Tucked into Chicago’s buzzing River North neighborhood, the ACME Hotel Company is a delightfully quirky boutique stay operating out of a beautifully restored 1920s building. It completely flips the script on the traditional, stuffy hotel experience by blending industrial pop-art with a playful rock-and-roll edge.
Music lovers can actually check out authentic ESP electric guitars from the front desk for free to jam out in their rooms. The hotel is also packed with eccentric design choices, from graffiti-adorned stairwells to an art installation of hand-painted mannequins inside the building’s gritty light wells.
The perks here are just as unconventional. Instead of typical room service, ACME features a “Knock and Drop” delivery, where a thermos of hot morning coffee arrives right at your door. Guests can also unwind in the “Bunny Slope,” an indoor, après-ski-themed hot tub bar, or sip craft cocktails at the award-winning Berkshire Room lounge on the ground floor.
Location-wise, you are just two blocks away from the premier shopping on the Magnificent Mile. The iconic sights of Millennium Park, the towering 360 Chicago observatory at the former John Hancock Center, and the Art Institute of Chicago are all easily reachable just a mile away.
Expert reviews
“The affordable, well-situated Acme Hotel Company has a cheekily hip, rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic that’s targeted at the Internet generation. It fulfills a need in the neighborhood, which has plenty of chain hotels and expensive lodgings lacking personality.”
“Urban bohemians love the Acme for its indie-cool style at (usually) affordable rates. The 130 rooms mix industrial fixtures with retro lamps, mid-century furniture and funky modern art.”
“Along with groovy decor and a buzzy location, the Acme has all the accoutrements for the modern urban hipster. Tech-savvy rooms and speedy free Wi-Fi? Check. Apple watches and Google Glass to loan? Yep. Hot tub, cocktails and rock’n’roll soundtrack? All here, in funky environs.”
What guests liked
- Friendly staff
- Perfect location
- Boutique style
- Comfortable beds
Location
Recent guest reviews
21 September 2025
Decent value, great location
Great location. Clean facilities. Friendly and helpful staff
Bed was uncomfortable
14 September 2025
Fabulous. Will definitely come back- the negative points wouldn’t put me off
Amazing location and very quirky hotel with lovely bar. Suites were spacious and amazing, really nicely done out. Nice coffee shop downstairs
No room cleaning unless you request, even for a 4 night stay. No tea and coffe facilities in the room
14 September 2025
Fabulous
Easy and quick check in, cozy room, very clean and in a great location downtown and to connecting metro lines. Staff were friendly and very attentive
The aircon was a little noisy
14 September 2025
Very good
The decor was very hip. The bed and sheets were very comfortable. There was plenty of room to be comfortable with our 2 dogs.
There were a few things that didn't function properly and the room was a bit noisy around the door.
27 August 2025
Close to everything
This hotel was wonderful I like that it was downtown close to everything easy access the staff was wonderful it wasn't loud or busy. I did not have one bad experience about this hotel you do have to request to have your room clean throughout the day and they will clean it with no problem and give you anything you ask for. The Aesthetics of this hotel was awesome. I would definitely stay at this hotel again while in Chicago
It does have a Jacuzzi to rent out for parties but it does not have a pool. Depending on what you going for a pool does not really need it
25 August 2025
Nice, clean hotel, close to main attractions
The hotel is very clean and conveniently located near the main attractions. I usually took Uber to get around since it’s an affordable option in Chicago. The staff is extremely friendly, and the hotel bar is excellent (A+). However, I wouldn’t recommend the café—it’s overpriced, especially considering that you can find amazing coffee just a block away at Eataly.
I found the café on the premises to be quite expensive, with limited breakfast options—especially inconvenient if you’re in a hurry
1 August 2025
Last minute booking
Concept, music, bar
Room smelled like tob and or weed
24 July 2025
Came to Chicago for a concert at Wrigley Field
Location, parking garage location right next door. Concept was cute.
No breakfast. No one explained how to get the discount for parking or where you pay for parking which was located at another hotel.
5 July 2025
Friendly and resourceful
Exceptional customer service
No coffee in room
29 June 2025
Pleasant
Great location and walking distance to everything. Comfy bed and good size room.
The front of house staff were miserable. The air con was very loud.
29 June 2025
Perfect location but better to make sure to book a room with a view
Perfect location, nice decor, and friendly staff
The room got no sunlight so it was very dark. The only view was of a brick wall which was a disappointment
21 June 2025
Decent hotel in a great location.
For the value and the location, it seemed that the hotel was worth it. It wasn't in the best shape, but my room was very clean and in decent shape. Also, the bar downstairs was great. Quiet, but up beat, a great place to go to catch up with friends. It also had a great selection. I have a serious bug phobia and didn't see any during my stay.
It could have been in better shape, but for the cost at that location it seemed to be a very reasonable compromise. I stayed for a conference, so I was pretty much there to just sleep and it was worth it for that.
20 June 2025
Great Stay!
Loved the location. Very comfy and clean room.
17 June 2025
Friendly staff in hip property at great location
Liked the design concept.
Air conditioning was erratic and messed with our sleep. Reserved city view room but got transferred to a room with a view of a cinder block wall.
12 June 2025
Great location!
The location of the hotel was excellent. We were just around the corner from a Red Line subway station, which we used every day to get around. It is also just a few blocks away from the River Walk. Pizzeria Uno is also on the corner of the same block.
The only thing I didn't like was that our room had a window that looked out at an interior wall, no views! But at the same time, it didn't really matter. We only really sleep in our room on vacation!
25 May 2025
Great location; no longer budget prices
Helpful staff at front desk.
They have abandoned the free morning coffee delivery,
13 May 2025
We loved the whole experience. You need to visit
Funky cool decor a real personality of a hotel. All facilities you would want In a great location. Staff were excellent so helpful. On site coffee shop was great and the funky bar was excellent really cool atmosphere, great music.
11 May 2025
A good hotel in an amazing location
This hotel has a very cool vibe, it's well decorated with music playing throughout. The location cannot be beat!! and on a high floor it was very quiet for such a central location. A really nice little touch was the chalk boards on the doors! Made it really easy to identify your own room. r
The staff were a bit hit and miss. Some were lovely, some were a bit dismissive. I missed out on some information that I didn't learn until checking the website on the last night for check out times. Things like where the gym was and the fact that there were no coffee making facilities in the rooms but coffee could be delivered to your room on request. This information could have been displayed somewhere inside the room. The bed was a little squeaky, and the lighting was a little weird. The bedside lamps were really bright, the over head lights were dimmer but you had to get out of bed to turn them off. Kind of clunky when you were winding down for the evening.
11 May 2025
Beautiful, excellent location, value for money
The hotel. Is beautifully decorated and super well located. The rooms are spacious and clean and well equipped. It was good they did not do the housekeeping every day but only when we asked for it, that's good for the environment. We had all we asked for l, the staff is nice and willing to provide information and help.
There's no breakfast, just a small café at the ground floor, which is no problem, but the options are few. There's also a Starbucks just across the street and plenty of breakfast options in the neighborhood, so it was no big deal
8 May 2025
Great location concierge super friendly and helpful
Walking distance to all shops
Just needs cleaning to the safe. The safe was dirty greasy.
21 April 2025
Fabulous
Location and rooms
21 April 2025
Fabulous
An exceptional and very reasonably priced boutique hotel in a great location. Highly recommended!
17 April 2025
perfect location for the solo traveller in ChicagP
Kind and helpful staff. Great Location. Quiet.
No kettle to make a cup of tea in my room…..not an American thing i think!
15 April 2025
Great location and value for money!
Location is excellent, room was clean and tidy, had everything I needed.
I had the City View room on 4th floor, thus the sound from the street was super loud
14 April 2025
We enjoyed our stay and will come back.
The beds and pillows were the best. The shower head was excellent like a heavy rain.
The lighting in the room could be better
1 April 2025
Pleasant
It was a nice old building.
I came home with lice.
31 March 2025
Pleasant
Room was clean and very cool optics
The temp of the room was not controlable and was very hot at night. Made it hard to sleep.
25 March 2025
Comfortable
Location
24 March 2025
I will be back
The staff was great . Micheal (the front desk guy) was amazing . I booked online and booked the wrong room and he made sure me and my kids were well taken care of.
Nothing
16 March 2025
Very good
Room has all you need. It’s in a superb location near the Grand Station. Also has a superb bar at Ground level.
Nothing.
15 March 2025
Fabulous
I like that the hotel was near in all the places I wanted to go to
There were spider webs on the ceiling so cleanliness were not up to par
11 March 2025
Very good
Location
More electric outlets.
11 March 2025
Great location to stay in Chicago
Excellent location and wonderful hotel. Short walking distance from all the main sites
The rooms aren’t too big
11 March 2025
Very good
Great stay overall, very nice hotel and great location, you can walk to anywhere and there are great coffees and dining options in the area. The gym area is one of the best I've seen in hotels (the punching bag was a real bonus). Elevators are super quick.
You can really hear the neighbours talking and everyone that talks in the hallways. Had to ask for housekeeping 2 days in a row because no one came on the first day. There was a leak i the gym, right next to the electric cables and someone from security came to see but did nothing.
10 March 2025
Very good
The staff was amazing, location was very ideal for age 30 women to have a girls weekend and bar hop in Chicago as well very central to sightseeing. Felt safe at this hotel.
The bartenders at the hotel bar were not friendly.
10 March 2025
The staff was great and the location of the hotel was conveniently located in the middle of downtown.
The property was located in the heart of downtown.
The room was not as spacious as I expected.
20 February 2025
Great Value, Awesome Location, Super Clean!!!
Microwaves in a general area.
No microwave in rooms. Other than that, I love this hotel. The location is awesome and it’s a super clean hotel. The value is great.
6 February 2025
Pleasant
Room
Not sure
2 January 2025
Worth it. I'm staying again
Budget friendly, speakers and Alexa!
The view of the room
29 December 2024
Pleasant
Good location near public transport and some restaurants. Can walk into the city and pier.
Room was dark and unclean in some areas.
27 December 2024
Convenient, Easy, and Lovely.
Amazingly located, was about 0.5 miles away from almost every attraction or restaurant. We stayed 5 days and even the metro station is stuck to its same building. Just so conveniently located.
Nothing much.
27 December 2024
This place is trendy and in a good spot! The cleanliness is noteworthy too!
The music playing overhead outside the entrance and the nice little touches around the room were super cute!
24 December 2024
we enjoyed our stay at the hotel, love the vibe and the location.
great location loved the vibe of the hotel
the pillows were too flat
18 December 2024
Fabulous
Location
N/A
16 December 2024
This hotel is more for couples. Rooms are small. Decor a little different. Room nice but wished I had a window with a
Close to everything. Bed comfortable. Shower was great!
Room was small. It was a no frill place.
16 December 2024
Really good stay even for just one night
Location, on site backery and bar, cleanliness, ease of checking in and out
13 December 2024
Warm & Cozy Hotel
The staff were amazing and helpful with all my needs and gave great recommendations
I was happy and all my needs were met
10 December 2024
Centrally located, fun-themed hotel for a good value
This location is super conveniently located to tons of great restaurants, bars and shopping including Eataly just on the next block. High end shopping and touristy outlets are less than a 10 minute walk towards the pier. There's a red line station just around the corner in case you need to go any further than walking distance. I found the property to be pretty clean and relatively quiet. You may hear some sirens in the middle of the night, but that's unavoidable in the city. The rock theme is fun without being *too* cutesy. The gym, while small, is better equipped than most hotel fitness centers. I wasn't a fan of the attached coffee shop, but again - Eataly is just a minute's walk down the street.
Just a couple of minor, nitpicky things... When I checked in, the front desk agent told me my room number out loud. In my experience, for security reasons, the number is to be written down and pointed out so that others in the lobby don't know what room you're staying in. The room could've been better stocked with additional toiletries, tissue, toilet paper, etc. I requested more specific things and the front desk instead had housekeeping show up with a ton of towels and stuff I didn't need. The cleaners also chose mid-morning to mop the floors around the fitness center with super strong scented solution which is tough when you're already breathing hard. Seems like that might be better scheduled for mid-day. Like I said, nitpicky stuff.
21 November 2024
Modern, fun hotel with lots of nice touches.
The decor in the room is very funky and interesting. Lots of unexpected little touches that will surprise you and give you a unique experience in terms of a hotel. Room was relatively quiet except for loud doors from people leaving their rooms. The concierge was amazing with good advice. Spacious room. The staff overall was quite friendly and helpful except for 1 woman in the morning.
No coffee machine in the room. While we knew we were getting an inside court, having windows looking at a parking garage isn't the best, we kept blinds closed. One morning, the women at the front desk was quite rude. We didn't know the TV remote needed to be charged and had trouble with the TV and her response was quite off-putting. We were on the 9th floor so ensure you are high up for noise from the street or the bar below.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Bar
Services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Business centre
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Fax/photocopying
- - Luggage storage
- - ATM/cash machine on site
- - Concierge service
Activities
- - Fitness centre
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
Parking
- - Electric vehicle charging station
- - Accessible parking
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
- - Visual aids: Tactile signs
Miscellaneous
- - Smoke alarms
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Face masks for guests available

More photos

24 September 2025
Great location