Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown / River North

The front desk staff and chat supervisor made sure our requests were handled quickly and thoughtfully. ARIANA and the rest of the team were professional, warm, and attentive throughout, and we felt well cared for. The hotel’s in a handy spot for exploring, with restaurants all around and the Magnificent Mile, Cloud Gate, the Riverwalk, and Navy Pier within easy walking distance. We had a comfortable bed, a spotless room with floor-to-ceiling windows and amazing views, and fresh, satisfying breakfast each morning. We had a wonderful time and would absolutely return. Highly recommend it for the staff, location, comfort, and views.

The manager upgraded us to a corner room while I was in town for my 24th birthday, and I’m so grateful. It was spacious and clean, with really comfy beds. The location can’t be beat, and breakfast was great, including the staff there. Amazing hotel and AMAZING staff. Thanks for making it such a great birthday stay. Fully recommend it!

The staff were incredible. Everyone I spoke with was kind, knowledgeable, and helpful, and the beds were comfortable. The price was extremely affordable for a holiday weekend in such a walkable tourist area. River North made it easy to reach restaurants, bars, and activities. Families might especially like the free continental breakfast, which many of them seemed to appreciate. That said, the crowds of families were a real downside for me as a solo adult traveler. They were loud in the hallways. The elevators were painfully slow, usually about five minutes and once as long as 15. The rooms and the hotel felt hot and very dated. My air was set to 59 at one point and the room was still warm, with the only vent pointed at the window. The sink is in the carpeted room instead of a tiled bathroom, and the shower is tiny, like one of those old cruise ship tube showers. The bed was maybe 15 feet from the front door, and the sofa bed even closer, with no entryway or privacy. There was also a big gap under the door, so hallway noise came straight in and made me uncomfortable given how close the bed was. The internet and TV were unreliable. For a whole day of my three-night stay, I had no TV reception or internet access, and the Wi-Fi was never dependable. I’d recommend this only to a family looking for a very affordable room in a tourist area. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else, and I won’t return. I’d rather spend a little more nearby for a more updated, comfortable stay.

The location in River North worked well, just across the bridge from the Loop and close enough to walk to plenty of bars and restaurants. A couple of L stations are only a few blocks away. I was here for four nights while running the marathon. The value was okay, though prices still felt crazy for this kind of hotel. My room seemed recently modernized, with a clean, simple look, a huge TV, a decent couch and pullout, and a comfortable bed. The shower tray was oddly the one bit they hadn’t updated, but it didn’t affect its use. For this hotel standard, the room was good. The in-room microwave and fridge were handy, though bring your own dishes. Breakfast was functional at best and had more processed food than I like. I usually choose based on price, but I’d be happy to stay again when I’m next in Chicago.