This place could be wonderful, but there are a number of things about it that really irk me. My sister in law was recently married here and going through the wedding process myself and being in multiple weddings I have a good feel for what how different venues operate. Hotel Baker will nickel and dime you more than any venue in Chicago. They refuse to budge on anything, which can be frustrating as their minimums are high for a smaller wedding party. The hotel itself is beautiful, as is the Rainbow Room. You really can't ask for a more picturesque place and perhaps that is why they go out of their way to up-charge. The wedding was outstanding, but the room was incredibly hot. Multiple people from the wedding party (including the DJ) asked for the air to be turned down. The bride even turned down the unit herself. When I asked "Gaston" about it I was told it's a "large unit and will be ample to cool the room". It was not and a large portion of the wedding party went outside. "Gaston" even placed duct tape over the climate control, so nobody would touch it. When you are paying $20k+ for a wedding including a $2,000 room rental fee, I think you should work to accommodate your guests. The food was outstanding and the service other than the manager, let's call him "Gaston" was great. The servers made sure everyone was taken care of and the steak was one of the best steaks that I've ever had at a wedding. We had multiple hotel rooms at $165 a piece which is a decent price, but we were woken up at 6am by blaring music below at the hotel restaurant. I place a call into the front desk and it was taken care of right away, but it is not something that should happen. Overall the wedding was outstanding, but the nickel and diming really irks me. "Gaston" if everyone at the wedding is pouring sweat, then maybe it's time to adjust the room temp. read more

Hotel Baker - When everyone has to go outside because "gaston" refuses to turn it to a reasonable level it's an issue. $20k for no comfort... - Hotels Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

I made reservations for two suites as part of a wedding party for last weekend. The reservations were made a couple of months prior. I called the hotel the morning of my stay to inquire about possibly checking in prior to 4pm, and was told that my reservations were cancelled and only one room with two double beds was available. I never cancelled these reservations, apparently was an error on their part. The manager I spoke with, Jennifer, did not apologize, but rather just repeatedly tried to convince me to take their available room. I told her that was a ridiculous idea to accommodate my parents, my girlfriend and I in a room with two doubles. Ultimately stayed at the Fairfield in St Charles with a last minute reservation and had friendly service there. I also heard from my cousin (mother of the groom) that the front desk staff was rude to her. Lastly parking appears to be a pain at this hotel. I would recommend looking elsewhere. read more

I attended a 3-day conference at the Hotel Baker recently. It's a stunning old hotel that will transport you back in time. While I did not stay overnight in the hotel my many out-of-town coworkers who did all said the rooms were agreeable; basic with comfortable beds. Our 3 days of meetings were in the Waterfront Room and the staff was very good about making sure we had everything we needed and that our refreshments remained well stocked. The Waterfront Room is just as it sounds, facing the riving on 2 sides with a lovely view and direct access to the outside large patio area along the Fox River. We had lunch in the Rainbow Room each day and the food was fantastic! It was served buffet style with a different theme/variety each day. Everyone raved about the selections along with the quality and taste. The servers were attentive and made sure everyone had beverages. The Rainbow Room itself is a lovely round room with 2 levels (main floor & outer upper balcony-style seating/tables and decorated quite nicely. The center floor is a frosted glass block type with lights underneath that change colors - absolutely gorgeous! As I mentioned the staff was all very nice and attentive. Two days we were ready ahead of schedule for lunch (one day we were 45 minutes ahead of schedule!) and they did a nice job of getting things ready a bit earlier for us. Free parking is conveniently located a half-block down the road along the river in the public parking garage (I believe the 24-hour hour free parking is on levels 3 and 4). I'm not sure if the hotel has a valet or not. read more

I would have love to give this hotel 5 stars, in fact that was the expectation when my friend and I booked a $250+ (they charge extra for the bathtub which we clearly wanted to enjoy) that a friend of ours have recommended. We are both women, mothers of small children and have been together with our families during quarantine so logically we thought it was save for us to stay at a small hotel. For the price of the room we expected to have a larger room or at least to have the bathroom door of the room shut (everyone wants privacy when going to the bathroom) The hotel looks like is from another era and not in a cute quaint way but in a run down not well maintained way. We had to call the front desk because our hot tub wasn't turning on, to which the response was a sarcastic laugh from the receptionist saying "she didn't know why, it has never happened before" she didn't offer to send anyone to check either. The next morning right before check out another receptionist this time a less nicer one, called the room to accused us of smoking in our room because supposedly other rooms had complained about it, after I explained to her that it was impossible since my friend (a cancer survivor) and I did not smoke cigarettes, she continue to accused us of it and threaten us with a $500 find. We requested for anyone at the hotel to come and inspect the room before we left to make sure they wouldn't have just charged us for something we didn't do. We waited and waited and no one came up. We finally called her back, this time the woman was apologetic and said there was no need for them to come up and we were free to go. Clearly this harassment was coming from an establishment in which their employees have not been properly trained nor informed of laws against discrimination. We felt we were discriminated in the assumption that two women checking at a old town hotel must have been lesbians doing bad things in their rooms thus the harassment and lack of professional customer service. Businesses like these can't survive on assumptions nor poor treatment of their clients and also having broken bathroom doors ! We would never go back there! You can keep your insulting staff and your joke of a hotel. read more

Hotel Baker played host for my husband's company holiday party last weekend. We were in the very front room to the right of the entrance when you walked through the front door. It's a long room and we had a full house, so once you walked toward the back, it was a chore to shimmy your way back to the front. Of course the private bar was in the back while our table was in the front, so we all kinda took turns wandering back and forth. The room was nice. Dark woods and dim lighting surrounded us. The chairs were fairly comfortable and our smokers had easy access back out the main entrance. The servers were hit or miss. Some were great! Really going above and beyond to be pleasant. But some didn't know how to properly handle things (like setting down a plate half balanced on a wadded up cloth napkin on the table or clearing water glasses when people were still using them). This was annoying. The music was controllable which was nice because they were a lot of group activities and we needed to hear whoever was speaking. The food was somewhere in the middle of the road for me. Butler passed appetizers like cocktail meatballs were served. I was not a fan of those as there was some sort of aftertaste. But the coconut shrimp with the pineapple dipping sauce were very good! A chose the salmon and while it was tasty, it looked awful. The color of the sauce made it very unappetizing. I tasted the filet and it was cooked to medium rare. It was well seasoned and the mashed potatoes were okay. The asparagus and couscous were overcooked. The pretzel crusted chicken looked good, but the sauce was yet again u-g-l-y. No one at our table finished their chicken. And the sides were a version of pickled beets (no takers at our table) and what looked like pasta but couldn't quite be placed. It was all kind of unusual. Dessert on the other hand was marvelous! A very simple plain cheesecake served with fresh strawberries and a chocolate candy garnish. Kudos all around! Overall, it was a nice party. Actually the owners made things really nice, but Hotel Baker wasn't extraordinary by any means. read more

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I recently attended an outdoor wedding here, and the experience was exceptional. The staff is friendly, attentive, and efficient. The whammies are the view during the ceremony (Fox River) and the Rainbow Room, in which this particular reception was held. (-1 star for wedding-attendee room "discount") The outdoor ceremony consisted of two parts in three areas. The first part, the ceremony, took place on a large concrete platform overlooking the Fox River. The platform contained simple white chairs and the guests - nothing else was needed with the view. The wedding party walked each other from the Rainbow Room, through the garden and up the platform. After the nuptials, the garden was turned into a bar and hors d'oeuvres party. (I must say, this was my first garden party - not too shabby.) There was also an area near the main building where tables and chairs were located - I'd say there was about an acre of area to socialize and fraternize. This area, too, allowed for a view of the river. Reception -- The Rainbow Room is an amalgam of elegance and "fun-ness." With the two levels, it made for an intimate reception, an intimacy you wouldn't find in a single-level room with the same number of people (150ish). The food was delicious (mushroom-stuffed chicken with a cream sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus), to boot. Tastay! As with many weddings, the wine and cocktails flowed, and we danced the night away...I hope you get to shake your groove thang at the Baker someday, too, maybe even for your own wedding! Cheers! read more

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Cute little hotel that clearly has weddings down to a science. Rooms are a bit dated, but nice little boutique-y vibe in a quaint little city. Very much appreciated the robes and complimentary Fiji water! read more

Great place to go for a meal or a small party! Amazing history. Beautiful grounds. Next to the Fox River. Great food. Occasional celebrities. Horrible parking. The hotel is historic, so you have to expect the rooms aren't going to be top notch. But I wouldn't pay their over $150/night prices for a standard room for a room that's not top notch. There are plenty of other hotels in the area with rooms of equal quality for about $70 less per night. I'd only pay that to stay overnight to do some ghost hunting ;) read more

Hotel Baker - Hotels Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

We were planning to book our wedding here. When we asked for information, they ghosted us after one exchange...

A friend of mine got married here on a nice warm day in early July. She got married behind the hotel with a nice river view...weddings near water are always awesome! A very classic boutique hotel here. I did not get a room here as I just showed up for the wedding so I cannot speak to that, but I can speak to the nice landscaping outside in addition to the classic service we got at the reception. They serve watermelon water at the front desk which came in handy as it was pretty warm outside. My friend is Indian so we had samosas and other Indian appetizers served to us during cocktail hour outside by the lovely gals that work there. The girls were very nice and humored my friend's dad that had lots of jokes for them. Once the reception started we were taken into a two level room that was very intimate...not too big and not too small. The floor looked like it lit up as it was quite colorful when the lights were dimmed when dance time arrived. Food was delicious as it was an Indian chicken dish along with a very good rice....drinks were of course unlimited and they had a local gin called Geneva which was good and quite popular. Great venue for a wedding and reception! Just an FYI parking is not available at the hotel, but there is a free parking garage not too far away. Just call the hotel ahead of time or pull up in the front and they will direct you. read more

We went to the Easter Brunch at Hotel Baker this year and were quite disappointed. Because of the layout of this older hotel, the brunch items were located in 3 different rooms, quite a salient fact. Unfortunately, no one told most of us in our party that fact, nor was there signage indicating it, nor were there menus or anything else on the tables indicating it. So we only obtained food items from the 2 rooms we happened across. We wondered why the food selection was so sparse for a brunch that cost $88 (plus drinks, tax and tip) per person. We understand that the layout of the old hotel does not allow them to put everything in one room, but if the food items are spread out over 3 different locations, it is very important that all patrons be made aware of that fact. We never saw half of what we later learned was on the brunch menu. Naturally, when we learned what we missed, we felt we had been deprived of a major portion of the brunch. read more

Absolutely love this place! Great little town, classic hotel ala The Shining. Lobby... Great old world feel, small but a throwback to classic elegance. This is a great few photo ops in here... Take your time walking in, marvel at the detailed work in the entry and lobby and elevator doors. The famous rainbow room... When there isn't an event, wander this room. The woodwork, drapery and upper level define this room, the lighted dance floor just says party. Garden and patio... Again, fantastic old charm amazingly well maintained. The maze garden (knee high) is again a huge photo spot. The room... After all of this, we made it to the room. Very nice along the line of modern 4 star hotels, nothing huge here. Nice post bed, robes, walk in shower. The love here is for the attention to detail, feeling of opulence and one of the few hotels I traveled to every floor just to see what is there including art work. read more

Hotel Baker - Garden at night - Hotels Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

Beautiful setting for a wedding along the Fox River. The hotel is lovely & charming but the banquet rooms are small. When the dinner service began for the wedding reception, the soup was cold? Our requested dinner selections weren't honored & the staff was rude to our table. read more

Hotel Baker - Gorgeous trees decorated for the holidays - Hotels Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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We had our wedding and reception at the hotel baker on 2.202020 and it was magical ! The venue is unique and beyond beautiful! The entire staff especially Danielle an Rowena made sure that everything was perfect at night. The food is delicious. Our day was perfect and we loved every minute of it. read more

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We were able to get a reservation the day of for our 28th anniversary. Classy old hotel. We were given a deal because the room we rented wasn't cleaned. We enjoyed being able to walk to all the dinner choices in St. Charles. We enjoyed the jetted tub and the robes. read more

Hotel Baker - Hotels Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

Great location! Clean and quiet. Great staff and lovely River views!! #HotelBaker #buzzybooth

As others have said, it is a fine little hotel. We enjoyed our stay. There is a great pollinator garden in back with chairs and tables next to the river. We recommend walking across the bridge turning left and walking along the river path to Pottawamie Park. It is a great town park on the river. Two issues; we counted 21 spiders on webs directly outside our windows. The windows need cleaning badly. And.. the young man behind the desk needs training in hospitality. His manner is unpleasant to both guests and other staff. read more

For a guy who claims to have so much money, why isn't he spending it on his hotel. Outdated, dark and dreary. Almost lost an arm opening my door trying to get out onto busy street. How the city ever allowed pickups on North Avenue is a mystery. read more

The Hotel Baker is stunning. It looks like the decor hasn't been changed since the 20's. My wife and stopped in for lunch on a weekday. We were the only people in the restaurant. While we were waiting for our food, I took a look around the lobby and banquet hall. I don't know how else to say it, the place is beautiful. The food wasn't half bad either. The Rox City grill is just as elegant as the hotel. The food was beautifully prepared and our servers were wonderful. I had a fabulous, Cuban sandwich and a bowl of soup. Nothing fancy, but very tasty. It was a fun and relaxing meal. Here's the bottom line: Hotel Baker and the Rox City grill is a must see destination the next time you find yourself in the Fox River area. A walk inside the Baker is like walking back in time. The Hotel and restaurant are elegantly beautiful. I can't tell you how happy I am that we stumbled upon this place. read more

First I must say, I fortunately visited the Hotel Baker as a guest to a wedding and didn't have to pay for a thing through my whole visit so my review is strictly based on my experience. We stayed for 2 nights over a weekend. So i have a lot to review! I really appreciated the vintage rooms, they had so much charm! It felt very old, but not in a dirty, overused way. Be aware that some rooms to do not have a bath tub so if you need one be sure to request that. The lobby really represents to whole building. It was old, classic, and beautiful. The lobby bathroom had shelves of fresh, white hand towels to dry your hands so you know its fancy. :) As for the bar downstairs, it was lovely. There was a piano player who also sang that added a nice atmosphere. The space is small, but didn't feel cramped. The high light by far is the bartenders! Great personalities and service. The other side of the room was used for breakfast in the morning. It included scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and tea, and a big plate of fresh fruit (could be more but that's what I noticed). The wedding I attended was held in a church, but we attended a cocktail hour and reception at the hotel. The cocktail hour was in the waterfront room. It was also classic and had a beautiful view of the snow covered, frozen waterfront. Service was very prompt, and the appetizers were delicious. We switched over to the rainbow room for dinner and dancing. Again, service was very prompt and seamless. The room has 2 levels and provided a very intimate space for a reception as well as great views of the first dance. Food was fine, nothing spectacular. The dance floor was gorgeous. It is lit up but not in a cheesey disco way. I am sure is provided a gorgeous backdrop for first dance photos. They kept the waterfront room open to the guests for a photobooth and coffee bar throughout the reception. I honestly spoke to many people about the hotel and we couldn't find a single thing wrong. Good work Hotel Baker! read more

It's a great place -- unless you are in a wheelchair or have trouble walking. I barely fit through the front door with my wheelchair. I had to go through the kitchen to get to the banquet hall. I had a very difficult time getting to the bathroom. I sat so far away from the ceremony that I couldn't even see or hear the wedding at all that I went to. It is very beautiful and the food was very good, though. read more

Such nostalgia! Wonderful service from the moment they open the door for you, literally! Beautiful property on such a perfect location. Whether you are coming in from out of town or live locally, it feels like you are away in a post card setting. Take a look around inside if you haven't had the chance to yet. #HotelBaker read more

Hotel Baker was the location we wanted on a recent weekend in St. Charles. I didn't really have high expectations. I was just looking for a room. That's pretty much what I got. It is beautiful. I enjoyed the older lobby and the views. I guess I just thought that the rooms wouldn't be as old. The bed was fine, but the bathroom was so small and the shower was kind of gross to me. My biggest issue was the paper thin walls. You could hear EVERYTHING! We didn't sleep for the 2 nights we were there. I would only stay here if you qualify for a discounted room rate (luckily we did). The price they charge otherwise is ridiculous given the quality. You can't beat the location though. You can walk to everything from here. The front desk staff was a pleasure to deal with as well. read more

Stayed a couple nights recently. Food at the bar was great as was the barman .. sorry, your name escapes me. The room was more tired than me, nothing major but things like light bulbs improve the first impression! The shower was my main concern, tiles & paint coming off the walls & black mold on the wall. Bed & view were wonderful. Daytime reception was warm & welcoming, night time .. not so, extremely abrupt with attitude .. just like checking in at O'Hare!!! Would I stay again? Maybe! read more

The Good: This hotel is unique and cute. When my husband booked online he mentioned it was our wedding anniversary and it paid off because we got a corner room overlooking the river and street. The staff at the front desk were nice and friendly. The hotel itself is really, really cool and the different rooms are fun to walk around in. The Not-so-good: Considering how much it cost I thought things would have been a little nicer. The pillow had a stain on it that looked like makeup and the bed was lopsided. My side was slanted towards the middle and I woke up with a stiff back. The bathroom was very nicely decorated but there were a couple not so good things in there too. The hair dryer looked like it was about 15 years old and when I was using it, the entire metal part inside of it was shaking. I turned it off and wiggled it from side to side and sure enough it was loose when it was turned off. I dried my hair with caution seeing as the wiring was not right. Also, inside the bathroom I noticed that bathmat from the prior guest was still on the tub. I am not sure how that was missed by the cleaning staff. I just put the new one on top of the old one. read more

Our daughter and son-in-law had their wedding reception at the Hotel Baker this month. What a wonderful experience! The Catering Manager, Lena, has such an eye for detail and provides excellent customer service. The room was magical - from the floor lighting (that EVERYONE oohed and ahhhed over!) and the beautiful draping from the ceiling, to how beautiful the table decorations we brought looked on each table. The food - from the appetizers in the Waterfront Room (an added last-minute bonus they gave us!), to the dinner and cake - was fantastic! Everyone commented on how good the food was and how elegant it was presented. That truly was the best filet I have had in a long time! The wait staff and bartenders were very friendly and attentive to our guests needs. There was never an empty glass! Family and friends that stayed in the rooms could not say enough about the comfy, cozy historic feel of them. The penthouse suite our daughter and son-in-law shared on their wedding night was over the top! They felt so special in those gorgeous accommodations. This was our only daughter's wedding and we wanted this to be the best day of her life. They made it just that! We would definitely recommend Hotel Baker to anyone looking for a venue to make their celebration extra-special. Can't thank them enough! read more

The Hotel Baker was a MAJOR disappointment. PLEASE check out "the Herrington " in Geneva...the baker is dark, dreary, NO valet(it was dec, cold/raining and I was with my 80 yr old father) and we experienced TERRIBLE and unprofessional service. For the cost of this hotel one would expect MUCH better. The food was ICE cold, poorly prepared/cooked, we waited over 25 min for our RESERVED seats, our party of 11 was sat at 2 tables so that we could not enjoy our out of town guests?! And even as we were seated..the tables were not ready and being prepared as we stood there. Our waitress was slow, forgetting items, and inattentive. After addressing our concerns with management (mary, manager of sales and the owner) they handled our concerns in a very dismissive, uninterested, unprofessional manner. If you are looking for an unbelievable and professional experience...go to Geneva (the Herrington) you will not be disappointed..it is a short 5 min drive from the Baker...We learned an expensive, unforgettable lesson and will never again visit the baker. If you are looking for an overpriced, rude, memorable in all the wrong ways...book here. If not, search elsewhere. The baker does not have a good "local" rep...what does that say?! They cater to ppl out of town who dont know any better. Pls research. We stayed at the Herrington on our wedding night and could not have been more pampered and indulged. read more

I had the opportunity to attend a luncheon in the old Waterfront restaurant. The room is absolutely gorgeous and the view of the Fox River is lovely! Our meal main course was great, dessert was not homemade and came out a bit frozen. The service was pleasant and efficient as was the bartender. It is a shame that this room is not a restaurant anymore - there is a beautiful patio right outside for the summer. This could be a very special place with the right team but for now it is just for special events. It inspired me to give the hotel restaurant a try some time. read more

A beautiful boutique styled hotel. Every year I look forward to Christmas in Chicago and the Illinois suburbs. The hotel baker is located on the fox fiver and has amazing atributes such as the rainbow room and a classic rustic feel. The food is amazing and they leave a delishy coconut, white chocolate lemon cookie on your pillow every night. The staff is awesome, you feel like you are back in time. Thank you hotel baker for accomodating us each christmas. My boyfriend's mother was married here and if I have it my way, I will too. The hotel baker holds a very special place in my heart. read more

The Historic Baker Hotel is one of the nicest small town hotels I have ever stayed in. We planned in advance to secure a block of rooms and had the easiest experience in doing so. The sales staff here is just great! When you ask for privacy in your booking, they honor that with not saying a word to anyone that asks for your information. That is professionalism! The staff here are overly polite and courteous. Quite surprising because everyone seemed so young. They made sure that all of our needs were met before we even left the lobby for our room. The Baker has five floors of rooms that have nice blend of history with a draping of relevance. The decor is warm and inviting. The bedding and accompanying bathroom items where soft and not overly bleached. The four-post bed, giant armoire, walk-in closet, couch, desk and bed tables were all very nice, clean, elegant and gave us all the amenities a room could provide. The giant king bed was could-like and provided just the right comfort for a wonderful experience. The door to the room liked like and old vault door. And, there were the old US Mail drive-thru style chutes in the hallway (from when it used to be a retirement home). We happened to have secure the hot tub room on the 5th floor facing Southwest. I cannot say how wonderful it was to be relaxing in the tub while your hair freezes and the local night patrons laugh and chat as they bounce around downtown St. Charles (which has excellent spots for dinner and drinks). There was also a sitting area on the deck with the hot tub. The parking is a bit inconvenient by being about a block away. But, when the hotel is located right on the river downtown, your parking options become instantly limited in a small town. I can't say enough good things about the Hotel Baker. The price is a bit on the high side but you get what you pay for. And, at the Hotel Baker, that is one of the nicest rooms and experiences you could possible have in a small town elegant and historic hotel. read more

We have lived within a couple miles of Hotel Baker for 10 years, but this was our first time staying there. Sorry we waited so long. Love the ambience of an old hotel. Staff were courteous and attentive. Ours was a large, comfortable room. Yes, there is no on site parking, but there is a large indoor garage a half block to the south that allows overnight parking. After a less than stellar night on the town, we ended up at the Rox City lounge/piano bar and had a blast. Pete was awesome! Crowd was small but festive. Will be back soon and often! read more

We came here for the Mother's Day Brunch, and it was wonderful! We were seated in Rox and ate a wonderful buffet. The food was great, and there was much variety. From what we saw of the outside of the hotel rooms, everything was pleasant. The atmosphere was great, ad while we waited, a pianist played great music. If you are in town during Mother's Day, this is a must! read more

We were looking forward to having our wedding day at hotel Baker next June. After 3 weeks of absolute terrible correspondence from the wedding coordinator, no reply from repeated emails to the general manager another wedding coordinator tells us we aren't a good fit for Hotel Baker!! All we wanted was a few questions answered and some pictures sent to us that Danielle the coordinator said she would send. I understand wedding venues are bustling now do to the Pandemic, but does that mean it's ok to treat your potential clients like crap Hotel Baker?? Such horrible customer service. Your quaint hotel has zero charm when your staff is so unprofessional. We are looking forward to visiting other venues in the area!! read more

I don't usually write reviews but felt I had to publicly offer my positive experience staying at Hotel Baker a few days ago. There have been several negative reviews posted about Hotel Baker that gave me pause to stay here after we booked our stay. Prior to our stay, I called to speak to a manager about the negative reviews and to see if management had address the complaints. I spoke to Jason and he addressed all my specific concerns and assured me that any of the legitimate negative experiences or problems were corrected. Our stay there was exactly as we expected- Hotel Baker is an older & charming hotel rich with history. It's a step back in time but with all the perks of a modern hotel. The staff was friendly and efficient even with many check-ins at 4pm and a wedding ready to start. The rooms had all the amenities of a newer chain hotel with some antique touches like crystal door knobs and door with a valet inset. Our room was clean, had a coffee maker, flat screen tv, large desk, comfortable bed, up to date bathroom with toiletries and thick towels. If you're looking for a sterile mod squad hotel- stay somewhere else. We would stay here again to enjoy a getaway weekend in St. Charles. read more

We had a dessert experience here Saturday night and it was yummy! We stopped in here for a dessert after having dinner. Yes, I could have made it simple and eaten dessert where i had dinner, but that wasn't what I wanted. I had heard about the food at Hotel Baker from son #1 and decided we should check it out. The smell of the meat almost made me start to drool Homer Simpson style. It smelled that good. No worries, dessert was quite delicious. I had a HUGE piece of chocolate cake and hubby had some lava cake with raspberry topping and ice cream. The servings were very generous and everything tasted wonderful. The hotel itself is totally old style and very nice. I ran into some bridesmaids in the restroom which was very nicely updated with cotton hand towels. I'd like to visit again for some of that meat and another type of dessert (wink, wink)! read more

I'm originally from St. Charles, and have seen and been to the Hotel Baker throughout my many years. In fact, I was married there in 1981. I had never, however, stayed in the hotel. At the time of my previous marriage, it was not used as a hotel. In going back home this past December we booked a room in the hotel. I have always loved the architecture of the hotel, the Rainbow room, etc. Staying at the hotel was fun, for the experience of doing so. Due to the age of the hotel, I expected a small room, and I was right. To get in our uber tiny bathroom, you had to go through an oversized closet. It would have made sense, and been rather easy for someone to make the closet considerably smaller, and add space to the bathroom. The decor in the room could have a bit more class or zip...... nothing awful, but then, nothing stunning either. Everyone who worked there was very nice and accomodating to us during our brief, one night stay. Our room overlooked the Fox River, and we left the drapes open all night. In the morning the view was magical, changing from all all gray sepia toned effect, to a bit more color. On the almost frozen river was a large flock of Canadian geese, and the whole view looked like a Currier and Ives print. We went downstairs for 1 drink before going off to dinner, and the bartender is friendly and REALLY knows how to make great martinis! He made something not on the menu for my man, and it was amazing! People at a nearby table were oohing and aahing over the designs he made in their chocolate martinis. I loved the experience for the experience. I've wanted to stay there for decades, and it is one item checked off my Bucket list! read more

Absolutely do not book this hotel if you want to enjoy the beautiful gardens and/or exquisite patio advertised on their website. These are not available for hotel guests. They are only available to people who are renting these spaces for events -- and they seem to have events every minute of the day. We were there for two days and couldn't even get a peek at these amenities. Very rude managers and staff and roped off ribbons and signs block any access to these places. In addition, after a seven hour drive to get there, we were greeted by a very large sign with letters in big bold print stating that NO ALCOHOL is allowed. Located four feet inside the e trance to the hotel. First impression of the property. Not sure what issues they've had in the past that would warrant this display. But please, can't they put a welcome sign up instead? Should have stayed at the Marriott -- at least there the employees smile, welcome guests and offer a points reward program. No unaccessible gardens needed. read more

We had our shower and wedding at Hotel Baker and it was complete perfection!! The venue is gorgeous, the food is delicious and the staff is incredible. I have zero complaints! Thank you Casey and the rest of the staff for an amazing experience!! read more

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I would be able to give this hotel more stars base on cleanliness and the general staff was pleasant, but my experience went sour when I spoke to the manager the next morning. I originally had booked a king room but prior to my arrival I called the front desk to ask if they had a jacuzzi suite. She said yes and that it also had a private balcony for only 49.00 upgrade. What she did not say was that the jacuzzi was not actually private at all. It is on a balcony open to the view of the street on a screened in deck. I did not a bring a swimsuit and would have had to be viewed in the nude to use the jacuzzi. When I explained to the manager that I was unable to use the jacuzzi and would like a credit for only the difference of the upgrade, she denied my request. I repeated that the front desk worker explained that it was "private" she said "It was not her problem, and would not honor a credit" I even told her I enjoyed the stay and would return but that her actions would not allow me to do so. She did not care. I said I would also yelp an unpleasant review of the misleading words "private jacuzzi suit" she also said she didn't care and that most rooms in hotels don't have a jacuzzi in the suit. She is wrong! This was my first experience otherwise. Normally we stay at The Harrington and we were looking for another nice get away spot. All of this took place before we had the complimentary breakfast. There was a room full of people without plates, silverware and napkins. A server standing off to her self just looking at people asking for the bread, juice and bacon which were all empty. Breakfast is offered until 10:00 and at this time it was only 9:15. They were literally out of everything but sticky rolls and eggs. On our departure we asked to see the garden that they advertised to be beautiful along the river and both the night before and this morning it was unavailable without explanation. The cost per night with tax was 280.00. For that amount of money I will go back to The Harrington vs wasting my money at The Baker. read more

Hotel was very nice. Service was great. Food was very good. I recommend the NY strip. Review would be better but for the mattress in our room. It was the worst we ever slept on. It was so uncomfortable I seriously considered sleeping on the floor. They really need to enter the 21st century. Also wouldn't hurt to clean the spider webs from the windows. River view was great but would have been better with clean windows. read more