Stay at The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Chicago, IL

The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
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This 19th-century hotel on Chicago's Michigan Avenue has hosted several presidents and features two onsite restaurants and a lounge

What You Get

  • Stay for two in a standard king room, standard two-double room, lake-view king room, or lakefront king suite
  • Up to two kids 14 or younger stay free in a standard two-double room

Hotel at a Glance: The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center

When it was opened in 1893, The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center was intended to be the elite spot for travelers who passed through Chicago. The hotel first welcomed guests during the World’s Columbian Exposition. Over the next 50 years, it was furnished with glamorous ballrooms and stylish supper clubs. Now the hotel’s chief advantage is its superb location in downtown Chicago, where it stands along Michigan Avenue. It’s just minutes from Grant Park, several world-class museums, and a host of luxury retail stores.

  • Onsite dining: Rafael's Restaurant serves gourmet burgers, pan-roasted rainbow trout, and other specialties. In the morning, you can enjoy a hearty American breakfast at the Gazebo Restaurant.
  • Past presidential guests: Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Richard Nixon
  • Work up a sweat in the 24-hour fitness room.
  • Get some culture across the street at the Auditorium Theatre, which offers musical performances, plays, and ballet.

Chicago's Loop: Historic Commercial Center with World-Class Museums and Parks

Named after the shape formed by the elevated train tracks that form its perimeter, The Loop is Chicago's downtown and the country’s second-largest business district. Skyscrapers such as the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the art-deco Chicago Board of Trade Building loom large here. They overlook waterfront parks, a glitzy theater district, and some of the world’s finest art collections.

The Art Institute of Chicago's gargantuan collection covers everything from marble busts to Grant Wood's American Gothic. Just north of the Art Institute, Millennium Park is known for both the Frank Gehry–designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion and for the sculpture Cloud Gate, known to Chicagoans as “The Bean” for its legume-like shape. Nearby Grant Park is dotted with several impressive attractions, including Buckingham Fountain, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium. The city's public transportation system is among the country's best. Check out our guide to Chicago public transportation for helpful tips on navigating the city like a local

Other Details

Room Details

Standard King Room, Lake-View King Room, and Lakefront King Suite

  • One king bed
  • Standard occupancy: 2
  • Maximum occupancy: 2

Standard Two-Double Room

  • Two double beds
  • Standard occupancy: 2
  • Maximum occupancy: 4
  • ADA accessible rooms available upon request
  • Adding occupants above standard: $20 per night for each additional guest 15 or older; kids 14 or younger stay free

Hotel Policies

  • Check in: 3 p.m.
  • Check out: 12 p.m.
  • Parking: self-parking available for an additional $46 per day; valet available for an additional $52 per day.
  • Smoking policy: no smoking inside the property.
  • Pet policy: pets are not allowed inside the property.
  • Accessibility: please contact property for handicap-accessibility requests or options.
  • Room upgrades: not available

Amenities

  • Two restaurants and a lounge on site
  • Room service
  • 24-hour exercise facility
  • Free WiFi
  • Gift shop
  • Barbershop
  • Concierge services
  • Free continental breakfast on certain days
    • (12/7-12/30/24, 1/1-2/13/25, 2/17-3/31/25)

Traveler's Tips

  • If you’re a light sleeper, request a room overlooking the quiet inner courtyard.

Getting There

  • Nearest airports: Midway (MDW; 12 mi) and O'Hare (ORD; 19 mi)
  • Cab fare: about $45 from MDW and $60 from ORD, including a 15% tip
  • Nearest transit stops: CTA Blue Line, LaSalle stop; CTA Orange Line, Harold Washington Library stop
  • Shuttle service: available through Airport Express; book prior to your trip

Need to know info

  • 48-hour cancellation notice required prior to check-in or reservation is non-refundable; reservations made within cancellation window are non-refundable
  • No-shows will be charged total Groupon rate
  • Traveler name must match ID at time of check-in
  • No refunds will be processed by Groupon after check-in
  • Must be 18+ to check in
  • Credit card required at check-in
  • Dates cannot be changed once booked; valid only for night(s) purchased
  • Final price at checkout may include an additional Groupon service fee, which Groupon retains as compensation for facilitating your reservation; this fee will not exceed 6% of the nightly cost of the reservation.
  • Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
  • Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings

About The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center

Customer Reviews

  • hotel
  • staff
  • bed
  • lake
  • park
Reviewed on
SaB
Top reviewer
8 ratings|6 reviews
We got two beds a gorgeous corner room, so very clean and super spacious. We didn’t want to leave! A great stay!
Tia
5 ratings|3 reviews
Great proximity to everything!
Tia
5 ratings|3 reviews
The proximity to everything on Michigan Ave. Though valet was not available, Jose gave me several choices which was extremely helpful.
Reviewed on
danielcE913BB
|1 review
Nice stay as usual I travel to Chicago practically every April and prefer staying at the Congress more than anywhere. The lobby and bar are beautiful. The staff is helpful. The rooms are spacious. And the location is excellent. Yes, it is an older hotel, but my rooms are always clean. I have never had a bad stay.
thomasmB8508EQ
|1 review
No need to stay there. My company booked four rooms at The Congress Hotel and none of had hot water. The shower had to run for a minimum of 30 minutes or more to get hot water. The hotel is very run down and the smell of reefer filled the lobby area. We will not be going back and have told people from the trade show to stay away. Old hotels are ok, but not one that needs a lot of care.
Go07237492301
|1 review
St Paddy's Day weekend 2025 Extremely happy with the overall experience. The location was perfect for people watching from the lounge and close to everything we wanted to do. The St Patrick's Day parade was just up the block. Our room was extremely clean and surprisingly large. We visited the lounge upon arrival and after our return from the festivities and experienced good service both times despite the crop. Room Service is reasonably priced, fast, and good! Front desk and luggage storage attendants were very accommodating. I'd highly recommend, and not knowing it is supposed to be Highly Haunted I slept well with NO bad feelings!!

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