay for a city view room you likely won't have one). Nice, but small, bathroom is definitely a plus — love having modern amenities when traveling. The bar downstairs, the Broken Shaker, has some good cocktails and solid atmosphere to hang out with your friends; not to mention a killer selection of books scattered throughout the Hostel for your enjoyment. As I was in the city for business and not staying in the hostel side of things, I wasn't necessarily too keen on meeting other travelers. From what I could tell, this isn't the greatest place to meet other travelers. After backpacking for a little over 2 months in europe staying exclusively at hostels I have experienced my fair share of the lot. I would say this hotel ranks in the upper echelon of places I've stayed. Now I feel like I'm rambling, so I'm just going to end this. You will love the location and atmosphere of this place, so just pull the trigger already.
Stylish room. Lots of character. Comfy bed with a wool blanket at the foot of it. Inviting common spaces. Even has a guest kitchen.
Good place to stay but with a few caveats: poor insulation means it can get uncomfortably chilly in the early Fall before they turn on the heat; only 2 elevators to serve 17 floors means you occasionally have to wait a few minutes for one; they don't get families with young kids so if you have one then they may be a bit unprepared to deal with kid-specific needs.
Comfy bed, great pillows, 2 each, room seemed redone recently, very clean, staff always very friendly, great location! We'd stay here again any time! Thanks for the free ice at night and in the early morning. Thanks to Alec especially, answering questions and organizing a dentist's appointment on Labor Day for the next morning.
I guess there are other Freehand establishments, and this Chicago location is a newbie. On one hand, I'd have to give it an A for effort. Though I couldn't figure out why I was uncomfortable there. The hostelers, a mixed bag at best, were the same as anywhere. The Chicago staff, were, well, Chicago staff. The décor, hmmm. The décor. Sort of looney tune décor. I love all the woodwork, that conveys establishment, heritage, and longevity. Kind of a mix of FLW prairie and native american. The whole thing throws a long time traveler off balance though. At first you want to behave like your at the Hilton, or maybe Hyatt express. Business like, and all that, because of the solid decor. Most hostelers really have no purpose to their travel, so business like behavioir is “old”. Is it casual, sloppy then, like most hostels end up being? Yes, in casual, no in sloppy. All in all, its not really a true hostel, or not a very good hostel. Many hostelers are eating lunch and dinner, from a cereal box, or having a cucumber. Or, alternately, a big group, requiring a big kitchen and dining room. As for being a good hotel, Ok for a boutique hotel, perhaps. In the final analysis, the place was kind of designed for me. Someone that would enjoy the cost benefit of a shared room, and also enjoy the big effort to create a more pleasing décor. So, now I get it, its an upscale hostel. I'll bump up my overall rating to a 3+, but since there is no 3+, I'll give it a 4. P. S.
Comfy quad, beds are nice. Cool chic, native american vibe in the lobby. I'll definitely stay here again. Wifi could be better, cuts out sometimes. Elevators are also somewhat slow. Blueberry muffins for breakfast are amazing. Guest kitchen is a plus.
Such a nice hotel/hostel in a very nice area of Chicago. You would never know it was a hostel! Easily the coolest hotel I've ever been to!
Best on it's class… I'm still here but the facilities and service they offer are incredible. Location is in the right pot to use public transportation to all the City attractions. I will return for sure! Highly recommended.
Came here to chicago travelling alone for the first time checking in was very friendly, it was only weird to me at first bc of the shared room thing but I found it just bc it was my first time! But it has everything a nice hotel would have in a hostel environment! The furniture was still new and had that new "wood" smell the bathroom were very very clean! As well as the ones in the lobby down stairs! I'm very impressed you guys keep it up! I will definitely return back to this place and stay here the next time I come to Chi. ALSO, all the main things to see in chicago are so close to this place it's right near magnificent mile! Very great location and service!
Ritzy joint. So BEWARE all you getting that cheap room. There will be other people waiting inside. Hahahahaha.
This is a great hotel, the rooms are very comfortable and clean. Staff are very kindly and you can wash your clothes in the guess laundry! Breakfast is healthy. A great place to make friends.
Wonderful feel, clean and fun.
This is a new place and actually, I am quite impressed. There hotel/hostel fusion style is definitely gonna attract a lot of people. The hallways still had that icky smell of paint but my room smelt great. You could see that someone took a good amount of effort to design the room. Getaway and hostelling international may have good competition from freehand soon.
Facilities
- Upper floors accessible by elevator
- Daily housekeeping
- Iron and board
- Lockers
- Carpeted
- Air conditioning
- Higher level toilet
- Lower bathroom sink
- Invoice provided
- Tile/marble floor
- Iron
- Dry-cleaning
- Family room
- Laundry
- Elevator/lift
- 24-hour front desk
- Non-smoking throughout
- Ironing service
- ATM/cash machine on site
- Room service
- Accessibility features
- Non-smoking rooms
- Heating
- Toilet with grab rails
- Wheelchair accessible
- Luggage storage
- Smoking areas
Room Amenities
- Shower
- Linen
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- View
- Bath or shower
- Bathrobe
- Towels
- Toilet paper
- Toilet
- Hairdryer
Food & Drink
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Fruits
- Wine/champagne
Activities
- Nightclub/DJ
- Live music/performance
- Happy hour
- Evening entertainment
Swimming Pool
- Beach/pool towels
Wellness
- Fitness facilities
Languages Spoken
- Chinese
- Multi-language staff
- English
- Spanish
Policies of Freehand Chicago
Check-In:
From 15:00
Check-Out:
Until 12:00
Accepted Credit Card Payments:
Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, UnionPay Credit Card, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, American Express
The minimum age for check-in is 18
Freehand Chicago on map
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Nearby Attractions
Shops at Northbridge0.23 km.
Blue Chicago0.33 km.
Chicago Tribune Tower0.34 km.
McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum0.36 km.
Wrigley Building0.37 km.
Arts Club of Chicago0.41 km.
Michigan Avenue0.44 km.
Marina City0.46 km.
House Of Blues - Chicago0.49 km.
Water Tower Chicago0.54 km.
Really unique stay downtown. Relaxed, boho vibe and reasonably priced.