The Drake

Reviews

• SU

  Sami Uddin

  1 day ago
  5.0
  The Drake – Downtown Chicago My company hosted a New Year’s party at The Drake in downtown Chicago, and the experience was truly exceptional. We stayed in the Executive Suite, which was incredibly spacious, well-kept, and very comfortable—perfect for both relaxing and entertaining. The classic elegance of the hotel combined with its prime location made the entire stay feel special and memorable. The service, ambiance, and overall cleanliness were top-notch, and everything about the event was handled smoothly. The only small downside was that the hotel does not offer 24-hour room service, so my wife and I weren’t able to order food or drinks late at night. That said, it was a very minor inconvenience compared to how wonderful everything else was. Overall, The Drake exceeded expectations and delivered an amazing experience. Highly recommended for events, stays, and anyone looking for a luxurious Chicago hotel with timeless charm
• JW

  Joshua Wolter

  Jan 1, 2026
  1.0
  I honestly don't write reviews, but this, this really takes the cake on disappointment. It's truly unfortunate what is happening to what was once the iconic hotel of Chicago's Magnificent Mile. While the public areas are maintained for the most part, especially the iconic lobby. The rest of the hotel seems to have been left to rot, including the service standards. Our room while spacious and abundant of great views, was in horrific disrepair and should have been out-of-order by any roadside motel standard. Pealing and stained wallpaper, stained walls, highly visible water damage and the overwhelming aroma of dampness, subtlety masked by a hidden grocery store air freshener. Leaky faucets, shotty repair work, and lack of overall care for the rooms made the stay less than appreciated. While I have not stayed at this particular hotel in a while on frequent Chicago trips. Glasses continued to grow day after day in the hallway outside our door, bringing with it the fruit-fly that greeted us every time we entered the hallway. It was selected with family, to revisit a previous fond memories, as this was the go-to spot. This visit doesn't even harken close to the service and quality that it once stood for. Moving to service. While check-in was simple and fine, the service from F&B was not gracious at all. While tea is very popular and it would seem that everyone was enjoying the lobby area, a stop at the bar, which was open, to have a cocktail was effectively met with sturdy avoidance. A bartender stating, "we are closing soon, and we really only do Bellini's for the old ladies having tea." With an answer like that, we made our way downstairs. It wasn't overly busy, but service was friendly from the start, drinks took a bit, but that is okay, as long as they are good. Challenge came when it came time for the bill. Finding the server/bartender was like finding a needle in a haystack. None-the-less not a terrible visit. Unlike the previous visit for a cocktail, which showed the bartender lacking any care for his job, customers or craft. After repeatedly having to ask for a twist in my martini, it was finally plopped in by a bare hand, made with fruit that was clearly unwashed, as the twist still had the produce sticker on it. (included in photos) That floated right to the top, with not so much as a bothered care from the bartender, who saw clearly what had happened, but didn't care. Again, shameful to see such an icon fall to low standards of not only operations, but service as well. The highlight of the whole stay was the absolutely friendly, outgoing and gracious valets.
• MH

  maurissa h

  Dec 29, 2025
  4.0
  Very clean. Such a warm feeling. Staff was very welcoming and nice. Rooms were clean. Water was hot. Walls are thin so you can hear neighbors but everything was quiet before 9. So no complaint there. Only thing it got warm in the middle of the night and the air was off but they immediately came and opened the window. Perfect stay. Prime location for shopping. Can’t wait to come back.
• AA

  Axel

  Dec 26, 2025
  4.0
  Classic Chicago landmark with a lot of history and presence. The building itself is elegant and impressive, especially the lobby, which still carries an old world charm that feels tied to another era. You can sense the legacy the moment you walk in. That said, the experience feels a bit dated and uneven. Some areas feel well maintained while others clearly need refreshing. Service is polite but not particularly warm, and it does not always match the level you would expect from a hotel with this reputation. Worth visiting or staying once for the history and location, but it leans more toward nostalgia than true luxury today.
• RW

  Robygirl W

  Dec 18, 2025
  3.0
  Was a little surprised this hotel refers to themselves as a 4 star hotel. My best friend was staying there celebrating her birthday and got engaged that night. I called wanting to send up two martinis and something sweet (which I was planning to buy of course)… they acted like that something unheard of. I was a concierge at the Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis back in the days, and we fulfilled requests like this all the time and delivered on our service. This is certainly no Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis! Maybe, Waldorf Astoria is the only hotel in this group you can expect top level customer service. And, I’m saying this because the guest service person said they were going to call back and see if they can do it… but, did not follow through. Never received a call back. As a Hilton owner through Bluegreen very unimpressed with this hotel!

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