The 7 best cheap hotels in Chicago

River North’s Freehand Chicago boasts a head-to-toe vibe of funky vintage, breezy tropical, and geometric decor. Room options include private, shared, and a penthouse luxury suite. Head to happy hour at in-house bar the Broken Shake, or walk a few minutes to some of the best steakhouses, cocktail bars, and restaurants in River North. Try Three Dots and a Dash for tropical cocktails and Roka Akor if you’re hungry for Wagyu beef. Other amenities include a fitness center (where you can run on a treadmill under a mural by local artist Sentrock) and curated tours and activities.

Housed in a charming historic Lakeview building, this boutique hotel is simple yet elegant. The lobby’s funky animal portraits and cowhide chairs make a bold impression, but it’s the prime location that seals the deal. Just steps from Lincoln Park, guests have easy access to the Lincoln Park Zoo, miles of footpaths, and countless quaint picnic spots (and the Lakefront Trail is also nearby). The surrounding blocks are flanked by bars, restaurants, and local shops, and if you want to venture out of the neighborhood, the Diversey Brown Line station is less than a half-mile away by foot.

For the best gateway to exploring one of Chicago’s most vibrant South Side neighborhoods–home of the Museum of Science and Industry and the University of Chicago–while enjoying stunning lakefront views, you can’t beat this Hyde Park hotel. The Chicago Lake Shore Hotel features a large outdoor pool and basic-yet-comfortable rooms. Hop on the nearby Lakefront Trail to walk, cycle and run, or head to 49th Street Beach or admire the skyline views at Promontory Point. There’s no in-house dining, but you’re minutes from the neighborhood’s stretch of bars and restaurants, like acclaimed Southern fare at Erick Williams’s recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand, Virtue, or hip music venue The Promontory.

The Freehand Chicago keeps prices on the lower side but that doesn’t mean they’ve stinted on the design budget. One of the city’s bolder and most unique hotels, this place is characterized by dark wood, striking geometric prints and a nice bit of boho loucheness. If you’re looking to really save on cash, they do offer shared rooms. But our fave part of the whole business is the Broken Shaker cocktail lounge and its Beat Gen feeling.

Hotel Chicago West Loop’s central location on the Near West Side takes you off the typical tourist path. Take a short bus ride to Little Italy or Pilsen, the historic heart of Chicago’s Hispanic community; watch the Chicago Bulls or Chicago Blackhawks at the nearby United Center; or head to a festival or concert in Union Park. The hotel’s amenities include a fitness center and complimentary coffee—though nearby cafes like Muse Coffee Studio or Froth may tempt you to skip the free java. The varying accommodations—king, queen, full and bunk bed options are available—are simple and decorated with colorful Chicago-themed art.

This small, family-owned and -run guesthouse is nestled in Bronzeville, the city’s historic African American neighborhood and former home of notable residents like Gwendolyn Brooks, Louis Armstrong and Ida B. Wells. The owners of Villa DuBois Guesthouse set out to design a hotel that truly feels like home, outfitting the property with rooms that are cozy-yet-tasteful and boast lots of natural light. Guests enjoy dedicated parking spaces and access to communal outdoors spaces. Plus, you’re just a ride on the Green Line away from the Loop, McCormick Place and the Lakefront.

The standard rooms here aren’t likely to win any design awards, but step outside the doors of this South Loop hotel and you’ll find yourself amidst the bold and colorful murals that dot the Columbia College campus and across from the sprawling oasis of Grant Park. Grab a bite at the two on-site restaurants—Luna Cafe and Thai Spoon—or walk a few blocks north to find grab-and-go dishes at Beatrix Market. You can’t beat the price and location of this accommodation if you want to be close to The Loop.