Hotel Lincoln, a Joie de Vivre Hotel

Despite its looming size, taking up a full street corner, the hip Hotel Lincoln has a playful boutique vibe. The cozy lobby is an amusing collage of vibrant colors, vintage Americana art, and kitschy curios. The front desk, made of recycled dresser drawers in mismatched woods, sets the tone for a look best described as flea-market chic. A relaxed yet fun and festive energy here attracts young professionals and visitors to nearby DePaul University. The hotel's rooftop bar and outdoor terrace draws big crowds in warm weather. With a street side patio and an array of fresh-brewed drinks, Elaine’s coffee bar brings java lovers from the neighborhood into the hotel. 

The hotel borders the expansive green space in Lincoln Park, between Wrigley Field and downtown Chicago. It’s just a one-minute walk to the Lincoln Park Zoo, and a lovely 13-minute stroll through the park to North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan. The Chicago History Museum is a six-minute walk, and the famed Second City comedy club is eight minutes on foot. A few restaurants are nearby, but the area doesn’t offer the dining and nightlife choices that’s available inside the Loop. DePaul University is an eight-minute drive or 16 minutes via metro, and Museum Campus is 10 minutes driving or about 35 minutes via metro. Drive times to Midway International Airport and O'Hare International Airport are approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day. Reaching the airport by public transit takes about one hour.

Much like the hotel’s public spaces, the clean, modern, and stylish guest rooms throw together a captivating mix of colors, patterns, and textures that work on the whole. Patchwork carpeting resembles quilting squares, and the wallpaper mimics blonde wood paneling. Alligator leather trunks serve as nightstands, and distinctive artwork includes vintage photos of the Chicago World’s Fair. While room sizes can vary somewhat, the L-shaped Standard Queen we saw was on the small side, but it was configured in a way that made it feel comfortable. It included an armchair and a corner desk. The bathroom also suffered from an odd layout and jutting angles, but it was amply sized, with a frosted glass door, granite vanity, and nice tan tiling framing the shower/tub combo. Standard amenities in all rooms include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, and coffeemakers. Free Wi-Fi is offered as well. Room options include Kings, Double Doubles, and suites with sleeper sofas. Some of the suites also have two full bathrooms. Lake Michigan or Lincoln Park can be seen from some rooms, while other rooms offer views of neighboring streets and buildings. 

One of the star features of this stylish hotel is its popular J. Parker rooftop lounge. It has an indoor bar and a large outdoor terrace with comfy sofas, nice landscaping, and sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. It serves breakfast daily (for a fee) and is available for private events like wedding receptions for up to 120 people. The Clark Room above the lobby can also accommodate events for up to 100 people. For light bites and pick-me-up drinks, Elaine’s coffee shop just off the lobby serves breakfast goodies as well as barista-crafted drinks. Outdoor seating can be found here, too. The hotel has a full-service restaurant, but it was closed for re-branding when we visited. Room service is available as well. The hotel's fitness center is open 24/7 and has several Precor cardio machines and free weights. However, the space is cramped, with little room to move around between the machines. The business center is also on the small side, just a few computers and a printer, though it's adequate and open 24 hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, too. Concierge services include valet dry cleaning and laundry. Valet parking is the only on-site option but as is the norm in central Chicago, it’s quite expensive. Lower rates are available in a public lot about one block away. Pets are welcome with an additional fee.