“We've stayed at a number of properties in Chicago and this is our favorite yet! (The Peninsula was quite nice in a very different way, but without the personal touch and neighborhood experience.) The whole place is beautifully designed with great attention to detail, and the room was very comfortable and quiet. Parking for a reasonable fee was convenient, and the location fantastic--a quiet and charming neighborhood just a very short walk to either Division or Milwaukee, so perfect for exploring local restaurants etc., and Wicker Park is our new favorite neighborhood in Chicago. Laura was very helpful before our visit on the phone and we only had a brief chat while checking out the kitchen, as everything is contactless and quite safe, but she certainly makes you feel at home. Laura had excellent advice for local restaurants and pointed us to several great options, and we ended up at an outstanding spot for dinner (The Perch) with safe outdoor seating that was still comfortable in January Chicago weather (admittedly not the coldest night!). It was the sort of neighborhood restaurant you don't usually find out about on the foodie sites but all around a great experience. In case we decided on takeout, which we did for breakfast, she set out dishes in the lovely kitchen/dining area which isn't being used much due to the pandemic, and we had the room to ourselves. An excellent value, and very highly recommended.”

“My boyfriend has been working longer hours than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I decided to plan a spontaneous staycation at the Wicker Park Inn. We live nearby, and have often walked or biked past the Inn— it’s beautiful! First, the positives: same-day booking was a breeze; contactless check-in felt extremely safe; the room was beautiful and very clean; the location is excellent. With contactless check-in, you use a one-time, personalized door code to enter through the main door, then follow emailed instructions to your room, where a key to the main door and room key are waiting. I picked up my keys, then headed back outside to make sure the key to the main door worked. After some fumbling (I really thought I was locked out for a few minutes), I made it back inside and IMMEDIATELY received a phone call. Laura, a Wicker Park Inn staff member, was calling to “check in.” The timing of the call made it clear that she had been watching me through a camera at the main door. While a little embarrassed, I shrugged it off. I get it: it was past sunset, I was in jean shorts, likely a little scruffier looking than typical Wicker Park Inn clientele. She asked me a few questions about my reservation (for some reason, she thought that I had booked a room for three people instead of two) and said good night. My boyfriend arrived about half an hour later. He biked to the Inn, and, because I was worried about locking his bike on the street overnight, I told him he could probably keep his bike in our room. Almost immediately after wheeling the bike inside, I got a call from Laura. She was really, really angry, and I could hear it in her voice. She said that she “saw the other person arrive” and repeated two or three times that she “just could not have a bike in the room” before explaining that she was concerned about dirt. I apologized immediately— in fact, I think I said the words “I’m sorry” six or seven times. It’s a completely reasonable policy not to allow bikes into the Inn rooms! We eventually resolved the issue—she allowed us to store the bike in the Inn garage—but I was pretty shaken up. I felt surveilled and I felt unwelcome. I kept thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t picked up the phone: Laura seemed upset enough to come to our room to tell us off. My boyfriend and I shook it off and ended up having a nice enough night, but I certainly won’t be staying at the Inn again, nor will I encourage friends or family to stay there.”