Ray's is a great little B&B in Chicago - their motto, "not your parents B&B", is spot on - the place is funky and eclectic, and completely welcoming. We arrived late to find a note on the door with a number to call. They gave us a code for the door, and we were in! It's so cool walking into such an unexpected interior after seeing the nondescript exterior! Guests have access to a few computers so they can check email or find more about the area. Each room key comes with a code to get in the front door (since you're in a busy urban area) and guests are free to store their food in the fridge (no fridge in the individual rooms.)

The skylight room is nice, and since it's over the kitchen you're awaked to the delicious smell of breakfast cooking - yum! It's 2 levels - a bathroom immediately as you enter, which is very well-done considering it was squeezed under the stairs. Up the spiral-y stairs is the room, which was blissfully air-conditioned in the 90-degree heat while we were there.

And speaking of breakfast, there is a delicious-sounding array of things to choose from on the breakfast menu - there's no set menu that everyone has to go along with. I had a delicious (if huge!) greek omelet with bacon, which was great.

There's a sauna and a steam room/shower (you can shower AND steam - awesome!) in the basement, which I took advantage of even though it was a hot summer day. This would be especially good in the winter.

My only complaint about the place would be that the skylight room has a door connecting it to some other room (I have NO idea which!) and whoever was there during our stay was being quite noisy late into the night. I would see about insulating that better so noisy guests don't disturb each other. The door to the room, down the stairs, is right off the kitchen as well, so you will be greeted by curious stares as you emerge from your room, and noisy breakfast preparations and conversation might wake you up.

My Girlfriend and I had wanted to stay at a B & B for a long time. We were going to be in Chicago for only a few days and my brother now lives in Wicker Park so this was perfect. We had chosen the Master Suite in the Annex building on the 3rd floor just across Ray's Room. My GF cannot pack light so her suitcase was a bear. Having to go up 3 flights of stairs was quite a workout, but Amber helped us out so it wasnt a big deal. Our room was very clean, smelled like the person before us had used the fireplace since it smelled like burnt wood which was a surprise to us since it was summer and pretty hot. (however we also lit a fire, just because). The balcony was awesome, huge and very private since it was above any balcony we could see. It had a table with four chairs and 2 lounge chairs. We also had a skylight with a shade(use the tool in the closet to open and close it), and we had a washer and dryer in our room, WOW!!! The only thing that put my GF off for about 1 second was the bathroom being outside of our door, but that was never a problem. We had a great shower which has a whirlpool tub and that was awesome. The bed was super comfortable. I don't think that our room had TiVo though.

So that was the Bed part, now the Breakfast part. This was awesome. You write you time down on the white board and just show up. We were the earliest, 7:15. We went inside and were just a little apprehensive, we enjoy good food and we were not let down. Just as you go into the kitchen they have a spread of FRESH fruit and good fruit like blueberries, grapes, strawberries, kiwi's, watermelon and canteloupe. We sat down and Vanessa brought us 2 menus. I was surprised by this. I just figured something was prepared similiar to a family meal. I went with a Denver omlette, my GF went with blueberry stuffed french toast with potatoes. Food was great and huge. I had to order a 2 egg omelette the next morning. Also, my GF had a hangover the next morning so I went down and ordered our breakfast and asked if we could have it in our room. She said that would be fine. I asked where I could get some Champaign and she said she might have a bottle for me. She looked but didnt no big deal I walked down the street and bought a bottle with some OJ and Advil. When I got back she had my plates in the oven so they would be warm for my walk across the street. She also had Champaign glasses ready for me with silver wear and anything I would need on a tray to carry. I took it upstairs and surprised my GF with Mimosa's and breakfast on the patio. Oh and they have super nice Robes.

All and all a great experience and cannot wait to go back again.

Thanks Ray, Amber, and Vanessa.

Ray’s is quite possibly the best place I have ever stayed, and I've travelled around the world twice (aged 29)!
I simply cannot rave about this place enough. It has all the things that are great about staying in hostels (communal kitchen, knowledgeable & friendly staff & a laundry room) mixed with the great things about hotels (Jacuzzi, sauna, full choice of breakfast served to you at a table!)
Ray himself couldn’t have been any more helpful, and made us feel at home as soon as we walked through the door. Someone was always on hand to give assistance if needed with an abundance of maps and recommendations. Special mention should be given to the breakfast as it was superb every morning, and nothing was too much trouble.
We had the Da Vinci room which was at the top of the B&B. It had two queen sized beds, a massive TV with every channel going & TVIO plus a DVD player. We had a bathroom with two showers & a Jacuzzi. We literally could have spent our entire 3 days in Chicago never leaving Ray’s!
The neighbourhood is the trendy Bucktown / Wicker Park, and there were plenty of restaurants & bars, not to mention all the boutique stores. If you wanted to explore all areas of Chicago it was very easy to get around using the EL train, only a 10 minute walk away.
In summary if you’re aged between 0 -100 and you’re in Chicago and in need of a place to stay, Ray’s is where you want to be!

My wife liked her breakfast so much the first morning she ordered the same everyday of our stay! Portions are huge.

We stayed in the Annex 3 nights. Mundos (?) the 1st two nights: crowded, and the private bath was down the hall BUT you have access to the whole floor (except the other bedroom). It's like having your own apt; kitchen, living rm, dining table...an amazing deal. The 3rd night we moved up to Guestroom 1, actually a little bigger, shared bath and the same apt layout. Both were off the street and very quite and clean.

The only mistake we made was driving into the loop. Take the train, parking is impossible or $$$.

Would return.