House of Two Urns Bed and Breakfast

We’ve stayed in Chicago a number of times — in downtown hotels and neighborhood inns. But this is the first location that we are truly looking forward to revisiting. Our room, though small, was nicely appointed. And the comfortable public spaces were easily accessible and inviting. The daily breakfast rivaled that of five star restaurants. Kapra and Miguel have created a wonderful home away from home for their guests. And all of this came at extremely reasonable pricing.

Planned a last minute trip to Chicago around Valentine’s day so everything in the city that was a realistic price was booked. We basically picked this b&b because it was a steal and there was free parking. Love everything about it, reconsidering ever booking a hotel again after this stay. Staff was super friendly and location was great. Also right next to the highway so you can get anywhere in a flash!

I am happy to share my experience at the House of Two Urns. I am glad I made the decision to stay there while exploring Chicago! At first I thought it would be a little far from the downtown, sights, but it turned out to be very conveniently located, since there is a bus in the corner that can take you to the city centre and a subway 2 blocks from the B&B. I really felt at home at this place. They have got all the amenities: dryer, coffee machine, full equipped kitchen, slippers, good towels, soap, shampoo, a fridge to put your food, toiletries, iron, etc.
I also love the décor with all the camera collection and the laid back environment. Exquisite breakfast too!!! Very customized, super yammi, better than Hotels in my opinion. The muffin, oh my god, and the waffle… I was really amazed. The girls were so helpful and kind. I was also impressed with the cleaness and tidiness of the place. I couldn’t find a single hair on the shared bathroom floor. The only (-) was the bed. It was very noisy, old, the mattress was bad, very bad! I stayed in the smallest room, I think they call the standard/​cat room. Other than the bed I really like my room. It was tiny but cozy, I felt like it was mine. There was a closed to put all your belongings and you could lock it. I highly recommend this place!!!
I have seen other rooms and there are all one of a kind. I stayed in this tiny room, but was super ok, and my friend stayed in a HUGE room, connected with another one, I guess more than 4 people could sleep there, there was a big tub in her bathroom as well. They have got 2 houses, one across the other. My friend stayed in the newer house and myself in the older. Breakfast is served in the older one. I think anyone would be just fine!

Truly lovely place, honey with all the amenities and comforts you could want.
The breakfasts are amazing and worth getting up early to make sure you don’t miss them!
The hosts are okay but warm up quickly if that is what you are looking for. I noticed that they seem to let the guest determine the level of interaction. Considering how many international guests they have and do the great many cultures the hosts need to be able to accommodate, this makes sense. However, their care is in everything they do, all the little touches that show incredible attention to detail and they care about their guests experience.

Location: It’s a quick 35 – 40 minute ride on the Blue Line from the airport. Since the Blue Line terminates there, it is literally impossible to go in the wrong direction. The intersection you get out at is confusing as hell, but if you follow the email instructions and walk between City Sports and the high rise, you’re set. Protip: when you’re going from the house back to the El, you can cut across that huge parking lot. It’ll get you there 2 minutes faster and, more importantly, shield you from the wind/​weather tunnel that is Milwaukee Ave.
Room: I stayed in the King Room for a night. It is across the street in 1252, and like reviewers elsewhere have mentioned, this means you have to brave the elements to get breakfast. The second house has a little kitchen, sitting area, deck, and access to the garden downstairs, which I imagine would have been nice had it not rained the entire time I was there: p Also… there are two doors labeled 1252. They look nearly identical. Their locks are not.
The room itself was great. I took great childish joy in sliding across the waxed floors, and I definitely indulged in the one person jacuzzi after a chilly Chicago night. (There were some little black flakes that came out when I turned on the jacuzzi, but I’m pretty sure they were just from the water filter.) Note: There’s not a lot of counter space in the bathroom, but they do provide dark towels for makeup removal, as well as a little «female necessities» kit.
The fireplace mentioned is actually a fake fireplace that doubles as a space heater.
The sound insulation isn’t *great*. Like others have mentioned, you’re basically staying in a non-​modified house, so you can hear people moving around outside, just as you would be able to in a regular shared house. In my case, i don’t think there were more than 1 or 2 people staying in 1252, but I did wake up a few times because it sounded they were in my room. (The King room is at the top of the staircase.)
Service: I met all three members of the family throughout the course of my 18 hour stay. Miguel checked me in, Kapra served breakfast, and their daughter checked me out. I have to say I never experienced any negativity from any of them, Kapra included. I get that she could come off as overly rigid to some people, but she was perfectly fine when I met her at breakfast. Maybe people are expecting some kind of medieval rosy-​cheeked innkeeper.

This place is amazing! Just a short walk from the main strip of Wicker Park. I’m in Chicago at least 6 times a year and I will only stay here for now on. It’s a great place for a romantic get-​way as well. You have access to a kitchen, washer and dryer, a living room filled with antiques and an amazing patio over looking their organic garden. Not to mention all of the amazing art work hanging on the walls. Each room is very small but cute and each has a princess theme. And when you leave, you are treated to an amazing breakfast: Seriously, amazing breakfast. I can’t speak highly enough of this place. The other tenants I’ve experiences on my stays have all been amazing creative and wonderful people. For the last four years, I used to stay downtown and take the L to Bucktown. It’s where I hang out, and now I have a proper place to stay in the neighborhood for a seriously reasonable price. I honestly can’t wait for my next visit to Chicago just to enjoy The House of Two Urns. I’lll vacation here as well from now on (if anything, the breakfast is worth the vacation day.)

Overall an unexpectedly pleasant experience. This bed and breakfast seems to be in a nice neighborhood that is safe. It is close to the Blue Line.
My husband and I booked a room at this B&B through Priceline. It was easy to book at the last minute, and there was a room ready for us.
We stayed in the Princess and the Pea room, and the décor is rich colors and heavy fabrics with brightly colored accents. The main feature is an elevated queen bed, an obvious nod to the fairytale. There is a sitting chair, a bureau/​wardrobe and a work desk. On the second floor is a community kitchen with complimentary tea, coffee, popcorn and apples, and it has everything you would need to cook a meal for yourself.
Breakfast was delicious and homemade. The main dining room is richly decorated, with nods to the macabre with skulls and depictions of cannibalism. Despite the gruesome décor, it manages to be bright and cheery.
The only down side is that the common areas are shared with more people than is entirely comfortable. During our stay, some of the other guests were not as courteous about space usage.

We stayed here last summer and arrived at the front door to be greeted rudely by the hostess. Made us feel like we were in the wrong place and was cold to us until we mentioned buying a transit pass from her. Great location to the L. The main room is uninviting and eerily haunting with several homemade mache masks staring at you menacingly. We stayed across the street, which was nice to get away from main room. Cute room with an even cuter bathroom, but very small overall. Breakfast was good though and hostess seemed a tad bit warmer when serving us. Will NOT be visiting again.

I stayed for a week recently at the House of TwoUrns after being granted a Writer’s Residency fellowship for 2011. I was nervous at first and not sure what to expect. When I arrived, however, I was warmly and immediately greeted by Kapra Fleming who even helped me carry my suitcase up the stairs to the La Alcova Suite on the third floor.
Man oh man! I live in a small studio in the Ravenswood area and was shocked by the amount of space, light, and incredibly comfortable décor that I was provided. I could go on and on. I do like living in small spaces (less cleaning involved), but love to stretch out once or twice a year at a comfortable B&B. Kapra even invited me to a wonderful dinner on Saturday that included her friends and family. Free off-​street parking and no measurable snow for the early January week I was there topped off my wonderful experience at the House of TwoUrns!

(I notice that there are only a few reviews on here for this B&B. Be sure to read the reviews on Trip Advisor before you decide to book. Many other reviews also mention how cold, rude, and off-​putting the host is.)
I’ve never written a review – let alone a negative review – in my life. Yet, I’m compelled to warn other families away from the House of Two Urns. We travel very frequently with our young daughter (three-​years old). In the past three years, we’ve taken her to many small hotels, large hotels, and B&Bs. My husband emailed Chicago-​area B&Bs in advance to see if they allow young children. The House of Two Urns emailed back to say that it wouldn’t be a problem.
When we arrived after a 6-​hour drive, however, the hostess opened the door and immediately told us that she was not aware that we had a child. She told us that our room is reserved for children over eight-​years old. We apologized for any misunderstanding (though there shouldn’t have been), and she continued to chastise us by warning against letting our daughter «bother» other guests by being loud and troublemaking. I explained that my daughter is extremely well-​behaved and quiet, but she continued to mumble about how she would go back and «check the email» to make sure we had mentioned having a daughter.
At breakfast, the hostess continued to be extremely rude to our family. On the final day, she actually grabbed a napkin ring out of my daughter’s hand when I said that she wouldn’t be eating breakfast. The other guests at the table were also very surprised by how rude and cold this woman is.
The B&B itself is fine. Rooms seem adequate, though the breakfasts are nothing special. But I am honestly shocked by how unfriendly and cold the hostess is. I have no idea why someone with such a sour personality would go into a hospitality-​based business. If you have kids, I would strongly recommend that you stay away from this B&B.

(Psst! This is a third person review. Can I do that? We will see.)
Speaking for Eric and the I’m Vegan crew who stopped in Chicago to film some animal-​free peeps on their national Vegan Documentary Tour: this place is awesome.
The guys asked me where to stay near my place night before we filmed and I was like– hey– there’s this B&B– but I don’t know much… The next morning they were like– HEY. You must recommend this place a lot. I was like– No, never before sir. They were like– really?! This is the perfect B&B for visiting vegans.
wh-​what?! No, truly. Believe me. Stop being so skeptical. It’s true!
Don’t you just love surprises? I do. :)
Yes– Two Urns’ totally reasonable rated rooms (starting at $ 125) including breakfast, also include an amazing vegan breakfast option!
Visiting Chicago, need a night sleep, and not into eating your friends? Voila.
You’re. welcome.

I was scared to death about trying the Bed and Breakfast experience. Something about community bathrooms, eating breakfast with strangers, and a seemingly-​haunted old Chicago house just doesn’t sit right with me.
That said, I ended up at the House of Two Urns, and I was pleasantly surprised. The «house» itself is divided into two «houses.» The main house is where the owners live, and the other one is down the street and holds some apartments which are rented with daily rates. I ended up staying in both places, which gave me a good indication about how the place is all-​around.
In the main house, I ended up in «La chambre des chats,» aka «the cat room.» It is full of photos, antiques, and toys that resemble cats, seemingly to a creepy degree. The stay itself was comfortable as soon as I could get over the idea that I had hundreds of cat eyes looking at me all night.
The worst part of the stay was the fact that there was a painting in the stairwell of a family sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner with horrified looks on their faces because the mother was serving what appeared to be a human head in the shape of a ham. That, and my closet had a window in it that made the ham/​head peer at me when I walked in. *Shudder*
The woman who runs the place is great. She’s a decent cook too. The food (after all, that’s what Unilocalers care about) was fresh and tasty every morning. Cuisine ranges from quiche to french toast. Everything is all-​natural, and her recipes are inspired from her travels around the country/​world. One morning, we were given a blackberry compote followed by french toast with chicken/​apple sausage.
If you have the cash, try staying in one of the apartments. They have jacuzzi tubs, full kitchens, and comfy beds. If you have enough people, rent the whole thing out — otherwise you may end up with some stranger roommates.
I think all Bed and Breakfasts have to be a little weird, which is why the quirks about Two Urns didn’t make it lose any stars in my book. For a first-​time Bed and Breakfast experience, I couldn’t have asked for more. I didn’t wake up with a knife-​wielding innkeeper at the foot of my bed, so what more could I ask for? I’ll be back, I’m sure.