Don’t let the charm and beauty of this historical place catch you like it did us. Our stay was nothing short of a nightmare from dealing with rude staff to having zero AC and our room being a constant 84 degrees. A month after our stay we got charged yet again for our room. After calling and leaving 6 different messages and multiple emails with no reply we disputed the charges with our bank. The hotel and rooms are very cute and convenient to everything but we will never ever stay here again. Staff is beyond rude and no AC in the summer was a deal breaker for us. There is no care from management or staff about how your stay went. Our first night we received a text service asking us to rate our stay so far. We rated them a 2 due to the staff being so rude and having no air. Not one time did they check in on our stay while we were there or after we checked out after leaving a poor review. Do not stay here.

My boyfriend and I had a lovely stay here! The hotel is clean and provides a great history behind its location, and the staff is incredibly friendly. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the hotel key cards are actually made to look like famous NU alumni student ID’s. Our stay was special because of the bartender, Tara. She made excellent conversation and was extremely accommodating when my partner and I came in right when the bar closed. Her kindness made our night and elevated our experience here.

Beautiful room, warm and welcoming staff, and a historical building given new life. It’s a magical spot. I loved the welcome we got, multiple staff members helping us check in and giving tips and recommendations. The building is gorgeous. I am not a fan of the musky woodsy scent they are curating in the lobby but I trust their process otherwise. Our room was clean, cozy, and even has a partial view of the lake. The restaurant on site was great! The food is fresh and hearty and the staff was so friendly and helpful. I wish it was easier to get food to your room from the hotel! The pigs in a blanket and bacon mac were a great way to wind down a long day. The bar to the left of the entrance had the most welcoming bartender who made me a delicious bourbon drink with a bit of a light finish I’d gladly drink again. The bar space is the attached photo! Thanks for the wonderful welcome! We are excited to be here the next few days.

The service was below average at best. They would refuse to clean (or even tidy up rooms) have very limited amenities and an outright rude college student at the front desk. Non functional elevators. They didn't even have creamers for the room! Bartender gave a good service. Someone had a huge water leak in their room during my stay. Goes without saying that even with reduced and poor quality service, prices. remain high. Overall rating: avoid.

My room was not service for two days. I called and I was told that there was a mistake during check in, I was initially marked as no show (and charged a fee for that). It was too late to get the room cleaned so on a 4 nights stay my room was not cleaned for three days. The staff was not helpful and both elevators were broken. After being charged the full amount I said I was surprised given the conditions of my stay and they applied a 4% discount. Not a good experience.

We booked a stay more than two months ago, received notice less than two weeks before arrival that the elevator was out. How can a "4 star" hotel with above average rates find this acceptable? Sounds like a bait and switch tactic, call ahead before you book to confirm the elevator is working otherwise I hope you like to get your cardio in shlepping up 8 flights of stairs

There is no elevator. They told us the day before our stay it was broken, but it seems from staying there that it’s been broken for quite a while and it is not going to be fixed. So we were surprised to receive such late notification when we had booked months in advance - and then receive a room on the 6th floor. The room itself was clean and was serviced daily. The staff is friendly. The bar is great. The restaurant looked inviting. Was our stay relaxing? Yes. Would we stay there again? Yes.

Booked directly with the Graduate Evanston but I never ended up staying there. I was told two days before arriving that the elevator was down and traveling with my 70 year old parents, that does not work for us. Trouble came when I have tried to get my money refunded. One front desk employee was very helpful, one didn't care, and one was very rude. After getting the ring around for 2.5 weeks and still not receiving a refund, I finally had to file a dispute through my bank. Not worth the trouble.

This review is of Phillip, the valet and concierge, at the hotel. He helped us bring in our bags, which is tricky as there is no direct access to the elevator for guests. He was kind, super responsive, and helpful. He even gave our child a gift and helped to pack the car on a very cold and windy day. Thank you, Phillip! Your generous spirit makes the hotel a great place to be.

Would HIGHLY recommend booking here! Rooms are very clean and cozy vibes. Lots of Attention to detail with the decor it doesn’t feel like you’re in a hotel room. Pet friendly and everyone said hello to our dog in passing :) room was a little bit small but we knew the square footage upon booking our specific room and it was just perfect for us for the night. Bathroom was huge and immaculate! The elevator is small but lots of character and what you would expect for an older building. Thank you for the team & especially the housekeeping staff at Graduate in Evanston -the rooms are VERY clean and well kept which we appreciate a lot- we will be back.

Really cute hotel and adorable decor! The elevator is a little spooky, though, so you might want to stay on the first floor. The staff members were hit or miss. The person who checked us in was unfriendly and unhelpful, but the other front desk workers were great. The valet gave us incorrect information about street parking in the area, which was frustrating. Overall, a good stay in a really nice area!

What a fun experience in an excellent location. Attentive service by the valet and front desk teams. The rooms are well decorated and comfortable—we loved being able to open the windows. Only challenge (and this is typical for shoulder season) was that the HVAC was being funky, but we were not uncomfortable.

Fantastic stay, very clean, short walk to Northwestern. Absolutely charming but with all the modern amenities (plugs next to bed, etc.) Love that there is a restaurant in the hotel with good food, and the service was excellent all around. Book here, you won't be disappointed.

This place is gorgeous and clean. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The only problem was a broken elevator and having to climb stairs to our room on the fifth floor. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and plan on coming back.

We booked two rooms for weekend. One on the 6th floor and one on the 8th floor. When we got to the hotel, we realized that the elevator was not working. The service elevator, which is super scary was working partially and I did not want to have the fire department rescue me from a stuck elevator so we passed. So we were left with walking up and down the 8 flights of stairs with our bags. The heat worked in one room, but not the other. They moved us down to ADA accessible rooms on a lower floor. So we’ve traded a king bed suite which is what we booked for a full size bed for two people. If you want to stay in a partially renovated old building with all the quirks that come with it, this is your place. I will pass

Incredibly deceptive! We thought the hotel was very charming, however it would be more than appropriate to inform guests that there is no working evaluator, no ability to control the heat or AC in the room and a TRUE lack of empathy for someone who just got a hip replacement and didn't know I would be climbing 7 flights of stairs for a room with a paid "view" the looks directly to another building. The staff was unapologetic and just rude... and lied! He told us the elevator had "just broke the day before" but we had been staying for 2 days at that point and it had been broken the entire time. If you read the reviews, clearly this is an ongoing issue. After I challenged him, he informed that it would not be fixed until the end of year, due to special parts...yadda, yadda, yadda! Shameful.

This was supposed to be a trip of joy my son was getting married. Your hotel had made promises to them that you did not hold up. People traveling from out of town should have had the same rate Friday and Saturday which they did not. Coffee should be available to guests before 7 am the instant stuff in the room is not coffee. The elevator was stuck more than it was operating there were quite a few people that should not have been going up and down the stairs but had no choice because the elevator wasn't working properly. I personally was stuck in the elevator for over 20 minutes. If they were to do this day over I would never stay at this hotel. It's not handicap accessible we had to have a guest with a wheelchair get out of his chair to get over the steps to get to his room. Poor management.

Booked one room for a single night and it was incredibly disappointing. The quality and service of this hotel does not match up to its price even remotely. We paid nearly 300 for our stay and we’re left waiting for valet, told to go down a dangerous fire escape by staff, and subject to walls that were peeling paint. It was an incredibly average stay that I cannot justify paying 300 dollars for it. Just find a cheaper hotel in the area.

Chose this hotel because a friend had stayed here for a reunion a couple of months ago, and because I’ve stayed in two other Graduate hotels that were great. What could go wrong? I’d do plenty of walking around Evanston! “Hope the elevator isn’t still broken!” My friend joked when I texted her. The elevator is still broken. I booked the hotel Monday and there IS NO NOTICE that the hotel has no functioning elevator. I booked a “cyber deal” and upgraded to a king room. When I arrived on Wednesday evening (I’m local-ish), I was informed that the elevator was broken so instead of the king room on the 7th floor, they were giving me a queen room on the 6th floor! “A smaller room one floor down is the solution? No thanks. I’ll take the extra floor.” What did they give me for the inconvenience? They waived the $15/night amenities fee and gave me four free drink tickets for the bar. (I don’t drink.) And I didn’t get the amenities, except the free water that I stopped by the front desk to ask for on my way back from an errand to get food. There is no room service. Don’t know where I’m supposed to get brewed coffee. So I wasn’t charged for amenities I didn’t get anyway, because i would have to travel down seven floors and then back UP seven floors. I asked for free parking or a free meal, but was told neither of those was an option. It’s a lovely room with an amazing view, which I appreciate, though I barely left it the three days I was here. (Because seven floors is really hard on the back.) Things that could’ve been better: Heat that works in 30 degree temps - and I like it cold, but not THAT cold; make sure the down comforter isn’t bloodstained right at the edge where your next guest will be putting their face (couldn’t take it off because freezing room), and the TV did not pair with my devices no matter what. The desk situation has a very comfortable leather chair that is a foot too short for the desk, so don’t plan to get work done comfortably without sitting on the extra pillows. I am on my last night feeling annoyed about things I’d overlook if only I could easily get up and go out. I feel terrible watching the housekeeping staff half-collapsed on the stairs, and if I, too, collapse, it will be in one of the giant piles of dirty linen bags in the corners of the very narrow stairway. This is NOT a Graduate Hotel-level experience I’ve come to expect. I can’t believe they don’t mention the non-working elevator at the time of booking, which is in the reviews as being perpetually broken for months and months! How is this ADA-compliant? What do guests do who can’t walk those stairs? Why doesn’t the hotel offer room service or something more substantial than a $15 discount per night? Will not return to this hotel, will let NU know that they should warn visiting alumni not to stay here.

HORRIBLE experience. Staff is entirely rude and interrogate you in the event you misplace a room key. Any interaction was met with disdain and impatience and each staff member was more sullen than the next. Elevator still not working and some in our party were on the 7th floor. Rooms missing standard outlets by beds. Bathrooms missing standard items like hair dryer and shower cap. Bed was titled on an angle so much so that half the mattress had a sink hole. One of the worst hotel stays of my life. AVOID at all costs.

Attention wedding parties!! The rooms are lovely and the building and decor is amazing for photos but do not pay to stay and make day of plans at this hotel. The elevators are and have been broken for weeks (by some accounts, months) and the only option is stairs. They will usher you down the hall to the service elevator as is if this is standard, but it does not work and, in fact the groom in our party (among many others throughout the weekend) was stuck in there while trying to head to the venue. Dozens of people complained and were met with a scripted reply that is was "a little old but working". Simply not true. The photographers had to schlep heavy and expensive equipment up and down 7 flights of stairs numerous times, the heating and AC was broken so it was extremely hot and the valet service is abysmal. There IS a parking garage within walking distance that they will conveniently not mention and their staff is clearly scripted on what to say about the elevator. Trust us, it does not work and they will not volunteer that information. It added a lot of stress to a magical day.

Really poor customer service ruins an otherwise interesting hotel that's loaded with charm. The joy of staying in a place that's not a cookie cutter chain. A place with a wonderful personality. The staff is warm and courteous with no canned speeches. What a pleasure talking a real people. There's a refrigerator in the room and your 1 and 1/2 blocks from a Whole Foods market. Since there's only one elevator and it's very slow, I suggest booking a floor you can walk to.

Immediately noticed rude snobby people. One lady literally interrupted the lady at the front desk talking to others checking in and was like HELLO I need the valet!!!! The restaurant is horrible. I believe my steak was microwaved. Portions are small. Server was rude and pushed alcohol hard on me. I can’t drink for medical reasons. He laughed at me when I asked for a soda. I went to The Cheesecake Factory on my 2nd day and had quadruple the food for the same price and tasted a million times better. The beds are hard as a rock. I was located by the rickety sketchy elevator, so I had to hear that and tons of people talking and making noise at all hours of the day. No sleeping allowed. The coolest the air conditioner gets is 74. So you sweat the whole time. There are very few plugins. The rooms are very small. The valet service is slow. If you don’t use valet you have to move your car every 2 hours on the street. You better not be in a hurry to get anywhere. I won’t be back. This hotel was 1 step up from sleeping on the street or my car. I actually probably would have had a better experience doing that.

Their elevator has been broken since last July. Luckily we didn't book rooms here for our immediate family during our recent wedding, but we still reserved a small block with assurances from the hotel that the elevator would be fixed. One week before the event we were told it was broken (again?) and that they couldn't guarantee guests rooms on lower floors. One of the older couples staying at the hotel called ahead to ask for a lower floor but they were put on the 8th floor... I understand things happen, but when your elevator is broken for 10 months, this doesn't seem like something that is "out of your control."

Nice hotel with friendly front desk and great bar. But, judging by this morning's experience, stay away from the restaurant. Half an our for a really simple short order from the kitchen - with hardly anyone else in their when I ordered. Pretty ordinary when it finally arrived, too.

I wanted to give it a great review. It’s a cute building and the location can’t be beat! We walked all over Evanston to wonderful bars and restaurants. The porch is a great place to hang out (although there always seemed to be someone smoking- not the hotel’s fault). However, the front desk staff were snippy and the elevator was broken which meant we had to use the service elevator which was cumbersome and slow. My disabled brother was put on the 7th floor so had to use said cumbersome elevator to navigate to and from his room. First floor would have been nice. When I went to check out the printer was broken so they sent me a “pdf” of my bill. It is blank. I have no idea what I was charged for. I told the desk clerk this and was told I was wrong.

I stayed at the Evanston for two nights 1/13-1/15, and let me start out by saying the hotel itself is well put-together & smells divine, however I was left speechless by rude staff. First of all, the elevator was broken for the first 24 hours and we were on the 7th floor with suitcases. No staff offered to help us with our bags. Nor did they do so for the various couples over 60 I saw struggling up to the 8th floor. I was appalled. Second, we went out to eat the first night & failed for two hours as restaurants were experiencing 2 hour waits. We tried 6 different restaurants and ended up grabbing poke last minute & taking it back to the hotel as we had to be somewhere at 9 PM. I asked the hotel bar if we could kindly eat at the bar & order drinks as I explained what happened. I was told no. I argued that this was the least they could do as the elevator was broken, and in reality they should have offered guests a complimentary drink generally. They said they would ask their manager after I had to literally beg disclosing my partner is diabetic and needs to eat and that we will be buying their $18 cocktails. So that was that, they agreed. The next night I was trying to come in and the building has auto-sensor doors you must wave your hand in front of, and I didn’t see it (as many people the three days there I saw struggling) and the valet / doorman who was sitting playing a game on their phone as I saw each day there griped “there’s a SENSOR”. Also-valet is $30 a night but we didn’t pay because parking was super easy to find if you read the signs so it’s kind of ridiculous. I also was annoyed with the room because there was no full length mirror & the thermostat didn’t work and the toilet started to smell of sewer. Overall, I really wanted my first time in Chicago to be different but it was a lot of disappointments and the staff were rude. The prices were lowered for a reason…

This was an exam place I had such a good experience with my husband! It was so wonderful and so relaxing, all the staff were amazing! They are very diverse and very awesome for that! They're very comfortable they treat you with so much respect and the food is amazing! They have a beautiful bar, and they have a book room you could go read old books from the past which I love me and my husband love reading, and the rooms are absolutely gorgeous and so is the whole place it reminds you of like The secret garden LOL like the movie LOL it's very very cool anybody I recommend going to this hotel it's absolutely stunning, there's so much artwork on every wall and every room and every floor and it's all hand painted and just gorgeous like the Mona Lisa it reminds you of being like back in the 1800s it's so nice I recommend anybody to go here it was amazing.