Why this building matters
The Congress opened in 1893 as the Auditorium Annex, an overflow hotel for Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler’s Auditorium Building across the street, built for the crowds of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Designed by Clinton J. Warren and expanded in the early 1900s by Holabird & Roche, it grew into one of the city’s great convention hotels, with elegant historic ballrooms. It anchors the south end of the Historic Michigan Boulevard District.
Read more on the Congress Plaza Hotel's own history page → (booking directly with the hotel doesn't generate a referral fee that supports our preservation work — the button at right does)
What guests are saying
What guests love
- A genuine World’s Fair–era landmark with grand, atmospheric public rooms.
- A budget-friendly rate for a Michigan Avenue address facing Grant Park.
- On Michigan Avenue overlooking Buckingham Fountain and Grant Park, a 7-minute walk to the Art Institute.
What to keep in mind
- A faded grande dame — rooms are dated and vary widely; read recent reviews
- A vast old hotel with uneven modernization
Best for History-minded, budget-conscious travelers who value a landmark Michigan Avenue address over modern polish.
Summary of guest reviews. Sources: The Congress Plaza Hotel, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Preservation Chicago. Photography courtesy of Congress Plaza Hotel, used with permission. Details may change over time.