Nicknamed ‘the windy city’, Chicago is often just used as a stopover destination. However, it is an incredible travel destination that needs to be added to your bucket list. The city is home to so many incredible natural landscapes, including the stunning Lake Michigan, which makes it particularly great for outdoor lovers. However, there are also plenty of sites to see in the city itself, including The Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier, and Millennium Park. Despite there being so many draws in the city, Chicago isn’t necessarily always the cheapest place to go on vacation. However, there are many ways to keep the costs low and that includes staying in a hostel. Not are hostels typically budget-friendly, but they’re also sociable places to stay, making them perfect for those who want to mingle and party in the city.
To help you scout out the best accommodation options for partying in Chicago, we created this guide of the 5 best party hostels in the city! Sound interesting? Have a scroll down below to find out more…
Quick Answer: The Best Party Hostels in Chicago
#1 Best Overall Party Hostel in Chicago – Freehand Chicago
#2 Best Cheap Party Hostel in Chicago – Wrigley Hostel
#3 Best Luxury Party Hostel in Chicago – Selina Chicago
#4 Best Party Hostel in Chicago for Couples – Chicago Getaway Hostel
#5 Best Party Hostel for Solo Travelers in Chicago – HI Chicago
#1 – Freehand Chicago
Best Overall Party Hostel in Chicago
Hostel Details:
- $$
- Checkout before 11am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- Cocktail bar
- 24-hour reception
- Amazing common areas
- Sociable atmopshere
Why Freehand Chicago is a Kickass Party Hostel
The famous chain of Freehand’s hostels are always a staple on most lists of the best party hostels in North America, as they usually provide pretty epic facilities. This being said, their Chicago branch has really pulled out all the stops for being an amazing party hostel. On-site you will find plenty of social areas, all of which are radiating with a vibrant energy, making it perfect for solo travelers. This includes its awesome Broken Shaker Cocktail Bar, which is where travelers congregate to have a few drinks and share travel stories. The bar also serves up a storm of budget-friendly drink options, from specialty cocktails to tasty beers!
Freehand Chicago is also home to a 24-hour reception, meaning if you’re out partying until the early hours of the morning, you don’t have to worry about being locked out. Or perhaps your flight arrives in the middle of the night? Not to worry, there will always be a staff member on hand to help you out with anything you need.
Overall Party Hostel Score- 9.25
Traveling as a couple? Check out our best hostels for couples in Chicago.
#2 – Wrigley Hostel
Best Cheap Party Hostel in Chicago
Hostel Details:
- $$
- Checkout before 11am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- Games tables
- On-site bar
- Central party location
- No curfew
Why Wrigley Hostel is a Kickass Party Hostel
Next up on our list, we have the super warming accommodation option of Wrigley Hostel. Well, there is no hiding that Chicago is a pretty expensive city to party in! However, Wrigley Hostel provides the perfect opportunity for travelers to save some cash when visiting the city, with it offering some of the cheapest room options in Chicago. This means travelers can spend their money where it really matters, partying!
Wrigley Hostel also provides the perfect pre-drinking spot in its epic common room! In the common room, you will find a ping-pong table, the biggest couch ever, and a small bar for you to make your most fun drinks and cocktails. In the summer months, Wrigley Hostel also has a huge outdoor terrace to use! Here you will find plenty of travelers playing drinking games, such as beer pong, in the beaming Massachusetts summer sun.
Overall Party Hostel Score- 8.75
Illinois is amazing! And the best hostels in Chicago will blow you away!
#3 – Selina Chicago
Best Luxury Party Hostel in Chicago
Hostel Details:
- $$$
- Checkout before 11am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- Restro-bar
- Cinema room
- Happy hours
- 24-hour reception
Why Selina Chicago is a Kickass Party Hostel
This hostel is for our party travelers who like a bit of luxury after their nightlife adventure. The famous hostel chain of Selina is known for providing lavish and modern facilities for its guests, and its Chicago branch is no exception. The hostel is fitted with beautifully modern furnishings with the typical Selina hippy flair. However, the facilities aren’t just a pretty face, they also come in very handy for partying too. On-site at Selina Chicago you will find an epic resto-bar where you can grab yourself a bite to eat to line your stomach for an epic night out in Chicago. Here you can also take full advantage of the hostel’s drinks deals, including discounts on cocktails, beers, and house wine!
If you don’t fancy a heavy night out in the city, on one of your days in Chicago, but still want a social activity to do in the evening, then you definitely need to check out the hostel’s cinema room. Here you will find backpackers gathering with some popcorn to watch a movie! It is a great place to meet some friends to explore the city with the following day.
Overall Party Hostel Score- 9.0
#4 – Chicago Getaway Hostel
Best Central Located Party Hostel in Chicago
Hostel Details:
- $$
- Checkout before 11am
- Free breakfast included
Party Details
- Awesome party location
- Large outdoor terrace
- Nightly activites
- Sociable atmosphere
Why Chicago Getaway Hostel is a Kickass Party Hostel
If you’re looking for a hostel with a perfect location for partying, then Chicago Getaway Hostel might be the perfect option for you. It is all about location, location, location with this hostel, since it’s within walking distance of the best restaurants, pubs, and music venues in Lincoln Park. It is also in a fantastic neighborhood to explore sites during the day with DePaul University and North Avenue Beach both being on the hostel’s doorstep.
After you’ve explored the neighbourhood’s wild bars and pubs, you’re going to want to have somewhere comfortable to lay your head for the night. Luckily enough, the hostel provides some of the most comfortable facilities, including deluxe mattresses and soothing pillows. Along with this, the hostel offers a tasty free breakfast every morning, which is dubbed to be the perfect hangover cure.
Overall Party Hostel Score- 9.0
#5 – HI Chicago
Best Party Hostel for Solo Travelers in Chicago
Hostel Details:
- $$
- Checkout before 11am
- Free breakfast included
Party Details
- Pool tables
- Sociable common areas
- On-site restaurant
- No curfew
Why HI Chicago is a Kickass Party Hostel
The final hostel on our list is HI Chicago, which is our top pick for solo travelers looking to party in the city. HI Chicago has provided the perfect facilities to help solo travelers mingle and meet other backpackers to explore Chicago’s famous nightlife with. This includes its sociable common areas, which are equipped with a variety of games tables that are often used for a variety of drinking games. Along with this, you will find an on-site restaurant to grab yourself a bite to eat and even a fully equipped kitchen if you want to save yourself some cash!
The hostel also has two staple things you look for in a party hostel: no curfew and a 24-hour reception. This means you can come and go whenever you please, which is especially handy if you’re someone who likes to party until the early hours of the morning!
Overall Party Hostel Score- 8.5
Conclusion to the Best Party Hostels in Chicago
Chicago is a truly epic city to explore both during the daylight hours and after the sun has gone down. With amazing cultural sites and bustling nightlife hotspots. As we have already mentioned, the city is on the pricier side of places to visit for a party adventure, however, staying in a hostel will help the costs low! In this article, we have cherry-picked five of our favorite hostels, all of which offer their guests something a little unique. If we had to take it one step further and pick just one hostel to stay in for partying in Chicago, it would have to be Freehand Chicago. The hostel has epic facilities and a brilliant location close to nightlife hotspots!
Have we persuaded you to take on a party adventure in Chicago? Do let us know down below if you end up staying at any of our recommendations!
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