The Ritz-Carlton Chicago

Illinois
United States

The Experience

The first thing to note is that the Ritz-Carlton is actually a Four Seasons property, the sister hotel to the one across the street. And like its sister property, this is no stand-alone hotel, but one set atop a mall high above the city. But once you've straightened that out, you'll find all the amenities and level of service you'd expect of either chain. It also has a great location, right in the heart of the action of the Magnificent Mile (though the main entrance is on a side street and thus feels calmer). And the little freebies, like morning tea and coffee and overnight shoeshines give the property a warmer atmosphere than the grand lobby would suggest.

The Rooms

Standard guest rooms aren't that large (starting at 370 square feet) and the somewhat dated interiors are done in a country style (think: big couches and heavy wood pieces). But the big windows throughout make the property airy and light-filled. Ask for a new premier room on the 30th floor, with comfy large beds and window seats overlooking the lake or Michigan Avenue. Guests in state suites get even more; personalized stationery and free ironing seem trivial compared to the grand pianos.

The Service

From room service to the concierge, people who work here are remarkably warm and friendly. The doormen are fantastic, quickly hailing cabs or assisting with directions. There's also a useful "I Need It Now" program, where travel essentials from bobby pins to cuff links to extension cords arrive posthaste.

The Highlights

Staying here feels almost like staying with family—albeit one that lives in a grand hotel and doesn't mind serving you day and night. It's this level of service that makes the property so popular. Everyone is attended to, from the kiddies (who get a gift on arrival and their own room service menu) to the puppies (who also have their own menu plus a personal walker). Finish off a blustery, Windy City day in the renovated $2.5 million spa and the acclaimed formal Dining Room. Then have a drink under the angled windows of The Greenhouse, looking out over the city. Up here it hardly seems to matter whether this is the Ritz or the Four Seasons.

 

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