I spent two nights at the Hilton Oak Lawn while in Chicago on a family matter. It was fine for the personal nature of my visit and, because I travel for business a lot, can confirm it would be an excellent business hotel.
My room, which I selected using the Hilton app, was very generous with a king bed, easy chair, work station with a proper task chair, large flat-screen TV, small fridge, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, and in-room safe. I didn’t note the room dimensions but it was spacious.
The bath area had a separate sink outside the room with the toilet and shower (though no tub in my room) with the bulk amenities that have become the standard these days. Also, although the hotel’s web site said the room was equipped with an alarm clock radio with MP3 capabilities, I did not see one. Maybe because we all have clocks and alarms on our smart phones, the chain just figures they’re no longer needed.
Elsewhere, the hotel offers a pool and fitness center, along with on-site parking. The web site says it's $10 per day, going up to $15 as of Jan. 1, 2025.
The property has an on-site restaurant called South Side Social, which serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour. The bar area also has several slot machine, which have become ubiquitous in the area. No longer any need to drive to Indiana if you want to pull a handle (OK, push a button).
Checking in using the app, I didn’t have any face-to-face interaction with the front desk folks, though a desk attendant named Francisco texted me prior to my arrival to be sure I had everything I needed, then again on the second day of my stay. Most of the other hotel staff were fine, greeting me with a “Good morning,” “Good evening,” or whatever was appropriate when we’d pass in the halls or lobby.
Two small criticisms. On my first night, the bartenders seemed more interested in talking to each other than making sure their customers had what they needed. The second is that the bar automatically adds a 20 percent gratuity to the bar bills. Prices were generally reasonable so I have no issue with that, but if you’re a Gold or Diamond member and get a daily dining credit, be aware that it applies only to the food, beverage, and taxes. You’ll still be billed for the gratuity.
In addition to the on-property restaurant, the hotel is within easy walking distance of a number of other establishments. Rather than opt for an expensive hotel breakfast, I walked to a local place called Flap Jacks for a very pleasant and reasonably priced start to my day. Other restaurants in the area range from the iconic White Castle to Jersey Mike’s Subs, Palermo’s Italian Cuisine, The Local Bagel Company and others.
Just a short drive from Midway Airport, I’d say the Hilton Oak Lawn is a fine place to lay your head when your travels or business brings you to South Chicago.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
My room, which I selected using the Hilton app, was very generous with a king bed, easy chair, work station with a proper task chair, large flat-screen TV, small fridge, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, and in-room safe. I didn’t note the room dimensions but it was spacious.
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| Comfortable King bed |
The bath area had a separate sink outside the room with the toilet and shower (though no tub in my room) with the bulk amenities that have become the standard these days. Also, although the hotel’s web site said the room was equipped with an alarm clock radio with MP3 capabilities, I did not see one. Maybe because we all have clocks and alarms on our smart phones, the chain just figures they’re no longer needed.
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| Crabtree and Evelyn amenities |
Elsewhere, the hotel offers a pool and fitness center, along with on-site parking. The web site says it's $10 per day, going up to $15 as of Jan. 1, 2025.
The property has an on-site restaurant called South Side Social, which serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour. The bar area also has several slot machine, which have become ubiquitous in the area. No longer any need to drive to Indiana if you want to pull a handle (OK, push a button).
Checking in using the app, I didn’t have any face-to-face interaction with the front desk folks, though a desk attendant named Francisco texted me prior to my arrival to be sure I had everything I needed, then again on the second day of my stay. Most of the other hotel staff were fine, greeting me with a “Good morning,” “Good evening,” or whatever was appropriate when we’d pass in the halls or lobby.
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| Well-equipped work station and TV |
Two small criticisms. On my first night, the bartenders seemed more interested in talking to each other than making sure their customers had what they needed. The second is that the bar automatically adds a 20 percent gratuity to the bar bills. Prices were generally reasonable so I have no issue with that, but if you’re a Gold or Diamond member and get a daily dining credit, be aware that it applies only to the food, beverage, and taxes. You’ll still be billed for the gratuity.
In addition to the on-property restaurant, the hotel is within easy walking distance of a number of other establishments. Rather than opt for an expensive hotel breakfast, I walked to a local place called Flap Jacks for a very pleasant and reasonably priced start to my day. Other restaurants in the area range from the iconic White Castle to Jersey Mike’s Subs, Palermo’s Italian Cuisine, The Local Bagel Company and others.
Just a short drive from Midway Airport, I’d say the Hilton Oak Lawn is a fine place to lay your head when your travels or business brings you to South Chicago.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek
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