This is Not Your Average Hampton Inn – the Art Deco Splendor of the Hampton Inn Chicago

Inside the new Hampton Inn Chicago Michigan Avenue, an acoustic guitarist plays during happy hour in the lobby bar. A 1928 Ford Model A car sits on a second-floor loft. The decor feels Empire State Building-like, with original 1920s Art Deco fixtures, terrazzo floors and a wall mural over the ornate elevators – remnants from when the building housed the Chicago Motor Club. This is not your typical off-the-interstate Hampton Inn.

Hampton Inn Chicago

The Hampton Inn Chicago Michigan Avenue (opened in May 2015) may not have the familiar look of the other hotels in its chain, it still most of the features I love about Hampton Inns – clean rooms, freshly washed comforters, free WiFi, a big (free) breakfast, an updated gym, super nice staff, and reasonable prices.

The “Boutique Hampton Inn”

However, this Hampton Inn is different. While most hotels in this chain look identical, this one has beautiful Art Deco decor that gives it a unique character. Hotel Manager Kelly Sujka called it “the boutique Hampton.”

What Works for Families

What Doesn’t Work for Families:

Room Rates:

Room rates start at $109/night. Prices are higher in summer and fall, peaking at $299/night. That’s a bargain for a Michigan Avenue hotel, especially a new one which includes free breakfast and WiFi. Hampton Inns are part of the Hilton chain, so you can use Hilton Honors rewards points here.

The Hotel:

This Hampton Inn has things that no other hotels in this Hilton-owned chain has, including Art Deco decor, a historic feel, and a lobby bar, called Jack’s Place. The hotel also has my absolute favorite hotel feature – quiet-closing room doors! As a poor hotel sleeper, I hold this in very high regard. You will not wake up to the sound of slamming doors down the hall. The building, built in 1928, use to house the offices of the Chicago Motor Club. So that’s why there’s a car theme (and the original Art Deco decor) throughout.

The Rooms:

They’re clean, modern, and nicely appointed, but they are smaller than your typical hotel room. The hotel has three “historic rooms,” which are slightly larger, and have the original wood paneling and leather studded doors from the 1920s. They have comfy pillow-top beds with triple sheeting and down comforters.

Dining:

Their free breakfast buffet includes homemade waffles, scrambled eggs with (or without) ham, a selection of juices and fruits, and hot oatmeal with a selection of toppings. There are no on-site restaurants, although there’s a little shop next to the lobby that sells snacks 24 hours a day.

At Jack’s Place Bar – one of only a few Hamptons in the country that serves alcohol – they serve the Chicago-made craft beer, Revolution, on tap. Morton’s Steakhouse, an expensive but delicious place for steaks, is across the street.

Have you stayed at a Hampton Inn? Share your experience with us in the comment section below.