Carleton of Oak Park

Hotel

The perfect get away. I love this place!

They serve Great food…

Very nice and cozy rooms!

Great place to stay! Here to meet colleagues.

Great clean hotel in beautiful neighborhood.

Accommodations, service and staff were great! Food was excellent! The best veggie burger ever! Lobster rolls, soft shell. Crabs, breakfast and coffee. Some signs of wear in the public areas, but it's a lovely property in a great district. It is not accessible from front doors; you have to bring your luggage up and down steps on the main floor…

Beautiful accommodating banquet hall for the size of our party. Not too big. Not too small. Very curious service from the staff.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From a DJs point of view, this is an amazing venue to work at. The staff, catering, food and customer service is beyond amazing. I definitely recommend that you check this place out for your next event.

I've been staying at the Carleton for 7 to 10 days every year for over 10 years. Love the convenience of its location, the helpful staff and the spacious accommodations. Can't say anything bad about the place. For those who had a negative experience here, give it another try. You'll be glad you did.

Great location and helpful staff. I was a long time resident of oak park and now stay here when I visit. It is a wonderful place.

Very nice classic hotel with wonderful location and amenities.

We had an amazing time celebrating my son’s wedding last night! The whole affair ran sooo smoothly! Staff was great! Food was fabulous! Everyone had a fantastic time! Thank you! I would recommend anyone looking for a wonderful venue!

Wonderful hotel, great restaurant at Barclay’s American Grille, and friendly staff at both hotel and bar. We were in a suite, and it was a fabulous place to prep for the wedding parties, entertain friends & family members who were popping by to say hello and visit. They’ve done a great job of updating an old hotel… with all the charm intact.

The Carleton was tucked away neatly with two restaurants, though it was not too difficult to find the hotel entrance. Check-in was quick and smooth with friendly and polite employees, though we wished we got a map showing where all the parking lots are located. The room was clean, but the doors were a bit difficult to open and close; they hit the doorframes a little. Overall a good experience and we would stay again.

Fabulous room, very clean. Breakfast was delicious, and it was great that you could select a time or just wander down. Great location as well!

Comfortable, spacious room. Attractive decorations, if a bit out of date. Immaculate landscaping outside. Friendly staff.

Arrived after midnight (due to a delayed flight, bad weather in Orlando) to an unsmiling and less than welcoming front desk rep. He did get me checked in ok and I was able to find my room. However the room key did not work and after several attempts had to call the front desk rep. For help. I was able to get in after but the key remained the bug issue for the rest of the stay despite having new ones provided. Otherwise the room was comfortable and bathroom clean. Had reservations about the carpet but no surprises was had. The bright spot was breakfast in their restaurant. The service and food was great and is the reason for the 2nd star. I checked out early due other reasons but the front desk going out seemed even more unfriendly than checking in. Summary the front desk needs retraining in customer service.

I worked with Dana at the Carleton to book an event for my team. We booked rooms for 25 person for 2 nights with a conference room one of the days. The hotel staff was friendly, professional, and prompt with regard to catering the room and the meal times we communicated. Our group (from all across the USA) loved the walk-able area, restaurants, and drinking establishments locally — — and the 5 free parking lots. I would not hesitate to do business with Dana and the Carleton again in the future.

This hotel room and bathroom were beautiful. The detail of cleanliness was amazing. The breakfast was first rate. I had beautiful meals every morning. Will stay again.

Ronny is one of those people that will save this world. Her understanding and compassion for others is a blessing. She turned what would have been a very difficult trip into a memory that my fiance will not soon forget by simply caring. Thank you Ronny!

Luxurious with attentive and very helpful staff. Breakfasts were fantastic with many options. Would highly recommend.

First time here. I thought it was very very nice and comfortable room / environment. The restaurant breakfast prices are a little high. I hope you will enjoy your visit as I did.

Very nice hotel in a nice area of greater Chicago. Mattress was rather cheap and very hard, but room was clean and spacious. Attached corner bar was nice and had decent late night fair. Parking lot is VERY small, but parking is free. Would stay again.

This hotel room and bathroom were beautiful. The detail of cleanliness was amazing. The breakfast was first rate. I had beautiful meals every morning. Will stay again.

WOW! What a concept. They have these really short toilets with a water level about 3 or 4 inches below the rim. Then they added a sunken lid that lets you sink down in and guys can soak there junk while taking a dump. How thoughtful.

Clean and neat. I will absolutely prefer The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel again in next trip. It was a wonderful experience.

I think this is the only hotel in downtown Oak Park. It's wonderful inside and out but the main thing here is the staff. From the bar and restaurant to the desk everyone is SO NICE!

Comfortable room accommodations. Pleasant & helpful staff especially at the reception. We have been here for a romantic party of two and they are very accommodating! Will definitely come again.

Great location, the hotel is situated near the shops and restaurants. Very friendly and helpful staff on the beach. Pool is small, but clean. I will probably come back in the late summer.

My husband and I had our wedding reception at the Carleton. Everything was absolutely perfect! Candice, The Carleton's Banquet and Catering Manager, was very professional and provided exceptional customer service! She helped us stay within out budget, was patient, supportive, and receptive to our ideas. The Hotel's staff were all pleasant, helpful, and accommodating. We could not have felt more at ease the day of our wedding. Candice made sure things went smoothly and guests were taken care of. We did not do an open bar but having a white and a red wine at the tables worked out for us! The food was delicious! We're grateful for Candice and the Carleton Hotel staff! Thanks for making our wedding day memorable and stress free!

Stayed here for a wedding and the hotel is a lovely piece of history with spacious rooms (the suite the bride stayed in was ENORMOUS). Beautiful lobby, charming rooms. The issue was this hotel has thin walls and we could hear our neighbors clear as day. It was comfortable but impossible to get a good nights sleep for light sleepers.

Great location — walk to shops in downtown Oak Park and walk to Green line/Metra to get to anywhere in Chicago via train. Rooms are comfortable. Hotel restaurant — Barclay's — is a nice spot to sit and have dinner.

Though we haven't stayed at the Carleton, we frequently go to Poor Phil's, the casual sports bar/restaurant in the hotel. We're big fans of their burgers, the Bomb Burger is our favorite. They are more well-known for their seafood. The Catfish Po'Boy is excellent. My friend who frequently does raw oysters, says theirs are some of the best.

Very authentic boutique hotel with tons of charm in a building with amazing details and modern upgrades. Great location. Excellent service, friendly staff, and solid attention to details. Free parking. In a super cute neighborhood away from traffic. Great find!

Update: I received a follow up thank you from the Carleton, so I responded by explaining my disappointment (see below). I just received a response that was much more appropriate, and have therefore changed my rating. Definitely NOT worth the $$. Front desk personnel mostly great, but I upgraded to an actual hotel room, instead of the crappy overpriced motel room (because you don't realize that's the room you booked until you get there) and there weren't enough blankets, so I was uncomfortable. Biggest downside was that I specifically spoke to housekeeping and told them I did not want them to clean my room. There was no 'do-not-disturb' sign to hang, and so when I came back, I had a scolding note from housekeeping telling me I had to keep my bed clear. When I reported this to the front desk, they did nothing, I mean literally nothing. The next day when I was checking out, I asked again if anything had been done about my privacy being invaded and all they would say was "oh sorry, miscommunication. "

My experience at this hotel was great. Rooms are very modern. All staff at the front desk are caring and respectful. Highly recommended.

Definitely NOT worth the $$. Front desk personnel mostly great, but I upgraded to an actual hotel room, instead of the crappy overpriced motel room (because you don't realize that's the room you booked until you get there) and there weren't enough blankets, so I was uncomfortable. Biggrstvdownsidecwas that I specifically spoke to housekeeping and told them I did not want them to clean my room. There was no 'do-not-disturb' sign to hang, and so when I came back, I had a scolding note from housekeeping telling me I had to keep my bed clear. When I reported this to the front desk, they did nothing, I mean literally nothing. The next day when I was checking out, I asked again if anything had been done about my privacy being invaded and all they would say was "oh sorry, miscommunication. "

This place is a place I would recommend to anyone that is coming to the area. Staff are all great at helping you out. My room was very clean. I didn't feel the need to have to clean it before I could get comfortable.

We got a block of rooms here for our wedding and stayed in a suite that night. It was a little expensive for some of my friends, but it was very comfortable and convenient for most of us. I loved having Poor Phil's just downstairs and the jacuzzi in our room!

We live locally to this facility so have never stayed there, but have suggested it to many out of town visitors who have loved it. We frequent their restaurants which are great.

Stayed here in July, photographs and description show a beautiful old hotel on a quaint street. Our room was NOT in this beautiful building but in what appeared to be a 1950's motel around the block serviced by an outside balcony, no elevator and a bathroom so small you had to literally open the door in order to dry off from the shower. On the positive side, the hotel was located walking (less than a mile) distance from the train that takes you into the city and the quaint downtown of Oak Park and walking distance (about a mile) from the Frank Lloyd Wright home and office. The room was clean and the staff very friendly when I spoke with them directly, but my room was not made up after the first night stay and a request for towels went unanswered. I guess I felt tricked having seen a beautiful old hotel in the photographs and descriptions and then ended up in a Motel around the block.

Stayed in the motor lodge. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Rooms were clean and adequate. The age of the buildings means the rooms are smaller and the ceilings low — — the bathroom and shower were especially cramped for someone of my height. These are minor concerns, however, and overall the stay was lovely.

I have been here or in the area since I was a little boy. Grew up in Green Bay, WI but family in Oak Park was a big part of my life. Return here for work and skip Marriott and Hilton despite Gold Status to stay here. Memories are priceless.

Great location near the L and Lake Street shopping. Clean, comfortable, quiet. Helpful staff. Off street parking. Reasonably priced. Great place to stay.

Love this place only stayed here once but the night staff was super nice and accommodating.

Location was full of nice shops, two restaurants in. They have room service and the building is quite historic in nature. Overall the stay was great but may be pricier for families to stay.

My good friends' rehearsal dinner for their wedding was at the Carleton. It was a fantastic evening overall. The staff was courteous and kind and the building was beautiful.

The Carleton is a nice boutique hotel. The building is very old and the elevators are tiny, but other than that it is comfortable and really has character.

We had a very nice stay here. It was easily accessible to the trains and walking distance of several nice shops and restaurants. The room was clean, the bed was extremely comfortable and the bathroom had plenty of well lit space. After an exhausting round of summer road construction travel, the staff made us feel welcome and well cared for. Highly recommend.

Well maintained, good rates, free parking, and easy access to the city.

Despite being a bit out of the way from Chicago proper, this quaint but modernized hotel provides really amazing rooms. The breakfast and amenities are so-so, but my room was spacious, incredibly clean, classy, and had a mind-bendinglingly luxurious bath and vanity. Also, the service, while minimally staffed, is attentive.

Good service, and fair rate, it is far from Chicago loop, but easy access via train.

Hotel is well situated in "downtown" Oak Park. Building included inside access to two restaurants. Had a nice large and clean room. Included a bathroom +ext vanity and a kitchen +small dining area. Staff was courteous and professional.

The location of the hotel is perfect with quick access to coffee shops and restaurants. The rooms are spacious with plenty of amenities.

We had very mixed feelings about our stay at The Carleton. The room was nice enough. It definitely had a historical feel, which was fun. It wasn't fancy, but it had a nice little kitchen area with a microwave and small fridge. The bathroom was nice, with a comfortable tub, but the water pressure was very poor. This may be due to a lack of modernization in certain aspects, but that lack of modernization added to the charm of the hotel. The air and heat wasn't centralized, and each room had an individual air conditioner, which took some time to cool the room to a comfortable level. The service at the front desk was less than ideal. While the front desk personnel was never directly rude, they always gave an impression of having been inconvenienced by our approach. They were never sitting at the front desk. They were always hidden away in a nearby office when we approached. The restaurants feature heavily in other reviews, but they are all able to be reviewed independently, and the hotel doesn't really deserve the weight of a positive or negative review of these places. Having said that, we ate at Poor Phil's and had a nice breakfast and good service.

Nice digs, safe neighborhood, clean room, good price. The only—extremely minor—problem I had was that my room was not stocked with a room service menu. It is a classy joint.

I travel 80% of the year so I have a great chance to see a range of hotels. The Carleton stands out but for the wrong reasons. To preface this review, I ordinarily don't write reviews unless I've had a terrific experience or an extremely lackluster experience. I've stayed at the Carleton twice, the most recent being last week. And it was a lackluster experience. Positives: -Great menu of TV channels (over 600) -Nice vintage feel to the hotel and rooms. They're not fantastically modernized but that's okay because that's not their intended niche. Negatives: -Service. For 2 days I had no internet availability. Initially I thought my laptop had failed but realized this wasn't the case. For a businessperson no internet is incomprehensible with the level of work I do at night. -Service. The restaurant (Poor Phil's I believe) service was terrible. The male bartender was too busy trying to be rico suave with the ladies than paying attention to my order. Terrible experience. -Service. I just got off the phone with the hotel because I was trying to cancel next week's reservation in order to make a reservation elsewhere. The female on the other end was terrible — she made me feel like I was the one at fault because SHE couldn't find my reservation (even after I offered her the confirmation # from the hotel's website). In any case, that would have been fine except for the pure level of disrespect after the cancellation.

Cute retro rooms in the "motor coach" area. All was fine except the towels had wiry black hairs all over them.

Nice staff, great location, and best of all free parking.

Surpringly nice, with historic and architectural details. Nicely appointed rooms, fast Wi-Fi, free local gym — the Y but better than most hotel gyms — and accommodating staff. Easy cab to downtown.

Stayed here Memorial Weekend, with mixed results. Having traveled extensively all over the globe, I feel we have a pretty decent idea of what to expect. Likes: food at Poor Phil's, room size, free parking, boutique nature of hotel, comfortable beds. Dislikes: terrible, absolutely terrible service at Poor Phil's. Unbelievably bad really. Once we just left after 15 minutes with no wait service. Fried fish smell in very small elevator is discomfiting. For the prices charged, I suggest they supply a couple of 'welcome' bottles of water in room, daily newspaper, another trash receptacle in outer bathroom (we stayed in room 309). Long line to check out, so left without copy of bill, had to call to ask for email copy. Front desk staff friendly enough, but that staff at Poor Phil's needs a refresher course on customer service.

Stayed here in March 2014. The neighborhood is safe, and convenient to transit (green line), restaurants, and shopping. The rooms are a decent size, but we found the service to be miserable! We had two rooms. One room was never cleaned, even though we were out of our room from 9 am to almost 2 pm. In the other room, we ran out of toilet paper. This should be an easy fix, but when a person in our party went to the front desk to ask for more rolls, they were questioned extensively about whether or not they had checked all closets. Before handing over a roll, the front desk called our room to verify that we were, in fact, truly out of toilet paper. It was very strange, and the lack of kind service does not warrant the price of staying at The Carleton. Also, the lobby smelled strongly of fried fish during our entire stay.

Recently attended a wedding reception here and it was lovely! The staff was amazing, the food was very good, and everyone had a wonderful time. The boutique feel of the hotel was something I have not experienced in a while.