Hampton Inn Majestic Chicago Theatre District

Miss Kay’s cheerful “Good Morning!” sets the mood in the breakfast area. I’m usually not much of a morning person until I’ve had coffee, but she brings a lot of positivity and brightens the space. Breakfast itself was a highlight. The food was fresh, the team kept everything stocked even during the morning rush, and the dining area stayed spotless. The Hampton Inn Majestic is one of the best-run hotels in Chicago. I’ll be back and hope the same staff are still here.

For our group of five adults and two children, being placed on the same floor made coordinating family plans much easier. The breakfast was good, and the 24/7 gym was impressively equipped, which is unusual for a downtown hotel. The location is excellent. The common areas were a constant hassle, though. Large linen carts were always cluttering the elevator lobby and halls, making it feel like we had to squeeze past housekeeping just to get around. Along with the lack of digital convenience, that didn’t feel like the premium Hilton experience I expect. As a Gold Hilton Honors member, I was disappointed that digital check-in wasn’t available. Parking also costs extra on top of the room rate, adding quite a bit per day. I’d recommend The Palmer House (17 E Monroe St), directly across the street, for Gold members looking for a different experience. It has a dedicated Hilton Honors check-in desk and more reliable digital keys. Its wider halls and elevator banks mean you won’t be squeezing past linen carts or luggage racks. It also has a much larger room inventory and handles big groups better. If you’re driving, its “Park & Stay” package often cuts parking by 50%, which is a good deal for Gold members.

Robyn was fantastic at check-in, and the valet staff were friendly and helpful. The location is great for walking to restaurants, shops, and most other places. The breakfast was okay, though the seating area got crowded. Having coffee available 24/7 was a five-star perk for us. The elevators were the main drawback. There are three, but only two could comfortably fit about six people each, and the larger one was out of service for most of our trip. With more than 18 floors, getting around took a while. We’d consider staying here again.

We picked this hotel because it was one of the least expensive options in the area, at $120 a night for a two-queen room, and were pleasantly surprised by how nice it was. The room was spacious and very clean, and the staff were attentive and helpful. Valet was easy and cost $65 a night, not much more than the nearby parking ramps. The location is great, right next to the Palmer House, so it’s easy to walk over and enjoy the bar and Christmas decorations. We’ll definitely return and would recommend it for a downtown stay.