The Great Escape Room Chicago
by The Great Escape Room
160 E Grand Ave, Ste 400, Chicago, IL 60611
60 minutes
1-12 players
Medium
$36/person
horror, mystery, heist, adventure
Chain: The Great Escape Room
About This Location
The Great Escape Room on Grand Avenue in Streeterville offers seven themed rooms ranging from poker nights in a presidential bunker to haunted hotels and mob break-ins. The venue stands out for its unlimited-hints policy, ensuring every group finishes with a positive experience regardless of puzzle-solving ability. The prime Near North location makes it easy to combine with a Magnificent Mile visit.
Rooms at The Great Escape Room Chicago (5)

Escape The Colosseum: The Underworld Maze
HardCan you and your fellow prisoners work together and find a way to escape by the path led by Spartacus who once fled from the prison? Make it out in 100 minutes.

Poker Night at the President's Bunker
HardCan you and your teammates work together and prevent the nuclear Armageddon in the president's bunker? Make it out in 60 minutes.

Infirmary: Surgical Crisis
HardCan you save the patient before he expires as there is something terrible wrong in the pre-op room and you are sealed there without any doctor?

Sherlock's Study: What's Up Watson?
HardCan you and your fellow teammates complete the test within 60 minutes and be a member of the league by quickly solving cases and prove your worth?

Rob the Mob: Break-in at Bubba's
EasyBubba and his gang are collectors of some very, VERY valuable items. They’re hidden in his pawn shop and y'all’re gonna swipe the loot from his mob. If y'all're after that 'big score,' that 'retirement job'...then this escape room in Chicago is it. If your ragtag group of thieves can make your way through Bubba's shop, y'all'll be able to grab yourself some items that'll be enough to retire six-times-over. Be careful though 'cause Bubba don't take too kindly to strangers poking around where they don't belong. Get in, and get out, while all y'all still can...if you ain't careful, y'all'll end up in cement shoes.
Pros
- Unlimited hints with no penalty — great for beginners
- Seven rooms offer strong variety for repeat visitors
- Near North/Streeterville location near the Magnificent Mile
Cons
- Some rooms feel dated compared to newer Chicago venues
- Chain-operated rooms can lack local character
- Street parking is difficult — expect to use a paid garage
Who This Is Best For
More Escape Rooms in Chicago
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Fox in a Box holds a perfect 5.0 rating across Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor, making it arguably the highest-rated escape room in the United States. Located in the historic Dearborn Station building in the South Loop, five meticulously designed rooms — including The Bunker, Zodiac, and The Prison — deliver challenging puzzles enhanced by custom technology and atmospheric storytelling. This is the gold standard for escape rooms in Chicago.
by The Escape Game
The Escape Game's River North location is Chicago's most popular escape room, boasting an extraordinary 14,000+ Google reviews and a near-perfect 5.0 rating. Five themed rooms including The Heist, Gold Rush, and Prison Break deliver the chain's signature formula of gorgeous sets, approachable puzzles, and outstanding customer service. The prime Ontario Street location makes it a natural addition to any River North outing.
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Room Escape Adventures created the viral 'Trapped in a Room with a Zombie' concept and continues to run it from the historic Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue. A live actor playing a chained zombie adds a uniquely thrilling physical dimension as teams race to solve puzzles before the chain reaches its full length. Additional themed rooms and a 90s nostalgia room round out the lineup.