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Summary of reviewsGraduate by Hilton Evanston offers a charming and inviting stay, making it a top choice for visitors, particularly those visiting Northwestern University. Its central location in the peaceful, leafy heart of Evanston provides convenient access to numerous attractions, including downtown shopping, dining, and Lake Michigan. The hotel strikes a perfect balance between tranquility and accessibility, enhanced by a historic building that beautifully blends old-school charm with modern amenities.
Guests are consistently impressed by the high standard of cleanliness throughout the hotel, from spotless rooms to well-maintained common areas. The accommodations themselves feature a delightful retro, preppy decor with cozy and comfortable beds, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Bathrooms are praised for their modern facilities and cleanliness, contributing to the hotel's overall sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere.
Dining at Graduate Evanston is a standout experience, with its acclaimed restaurant, The Hearth, offering excellent food and a well-regarded bar providing delicious drinks. The hotel's breakfast receives positive feedback for its quality and variety, featuring an array of tasty and fresh options. Despite some mention of dining logistics, the overall culinary experience is highly rated.
The staff at Graduate Evanston are often described as exceptionally friendly, helpful, and professional, contributing to a homely and hospitable environment. Their dedication to attentive service is a key feature that elevates the guest experience. While some reviews note issues with WiFi connectivity and parking logistics, the diversity of parking options and the overall hotel amenities offset these concerns.
Graduate by Hilton Evanston combines a charming historic ambiance with modern comforts, offering exceptional value and a memorable stay. The hotel's blend of unique design, excellent service, and convenient location makes it a highly recommended choice for both short and long visits. Show more
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Hotel near Golf Courses
Hotel Taking Steps Towards Sustainability
Hotel for Honeymoon
Family Friendly Hotel
Dog Friendly Hotel
Business Hotel
Hotel with Parking
Accessible Hotel
Hotel with Gym
4-Star Hotel
Room Types
Graduate Double Room with Two Double BedsThe quadruple room offers air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, heating, as well as a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit offers 2 beds.
Graduate King RoomThe spacious double room offers air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, heating, as well as a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit offers 1 bed.
Graduate Corner King RoomThe spacious double room offers air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, heating and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit has 1 bed.
Graduate King Room with Wet BarThe spacious double room features air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, heating, as well as a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit has 1 bed.
Graduate King Room with Lake ViewThe spacious double room features air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, heating, as well as a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit has 1 bed.
King Room with Bath Tub - Mobility AccessThe double room features air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, heating, as well as a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit has 1 bed.
King Room with Roll-In Shower - Mobility AccessThis double room is air-conditioned and features a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker and heating. The unit offers 1 bed.
Home Alone Family RoomThis quadruple room is air-conditioned and features a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker and heating.
Graduate Queen RoomThe double room features air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, heating and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit has 1 bed.
Graduate Queen Suite This suite is air-conditioned and features a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker and heating.
Guest Reviews
8.4
Very Good
Location
Located in the heart of Evanston, Graduate by Hilton Evanston is an ideal choice for visitors drawn to its superb location, offering easy access to a multitude of attractions. The hotel is particularly praised for its proximity to Northwestern University, making it a top pick for visiting parents and university events. Guests love the hotel's quiet, leafy neighborhood, which provides a serene and relaxing setting while still being just a short walk to the vibrant downtown area filled with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options.
The hotel is just a couple of blocks away from Lake Michigan, affording guests easy access to the scenic lakefront, parks, and beaches. This central location also offers convenient access to public transportation, making downtown Chicago just a short train ride away. Guests appreciate the charm and character of the hotel building itself, which combines historical features with modern amenities in a cozy and stylish environment.
For those looking to explore Evanston, the hotel serves as an excellent base with everything from dining to shopping just a few minutes away on foot. The surrounding neighborhood is noted for being safe and walkable, providing guests with a perfect blend of tranquility and convenience.
Breakfast
Graduate by Hilton Evanston offers a breakfast experience that leaves a generally positive impression on its guests. The breakfast is often described as excellent with a selection of several options and is noted for being superb and great by many reviewers. The quality of the restaurant and its beautiful setting also enhances the dining experience, with guests frequently praising the friendly service provided by the staff.
Guests appreciate the variety available at breakfast, including options like breads, cereals, fruit, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, muffins, and yogurt. Those looking for a lighter, healthier start to their day often find the continental breakfast perfect. The addition of dishes such as tasty yogurt parfaits, free coffee, and fantastic pancakes contribute to a pleasant breakfast experience.
Despite some drawbacks—such as breakfast not being included in the room rate and considered a bit pricey—the quality of the food and the atmosphere make it worthwhile for many visitors. A delicious menu offering tasty and fresh options, like one of the best chicken sandwiches experienced by a guest, consistently receives high marks.
Overall, while there are some logistical issues, such as the need for more staff at peak times and some guests noting the absence of a breakfast service on certain occasions, the positive aspects of the breakfast at Graduate by Hilton Evanston seem to outweigh the negatives, making it a highly regarded part of a stay at the hotel.
Dinner
The dining experience at Graduate by Hilton Evanston offers a delightful culinary journey for guests. With praise for both the restaurant and bar, visitors can expect a tasty and satisfying dinner. The Hearth, the hotel's signature restaurant, is highlighted as a fine dining destination with excellent food and amazing service. The bar serves up a very good hamburger and a variety of delicious drinks, adding to the appeal of dining on-site. The lounge also receives accolades for its atmosphere, making it a must-visit spot. Overall, the restaurant and bar at the hotel promise a memorable dining experience with good food and attentive staff, enticing guests to return for future visits.
Rooms
The rooms at Graduate by Hilton Evanston are consistently praised for their charming and cozy ambiance. Guests frequently highlight the comfort of the beds, cleanliness, and tasteful decoration of the spaces. The hotel's retro, preppy decor and beautifully appointed interiors enhance the stay experience, creating a historic yet modern atmosphere that feels both homey and stylish. Despite some comments on room size, many found them to be adequately equipped with essentials such as a refrigerator and kettle, and appreciated the spaciousness in certain accommodations like suites with full kitchens. Bathrooms are noted for their cleanliness, bright features, and excellent shower facilities.
With its wonderful location, the hotel offers convenient access to local attractions, dining, and Lake Michigan, which can be viewed from certain rooms. Many guests mention the quiet and picturesque surroundings, adding to the overall peaceful experience. The hotel exudes a unique charm, merging classic style with modern comforts, making it a favored choice among repeat visitors. The friendly and helpful staff further contribute to a welcoming atmosphere, ensuring every stay is comfortable and enjoyable.
Beds
The beds at Graduate by Hilton Evanston have garnered a generally positive reception from guests, with many emphasizing their comfort and coziness. Visitors frequently find the bedding to be soft and inviting, noting excellent quality sheets adorned with lovely linens. Beds are described as clean, and some guests appreciate the ideal level of firmness that contributes to a restful night’s sleep. The blend of super comfortable mattresses and ample pillows is credited for providing some of the best rest experienced by travelers. While there are mentions of beds being slightly firmer or less comfortable for a few guests, overall reviews highlight the superb comfort that ensures a pleasant stay, further complemented by other aspects like hot showers and the hotel's historic decor and character.
Cleanliness
Graduate by Hilton Evanston consistently impresses guests with its outstanding cleanliness and inviting atmosphere. The rooms are frequently described as exceptionally clean, spotless, and neat, offering a warm and inviting environment that is both comfortable and well-appointed. Guests highlight the immaculate condition of the hotel, noting that the property is beautifully maintained and displays a tasteful combination of old-school charm with modern amenities.
The bathrooms and guestrooms are particularly praised for their cleanliness and comfort, with many guests appreciating the modern, updated facilities. The cleanliness is often a standout feature, contributing to an overall pleasant stay experience in a sophisticated setting. The hotel itself, along with its front offices and common areas, maintains a pristine appearance, complemented by friendly and efficient staff who ensure a tidy up of rooms each day.
Despite one or two mentions of inconsistency, the overwhelming majority of feedback emphasizes the consistently high standard of cleanliness throughout the property. In addition to its cleaning excellence, the hotel boasts a convenient location near downtown Evanston and Northwestern University, making it a favorite for guests looking for a clean, comfortable, and historically charming accommodation option.
Staff
Graduate by Hilton Evanston is a hotel celebrated for its exceptional staff, as highlighted by numerous guest reviews. Overwhelmingly described as friendly, helpful, and professional, the staff at this charming location ensures a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Visitors frequently praised the team's hospitality, noting the front desk's approachable and attentive service, while other members, including the valets, were commended for going above and beyond to meet guests' needs.
The staff's dedication to customer experience is evident in their courteous and obliging nature, consistently providing thoughtful and efficient service throughout guests' stays. Pet-friendly and situated in a beautiful, quiet neighborhood, the hotel boasts excellent accommodations with rooms that are both clean and comfortable, further enhancing the overall guest experience.
Though most interactions with the staff were positive, a few guests mentioned isolated instances of less favorable encounters. Despite this, the predominant sentiment remains highly appreciative of an engaging and accommodating team, contributing to a delightful stay at this well-located establishment.
Wi-Fi
Graduate by Hilton Evanston offers a varied experience when it comes to WiFi connectivity, as reflected in guest reviews. Some visitors have had a positive experience, mentioning a good WiFi connection and expressing overall satisfaction with the internet service. For these guests, WiFi worked great and was reliable enough to meet their needs.
However, other reviews report issues with internet connectivity, such as periods when the WiFi was down, slow speeds, and repeated log-in requirements. There were specific instances where the WiFi was not functional for a day or more, which could impact the experience for guests dependent on stable internet. Despite these mixed reviews on the WiFi, the hotel's other amenities, such as a great bar and helpful concierge staff, are highlighted positively, suggesting a balanced experience for guests.
Parking
At 'Graduate by Hilton Evanston', guests generally find that parking, while sometimes a challenge, offers several options with varying degrees of convenience and cost-effectiveness. Street parking poses a viable option for many, allowing free access from 9pm to 9am, and plenty of guests noted its availability and manageability. Valet parking is available but comes with a $30 nightly fee, which some find steep and limited in clarity regarding other options. However, the security it provides is recognized by some as a beneficial aspect.
For guests opting out of valet services, nearby public garages offer a practical alternative. These garages are conveniently located just half a block away or around the corner on Church Street, offering lower rates such as $18 for overnight parking. Despite not being on-site, these garages are a short distance away, making it easy for guests to access both the hotel and Lake Michigan with just a brief walk. Overall, while parking at the hotel requires some planning, the combination of street parking, nearby public garages, and valet service gives guests flexibility to select the option that best fits their preferences and budget.
4 Star
Graduate by Hilton Evanston, situated in a prime location, offers exceptional value for the price. Its charming and historic ambiance is complemented by a classical beauty that resonates throughout the property. This super charming hotel, which boasts a fascinating architectural elegance, provides guests with a uniquely delightful experience.
The staff at Graduate Evanston is consistently praised for their amazing service, creating an atmosphere that feels like home. The hotel's dedication to even the smallest details is evident, ensuring every guest feels valued and comfortable. Rooms are well decorated, clean, and set the standard for a pleasant stay. Guests have remarked that this is not an ordinary hotel room, but rather a special space with character and detail.
Beyond the confines of the hotel, guests can enjoy a myriad of dining options, including numerous restaurants and a terrific French bakery and cafe nearby. This proximity to local attractions adds to the hotel's appeal, making it a favorite choice among visitors in Illinois.
Graduate Evanston is highly recommended by visitors who have described their stay as a great experience, emphasizing the hotel's unique feel and its fabulous environment. Whether for a short stay or a longer visit, this charming property provides a memorable experience that many guests would gladly revisit.
No, Graduate by Hilton Evanston doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Graduate by Hilton Evanston.
Yes, Graduate by Hilton Evanston welcomes dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Graduate by Hilton Evanston.