Hotel Burnham, a Kimpton Hotel

Awesome boutique hotel in downtown Chicago! Last stayed here in the early 2000s and loved it. It’s recently renovated and updated — very well done. Rooms are spacious with great views and comfortably appointed. Slept like I was at home last night! Restaurant is amazing — had dinner last night — ordered several small plates and wine — delicious! Breakfast was equally good — see my check-​in. Highly highly recommend it!

Hotel is perfect and concierge Gretchen provided amazing service. Hotel offers free wine hour from 5−6pm with decent wines to try. Staff remembers your name and are very friendly. Remembered my wife’s birthday and that made it extra special for us. Thanks again, we will be back.

Great view, very small room. The bed was not comfortable at all, the mattress felt like springs with a blanket over them. We picked this hotel to be close to the Thanksgiving day parade not thinking for a second that there wouldn’t be room service available for breakfast in the morning it’s a hotel after all. They did have a free continental breakfast fit for a motel 6 and coffee that a trucker would’ve turned his nose up to. It would have been nice if their site had mentioned that it wouldn’t be a full service hotel on thanksgiving day. It also would have been nice if they let you know they don’t have their own parking garage and that your only good option is the $ 60 per night plus tip valet parking unless of course you want to find your own parking in downtown Chicago. Very pretty hotel. Very friendly and pleasant staff. Paying for valet and walking a couple blocks to McDonald’s in the morning wasn’t the end of the world but it probably would have impacted our choice of hotel. Fit and finish were not what I expected out of a boutique hotel, loose carpet and window shades that don’t quite work in the room nails sticking out of the wall as you round the corner from the elevator perfect for tearing your coat on. Maybe I’m nitpicking but for what it cost I wouldn’t stay there again.

Great hotel. We got an amazing price for the room a beautiful room with everything you need and a really nice bathroom. The size of the room is more European than American so a little small for an American size however very decent for European standards. The tv has all the channels you can possibly need. The amenities are nice plus they will get anything you forgot for free they have a long list of amenities they can get to your room upon request. There is freshly brewed coffee every morning from 5 am great for jet lag and there is also high end tea delicious. They have a happy hour for guests in the afternoon were you get a complimentary glass of wine. The cleaning service is great they leave your room Ina beautiful and organized manner. They have an unbeatable location!!! Right beside Macy’s a block and a half away from Millenium park so you are walking distance from everywhere and 5 min from the magnificent mile. You have a metro station just beside the hotel that goes all the way to the airport!

I absolutely loved this place!
Our Room: My friend and I were here for about 5 nights total and they were kind enough to place us at the very top facing the Chicago sign. They did this without me having to request it so they genuinely wanted us to enjoy our stay there. The room itself was very spacious and had everything we needed. They offer so many amenities for free many hotels do not. I joined Kimpton Rewards so I had free wifi. I requested a humidifier, some shaving cream and even a razor and all that was brought to the room at no charge!
The décor: Very fitting for our stay in Chicago as it had a 1920’s feel to it. The room doors had the old slots for letters so I felt like I was in an old movie or something.
Atwood restaurant: We ate at their restaurant downstairs for breakfast. I had the Atwood Omelette and it was good, but nothing impressive.
Wine hour: From 5−6pm they had wine hour for the guest which was very nice, sadly my friend didn’t really drink so it was unfortunate she couldn’t take advantage of it.
Customer Service: The front desk and those working the door were so friendly. Darnell would greet us and chat with us to see how our vacation was going. It gave a nice personal touch to our stay.
Location: This place is near the train from the airport, near shopping, food, near the bus stop. Basically accessible to Everything!
I would stay at another Kimpton again in my future travels.

Time-​travel back an entire century as you stay in a hotel that will make you nostalgic for the roaring 1920’s. Gorgeous architecture, maroon hallways, and classic lighting fixtures all give this hotel a distinct look. When you get in your room, however, all modern conveniences come into play — plenty of power outlets, state-​of-​the-​art television, and a very comfortable bed. My room had a view of the Chicago Theater, which was pretty exciting.
Can’t stress this enough: They had excellent service. A very responsive front desk. Also, the bar has free happy hour for hotel guests!
Some concerns: Since there were only two elevators in operation at my stay, the wait was a bit long. And the gym is pretty small, though the equipment is pretty good.
Advice about the neighborhood — you’re in the center of the business area, and Millennium Park is very close. That said, the area shuts down at night. Be sure to just walk north of the river to W Hubbard Street, where you’ll find amazing bars and restaurants.

Smallest room I have stayed in during my six weeks in Chicago (I’ve stayed at a different hotel ever week and two others during some weekends). My room was on the 6^th floor so I don’t know if that made a difference. There are some «historic» floors at the hotel so maybe rooms on those floors are larger? I checked out those floors themselves and they had nice architectural features and larger doors to the rooms so maybe they are larger, but I don’t know for sure. My advice would be to request a higher floor, if you are staying at the hotel.
My room was pretty sparse, and given that it was small, I was disappointed. It also didn’t feel like a Kimpton room, which are usually plush and botiquey. Truth be told, it felt like a 2 – 3 star basic hotel room. The mattress wasn’t plush, very small side tables, and there was only one piece of art on the wall. Great view though, with nice large windows. The bathroom, however, wasn’t better. Smallest of any of the hotels I stayed at, with only one sink and not much room to place my stuff. Shower was basic with a small shower head. No body wash either, just shampoo and conditioner. All-​in-​all, I would probably go 2 stars for the room.
I’m not status at Kimption but am at most other chains so maybe that is the difference? I wouldn’t stay at this hotel again, nor would I recommend it to others. Three stars total however, but only because of the location, friendly staff, and nice lobby/​restaurant. For me it was a miss and not reflective of Kimpton properties at all.

I cannot recommend the Burnham and the barman Tom highly enough. He makes the best Tom Collins in Chicago and I could listen to his anecdotes all night. He made our stay in Chicago very memorable. The hotel is excellent with very attentive staff and very well situated — in the middle of the loop. Cannot recommend highly enough.

I continue to be a huge Kimpton fan, let me show you why I try to only stay in Kimpton Hotels.
I was able to check in early and because I am an Inner Circle member they upgraded me to a suite with a view of Lake Michigan
The staff is friendly and wonderful as we have come to expect
I was in my room working when I got a knock on the door, And they show up with an amazing welcome amenity
Why would anyone ever want to stay with another hotel chain?

I used to stay at the Burnham when doing business in Chicago. It had been some time since I stayed there and I was excited to return for a fun weekend in the city. The location of this property is idea to just about anything you’d want to do downtown.
I arrived to find that the property had undergone an attractive remodel since my last visit. The lobby area was really opened up and the new design scheme highlights the architectural features of this unique building. Rooms have also been redone in an attractive neutral color scheme. As is typical for a Kimpton property, everything in the room was of high quality and working perfectly, and the room itself including the bathroom was impeccably clean.
We enjoyed brunch at the Atwood (onsite bar/​restraunt) and the food was fantastic. Prices are not «bargain basement» but are in line with the the high quality of the food and and interesting spins on brunch classics (hello, smoked salmon benedict).
The only wrinkle in our stay came at check in, when we faced an hour plus delay on checking into our room. This probably would have been manageable under most circumstances, but we were extremely tired and cranky and had been looking forward to crashing out for a well deserved nap. Front desk staff did their best, and I appreciated that the concierge staff checked in on us during our stay as well. I hold Kimpton properties to high standards (they are among my most favorite hotels) and have never experienced a glitch like that before. Still, anything can happen once and I appreciate that staff worked out the problem as best they could and it’s a good testament to the service oriented attitude that Kimpton fosters.
I would recommend this property highly and look forward to returning soon. My thanks to the hotel staff for making our stay pleasant.

As always, the Kimpton difference shines through! My wife and I always try and stay at a new Kimpton when given the chance. After staying at a couple of other «luxury hotels» around the same area before checking in here, we quickly realized we should have stayed here the entire trip. From the friendliness and willingness to always help by everyone here to the consistently pristine room condition, our stay was nothing short of fantastic.
If given the chance, make sure and stay here!
Thanks staff at Hotel Burnham!

Super dog friendly hotel in Chicago, a couple of blocks from Millennium Park. My dogs received dog beds, bowls, treats and a little chalkboard sign with their name in the lobby welcoming all of the VIPets. Isn’t that cute? The rooms were nicely decorated, clean and we had a great view. The hotel itself, which is in the historic Reliance Building, was beautifully detailed down to the doorknobs. Oh, and we were given real keys to our room! Come on, no one does that! I did think the valet parking price was a little steep, but ended up being worth it as there is NO WHERE to park near the hotel. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling with pets or any history buffs cuz ya know, Al Capones dentist pulled teeth in this building. I’m just saying…

This is an incredible hotel to stay at especially if you are running the Chicago Marathon. Our room had a view of the lake and of the Chicago Theater down the street. The staff was endlessly friendly and accommodating. They truly went above and beyond. The morning of the marathon they amenities at the hotel were incredible. They put out typical runner fuel (hard boiled eggs, bagels, oranges, bananas, gatorade, etc.) and greeted runners happily in the morning.
I also had a great breakfast at the Atwood Café in the hotel.
Highly recommend.

Really cute place! It’s like a bunch of 1940s mail room offices converted into hotel rooms– it’s a «Mad Men» themed Hotel — kind of!
The people are so friendly and nice. Very helpful. We came down for free coffee but it had been packed up so they brought us up a tray of coffee! Loved it. Great restaurant in first at floor as well.
Dog friendly! We had two massive Bernese dogs and they were loved! Doggie bags complimentary! Amazing.
Fab location! Like perfect. Right near a subway stop, right next to Washington park and the bean! Shops everywhere around. Brilliant location.
I didn’t notice the renovations when staying either.
The only thing I want/​would suggest is a body wash in the bathroom– they have shamp/​condit/​body lotion but no wash.
Also parking was like $ 55 overnight for a guest — which I feel should be included in your stay. But maybe that is a Chicago thing!?!

So I’m a devoted Kimpton girl and looked forward to experiencing the Hotel Burnham. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed for a remodel, but the hotel staff (hi Gretchen!) and the overall accommodations more than made up for the inconvenience.
The 15^th floor was quiet and my room was clean and plenty spacious. I also had a lovely view of State street and enjoyed watching the snow flutter down from the warmth of my room. I am a devoted stair climber and thought the staircase was truly beautiful and safe for me to fulfill my daily cardio quota without worrying about my personal safety.
Also loved watching the lights come on in the adjacent buildings. .. A truly Chicago moment.

The hotel provides such a nice experience for its guests.
On a cold winter day, we were greeted at check in with hot cocoa and marshmallow and chocolate chips and peppermint chips. Nom nom.
Our room was on the top floor (15). It was a BIT small but fine for 2 people. It was clean and really a nice space. A complimentary bottle of champagne arrived in our room
5 minutes after we got in. What a nice surprise. We checked out the gym (as in… Walked by and swore id go later) and it was a little disappointing. They have the basics but was also just sub par.
Overall, wonderful service, staff rocks it, the restaurant downstairs is good and they make sure every guest leaves satisfied. I was really impressed.

This was my first time staying in a Kimpton hotel and it was such a wonderful experience. For my birthday I wanted to stay at hotel downtown but I booked it somewhat last minute and this was the best deal I could find (that being said, it was still very pricey and way above my budget).
However, from the moment I arrived I was so happy with this hotel! The front desk staff was very friendly and took time to have a meaningful conversation with me. They invited me to their wine hour in the afternoon, which I later attended and enjoyed.
I arrived to the room which was really cute! I was nervous from all the Unilocal reviews about the rooms being small and was looking into upgrading to a suite. But I didn’t need to at all. Yes it was smaller, but we were able to fit 3 grown adults just fine.
After about 10 minutes of getting settled in the room, a staff member brought up a bottle of wine and a happy birthday note. It was such a nice touch! My parents drove up to the city to have dinner with us at the hotel’s restaurant (see review for Atwood) and that was lovely. The best part is, if you are a guest of the hotel you receive a nice discount on your restaurant bill (you may need to let the waiter know you are staying at the hotel though).
Things I loved: the infused water they always seemed to have available, the overall décor and architecture, the REAL keys, and the location of this hotel!
I’ll need to save up a bit, but I’d love to come back again!

Stylish, welcoming boutique hotel. Has a sense of calm and class about it.
Very friendly front-​desk staff.
WONDERFUL Intelligentsia coffee, tea, and newspapers in the lobby each morning. Wine hour in the afternoon.
Nice CO Bigelow products in the bathroom.
Rooms are on the small side, but you can get a nice view of the city if you’re up high enough. NB you are *right* on State, so you will hear a lot of street noise (though honestly it wasn’t THAT bad – they were repairing the street overnight during my stay, and I still managed to get rest. If I can sleep through jackhammers, I imagine that a «normal» night isn’t that bad.
Beds were super comfy.
And, if you’re an architecture nut, it’s really a treat to stay in a historically significant building like this. I studied architectural history in college, and little did I know I’d actually stay in a building we discussed! Very cool.
I would definitely stay here again.

Love this hotel. Have stayed here before when in Chicago as the business I am here for uses this hotel. This is a historical landmark Chicago style building. Old elevators with wrought iron are beautiful. They meet you outside when you arrive and have excellent customer service. Their front desk is almost always manned by 2 people and they are very attentive to you. Each evening there is a wine tasting in the lobby right outside the restaurant. They have a good restaurant with inside and outside eating when the weather is good. The hotel is right on an intersection of 2 main streets so you can walk anywhere from restaurants to Walgreens.
The rooms are smaller than many hotel rooms but there is plenty of room and they are very nicely decorated and set up. 2 robes waiting for you in the closet when you arrive.
Since my last visit here they now have bicycles available free for guests to use. They are limited so first come first served but what a great addition to offer as having a car in downtown is not smart and a bike is excellent.
Definitely a breath of fresh air from done of the hotel chains. Great ambiance which is so nice for relaxing.

As previously mentioned, I love hotels, I love boutique hotels, and I love pampering myself. (Maybe I didn’t mention all of those, but it’s true).
What I also love– the macabre… in all shapes and sizes.
In the past couple of years, I have become a big fan of the Kimpton chain for a number of reasons– decent prices, great locations, and free wine in the evening. Oh who I am I kidding, it’s the last reason.
So when Kimpton emails me and tells me that I’ll get a discounted rate for my birthday month, I strongly consider it. Granted, I don’t have a trip planned… so I plan a staycation in the Loop. After looking at the other Kimpton hotels, I decided on this one for its quirky elevators and cool vibes, and book it for the weekend of Valentine’s day (also Presidents Day weekend this year)…at a GREAT rate.
I go and check in, and they of course know it’s for my birthday, and treat me like the special birthday girl that I am with my complimentary champagne and dessert coupon, and discount on the mini bar (which would come in handy later that night).
I travel (via the cool elevators and down the hall past the doors that look like one of them could house an old timey private investigator’s office) to room 809.
Which…drumroll please… used to be Al Capone’s dentist’s office. Which may or may not sound cool to you, but apparently Dr. Teeth used to also deal drugs out of said office. I think that’s pretty cool.
Upon entering my room, I see a cute note from housekeeping along with some roses wishing me a happy birthday and other super nice things. That’s service.
The room was perfectly sized, very comfortable, and had a decent view (including the corn cobs).
Although I didn’t get a chance to use my free champagne/​dessert coupon due to no room in the restaurant, I had a great stay and would recommend it to anyone.