Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
A historic Loop hotel between State Street and Michigan Avenue with ornate public areas and signature fudge brownies.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
This vast Loop property between State Street and Michigan Avenue is famous for its ornate chandeliers and historic common areas. Guests consistently praise the comfortable beds, quiet sleep quality, and strong shower water pressure. However, reviewers frequently complain that guest rooms feel dated and dilapidated, with tiny bathroom sinks and dysfunctional air conditioning. 211620
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- The central Loop location puts guests a block from the elevated train tracks between State Street and Michigan Avenue. 29
- Beds and pillows consistently provide a comfortable and quiet night of sleep despite busy surrounding streets. 12
- The public areas stand out with ornate chandeliers and historic craftsmanship, alongside the signature fudge-like walnut brownie. 116
The catch
- While many guests praise the friendly staff and communicative security, elite travelers frequently report that Diamond and Gold benefits are ignored. 20
- Some visitors find the base room rates a solid value for the historic setting, but others dislike the mandatory daily destination fee and steep prices at the Lockwood Express cafe. 20
Who it's for
- — Travelers wanting a prime Loop location near elevated trains
- — Fans of historic architecture and public lobby spaces
- — Guests prioritizing comfortable beds and quiet sleep
Skip it if
- — Anyone expecting renovated, modern guest rooms
- — Guests frustrated by daily destination fees and pricey cafe snacks
- — Hilton elite members seeking guaranteed upgrades and perks
Seen on camera
16 moments · 4 videos · Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“there are two entrances to the suite plenty of closet space so I've counted maybe three closets so far”
youtube.com1:28“so this hotel is I think 140 years old so there's a lot of really awesome vintage charm here it's art deco in style with…”
youtube.com1:10“check out this bed we have a king-size bed in the room it was a huge headboard huge headboard the bed is very comfortabl…”
youtube.com1:51“the booking process was extremely easy i just went to the palmer house hilton website joined the honors program chose my…”
youtube.com4:47“welcome to the king suite at the palmer house wow this place is huge holy cow”
youtube.com5:25“beyond all that good info i mean come on that ceiling speaks for itself it's absolutely beautiful”
youtube.com9:43“ac is going nice i put it at a cool 67 degrees”
youtube.com10:20“the shower wow that water pressure was so strong i definitely did not expect that from a building constructed in the 192…”
youtube.com10:28“and the bed king-size bed good mattress nice sheets good pillows i was out like this”
youtube.com10:37“all the staff at the palmer house have been very very friendly that's made the state even better”
youtube.com14:34“there's a little half bath on this side alright not bad marble”
youtube.com0:14“coming over here into the bathroom if I can find a light switch it's small but it is a full bath so with the tub the soa…”
youtube.com1:11“the tvs in here are great all the hdmi ports are exposed you can easily hook up a cord”
youtube.com10:23“so coming in right away on the right of the door is a closet and it's actually really big I thought that the closet had…”
youtube.com0:45“Located right in the heart of downtown, the Palmer House puts you just steps away from the city's premier shopping, top…”
youtube.com0:16“wow that is unlike any other brownie i've had before where usually they're more cakey this is almost like a fudge bar an…”
youtube.com12:37Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
Paying $9 more direct is likely worthwhile if you value Hilton Honors points, status credit, or on-property benefits.
Prices shown are an estimated range, not a live quote — the booking site confirms the real rate for your dates.
This sits inside our estimated range for this hotel.
Confidence: low · modelled estimate, not a live quote. Check the supplier for the real rate on your dates.
Score breakdown
How the 78/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
85Food
87Location
93- “And the location: perfect. I'd be lying if I didn't mention safety concerns in Chicago. Palmer House's location is ideal because this side of town is well-lit at all times, which should help guests both feel safe, and be safe.” 4
- “Smack dab in the middle of the Loop, the Palmer House's location is just about as good as it gets.” 12
Noise
88Room
76Service
81Bed & Sleep
83Value
74- “Given how much the express elevators improve a stay here, the executive floor is worth booking whether or not the lounge lives up to it.” 2
- “Wi-Fi was available free of charge to Hilton Honors members, or for $12.95 without an account. As a Diamond member, I received premium Wi-Fi for free, which worked well.” 12
Where it is, how to reach it
Details read from tripadvisor.com · checked 2026-08-24
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Falls short of what $$ usually buys
Scores 12 points below the mid-range median of 90, across 368 hotels in the same bracket. In Chicago it sits 13 points below the local median of 91.
- This hotel
- 78
- Bracket median
- 90
- Index median
- 90
Based on 368 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 4 mentions
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 104 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “First time staying here, terrible experience to say the least. All of the above are true, weird resort fee, hard to use those, shitty rooms, clogged tub, dysfunctional AC.” 20
- “Well, it's a little bit too pricey and I don't like the idea that they don't give me my Honors credit because I use booking.com.” 7
- “Sooo many hotels in Chicago have the same destination fee. Same in any other major city. Usually that goes to fund tourism marketing for the area and is aimed at certain hotels in certain areas. $25 is steep though.” 20
- “Today, the Palmer House endures as a symbol of resilience and romance. This hotel is where you can find Chicago glamour on a grand scale, yet surprisingly, the prices are not overly grand.” 21
- “Checked my credit card and I have an insane amount of charges to my card. We didn't cause any damage to the room. Can't find any information on the fees on their website either.” 20
- “While Palmer House isn't the cheapest stay in Chicago, its rates are surprisingly competitive for a hotel with so much historic significance. Rates differ wildly in the US, but I'd say you can expect to pay around $300-$400 AUD per night (less in low season). For the States, right now, that's very reasonable.” 4
- “I had a good time at the Palmer House Hilton and it's fairly inexpensive as well for some reason. I'm regularly finding rates around $100 and it's booking about 23,000 - 29,000 Hilton Honors points a night.” 3
- “The Lockwood Express store/cafe is also a joke and the prices are insane. $7 for a 500ml water bottle, $10 for chips, and $7 for a 1.5oz bag of nuts.” 20
- “In late 2023, the Palmer House added a $25 daily "Urban Destination" fee to your stay. $10 of which could be used at the restaurant, $10 in laundry credit and something like $20 daily at the Spa. This daily fee seems to have created a lot of tension as I overheard many people visibly upset over these changes and in particular, no mention of the fees in their booking confirmations.” 20
- “Given how much the express elevators improve a stay here, the executive floor is worth booking whether or not the lounge lives up to it.” 2
- “Calls to their direct line don't even route me to voicemail. It's a shame that the service has gone so downhill in the past couple of years. From the daily $25 "Urban Destination Fee" to the lackluster food in the restaurant and tired guest rooms, it just isn't worth it.” 20
- “Wi-Fi was available free of charge to Hilton Honors members, or for $12.95 without an account. As a Diamond member, I received premium Wi-Fi for free, which worked well.” 12
- “The guest rooms, on the other hand, are not as grand. Guests report the lodgings are a little small compared to other Chicago hotels, but they do come equipped with creature comforts like flat-screen TVs, high-speed Internet access (for a fee) and, of course, the Hilton brand's signature Serenity beds.” 17
- “The $25 nightly resort fee includes credits for dining, health club access, and spa services, adding value.” 21
- “My room was dirty, loud and absolutely tiny. It offered appalling value for money - I paid a HUGE amount for it and was hugely disappointed.” 7
- “TV channels were limited; $25 daily 'destination' charge was charged but was useless to us--could only be used at pricey spa” 7
- “The price of the stay was very high which prevents my coming back any time soon.” 7
- “The Lockwood Restaurant has really taken a turn for the worse, too. Having stayed here every summer, the menu hasn't changed in the slightest, except the prices keep going up. Nothing is made fresh on site. You can just tell that the bacon comes right off the Sysco truck and is pre-made the morning of.” 20
- “All of that said, I was personally quite happy with my stay here and slept like a baby-and given its history and location, I don't think it's bad for the price, especially if you're coming in the low season (Standard Rooms start from $190 per night in January).” 8
- “But room quality is uneven -- some rooms still have dated decor and tube TVs -- and all the extra fees can add up.” 13
- “Resort fee of $25 is mandatory, even if you don't use amenities.” 21
- “some confusion over how the 'breakfast included' in the room rate worked.” 7
- “and finally we have the master bath this is actually a little bit smaller than the washroom out there but it's all right there's a picture of the ferris wheel from the 1893 world's fair that is the original ferris wheel got a sink shower you know standard washroom nothing too special” 11
- “My bathroom was also on the smaller side, with a bathtub shower that wasn't the most powerful, but it came with everything I needed.” 8
- “The bed was comfy and the bathroom was fitted with a bathtub (that I enjoyed a couple of nights).” 6
- “Loved the magnifying mirror in bathroom. Nice bathroom products.” 7
- “I wasn't a fan of the lighting, though, especially in the bathroom - the lights were fluorescent and a bit too bright, especially during visits in the middle of the night.” 12
- “there's a little half bath on this side alright not bad marble” On camera100:14
- “coming over here into the bathroom if I can find a light switch it's small but it is a full bath so with the tub the soaker tub shower combination” On camera101:11
- “the shower wow that water pressure was so strong i definitely did not expect that from a building constructed in the 1920s” On camera1110:28
- “Still, our room felt decently large - I would have been a bit disappointed had Hilton decided to label this a studio suite, but as a standard guest room, it fit the bill.” 12
- “there are two entrances to the suite plenty of closet space so I've counted maybe three closets so far” On camera101:28
- “I stayed in a Standard Room and while it wasn't the most spacious, it did the job for me, with a comfy double bed.” 8
- “Free upgrades to preferred rooms simply do not happen here anymore. Despite booking 6 months in advance, there was no auto upgrade in the app nor at the front desk. Of course, I could see 6+ paid options such as a high floor request, corner room, suite, etc but I was told none were available.” 20
- “The working desk was perfect for me to work on my presentations too.” 6
- “Guest Rooms here leave a lot to be desired. Very tired bathrooms with tiny sinks and air conditioning that hardly works. I had maintenance sent up to my room twice during my six day stay. I could not get the temperature to go below 70 degrees.” 20
- “the booking process was extremely easy i just went to the palmer house hilton website joined the honors program chose my room and boom i booked it” On camera114:47
- “My Premium room was spacious, and from the window, I glimpsed the blue of Lake Michigan.” 15
- “What could have been better was the lighting, even with all the lights on, the room always felt dull. And the yellow lights didn't help either.” 6
- “I stayed in a Standard Room and while it wasn't the most spacious, it did the job for me, with a comfy double bed. There was also a TV, armchair, small desk and en-suite bathroom, with good black-out curtains that didn't have me up at 5am (a personal pet peeve).” 8
- “I got a complimentary upgrade around Christmas a couple years ago to a suite with a bar, like a good sized bar in the room...but no refrigerator 😂” 20
- “The decor was certainly more historic than hip, but it was clear the room had been renovated at some point.” 12
- “Rooms were last renovated in 2008, and feature Hilton's Serenity Dream beds, but some guests continue to complain of chipped furniture, peeling paint, and thin walls.” 13
- “An Oyster.com review, published 4 July 2024 and updated 19 May 2025, dates the rooms to a 2008 refresh and calls quality inconsistent, citing chipped furniture, peeling paint and thin walls.” 2
- “From the ornate chandeliers that hang like crystalline jewels to the meticulously crafted furniture that graces the common areas, every aspect of the design reflects a commitment to timeless beauty.” 6
- “The decor is quite ornate” 3
- “Unlike hotels in India, there wasn't any water to drink in the room and everything was placed on this tray and was chargeable. There also wasn't an electric kettle in the room or an iron board.” 6
- “I got a double room bed with a city view. Well, there was nothing to see from the 12th floor as buildings were all around.” 6
- “They are still receiving the money they could give me the credit on my Honors. We upgraded to a higher room with an excellent view of Trump Tower.” 7
- “As I mentioned, in my original stay, I got a super tiny broom closet, but this time I did ask for an upgrade and received an upgrade to an executive room, which was quite spacious.” 3
- “Just be prepared for the sheer scale and number of guests (I got lost a few times trying to navigate its various floors and different lifts), and book a Deluxe/Premium Room if you want a little more space. While you can find swankier rooms in town, this is one of those hotels that feels like a true social hub, and the stories alone make it a fascinating spot to base yourself.” 8
- “But room quality is uneven -- some rooms still have dated decor and tube TVs -- and all the extra fees can add up.” 13
- “so coming in right away on the right of the door is a closet and it's actually really big I thought that the closet had a lot of space in it I was pretty impressed with the closet space” On camera140:45
- “The room did have a well-stocked minibar.” 12
- “welcome to the king suite at the palmer house wow this place is huge holy cow” On camera115:25
- “Very tired bathrooms with tiny sinks and air conditioning that hardly works. I had maintenance sent up to my room twice during my six day stay. I could not get the temperature to go below 70 degrees.” 20
- “My room was dirty, loud and absolutely tiny.” 7
- “Unlike hotels in India, there wasn't any water to drink in the room and everything was placed on this tray and was chargeable.” 6
- “MassiveConcern • 2y ago We stayed at Palmer House in 2022. We stayed at Palmer House in 2022. It was one of the worst stays we've ever had. Just horrible service, dilapidated rooms. Truly miserable.” 20
- “At check-in, I immediately noticed the HDMI cord in the room was missing and had to be replaced by hotel staff. This raised early concerns about how well the room had been prepared.” 20
- “Public areas, from the grand lobby to the dining venues, are wheelchair-friendly, and staff are quick to assist.” 21
- “Staff are generally friendly and welcoming, but as it's a big, busy, bustling hotel, don't expect it to be overly personalised. Those I spoke to were responsive and helpful, though; I couldn't find a kettle or coffee maker in my room, so I asked for one at reception and it was swiftly brought up.” 8
- “More replies MassiveConcern • 2y ago We stayed at Palmer House in 2022. We stayed at Palmer House in 2022. It was one of the worst stays we've ever had. Just horrible service, dilapidated rooms. Truly miserable.” 20
- “On Saturday morning, I left for a meeting and returned later that morning to find the leg of the bed broken and wallpaper torn. I reported this to staff and was told maintenance would address it while I was out that evening, but the issue was not resolved.” 20
- “The main ballroom felt especially historic, but the staff was friendly and accommodating, and the catering was very good overall.” 12
- “Gorgeous lobby. Helpful staff. Soft-closing doors.” 7
- “Security is visible yet unobtrusive, with keycard access to guestroom floors and attentive staff ensuring guest comfort.” 21
- “Being in an historic hotel; helpful concierge and other staff; minifridge in room; $10 daily credit; location was awesome for our needs; portraits of entertainers who had performed there years ago; iconic restaurants nearby; would like to have used the pool but ran out of time” 7
- “all the staff at the palmer house have been very very friendly that's made the state even better” On camera1114:34
- “ac is going nice i put it at a cool 67 degrees” On camera1110:20
- “Hotel security has been helpful with communication, and I do appreciate their efforts.” 20
- “Last, but not least, your restaurant was good and you restaurant staff was very good.” 7
- “Your staff was very professional and very friendly.” 7
- “Service here doesn't exist, gold/diamond benefits are rarely recognized and management seems to be completely MIA on this property.” 20
- “The staff is a bit thin for the number of people.” 3
- “The staff mixes classic hospitality with modern efficiency, and the balance is notable. That said, reception staff are notably slow and overworked. Given the size, service can feel impersonal and I certainly felt more like a number than a guest.” 4
- “Free upgrades to preferred rooms simply do not happen here anymore. Despite booking 6 months in advance, there was no auto upgrade in the app nor at the front desk.” 20
- “Aside from the upgrade and free buffet, having the staff add my Honors number also let me text the hotel through the Hilton app - a great feature, at least in theory. I always received a response within a few minutes, but several confirmed requests never materialized, such as the robes I ordered and the Valentine's Day welcome I confirmed before arrival.” 12
- “Guests can expect a warm welcome from doormen in crisp uniforms, and the concierge team is adept at securing theatre tickets or recommending off-the-beaten-path experiences. The staff mixes classic hospitality with modern efficiency, and the balance is notable.” 4
- “I was there two weekends ago; the lounge is open on the weekends. Expect large crowds. You will likely wait to get a seat. Drinks are pay as you go. Food tends to run out.” 3
- “Lockwood Restaurant and Lockwood Bar sit under the frescoed ceiling and are the reason to eat in at least once.” 2
- “1,642 rooms, so elevators and restaurants can get busy.” 21
- “As a Diamond member, I was entitled to a continental breakfast in the main restaurant, too, which I preferred, given the larger space and selection.” 12
- “Park Hyatt Chicago $$ | United States, Chicago, 800 N Michigan Ave. Elevated dining options, iconic city views, and high-caliber hospitality” 16
- “The menu did feel a bit limited and it's worth noting it's not completely separate from the lobby area, so it can be a bit noisy (there are lots of great restaurants in the area if you want to explore beyond the hotel, though).” 8
- “The food is so overwhelmingly bad. Same thing goes for the fruit salad. Right out of a container and not even cut on site.” 20
- “Excellent breakfast package available.” 21
- “Last, but not least, your restaurant was good and you restaurant staff was very good.” 7
- “Lockwood Restaurant and Bar serves breakfast, afternoon tea, lunch, and dinner in a sophisticated, contemporary space.” 13
- “Located in the heart of the Loop, the style icon stands just steps from Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Theater District. This makes it an ideal home base for both business and leisure travel, with the famed Chicago River Walk just a short walk up the road.” 4
- “And the location: perfect. I'd be lying if I didn't mention safety concerns in Chicago. Palmer House's location is ideal because this side of town is well-lit at all times, which should help guests both feel safe, and be safe.” 4
- “The hotel sits right in the centre of the 'Loop', Chicago's downtown area, and while mirrored skyscrapers soar all around, this is far from just a business spot. It's one of the city's most buzzing neighbourhoods and the home of the Theater District, alongside the Art Institute of Chicago, which lays claim to one of the biggest impressionist art collections outside of France.” 8
- “Smack dab in the middle of the Loop, the Palmer House's location is just about as good as it gets.” 12
- “Decent lobby and location but the rooms were disgusting.” 20
- “YUGE convention hotel that saw its best days about 50+ years ago...crummy location too-tons of better options available in Chicago-regardless of its lounge” 3
- “lol yea, stayed there in Feb 2020 and it was terrible. Decent lobby and location but the rooms were disgusting.” 20
- “What the published figures already tell you is enough: this is a Loop address between State Street and Michigan Avenue, with the elevated Loop tracks a block away. For a first Chicago trip the position is close to ideal.” 2
- “Located right in the heart of downtown, the Palmer House puts you just steps away from the city's premier shopping, top tier entertainment, and major attractions. This central location means you spend less time commuting and more time actually enjoying the city.” On camera90:16
- “check out this bed we have a king-size bed in the room it was a huge headboard huge headboard the bed is very comfortable we've already slept in it” On camera141:51
- “Very comfortable bed and pillows. TV offered free content.” 7
- “and the bed king-size bed good mattress nice sheets good pillows i was out like this” On camera1110:37
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Noise rests on 1 source — too thin to rely on.
- 21 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 58/100We read 17 sources for this property, and pulled 84 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-08-24.
Watch this hotel
We keep reading Palmer House a Hilton Hotel. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
5 of 5 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 21 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 1
- 2Palmer House Hilton, Chicago: Complete Guidebesthiltonhotels.comReview siteDate not stated5 quotes used
“Lockwood Restaurant and Lockwood Bar sit under the frescoed ceiling and are the reason to eat in at least once.”
Read originalbesthiltonhotels.com - 3Revisiting my worst hotel stay ever - Palmer House Hilton ...pointswithacrew.comReview siteDate not stated8 quotes used
“I was there two weekends ago; the lounge is open on the weekends. Expect large crowds. You will likely wait to get a seat. Drinks are pay as you go. Food tends to run out.”
Read originalpointswithacrew.com - 4Hilton's Palmer House in Chicago is exactly why I love (and ...theaureview.comReview siteDate not stated8 quotes used
“Located in the heart of the Loop, the style icon stands just steps from Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Theater District. This makes it an ideal home base for both business and leisure travel, with…”
Read originaltheaureview.com - 5Palmer House - good bet for one night in Chicago?fodors.comReview siteDate not statedRead originalfodors.com
- 6Timeless Elegance: Review of Palmer House Hilton in ...socialmaharaj.comReview siteDate not stated8 quotes used
“The bed was comfy and the bathroom was fitted with a bathtub (that I enjoyed a couple of nights).”
Read originalsocialmaharaj.com
More in Chicago
All Chicago hotels →A spacious, well-located downtown hotel with great service, though room upkeep can vary.
Unbeatable airport connection paired with dated rooms and slow service.
A stylish, family-friendly hotel in a premier Magnificent Mile location with minor room quirks.
Large riverfront hotel steps from Michigan Avenue with fast atrium elevators and scenic Chicago River views.
Prime Magnificent Mile location with grand views, but plagued by inconsistent room quality.
Spacious, stylish rooms and dining in a central Loop location, with some service hiccups.
