Freehand Chicago

Every now and then a four-star earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, Freehand Chicago, in Magnificent Mile, is one of those. The setting is part of the appeal, within an easy walk of the city centre, and the location score sits in reasonable territory because of it. Rooms feel…

Every now and then a four-star earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, Freehand Chicago, in Magnificent Mile, is one of those. The setting is part of the appeal, within an easy walk of the city centre, and the location score sits in reasonable territory because of it. Rooms feel well-appointed; the touches travellers mention most are on-site parking, reliable wi-fi and an in-house restaurant, and the comfort feedback has been broadly positive. It feels lived-in rather than staged, which tends to be the difference between a stay you remember and one you don't. The numbers behind the reviews tell their own story, well over 3,100 reviews, scoring broadly positive on balance. The reputation reads as steady rather than spiking. Recent rates have been hovering around €120 a night, which lands as a strong-value option for the city. Stack Freehand Chicago against the better-known names in Chicago and the trade-offs become genuinely interesting.