Freehand Chicago

United States , Chicago - IL
CHICAGO, 19 East Ohio Street
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Victoria

Easy check in, clean room, helpful staff, great location.

Partner

4/10

Poor

21 Jun 2026

baris evrim

This is the dirtiest hotel room I have ever stayed. It was filthy. The curtains have dirty marks as large as my hand and the tissue box had something dripping and solidified on it. Everything that wasn't used was covered with dust. Hopefully I will be attaching pictures. The staff is brusque and dismissive. The room was very small and very dark, we tried to spend minimum time in it.
The only good thing about this hotel is its location.

Partner

4/10

Poor

21 Jun 2026

Evan

Rooms are very small, first room had a bad smell and the AC did not work. We were moved to a room with working AC but it was very small and a little dirty (stained curtains and walls).

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Jun 2026

Caroline

We stayed in a quad room, which was fine. There was a half drank iced tea bottle resting on the top of one of the bunks and an empty water bottle under the other. The bunk drapes and the sofa cushions were stained.

Also, we left a bag of laundry in one of the cubbies. We did not notice until the next morning. I called and was directed to housekeeping where I left a message. I did not get a return call until 4 days later. After giving them a description they called back the next day to ask for further description. That was the last I have heard from them.

Outside of the above, the location was great. Very walkable. The front desk staff and bartender at Broken Shaker were great. The breakfast menu was yum and reasonably priced. Very convenient.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

20 Jun 2026

Sierra

Truly feel compelled to write a review. Apparently it was known that many (potentially all) air conditioners weren't working. When I called they were unsurprised and rude as well. They said they would get back to me. After several hours didn't get back to me so I went to front desk again to be told we would be comped our night but then was told Hotels
Com had to ask for refund since we third party booked. Room was tiny, carpet worse for wear, outlets were so loose we could only reliably charge one device out of 4 outlets, and of course, it was very warm. Even the slight crack of the window was made worse by the loud electric/machinery noises in the parking garage next door. Horrible and should have heeded reviews I had read.

4/10

Poor

20 Jun 2026

Natasha

The room was the size of a closet!!! Horrible lighting in the bathroom. The room wasn’t clean. Will never stay here again

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

19 Jun 2026

James M.

Was in Chicago for one night. The hotel was close to where I need to be that day and the facility was very nice. I chose a quad room due to the shortness of my stay and the price of the o e night stay. But I regretted my choice having to share a room with three strangers and had to sleep on a top bunk bed. The hotel was full at that time so I couldn't change my room to a larger private room. So, I stayed out late as I possibly could that night and went back to the room only because everything was closed at 4am. I would stay at the hotel again. But I will NEVER choose a shared space again.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jun 2026

Andrew

Very fun, with a great vibe.

2/10

Poor

18 Jun 2026

Juliet

The room was incredibly small and poorly laid out. You couldn’t open the door to the bathroom if a second person was standing on the side of the bed near the bathroom. The room was not large enough for the king bed in it. The room was poorly lit, and the electrical plugs were minimal.

The bathroom was clean, but the main room was very dusty, and there was a stain on one of the pillowcases. Will not stay again.

Partner

2/10

Poor

17 Jun 2026

KIMBERLY

The AC was broken in our room and there was not anyone to fix it. There was no cold water to offset the hot water. No wash cloths. There was also a light in the room that had a broken switch so it could not be turned off

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

16 Jun 2026

Melanie

The location is ideal for our stop on our road trip. The vibe of the hotel was very cool- my teenagers loved it. We stayed in a private quad which served our needs for a comfy bed and bathroom. The price was perfect and overall the hotel exceeded our expectations.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jun 2026

Mayra

Great bar great staff and great area to stay in everything is close by

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

Brenda

What a sweet surprise! We've never stayed at a hostel before. We had our own room with a queen bed and our own bathroom. It looked just like a hotel room with about 25% percent of the cost of other hotel rooms in Chicago. Very convenient location and a quick 20 minute walk to Navy Pier. Also, it was a quick 12 minute drive to Chicago Union station. The room was quiet and I would highly recommend!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

Kathleen

We liked it all!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

Connie

Only had drying towels and no wash cloths, empty soap bottles.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

Nitika

From the bottles to the tiles in the shower to the phone booth restaurants and overall atmosphere. This place is such a hidden gem in Chicago. Thank you for everything!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

15 Jun 2026

Thoi

To me and my family. It was a OK hotel. Very outdated and we had to asked for towels and there was no shampoo or body wash so we walked next door to Walgreens to buy some. Our light in our room was very dark. I give it a 6/10.

4/10

Poor

14 Jun 2026

Cole

My A/C was broke (and I was here in June), which I noticed as soon as I entered room. I notified desk on night 1, who said maintenance would address on day 2. Nothing was done day 2, so I went to front desk again. They said to come back day 3 morning and also gave me manager email for any complaints. I emailed manager and also went in day 3 morning to ask again if my A/C could be addressed, which they assured me it would. Yet again, when I came back to hotel day 3 evening it was not working. At this point I have up on the matter as it seemed to be a futile effort. Also, the manager never responded to my email from what is now about 4-5 days ago. No partial refund was given to me either for this issue.

Self

2/10

Poor

14 Jun 2026

Melia

Room was not cleaned. Covered heavily in dust that it made me sick. No working a/c unit, tv, or bedside lamp. Dana was apologetic and helpful during checkout.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 Jun 2026

Tuan

Okay ish

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jun 2026

Christopher

The staff and bar were great! Location was nice with plenty of dining options within walking distance.

Partner

4/10

Poor

14 Jun 2026

Sam

It’s convenient location

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2026

Ken

It was good place to stay for the Go Fest Event

Self

6/10

Pleasant

12 Jun 2026

Erin

I haven't stayed at a hotel/hostel before, so I don't know if my expectations were unreasonable. First, the good. The staff were friendly and helpful. The location was perfect. The hot water and AC were plentiful. I felt safe and wasn't bothered by noise from neighbors. I didn't see any bugs. They even had a live musician during at least one of the evenings I was there. Now the bad. We had a private quad. It was dirty. The walls, some of the bedding, the bunk bed curtains were stained and gross. We found trash from the previous guests. There was so much dust and debris, especially in the part of the bunks that held the mattresses. The shower curtain and tiles were moldy. The room needed a good scrubbing and a fresh coat of paint. I wouldn't stay there again unless they improved their housekeeping.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

12 Jun 2026

Anna

The property is close to areas you want to be and that was attractive. The entry to the hotel was attractive and the bar was really nice. However, when you got to the elevators and the rest of the hotel, that’s where it felt outdated and done poorly and cheaply. The room was very small, the sewer system smell was strong throughout our room and we couldn’t adjust the AC. I would not stay again as it felt more like a hostel stay than a hotel stay.

Partner

4/10

Poor

12 Jun 2026

Ruth

El hotel está bien ubicado, pero está muy descuidado en limpieza y atención al cliente. La habitación estaba muy sucia, con olor a humedad. El ascensor suena terrible y todos los pasillos están sucios

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

12 Jun 2026

Rashel

The room was not what I expected for how nice the hotel looked. I did not want to sleep there, it was dusty and smelled.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2026

Justin

Room was clean, staff friendly

Partner

2/10

Poor

10 Jun 2026

MARGARITA

I booked at king size bed room and ended up being put in a room with other guest when i didnt book a a quad room i booked a king size private room. Very disappointed.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2026

connor micheal david

love the place!

8/10

Excellent

10 Jun 2026

william

Not very helpful on the phone but were nice in person

Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2026

Izzie

Me and my friends stayed here for three days. The front counter girl was so incredibly nice The location and the room was delightful.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jun 2026

URSULA

Clean room, convenient location.

Partner

4/10

Poor

09 Jun 2026

Dillon

The peeling paint on the ceiling, unusably dim lighting, spotty temperature control on the shower/sink all could have been overlooked happily, but the non-functioning AC in the room is a sticking point.

I requested facilities to look at it 3 days in a row, and it wasn't until the end of the third day a tech came to the room and told me it was just broken. Front desk staff begrudgingly listened to my complaints, but were unable to move my room as the hotel was full until Monday (my departure).

Understandable issues given the volume, but being treated like an annoyance for a legitimate complaint left a sour test in my mouth.

Self

8/10

Excellent

09 Jun 2026

Narayan

The best thing about Freehand is its location. Bang in downtown, walking distance to everything there is to see. The building has an old world charm and the theme is African - the tiles, wooden panels, rugs, upholstery, artefacts - gives an exotic feel. We stayed in a room with king bed and the room was astonishingly small - barely any place to walk - but hey, for the price and strategic location - you can’t expect more

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

09 Jun 2026

van

staff was helpful, room is old, curtains have stain all over.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jun 2026

GREISY

the room was supposed to be only female. it was not

Self

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jun 2026

Jayden

The room was okay, not very spacious, didn't have any soap in the shower, otherwise was okay.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jun 2026

todd

Cool architecture, great location easy to walk everywhere. Room could have been cleaner. Staff could have been friendlier.

2/10

Poor

08 Jun 2026

Christopher

horrible stay, dirty room, rude staff, misleading as i booked a double bed but got a single bed, extra resort fee

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jun 2026

Matthew

This hotel was just okay. The standard rooms have some functional quirks—the bathroom counter, for instance, offers so little space that my toothbrush ended up in the toilet. Our first room also had lumpy pillows and a curtain that wasn’t wide enough to cover the window.

Lighting was a weak point too, both natural and artificial. The room faced an interior space, so there was little daylight, and one bulb was a low-CRI fluorescent that clashed with the warmer tone of the other fixtures.

On the plus side, I loved the bathroom tile and the design of the common spaces.

One frustration: the staff gave confusing information about dry cleaning, which turned out not to be available at all.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2026

Brianna

I was only there for one night but I felt safe and the space was clean. Will come again.

Self

4/10

Poor

07 Jun 2026

Anthony

The room cleanliness was less than stellar as the walls looked dirty, trash left behind, and the lamps did not work.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

07 Jun 2026

Erasmo

My stay at Freehand Chicago was very satisfying. Overall, the value for the price is excellent; it’s hard to find a place that offers this level of quality at such a competitive rate. The location is absolutely great, making it very easy to get around the city and enjoy all the key spots.
The only downside was that the room had a slight musty smell, which could be improved. Aside from that, the hotel is very good, the facilities are pleasant, and the atmosphere is very positive. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a great place to stay without overspending.

Self

4/10

Poor

07 Jun 2026

David

Window was broken, everything is just cheaply painted over, the amenities don’t pertain to me, and it was constantly cold in my room due to the window being broken.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2026

Sarah

The Freehand is my go to place every time I'm in Chicago. It is a bohemian treasure and attracts interesting tourists, many from Europe. Good location, just by Eataly in the River North area, and I always have no trouble finding nearby parking on SpotHero. I've stayed here a few times now, and it feels like my 2nd home in Chicago. It has some hostel like qualities, but I've stayed in other hostels and this one is an upgrade. Reminds me of The Jane in New York. We especially love renting a full room with 2 bunk beds then having a fun old school slumber party. Try it out!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2026

Kayden

beautiful interior, super cozy and warm. as a frequent solo traveler, with amenities like a washing room and work out area is well appreciated. Bar environment was top tier

Self

4/10

Poor

06 Jun 2026

Carla

Not for me. It was like a hostel, but $450 a night. All the lighting was dim and yellow, and the shade in our room was broken, so it was a struggle to even get natural light. The dim bathroom fixture also buzzed loudly. There was no fan in the campground-inspired bathroom, the elevators were incredibly outdated, and when I went to the front desk to ask for an extra pillow, I was told they didn’t have any more pillows. I went to the desk in person because there was no mechanism to call from the room, even by calling the hotel from my cell. Never again.
I will say that housekeeping and maintenance staff we encountered were very friendly.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2026

John

Staff very easy to talk with and happy to help
Useful amenities, location was even better than anticipated.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

06 Jun 2026

Jennifer

It was a really neat hotel. I liked the style. Wasn't sure why we had to make our own beds though. Also, the phone didn't work in the room, so I tried to call the front desk from my phone. They immediately put me on hold \"for a minute\", which turned into 5. I hung up to call back thinking they forgot about me, they did the same thing AGAIN. I thought, \"Well third time's a charm, right?\"-- wrong. Same thing! What if it had been an emergency(flooded room, or something-- not 911 eligible)? It's not like a short trip to the front desk to ask in person. The lady at the café was nice and the food was decent.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

05 Jun 2026

Lindsay

If you’re looking for a bare bones place to stay, that’s very reasonable. If you don’t need a television in your room or amenities in the bathroom. It is a great place to just lay your head and sleep while you spend the rest of your time out in the city.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jun 2026

Jorge

It’s a vibe

Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jun 2026

Evan

Nice location clean and convenient

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

Angela

Beautifully maintained historic, but updated property. Incredible views, great walking area, full of just about anything! Great trip!

Friends_and_family Friends

4/10

Poor

04 Jun 2026

Catherine

The common spaces are very cool, but the rooms are in desperate need of a refresh.

Even if the rooms are clean, the state of the walls and carpet, the sad window covering, the lack of reasonable light, makes it a very sad place to spend the night.

Self

4/10

Poor

04 Jun 2026

Takayoshi

Bath room is not working properly, when I flush water, it can’t stop running for toilet.
Outside of parking lot is noisy.

Business

4/10

Poor

03 Jun 2026

Daniel

Dumpy old hotel with many issues. The room was barely bigger than our queen sized bed. A/c didn't work, blinds were totally broken, and the sink leaked. Room wasn't very clean either. Pay a couple bucks more and stay somewhere else

4/10

Poor

03 Jun 2026

Alexandra

Our room didn’t have a working AC. They were sold out, so we had to downgrade our room to a queen. I doubt we ever see the refund for it.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

02 Jun 2026

Kaitlyn

No toilet paper. Stained curtains. But bed was ok.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

02 Jun 2026

Vanessa

Good stay during a busy weekend. A bit over priced, but I think the event effected the increased cost. Good safe clean stay in a pinch, but definitely a no-frills stay.

Self

2/10

Poor

01 Jun 2026

Sarah

Disgusting rooms and rude front desk staff

4/10

Poor

01 Jun 2026

Michael

Very gross couch in my room. No washcloths, hand towels or shower supplies. Disappointing.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2026

Tyler

Amazing and incredibly helpful staff. The room was great and the hotel is in a phenomenal location. Second time staying there and look forward to doing so again in the future.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 May 2026

Alexandria

Great price, the bunk beds were fun!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

31 May 2026

vanessa

Love the bar, great coffee in the morning and the lounge is a great place to get some work done. Location is amazing for jazz clubs and restaurants.

Friends

2/10

Poor

31 May 2026

Sergio

Everything was disgusting will not be working with you guys again.

6/10

Pleasant

30 May 2026

Gregory

Overall, we had a good stay at the Freehand Chicago. The location was convenient, and despite being in a busy area, we slept peacefully throughout the night. The hotel was also accommodating in holding our luggage after checkout since we had a later flight, which we appreciated.

That said, there were several areas that could be improved. We requested extra towels and asked for our body soap dispenser to be refilled, but neither request was fulfilled during our stay.

Customer service was hit or miss. When we asked the front desk for recommendations on nearby restaurants and attractions, we were simply told to “Google it,” which felt dismissive and unhelpful. The biggest concern was the bathroom—there appeared to be mold in multiple areas.

Overall, the hotel has a great location and some convenient amenities, but improvements in housekeeping, maintenance, and guest service would make for a much better experience.

Partner

4/10

Poor

30 May 2026

Angela

It was ok the sheets are itchy and overall our room was really dusty and barely clean there were so many stains on the couch and the sheets and blankets aswell we ended up ditching the hotel and staying somewhere else because we couldn’t stand it

Family

2/10

Poor

30 May 2026

Edward

Musty, moldy room! Sneezed for days afterwards...never again!

Self

2/10

Poor

30 May 2026

Haider

So this was the only hotel that was in our budget for the weekend we were in town. Going in, we knew it a bunk bed hostel style, however the pics make it look nicer than how it was. The room was so small for my family of four, no space to open our suitcases and hardly any light in the room. It was very dirty and the pillows smelled like dirty feet. The whole room had a bad aroma and very dusty everywhere. The staff was not the kindest either.

Only stay here if coming alone or you’re a backpack traveller. Will not be coming back to Chicago Freehand.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

30 May 2026

Julie

I was really looking forward to staying at the Freehand Chicago.

4/10

Poor

28 May 2026

Juana

Not very clean at all. Comforters were stain even the ones we asked for after seeing the ones in the bed were stained. The curtains were stain, old and wore out with holes. Not convenient at all even for parking.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2026

Katja

Cozy and stylish and location could not be better. Very friendly vibe - looking forward to returning!

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

28 May 2026

Samantha

on expedia the room advertised my room to have a window with sunlight. i booked had a window with some sunlight/view… there was absolutely no sunlight in the hallways and in my room the window faced other windows of the hotel and was just very DARK. air felt musty.
the staff was wonderful though, especially front desk staff.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Anthony

The room was surprisingly clean! I’ve stayed at Hostels before but never this nice! The room was well kept, some aging on the ceiling but nothing to complain about! Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Will definitely continue to come here when visiting Chicago!

10/10 highly recommend!

Self

4/10

Poor

27 May 2026

Kevin

The Hotel is in bad need of a update & remodel. Rooms are very small and dark and Dingy. carpet is very warn. We went to the room we were given an there was some kind of very loud running contently outside the window had to go to the front desk and ask for a new room. The next room was on the same side of the building but higher up still noisy but not as bad. There are plenty of other options in the area of town would suggest checking them out.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2026

Omar

I honestly dont have any complaints. it is an older hotel but it was still pleasant and clean.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2026

Nolan

Great location nice room

Friends

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2026

Maria Zenaida

It would be helpful to keep the beddings clean and furnitures dustedincluding the bathroom.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2026

Andrew

The staff was kind and helpful

Self

6/10

Pleasant

26 May 2026

Augusta

Carpet in our room was very dirty and our overhead light did not work. Called the staff to address these issues and they were not resolved during our stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Taylor

Good staff clean good people

Business

4/10

Poor

25 May 2026

Michael

This hotel is showing its age and it’s in need of a good deep cleaning. The carpet is worn and stained in many areas. The A/C doesn’t seem to work in several rooms and the staff isn’t super concerned with customer service. Wouldn’t recommend staying here

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

Leilani

Within walking distance to a lot of the popular/touristy spots in Chicago which is one of the reasons I liked it. Also right next to a great breakfast/brunch spot the Goddess and the Baker, food was delicious.

Self

2/10

Poor

24 May 2026

Sara

Very bad

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

Natasha

The staff was lovely as always. The room was nice and clean.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

21 May 2026

Maegan

Small room, good for short term stay

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2026

Rosa Carine

Everything was perfect! The vibes were great. Bar was fantastic ✨

Self

6/10

Pleasant

20 May 2026

Aalia

Room was very small

Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 May 2026

Yoko

The parking was just across from the hotel.

The room was clean. We were surprised how quiet it was even though it was facing a main road. It was also close to the red line which was very convenient.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

20 May 2026

Scott

The lights in the room didn’t work. The door didn’t close properly. There was about 12” of free space surrounding the bed.

4/10

Poor

19 May 2026

Hunt

My wife and I expected and paid for what was advertised as a larger room with a queen bed and desk. There was no room to walk around the bed or \"sit\" at the desk, which was maybe a foot wide. The room, itself, was not all that clean, and the toilet was very close to the bed.
I might have managed by myself but my wife was deeply upset, so we asked for our money back and booked a room at a nationally recognized chain for about $100 more for the night.
, which

Partner

2/10

Poor

19 May 2026

Kirby

The hostel itself is a nice place. The staff is friendly, the bars and cafes are also very clean with some good drinks and bites to eat… however comma the room that we stayed in was a private quad suite that didn’t have a working AC unit. We tried to get someone to come and help but the “engineer” that came in told us the AC couldn’t go below 72 because the system in the hotel would shut it off. I’m not sure that is the case but who am I to say. I would honestly reconsider staying but absolutely should be a place you should visit for a night out with your friends!!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2026

Carol

Our room was clean and efficient. Very content with our stay. Just had the premium quad since there for a short time and wasn’t in room much. I recommend staying as the location is good for sightseeing with everything in walking distance

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

18 May 2026

Sandra Villagrana

I booked a single room, king size bed for my sister and they tried giving her a shared quad, twin bed. We canceled immediately but still have not receive a refund. Ive called and left a message, no reply. 2nd time I called, I was placed on hold till the call dropped.

6/10

Pleasant

18 May 2026

Joyce

Rated 3 as We stayed at a 1 king bedroom on the 3rd floor for 3 nights. Room was a bit dusty and only provided 2 towels. Our shower gel was empty when we got to our room, good thing we had extra. We asked for refill 3 times but was never completed. Room was dark and didnt have a rug for the bathroom everytime you shower it floods. I would recommend this place if you want a affordable and want convenient location to trains and busses and tourist spots like michigan ave/river walk. Near to restaurants and bars as well.

Partner

4/10

Poor

18 May 2026

Pelusa

This hotel is well located but not clean at all. I asked for room service and they never cleaned the room (we were there for 6 nights).

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 May 2026

Tudor

The location, staff physical place were all great. The bed was clean and super comfortable. Unfortunately the last roommate I got was super noisy. He came in after midnight and switched on all the lights and once he was in bed—he coughed all night. I thought he was maybe really sick…I sort of wished I had a 95 mask. Luck of the draw.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 May 2026

Bon-die

This was my first stay at Freehand. I was in a shared quad dorm. Obviously you do your best to be a good dorm mate (ie be quiet when others a sleeping, dont take forever in the bathroom etc). I was surprised that the bar was so lively. They have a laundry room as well as a fitness room. Proximity was perfect. I decided not to pay $60 for an Uber to Midway and instead walked around the block to the Red Line and for $2.50 road the L. Staff was friendly and I'd definitely consider staying there again.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 May 2026

Shane

The room was really clean and the bunks were nice. There was also a bar and restaurant on hand. There were multiple parking structures nearby at various prices. And it was really close to the music venue , I was going to. I would definitely stay there again

Self