Graduate Evanston

Hotel · Evanston

Graduate Evanston

Hotel · Evanston

1625 Hinman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Highlights

Charming, vintage-style quarters, some with lake views, in an elegant hotel offering dining. Set on a tree-lined avenue, this elegant hotel is a 6-minute walk from both Northwestern University, and Clark Street Beach on Lake Michigan. It's 5 miles from Interstate 94. Charming rooms with a vintage vibe have Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minifridges. Upgraded rooms offer sitting areas, fireplaces and/or lake views. Suites provide separate living rooms. One room recreates the master bedroom from the movie "Home Alone". There's a warmly decorated bar/restaurant with a wood-paneled ceiling. Valet parking is available.

1625 Hinman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 Get directions

graduatehotels.com

@cntraveler

"What do Zooey Deschanel, Meghan Markle, and Eddie Vedder have in common? Besides fame, they all attended Northwestern University in Evanston and are enshrined in caricature among 16 well-known alumni in the gallery at the Graduate. Occupying the 1928 Colonial Revival apartment-hotel The Homestead, the 119-room newcomer nods to the Wildcats throughout in flashes of purple (purple and white are the school’s colors) but keeps the tone professorial-friendly, with tweedy couches, groupings of flea market art, Persian-inspired rugs, and chess tables. Expect mobs of families and well-heeled alums on Big Ten football days. The hotel is also home to The Graduate Homestead Room, a cozy lounge and restaurant offering seasonal dishes and hand-crafted cocktails inspired by Chicago’s beloved John Hughes." - Elaine Glusac, Nicole Schnitzler

The 31 Best Hotels in Chicago

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@cntraveler

"Why book? The Graduate pays homage to Evanston’s Northwestern University with a retro-collegiate vibe that doesn’t take academia too seriously. Set the scene What do Zooey Deschanel, Meghan Markle, and Eddie Vedder have in common? Besides fame, they all attended Northwestern University in Evanston and are enshrined in caricature among 16 well-known alumni in the gallery at the Graduate. Occupying the 1928 Colonial Revival apartment-hotel The Homestead, the 119-room newcomer nods to the Wildcats throughout in flashes of purple (purple and white are the school’s colors) but keeps the tone professorial-friendly, with tweedy couches, groupings of flea market art, Persian-inspired rugs, and chess tables. Expect mobs of families and well-heeled alums on Big Ten football days. The hotel is also home to The Graduate Homestead Room, a cozy lounge and restaurant offering seasonal dishes and hand-crafted cocktails inspired by Chicago’s beloved John Hughes. The backstory Part of a group of hotels located in college towns. Graduate Hotels is based in Chicago and this is their first project near home (Evanston is a first ring suburb of Chicago). The rooms University pride echoes in the use of purple in the guest rooms, wallpapered and curtained in plaid, and furnished with vintage-style settees and armchairs. Paintings of nearby Lake Michigan hang above the beds. Feels 1940’s coed. Food and drink The Trophy Room invites fans and guests to gather around the fireplace or belly up to the wooden bar to relive the glory days. Due to the pandemic, the restaurant is on hiatus and expected to return in October; the bar is currently open for limited hours and serves light food including salads and sandwiches. The neighborhood/area Northwestern’s leafy campus is just a few blocks away, but so is lively downtown Evanston, filled with independent restaurants and boutiques. The beaches and parks along Lake Michigan beach are a few minutes’ walk east. For families The décor and spirit of the Graduate Evanston go a long way toward selling Northwestern to prospective families and students. Pet friendly rooms cost an extra $25 a night. Accessibility Yes. Anything left to mention? If you’re coming for football, expect a two-night minimum stay to apply." - Elaine Glusac

Graduate Evanston

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@cntraveler

"Displays of Northwestern memorabilia and alumni-authored books welcome guests along with plenty of purple. Enjoy John Hughes-inspired cocktails at onsite eatery The Homestead Room, and, come holiday season, a stay in the Home Alone Suite outfitted in true McCallister style."

The Midwest’s Best College Towns

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Terri D

Google

I love the Graduate in Evanston-I have stayed there before and will go back again. GREAT location near Lake Michigan (It's about a 3 block walk from hotel), nestled in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods I have seen. It is clean, friendly, and offers absolutely gorgeous rooms. Lovely bar and restaurant is also available.

Miriam V

Google

As of July 2024, the elevator is fixed, so you can ignore those negative reviews. We had a very good experience. The bed in in our room was smaller than advertised on expedia but the person at the front desk was super nice and got us into another room immediately. We found easy street parking, but you have to move the car every two hours during the day and check the street cleaning schedule online, we almost got a ticket.

Daniel

Google

A relatively old style hotel that would definitely charm you if you preferred that speciality of architecture. However for us I did feel as I was living in the 1900s quite literally since the elevator broke and we had to walk up 3 floors every time and the AC was too loud. But the beds were very comfortable; and service was very good.

Caren J

Google

The Graduate is very reasonably priced for the area, with a short walk to the lakefront and also to Evanston's city center. I have stayed there twice now, and find the rooms to be classy and comfortable. I love the hair and body products stocked in the bathrooms too. They have bicycles you can grab for free (if available, and if not you can find ride-share bikes all around town). The Homestead Room is a top notch restaurant and bar with an elegant old school feel. Wooden rockers on the front patio are a nice way to relax for a bit, in between visits to the beach, to cultural experiences that are offered by Northwestern University or the City of Evanston, or to the roof top deck at Five & Dime restaurant a short walk away. You can hop on the Metra for an easy ride to downtown Chicago, and the water taxis are up and running again to get down the river to the Magnificent Mile. I recommend driving north to visit the Chicago Botanic Garden as well, which includes a free 35 minute electric tram ride to give you a bird's eye view of this amazing 385 acre curated garden, science center, rooftop lawns, a play area for children, greenhouses, and more.

Katarina W

Google

Jazmin (apologies if spelled incorrectly) was super pleasant at check-in! Can’t quite remember their name, but the night audit that worked June 29th is wonderful! Has been so warm and welcoming both times I’ve stayed in Evanston, they deserve all the gold stars and extra credit! Not sure who all worked to make this happen on the desk staff, but they went above and beyond for our stay. Requested a small amenity to be placed in one of my rooms for my friend’s birthday, and instead they not only gave her a TON of treats and merch, but they also upgraded her to the speciality sweet, which was amazing! Such a fun memory formed for us and made her feel so special for her big day. I’m so appreciative, it made our trip even better!! Thank you to all of the workers :)

Blue Butterfly

Google

Loved staying here very cozy the sheets where amazingly soft 😴 😍 😌 like maybe to soft and this review should just be about how great the sheets where. But besides the sheets the staff was fantastic and friendly. The Bar atmosphere was so cozy if the fireplace was on it would have took it over the top. Back to the room the shower pressure was perfect the water temperature was perfect might be the best shower of my life.Would highly recommend going here

Kenny Dawes

Google

My wife and I booked an open bar here for new arrivals in for our wedding. The service was ATROCIOUS. The bartender did not tell our guests it was an open bar and charged them for their orders. When approached to confirm they were ensuring guests were aware of the open bar, they said yes. Not true. There was no signage and several of our guests paid out of pocket for their items after we paid a substantial amount to have an open bar. On top of this, the bartender was unbelievably rude as was communicated by several of our guests and experienced first hand. Her demeanor was much more similar to a bouncer at a college bar than what we expected from service professionals, the bar back too. I will say the cocktail she mixed for me was good, but she does not belong interacting with guests. I have spent many years working in food and hospitality, and I am floored that this behavior is permitted at the Graduate. My friend jokingly asked if we were at the novelty bar and restaurant “Dick’s” because of the unwarranted rudeness. Otherwise, our stay at the Graduate was enjoyable. Janell went the extra mile to make sure we felt welcome and appreciated. She is 100% an asset and should be running the show given the incredibly poor behavior of the bar staff.

Briana V

Google

The hotel’s pictures and prices lead you to expect a high quality stay. This is not the case. In short: stained sheets, dirty comforters, missing comforter in corner king suite, dusty (coffee cups, lights, surfaces), chip crumbs and old contact lenses left on night stand from previous customer, old raggedy towels, worn rugs. ||The place is old but it doesn’t need to be dirty. The location was great. Staff is friendly but inexperienced in hospitality. ||Cute idea, poor execution.