This is a review for the hostel style shared bunk bed rooms, given it's a hotel with private rooms as well (might be listed elsewhere on Airbnb but just thought I'd specify).
Overall it was a great experience and pretty much what I needed and expected for this trip, which happened to be a work trip for me this time around. It's a very central, convenient location right by Chicago's Mag Mile, Grand Red line station, so I was in walking distance from most of everything I needed. The staff were great and really helpful for anything I needed, rooms and beds are clean and comfortable, the frames and privacy curtains great. Rooms are a little small perhaps, but have pretty much everything needed, and the guest kitchen in the basement works well too.
Some things I was surprised by which are more about other guests than the hotel so I figure worth mentioning. I've traveled a bunch around the world and stayed at a number of hostels, it seems some guests at Freehand haven't or aren't aware there is such as a thing as hostel etiquette given we're sharing rooms and sleeping in close proximity. At least I believe there is such a thing as hostel etiquette, and it's basic things really.
- There isn't a specific time but if it's really early in the morning or late at night, don't just turn on the lights in the room (and avoid making lots of noise). Your roommates are probably sleeping and frankly it's just rude. You have a phone, and a personal light at your bed side, use them.
- The walls are not super thick, please don't party in your room - a group kept my room until like 4am partying next door. There's a great bar on the ground floor, the guest kitchen, and lots of other bars all around town.
- We're sharing a room, it's kind of polite to respond to a greeting. There was a person I shared with I said 'hi' to a couple of times who just completely ignored me and other roommates. I wasn't trying to have any kind of long winded conversation or anything, just a 'hi' seems nice when our feet are going to be just about touching all night, maybe even a quick or superficial intro.
- I had the misfortune of having two really loud snorers for a couple of nights. If you know you snore, please do something to alleviate it, sleep on the side or something. And for everyone else, don't forget your ear plugs - I'd forgotten mine, had to buy new ones after a crappy night's sleep.
Those were outliers fortunately, otherwise I also met a lot of great and lovely people traveling for a variety of reasons, and slept really well most nights - just those things can happen in hostels, it's worth knowing what you're getting into. Overall a great stay!