The Sono Chicago

The rooms were comfortable and clean, with walk-in showers and Smart TVs, and the staff were friendly. I especially liked the quiet, tree-lined street in Old Town, which gave The Sono Chicago a peaceful, boutique feel. The rooftop terrace had city views, and complimentary continental breakfast and free permit parking were nice extras. It was also a great base for exploring Chicago.

The rooftop was amazing, and the neighborhood was quiet. We were only four minutes from the main train station, so getting downtown was quick. Our room was spacious, tidy, and had soft linens and a super comfortable bed. Breakfast had lots of good choices, too. Jose made everything easy: he gave us helpful recommendations and understood we needed a safe place to leave our packed car while moving. We had no trouble with it. We arrived after 8 pm, and he came right over to help. Communication was smooth. I can’t wait to return to Chicago and stay here again.

Jose was very nice, and the common areas were clean, comfortable, and well appointed. Check-in and checkout were easy, and the parking permit was included in the price. It’s for street parking, though, so there’s no guarantee of safety. The room was tiny and looked much larger in the photos. It barely seemed suitable for one person, let alone a couple. In bed, you’re about four feet from the door, and two adults can’t move around without bumping into each other. There were no chairs, so the bed was the only place to sit or lie down, with nothing to lean against. The pillows were plentiful but flat. The bathroom was large, but the vanity couldn’t hold personal toiletries, and there was nowhere to hang wet towels. The shower itself was big and had a bench. There was no way to control the room temperature. Our room was too cool, so we put towels over the air-conditioning vents. The first time we called, the desk agreed to raise the temperature, but the cooling came back after about an hour. When we called again, the man offered vent covers, but we were already undressed and getting ready for bed. I’ve seen other reviews mention this problem. The windows also don’t open, so there’s no fresh air unless you get one of the rooms with a small balcony. The continental breakfast was adequate, but didn’t justify what we paid. We spent over $400 to sleep in a cramped room with our clothes on and eat frozen croissants from Costco Wholesale Club. The property is also more than a mile and a half from the Mag Mile, and it isn’t 30 minutes from either airport, even in the middle of the night. For this price, there are much better options in Chicago.

We normally choose hotels in cities, but the online photos of this place looked so cute that we gave it a try. It was even nicer in person. The quiet neighborhood gives it a quaint feel, and there’s a pleasant spot out back to sit with coffee or a snack. Inside, the kitchen is brand new and has everything you need, plus there’s a nice sitting area. Our room had plenty of storage, a large walk-in shower, and a big, comfortable bed. The hosts were friendly, attentive, and available whenever we needed something. We loved this B&B and will definitely come back.