Dewitt Hotel & Suites

Lovers of historic buildings should enjoy this circa 1924 property, which was once an apartment building. The entrance doors in a walnut finish lead into a modest lobby with lovely brown-and-white marble floors and wood wainscoting. Crown molding runs along the ceilings, and there are a few clusters of traditional upholstered chairs and glass tables for seating. The original mail slots are adjacent to the entrance, and the staff sits behind an enclosed counter that serves as the registration area. There's no restaurant or breakfast room, and overall it's a quiet property where guests tend not to interact. While there is an elevator, it's cramped and reportedly slow. 

The hotel is located on a quiet side street in the Streeterville area on Chicago’s Gold Coast. It’s a convenient base from which to explore the Windy City, as it’s only a five-minute walk to the Magnificent Mile along Michigan Avenue. Lots of restaurants, shops, and public transit stations surround the hotel, and there's a grocery store across the street. The John Hancock Center, Water Tower Place, Northwestern University, and the Museum of Contemporary Art are all within a five-minute walk away. McCormick Place and Wrigley Field are about 30 minutes via public transportation, and Navy Pier takes around 17 minutes. Midway International Airport is about 40 minutes by train (35 minutes driving), and O’Hare International Airport takes approximately one hour by train or 55 minutes by car. The property offers no parking options, but a public lot across the street offers reasonable rates for downtown Chicago.

In-room decor at DeWitt Place is tired and dated, but it feels appropriate for the historic building. The spacious Studio (Queen and Double-Double) and One-Bedroom suites feature an odd mixture of old and new, as they continue to receive incremental updates. For example, the hardwood floors are nice and new, and some kitchens feature new stainless steel appliances, while others have older appliances. Other variations exist between suites, but generally expect to see soft-yellow walls and white bedding topped with crimson-and-gold bed throws and bolster pillows. Ample natural light streams in from the multiple windows, framed in shiny copper drapes. The sitting areas feature sofas and glass tables, and the kitchens have either bars or small dining tables. Standard amenities include full-sized fridges, microwaves, stoves, utensils, flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms are generally quiet, and some offer partial lake views. The cramped bathrooms are the most disappointing feature, with pedestal sinks and white tiling around the shower/tub combos. The tiling in the rooms we saw could use a more thorough scrubbing, and some of the tubs looked worn out, with rust stains and chipping. Overall, rooms get mixed reviews: many guests have praised the rooms for their cleanliness, while others have reported various issues including peeling paint, cracked walls, and noisy air-conditioning units that don’t work very well. Please note that rooms do not receive housekeeping for stays of less than three nights. 

Amenities are limited at this extended-stay hotel, but they do include a fitness center with a few pieces of cardio and weight-training equipment as well as sauna and steam rooms. There is no on-site restaurant or breakfast available, but coffee is free all day in the lounge, and the hotel has vending machines with snacks and soft drinks. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and the lounge has a computer and printer that serve as the business center, plus sofas, tables, and a TV. A small meeting room is on-site as well, along with guest laundry facilities. Concierge services are offered, and pets are welcome.