Downtown Chicago's iconic landmarks like the Museum of Contemporary Photography await exploration, with convenient dining options to fuel each day's adventures
Experience the vibrant energy of Chicago at Congress Plaza Hotel, where shopping and dining meet. Enjoy a meal at one of the two on-site restaurants, unwind with a coffee or cocktail from the coffee shop/cafe or 2 bars, and stay connected with free in-room WiFi. Guests rave about this hotel's central location near Auditorium Building and Theatre.
Near a metro station, Congress Plaza Hotel is in Downtown Chicago, a walkable area in Chicago with good shopping. Auditorium Building and Theatre and Museum of Contemporary Photography are cultural highlights, and some of the area's notable landmarks include Fine Arts Building and Mergenthaler Lofts. Columbia College Chicago and Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies are two other places to visit that come recommended. Looking to get your feet wet? Windsurfing and sailing adventures can be found near the property. Guests love the hotel's central location for the sightseeing. It's also convenient to public transportation: Harrison Station is 5 minutes by foot and Harold Washington Library Station is 6 minutes. Visit our Chicago travel guide
520 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60605
What's nearby
Buckingham Fountain
6 min walk - 0.6 km
Art Institute of Chicago
8 min walk - 0.7 km
Millennium Park
9 min walk - 0.8 km
Auditorium Building and Theatre
2 min walk - 0.2 km
Columbia College Chicago
2 min walk - 0.2 km
Getting around
Chicago Van Buren Street Station
2 min walk
Harrison Station
5 min walk
Chicago O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD)
37 min drive
Restaurants
Epic Burger
4 min walk
Maharaj Indian Grill
5 min walk
Fontano's Pizza and Subs
3 min walk
Relish Chicago Hot Dog Stand
4 min walk
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
5 min walk
About this property
Congress Plaza Hotel
Hotel near Auditorium Building and Theatre
Located close to Columbia College Chicago and Museum of Contemporary Photography, Congress Plaza Hotel provides shopping on site, a coffee shop/cafe, and a hair salon. Be sure to enjoy a meal at the two on-site restaurants. Stay connected with free WiFi in public areas, and guests can find other amenities such as dry cleaning/laundry services and 2 bars.
Other perks include:
Full breakfast (surcharge), self parking (surcharge), and express check-out
Luggage storage, smoke-free premises, and concierge services
An elevator, a gift shop, and a vending machine
Guest reviews say great things about the central location and helpful staff
Room features
All 870 rooms include comforts such as laptop-friendly workspaces and air conditioning, in addition to perks like free internet and separate sitting areas. Guest reviews speak positively of the clean rooms at the property.
Other amenities include:
Recycling and LED light bulbs
Bathrooms with eco-friendly toiletries and deep soaking tubs
TVs with premium channels
Separate sitting areas, refrigerators, and coffee/tea makers
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet
Parking and transportation
Uncovered self parking on site (USD 62 per night)
Food and drink
Weekend full breakfast available 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee: USD 16 to 23 for adults and USD 12 to 18 for children
2 bars/lounges
2 restaurants
A coffee shop/cafe
Restaurants on site
Tavern Tap
Tavern Tap
Things to do
Bicycle storage
Gym
Shopping
Family friendly
In-room refrigerator
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
ATM
Gift shop/newsstand
Guidebooks
Hair salon
Luggage storage
Safe at front desk
Vending machine
Guest services
Change of bedsheets (on request)
Change of towels on request
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Porter/bellhop
Wedding services
Business services
50,000 square feet of conference space
Business center
Meeting rooms
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Assistive listening devices
Elevator
Hand-held showerhead
Smooth flooring in room
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible business center
Wheelchair-accessible gym
Wheelchair-accessible lounge
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
More
100% renewable energy
14 floors
3 buildings
At least 80% lighting from LEDs
Banquet hall
Built in 1893
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Blackout drapes
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Bathroom
Deep soaking bathtub
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Shower/bathtub combination
Towels provided
Entertainment
TV with premium cable channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Limited room service
Refrigerator
Restaurant dining guides
More
Air conditioning
Desk
Eco-friendly toiletries
Heating
Iron/ironing board
Laptop workspace
LED lighting
Phone
Recycling
Safe
Separate sitting area
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 49.00
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before noon
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 59.00
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 17 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 25.0 per day
Property payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Deposit: USD 25.00 per night
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
Fee for full breakfast: approximately USD 16 to 23 for adults, and USD 12 to 18 for children
Uncovered self parking fee: USD 62.00 per night
Early check-in fee: USD 49.00 (subject to availability)
Late check-out fee: USD 59.00 (subject to availability)
Rollaway bed fee: USD 25.0 per day
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
This property provides central air conditioning in summer and central heating in the winter. In-room climate control is not available.
We should mention
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
Property is also known as
Congress Hotel
Congress Hotel Plaza
Congress Plaza
Congress Plaza Chicago
Congress Plaza Hotel
Congress Plaza Hotel Chicago
Hotel Congress Plaza
Plaza Congress Hotel
Congress Hotel Chicago
Congress Plaza Hotel Hotel
Congress Plaza Hotel Chicago
Congress Plaza Hotel Hotel Chicago
Frequently asked questions
Is Congress Plaza Hotel pet-friendly?
No, only service animals are welcome at the property.
How much does it cost to stay at Congress Plaza Hotel?
As of 23 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Congress Plaza Hotel on 1 April 2026 start from AED 426, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking?
Self parking is available for USD 62.00 per night.
What time is check-in at Congress Plaza Hotel?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. Early check-in is available for a fee of USD 49.00 (subject to availability).
What time is check-out at Congress Plaza Hotel?
Check-out is at noon. Late check-out is available for USD 59.00 (subject to availability).
Where is Congress Plaza Hotel located?
Located in Downtown Chicago, this hotel is steps from Columbia College Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Photography, and Auditorium Building and Theatre. Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies and Fine Arts Building are just steps away. Harrison Station and Chicago Van Buren Street Station are within a 5-minute walk.
Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?
Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.
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Reviews
Congress Plaza Hotel Reviews
8.0
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
The room was very clean and the bed comfortable. Parking was a bit of a challenge but not unexpected based on location. Will likely visit again when business brings me to the area.
Fantastic Location! Friendly staff, lots of history. Central Heating during the winter, so you’ll have to open a window to avoid getting toasted. Overall great bang for your buck and right next to several transportation options!
Rowan
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified
6/10 Okay
Leah
22 March 2026
Disliked: Amenities
It’s an old hotel. It needs a quality paint job and new carpets in the hallways among many other things. But the lake view rooms makes up for a lot of what’s missing.
Friendly staff and clean rooms. Check in was nice and smooth.
Alondra
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified
8/10 Good
Jamie
9 March 2026
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful old historical hotel. The rooms were clean. We had a fantastic view of Lake Michigan. There were a few things that would have made me want to give it a higher rating. Free coffee and front door man. The staff seemed tired and under appreciated.
Jamie
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified
6/10 Okay
veronica
2 March 2026
Location is perfect and rooms are average. I didn’t like that housekeeping stopped late at night once in my 3 day stay to only pick up trash and we had to ask for towels.
Staff was courteous, room was clean, price was worth it, the continental breakfast was a little disappointing, but overall a nice place and would stay again.