Hilton’s LondonHouse Chicago
I stayed at Hilton’s LondonHouse Chicago, part of the brand’s Curio Collection, almost three years ago. That stay left me scratching my head, but the positives I experienced were enough to book the property again, this time for a family stay. I came into this one just wanting certain boxes checked, with the property reliably delivering in a few selected areas. Quite simply, the hotel did so.
The Room
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I was upgraded to a one-bedroom Vista Suite during my first stay at Hilton’s LondonHouse Chicago. On this recent visit, the Diamond upgrade was more tempered – just an enhanced view from a basic double room. We were on the fifth floor with a side view of the Chicago River. But this standard room actually felt more spacious than the previous Vista Suite – a space which squeezed in two distinct areas, neither big enough. My little ones enjoyed watching the goings-on at the Wacker-Michigan intersection and a late-night thunderstorm as much as the river views. Things got really comfy in the double-size beds, but we were prepared for it and didn’t really care after busy days around the city.
Land & Lake Kitchen
I already described LondonHouse’s peculiar implementation of the Hilton elite food and beverage credit. No matter – I still recommend picking the Land and Lake Kitchen option. My wife and I enjoyed various entrees over the three breakfasts, such as granola, omelets, ricotta pancakes, and traditional American breakfasts. And, just as noteworthy, Land & Lake offers a solid deal on kids’ breakfast for a downtown Chicago hotel. The $10 breakfast comes with a choice of french toast or a large pancake, one egg to order, one piece of bacon, fruit cup (banana, blueberries, and strawberries), and a beverage (milk or juice). Waitstaff reliably performed in a bustling environment; we didn’t feel rushed, nor were we waiting around for the bill.
Property Standards
Hilton’s LondonHouse Chicago comes with a few common benefits that any visitor can appreciate. The property’s Wacker location along the Chicago River is absolutely stellar, especially for architecture buffs. Many years ago, my wife and I enjoyed the Chicago Architecture Center’s river cruise and, we decided to take our kids on the twilight version this trip. The entrance for the river cruise is across the intersection from the hotel, and CAC’s box office and gift shop is just a block away. We didn’t feel far away from anything in the city – parks, museums, dining, and shopping were within seconds or minutes in all directions. And, again, views are everywhere.
Speaking of, the LH Rooftop bar and restaurant on the 21st and 22nd floors is still going strong. There always seemed to be a long line to access the venue, but the hostess controlling access at street level allows individuals staying at the hotel to bypass that line. My family and I went up for photos and a brief wander. No wait, no problem!
Hilton’s LondonHouse Chicago – Conclusion
The hotel offers more, but that wasn’t the point for us. The aging-gracefully LondonHouse Chicago provides an above-average room, excellent location, outstanding views, and a solid breakfast option for a quite reasonable rate. While we used certs for this stay, I feel the hotel is still a relative points bargain at 75k per night. I’ll be back in Chicago sooner rather than later, probably trying out a few other properties. But I/we will dependably return to LondonHouse for another comfy stay down the road.
