Ray's Bucktown Bed and Breakfast

This being our 3rd stay at Rays, our experience was excellent. Ray’s is a gem in a big city. Breakfast is cooked to order gourmet and there is always something extra. Ray’s is not a cookie cutter chain, it is one of a kind. We can’t wait for our next stay

This place is a gem. I booked the East room, because I was travelling to Chicago for a conference and honestly this was one of the only rooms in the city I found on short notice that was within my company's daily hotel allowance. The website description was the one of the most accurate I've seen for a room, and with earplugs I slept like a rock in the comfy basement room. I loved the vibe - Ray's strikes me as a place opened by a guy who loved travel and wanted to create European Pension-style lodging in Chicago. So this last minute booking turned into a great part of my trip. Staff was very helpful and accommodating, even giving me a to-go breakfast when I had to leave early one morning.

Very clear instructions on finding Ray's on a lovely quiet tree lined street, an extremely useful website, lots of information about Chicago and knowledgable, helpful staff including Ray of course. Our room was big, air conditioned, comfortable, clean, big bathroom, lots of towels, pillows, spare bed covers, comfortable chairs - an extension cable and hairdryer not confined to the bathroom plus a mirror in reach, how many hotels manage that! After a good night's sleep the day started with an enormous, delicious breakfast, a wide choice available. Following a hard day's sightseeing, with Ray's recommendations, sit at the table dowstairs with a hot drink and homemade snack while planning the next day. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who doesn't need to be in the city centre, although its only 25 minutes away, a short walk and 4 or 5 stops on the "El".

My stay at Ray's was just perfect. My room was clean, welcoming, and cozy; the staff was unfailingly friendly and helpful; the breakfasts were plentiful and delicious, and the whole place is chockablock with quirky collectibles and fun ephemera. A total delight and I would love to stay again and again!!

I cannot recommend Rays highly enough! Everything - and I mean - everything is better than staying at a hotel in town. Let’s start with: - Amazing, friendly staff - incredible breakfast - with daily specials - and any sides you want with your order (all included) - fabulous room with a mega comfortable bed and zillions of pillows - Short walk to the Blue L, making it easy to go to/from O’Hare and only half a dozen stops into River North or South - Lovely quiet Bucktown neighbourhood with hundreds of great bars and restaurants - Brilliant selection of books, restaurant flyers, delivery guides etc - takeaway breakfast and/or coffee if you are leaving early - lots of little things that make guests lives easier (help with Ventra Cards, umbrellas for guests on rainy days, multiple bottles of water in the room) Rays is a unique jewel that is so delightfully different from anywhere I’ve stayed before. I certainly won’t be going anywhere else if/when I come back to Chicago! Thank you to Ray and your fabulous team! Rich (UK)

Ray's is basically two older houses now connected and rearranged inside to accommodate the guest rooms and common areas and decorated with an eclectic collection of wonderful odds and ends from numerous decades. There are several nooks you can use for reading or just having a quiet moment. The place is clean and tidy and Ray and his staff are warm and welcoming. The breakfast is wonderful. You can eat a cold breakfast of cereals or have any sort of cooked breakfast, made to order. There's the usual coffee, tea, juices, and water available around the clock. There are restaurants and a McD's not too far away for lunch and dinner. We chose it because it is not too far out of downtown Chicago and just a couple blocks from I-90. Word of warning: the I-90 East ramp to I-290 East into the loop is closed for construction at this time (19th of September). You can get off before or after that so it is a minor inconvenience. All the roads are under construction so it's a mess for traffic no matter where you go. If you'd like something significantly cheaper than the downtown hotels while being in easy reach of the Loop and the 'burbs, give Ray's a try. I think you'll like it, we certainly did.

Ray's is the place. Great Warm & Fuzzy staff.Efficient and calm. An ABSOLUTELY stress-free environment. Booked 3 days, but had so much fun stayed an extra day and hung out with friends in this quirky, eclectic, gem of a B&B. It's the experience you pray for when you try a B&B instead of an antiseptic hotel. The culinary staff was exceptional. I am a professional chef who excels in many types of cuisine. I was thoroughly impressed from the technique to the extravagance of the ingredients. You will be hard pressed to find a better breakfast. "Ray see you guys next year" Sincerely Sebastian and June.

Rays B & B was the best! We had the room in the attic with access to a large gorgeous balcony. I loved the homey vibe of the place. The hospitality was incredible as the staff went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. Breakfast was to die for! The cook cooked us whatever we liked and every bite was delicious! Thanks Ray and staff for the experience. I will definitely stay here when I come to Chicago again.

A hidden gem in the busy city of Chicago. We stayed for two nights in the Egret Room and loved it. The staff was incredibly welcoming and we had excellent instructions for late check-in. Everyone was helpful and the breakfast was awesome! We would definitely recommend Ray's and would stay again for sure.