Aloft by Marriott Chicago Downtown River North

The brunch was one of the best experiences! At check-in, ask the front desk for vouchers. We got two complimentary cocktails worth up to $15 each on the night we arrived, and a $20 breakfast voucher that didn’t suck. The front desk staff were friendly and accommodating. I’d definitely come back and highly recommend this place.

The hotel has good facilities and a convenient location, but the management was horrible and showed no care for people. I strongly recommend staying somewhere else. Aloft management, do better. After a night out with a friend, we stopped at the hotel, went for a walk, then returned around 5:30am. As we were about to enter with my room key, I noticed a college aged woman arguing with security. She’d lost her room key and was staying with a friend, but the friend was nowhere to be found and couldn’t be reached. The woman had her friend’s phone. Because the friend wasn’t reachable and there was only one name on the reservation, security wouldn’t let her into the building. She was alone and stranded at 5:30am in a major city. My friend had had his wallet stolen earlier that night and nearly lost his phone too. I thought that if my friend were in her position and I couldn’t be reached, he’d be stuck the same way. I had to step in. They let her into the lobby, and I stayed with her while she tried to contact her friend. I suggested she come with us as our guest, since I was a paying customer with a room key, so she could stay warm while she sorted things out. Security and the front desk responded completely unacceptably. They said they’d call the police if she came with us. I was within my rights to have a guest at any time. They suggested she book a room in her own name, but what college student can spend over $200 at 6 in the morning on something that wasn’t her fault? We did make sure she and her friend were okay. It turned out the friend was hospitalized. Staff did nothing to check on that person’s safety, showed no empathy, and would have thrown the woman onto the street if I hadn’t intervened. The staff here, especially security, were incredibly rude, unprofessional, and excessive for no reason.

Ava was fantastic at check-in. She was incredibly kind and made me feel welcome. Honestly, her hospitality alone would bring me back. I got a status upgrade, but it didn’t completely wow me. There were still traces of the previous party in the room. The view was lovely, though, so I can’t complain too much about that.

I work as a night auditor at another major US city hotel, so I respect hotel workers and can tell when they’re good, bad, or just average. The people here were 100% great. I had a good, efficient stay. The night auditors were incredible. I’ve got to stick with my gang, but still. I asked for a box fan to sleep with, and they found one and brought it to my room. They got me fresh linens and towels when I asked, explained lobby charges, and gave me a good tip about a nearby cocktail bar. The check-in crew were great too. A man with glasses checked us in on 10/23, and he was incredible. Such an amazing attitude. As a hotel front desk agent myself, I felt like my own ability to make guests feel at home paled in comparison. Kudos to every staff agent here. Working a front desk in a major downtown hotel isn’t easy. I know what it’s like when a guest asks for a box fan at 1 a.m., just as you’re finally about to take a break after a busy night and are thinking, “I FINALLY can eat,” but you’re the only one there. Stay here for the staff. I had an amazing view of River North all the way to the sears tower. I sleep through sirens since I already live downtown with sirens. I enjoyed the safe five minute stroll to the Riverwalk at 11pm. There are multiple food options nearby and across the street, plus a bodega. If there were an apartment here, I’d pay a good amount just for the location. It’s three minutes or less to the nearest subway station, or a 10-15 minute walk across the river, near millennium park and the METRA station. You’re close to everything! Great stay 👍