Name: Freehand Chicago
Address: 19 East Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Chicago, Cook County, US
Price range: $184–$610 per night
Rating: 7.68

What guests think

At Freehand Chicago, travellers highlight a central, walkable location, a social lounge-bar vibe, and generally friendly staff, while recurring drawbacks include very small, dim rooms, uneven cleanliness and maintenance, and frequent air-conditioning or heating issues.

Many mention slow or out-of-service elevators and confusion with off-site parking or shared-room bookings. The bar and common areas earn praise, with a lively vibe and good cocktails. Expect a budget-friendly, social stay best for travelers prioritizing location over room size and polish.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

The Broken Shaker bar and lively lounges are frequent highlights; a small gym and coin laundry are available. Elevators are often slow or out of service, and parking is off site with confusing validation or reservations.

Related guest reviews

8

Naomi

Aug 23, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

One elevator was broken during my stay, so getting to the 16th floor was a bit of lag in higher traffic times. However the unit was cleaner than a lot of other negative reviews I have seen for this hotel. Certainly, the room could use more detailed cleaning, but there wasn't a proliferation of mold or mildew to be seen. A bit in the corner of the shower, but that is all I recall seeing. The window shade was dirty, but nothing to get upset over. Honestly, you get what you pay for and for the value saved in a room like this, you should -- in my opinion, expect that some factors will be less than desirable. But did you save hundreds of dollars in the process to be a couple blocks away from Michigan Avenue? Of course you did. So, all things considered -- super happy staying here and would stay again. They provide towels and a proper safe in your room, with a double lock on the door. Sheets were clean and the room did smell or look unattractive.

10

Mark

Jul 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved that many of the original building elements were preserved. Great having a bar that was open 7 days a week and a cafe.

6

Pa Yia

Oct 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It stated there was on site parking, there wasn't. It's in a parking ramp down the street, also the $49 rate is only valid if you nake a reservation for the parking ramp prior to parking. This information isnt shared until physically checking in. We had already parked and obtained a ticket, so the reservation I made was not honored and i ended up paying the ramp fee for $64 for the night. The attendant via the parking ramp help line would not honor my parking reservation, so parking was deceiving. The lock on our room would also get stuck when trying to key in. We had to try 10+ times. The one light source in our room was blown out so we just had light from the bathroom.

10

Laura

Aug 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

One elevator was down but otherwise a great stay.

8

Krishna

Mar 29, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Staff is friendly and extremely helpful, if you're traveling on business the wifi here is literally the best in town bar none. However if you get a cheap room expect a tiny as heck room. Also ventilation is not great so open the window after you shower or your room is gonna smell bad

10

Holly

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Awesome, unique spot in downtown. Great staff and drinks.

10

Jane

Jun 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Love the design of this hotel. The rooms are small but the lobby is huge with a bar. We would definitely stay here again! Staff are friendly, kind and helpful. Great location near shopping.

10

Christine

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was a little small but perfect for me as a solo traveler. I spent most of my stay out of the room keeping busy. I appreciated the in-room air conditioner that I controlled directly. The bed was very soft and plush. For the location, this was the best price hands-down. Extra nice amenities include the gym (which I admittedly did not use) and the coin operated laundry. The hotel bar/lounge was very cool and had a chill vibe/atmosphere- I ordered the Spring Sling cocktail which was perfect.

8

Cindy

Jul 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Parking wasn’t explained until I paid to park somewhere else. Liked the ambiance of the hotel. Very small room if not traveling solo.

8

Noemi

Sep 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

One of the elevators was broken the entire time and made getting to our room and events a slight challenge, but hands down NICEST staff. Quickly got us items we needed and answered questions even pre-arrival, quickly and friendly. Check in and out was a breeze. Staying so close to everything was best part. Rooms were small- but we needed the deal

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is inconsistent: many guests report dust, stained curtains/bedding, and mold or mildew in showers, while others find rooms tidy. Housekeeping is limited or on request and is sometimes missed.

Related guest reviews

6

Alexis

Sep 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

There were blood stains on the bed

2

Gina

Sep 21, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The bathroom was dirty with hair on the walls and mildew, ripped towels. The bed blanket was and small size and not even cover the complete mattress. The mattress was dirty

2

James

Aug 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Stains on the curtains and sheets. Room ceilings caked in cobwebs and dust. Tried two rooms before leaving.

4

Taliya

Aug 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This hotel was really cheap so I had low expectations, the staff were pretty nice but once I arrived to my room there were several issues. Two lamps in my room didn’t work, the TV didn’t work and I had to call maintenance, the curtain on the window wasn’t even the right size so only about 65% of the window could be covered. The worst part was that there was mold in the shower tiles! And the A/C was filthy and had dust all over it! Then the elevator situation sucked since one was broken so I was waiting for at least 15 mins every time I had to go somewhere. I Wouldn’t go here ever again. I also thought it was so stupid you couldn’t being outside food into the lounge area, which also the cushions there were very dingy and dirty. If your in a money pinch and need a very cheap place to stay I would recommend in that case…

2

Bruna

Sep 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

When I look for hotels, I am ok with simple, but they must be clean. I cannot in good conscience recommend this hotel to anyone that cares about cleanliness. The room I was assigned to was extremely dirty. A lot of dust in obvious places that should have been cleaned, such as a side table, stains of a sticky beverage splashed on furniture, dust in other places that had clearly been there for weeks, if not months, clumps of hair in the shower drain, and a couch completely covered in all sorts of stains. The front desk was kind, but the housekeeping program of this hotel needs a full revamp. I ended up finding another place to stay as it made me concerned about other cleanliness issues that are not visible to the eye.

2

Micah

Apr 28, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This hotel room was filthy, every inch of the carpet in the room was covered in dust, the bed sheets had stuff all over it, the shower curtain had mold all over it and the lighting in the room was terrible. It made seemed like they have the cleaners go into the room and just tuck the bedsheets back in i was not happy with the cleanliness of this hotel.

8

miles

Jun 27, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

My stay at Freehand Chicago was better than expected! For the price of a queen bedroom, I wasn’t expecting much quality, I expected a room I can safely sleep in, and that’s what I got. It was definitely a small living space, and it has its ups and downs. The bed was comfortable, the room was tidy, and it felt secure. The downsides were the curtains and mattress were stained, the sink leaked, the fan in the bathroom did not work, and the shower seemed to have mold. The property itself is in an amazing location with many shopping centers and food within 20 minute walk. Parking was a not even a block away, but it was $50 a night which was a little pricey. The gym was quite small, with dumbbells that go to 50lbs, 2 peleton bikes, and a treadmill. They don’t have an ice machine, but you can go to the bar and they will give a bucket of ice for free. Overall good experience with decent quality, and for the price, the location is unbeatable!

8

Lily

Jun 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hotel staff were very helpful and kind. They made our family feel welcomed and comfortable. The hotel itself has a nice layout and great for the cost. The only downside is the rooms need deep cleaning. There is dust everywhere and the baseboards are gross. The corners of the rooms are full of dust and hair and in desperate need of a really good cleaning. The lamps and art on the walls look like they haven’t been dusted ever. That isn’t the employee problem by the owners of the property need to invest is a serious cleaning company. Other than that great stay. Thanks freehand.

6

Katrina

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The location was great - we were close to so many places to go in the city and the area was super walkable and near train stations. The room itself was really expensive and extremely dirty. It seems like they literally only change the sheets and do a quick bathroom clean and that’s it. Every other surface was dusty and grimy. While it was one of the cheapest options in Chicago, for the price we did pay I was surprised at how gross it was. Even cheapo motels clean better.

10

Kylee

Nov 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Super friendly and helpful staff, environment felt warm and welcoming. The people who stay there are pretty cool as well! Rooms were clean and cozy. Would definitely stay there again if I’m in Chicago again.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are very small with dim lighting and minimal storage; amenities are basic and often lack a fridge, microwave, or coffee maker. Climate control is a recurring issue (weak AC/heat), and some note noise, though beds are commonly comfortable.

Related guest reviews

8

Jarrod

Nov 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was really cold. Heater wasn’t the best.

4

marcela

Sep 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was teeny just enough walking space around the queen size bed. The bathroom door was about a foot away from the bed. When door open you could hear neighbors in their bathroom. We could not control the AC and there was no fan in there. We were very warm for two nights we were there.

4

Gregory

Nov 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was TINY. No reading lights next to the bed (no room for nightstands on each side of the bed! No room for a closet. The bathroom so small the door hit the sink. And the parking situation was ridiculous--we were able to get our money back, but the guy at the front desk was NOT as communicative as he should have been, causing us a great deal of headache to get back the $63 it charged us for 2 hours and 15 minutes of parking.

6

??

Jul 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I could use any sliper. The light is too dark. The room was smaller than picture

8

Amir

Jun 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

There was no fridge, microwave, or tea maker. The hotel did not have parking, but public parking was nearby.

6

Sofiya

Aug 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

the room was super dim and small.

2

Ujjalpreet Kaur

Jul 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

very bad stay - please dont stay here - pay 100 extra at a good hotel ! no ventillation in rooms, AC not working, very small room, very musty and moldy - developed eally bad allergies ! AC had mold all over - room felt dirty too! staff not compliant on request Only perk - good location and nearby wallet parking I got a queen bed room ! shower was so tiny I could barely stand !

6

Mayura

Jul 11, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location but very small rooms!

6

Joshua

Jul 25, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location and great price on 4th of july weekend. Front bartender was friendly. Rooms were clean and unique in styling. The outside noise was loud in room. Front desk seemed unprofessional and hectic. Be patient with the elevators, they are older and took awhile to cycle through rooms. All in all it was ok for a weekend stay.

6

Viola

Jun 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The rooms are super small and the elevator didn’t really work when we were trying to get up to our rooms. Also the room had zero to no lighting, it was super dim. For how much we paid you could get better room with bigger space.

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Service

Many reviewers praise friendly, accommodating staff and smooth check-in. Others cite poor communication or slow responses to maintenance/housekeeping requests and occasional rudeness at the desk.

Related guest reviews

2

Zachary

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Upon arriving to our room here, Half of the power in our bunk beds was not working, A/C did not work, and our toilet would only flush once before overflowing (It was malfunctioning, not clogged). We complained about this 3 times to the front staff, and they had told us that they would send a member up to fix this. Long story short, they never came once to look at or fix the toilet, so we would have to take the elevator down 8 stories to the basement to just use the restroom. I’d like to add that there is only one working elevator, and guests were clearly bugged with the long wait times to get where you need to be. If you’re looking for a hotel to feel like you wasted your hard earned money at between low quality amenities and embarrassing customer service, this is the one for you. If there was an option to rate this 0/10, I would. Wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy.

10

Jason

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff interactions were excellent in every aspect.

6

Pa Yia

Oct 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It stated there was on site parking, there wasn't. It's in a parking ramp down the street, also the $49 rate is only valid if you nake a reservation for the parking ramp prior to parking. This information isnt shared until physically checking in. We had already parked and obtained a ticket, so the reservation I made was not honored and i ended up paying the ramp fee for $64 for the night. The attendant via the parking ramp help line would not honor my parking reservation, so parking was deceiving. The lock on our room would also get stuck when trying to key in. We had to try 10+ times. The one light source in our room was blown out so we just had light from the bathroom.

2

Scott

Jul 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I booked a room last minute for '1 night, 2 adults.' Only to find out it was a shared room at check in. Meaning 3 or 4 other people I don't know were booked in the room, with bunk beds. The attendant, Amanda, was no help. No 'hi, how are you?' No 'welcome to Freehand' no 'good evening, sir.' None of that, It felt like a traffic stop. 'You got ID?' No eye contact, no smile. Then 'You know this is a shared room right?' Of course I didn’t know that, its not the criteria I booked for. I ask about cancelations or other availability. 'You gotta take that up with hotels.com' She tells me to pull up my confirmation and she goes right to the fine print 'shared room' OK. You got me, but its obviously a common problem at this place. Pointing out the fine print was the only thing she did eagerly. Its really a scam, regardless of what the problem is, if you contact hotels.com they'll tell you, 'there's nothing we can do. it's up to the management' then you contact management and they say 'there's nothing we can do, you have to contact hotels.com.' Then Im told I can't bring my friends up to my room. At the same time a half dozen people walk in, walk through the lobby to the elevators and Amanda doesn't bat an eye. But she loved telling me that my friends can't go up to my room with me- it was the only time she smiled. No help, no assistance. Just a 'eh tough sh*t' attitude. This is the 2nd time I lost money booking through hotels.com. Never again.

4

Silas

Jul 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The air conditioner was out in our room, and we were moved at 2:00 am. We also were not offered our complimentary drinks. I wanted to like this hotel, but this was a pretty lousy stay.

10

Clyne

Oct 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room, accomodating staff, convenient to everything.

6

Michael

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Bad communication from some staff workers before my arrival as the info given about one price was totally false as I had to pay a different price for when I arrived.

10

Lauren

Jul 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Went to check in and our room needed a little more time, so we got a couple complimentary drinks from the bar which were amazing! Our door also needed a quick fix so yet another round of drinks was gifted to us by the staff. And after coming back from dinner that night we were given two more drinks just because!! Overall, we were incredibly pleased with how the staff responded to some tricky situations. They put our comfort first and it shows

10

Lindsay

Oct 9, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Staff was so friendly and accommodating! Would definitely stay again!

10

Linda T

Oct 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Fabulous and helpful staff. Thank you.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Consistently praised as central and walkable, close to the Red Line, shopping, dining, the Riverwalk and Navy Pier. Convenient for exploring downtown without a car.

Related guest reviews

10

Phillip

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Outstanding location, and wonderful staff!

10

santos

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I appreciated the atmosphere and laid back vibe. Very conveniently located.

10

Eugene

Jun 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel is located right in the heart of the city.

10

Karen

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Location was just what needed and at an affordable price

10

Adrianna

Jun 29, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

It’s a very good spot to get around the city since the red line is right around the corner I had no issues either

10

Okuhle

Jun 9, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Walkable Safe Good Transportation

8

Joseph

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location. Close to Metro and walkable for many things. Property is older and dark with lighting but would stay there again.

10

Jane

Jun 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Love the design of this hotel. The rooms are small but the lobby is huge with a bar. We would definitely stay here again! Staff are friendly, kind and helpful. Great location near shopping.

10

Patricia

Jul 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Sweet smaller hotel in thick of tourist district (ie Bally’s casino) - deserves to be better known. Quiet, felt safe, impeccable housekeeping. My only gripe was freezing a/c in queen room, but I also enjoyed trapeze artist sculptures in air shaft. Pro tips:use spothero to park up to 24 hours next door for <$30; breakfast at Goddess and the Baker just around the corner. Checkout is noon but you can hang at first floor espresso bar with free internet lounge for another hour or so.

10

Kenia

Aug 23, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I liked that it was walking distance to a lot of the places I went to in downtown

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

The on-site bar earns strong reviews for cocktails and atmosphere, and the cafe/coffee are often appreciated. Breakfast and bar hours can be inconsistent, and some find prices high.

Related guest reviews

8

Amanda

May 19, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

We really loved our stay! The bunk beds in the private quad were perfect for our friends weekend! It is quite difficult to get water since the only bottle filler is in the basement. The other thing that would have been really nice is perhaps a free coffee bar with just plain drip coffee for the guests in the lobby? The breakfast food was really great and the bar at night was also quite fun. Overall, a great experience but there were just a few things I’d tweak.

10

Mark

Jul 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved that many of the original building elements were preserved. Great having a bar that was open 7 days a week and a cafe.

10

Timothy

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent location with a great bar and good food for the price.

10

Doug

Aug 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 nights at Freehand Chicago! It’s a great old property, restored with lots of special touches and upgrades. First night was a bit uncomfortable, due to an issue with the AC in our room, but they gave us a cooling fan for the second night, which worked great. Staff was awesome…especially Hannah and Jake, the bartenders. Excellent selection of specialty coffees and teas, as well as small bites and sandwiches. Cocktails were amazing!

10

Phaidra

Jun 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent location. This my second stay here and it was great. I love the look amd feel. The Broken Shaker is a sweet spot as well. I will definitely be back!

8

Judith

Jun 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Cute and trendy. Comfortable and clean. Lobby staff are very friendly (maybe a little flirty, which could ruffle some feathers, but I’ll take it as a compliment). Note: Drinks are very overpriced at Broken Shaker. $3 for a bourbon ice ball?? I’ve never heard of such a thing,

10

Holly

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Awesome, unique spot in downtown. Great staff and drinks.

8

Nicole

May 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The vibe here is like nicer youth hostel. It's a lot of fun. Great common space w/ two bars and food available too.

10

Christine

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was a little small but perfect for me as a solo traveler. I spent most of my stay out of the room keeping busy. I appreciated the in-room air conditioner that I controlled directly. The bed was very soft and plush. For the location, this was the best price hands-down. Extra nice amenities include the gym (which I admittedly did not use) and the coin operated laundry. The hotel bar/lounge was very cool and had a chill vibe/atmosphere- I ordered the Spring Sling cocktail which was perfect.

8

Susan

Sep 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The price was right, the location excellent for shopping, riverwalk, other attractions within walking distance. The rooms are tiny, the bar and breakfast inconsistent. The mattress was terrible and needs to be replaced. The lobby area is beautifully refurbished and a place to spend time reading, or on the computer because the rooms are too small for that. The woven light fixtures need to be vacuumed. The lighting in the bathroom was not sufficient for makeup application but the shower was wonderful. It was a good fit for a 3 night stay.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$62
February	$59
March	$83
April	$92
May	$156
June	$205
July	$179
August	$167
September	$153
October	$169
November	$82
December	$73

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18 $277	19 $293
20 $184	21 $187	22 $201	23 $201	24 $197	25 $243	26 $244
27 $198	28 $197	29 $201	30 $203

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $213	2 $237	3 $238
4 $221	5 $232	6 $196	7 $201	8 $213	9 $449	10 $610
11 $434	12 $193	13 $193	14 $205	15 $193	16 $232	17 $232
18 $215	19 $214	20 $213	21 $213	22 $202	23 $233	24 $237
25 $216	26 $202	27 $202	28 $202	29 $202	30 $233	31 $233

Freehand Chicago

Prices for Freehand Chicago

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Private Female Quad

King

Queen

Premium Private Quad

Premium King

Private Quad

Premium Queen

Guest reviews of Freehand Chicago

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Security deposit

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Freehand Chicago

Considering this hotel for your Chicago trip?

Prices for upcoming dates