Hotel 55 Chicago Downtown

Google identiies this as a 5 star hotel. Out of 10 maybe... We stayed here because it was represented as a newly renoved Marriott property, and there were signs of a renovation (new bed, sink, furniture, etc.), but the building itself remains tired and in need or upgrades (see photos). Even the towels were old and thin/ frayed (see photo). The bathroom in our room (1203) was incredible small, and it had no fan so the entire room got completely fogged every time my wife or I took a shower. Positives included a fast elevator and the front desk staff were all very nice.

This hotel is listed as a Tribute hotel on the Marriott website but not the Bonvoy app. I believe it is a "white label" property and is being renovated based on renovation activity at the hotel. My parket valet tag said 21c Museum Hotel, which is what the hotel used to be be before the lender took ownership. The location is very good and the rooms are very large for an urban hotel which was good for me and my family. However, there is an $80/day parking charge AND a $25 Destination Amenity Fee and there are NO amenities beyond what you would always get at any Marriott hotel. The room finishes are dated. There is no ventilation fan in the bathroom and it gets very steamy during a shower. The window sheers were ripped. The TV was borderline unusable and could not even get ESPN and no ability to watch a streaming service. Mattresses were uncomfortable. Location is near a hospital and there are frequent sirens, especially bad on Saturday night. Room was not available until 4:30 but was supposed to be ready by 4:00. A renovation will fix some of this, but I would check with the hotel to see if the renovation is complete before staying here again.

Robert was absolutely exceptional! From start to finish, he went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. His professionalism, positivity, and willingness to accommodate every request truly stood out. Not only did he deliver everything we asked for, but he exceeded our expectations in every way. I’m so grateful we had the chance to work with him—he played a huge part in making my daughter’s birthday incredibly special. Highly recommend!

A top notch experience at a newly minted Marriott Property. As usual, I will list the pros and cons. PROS: 1. Very good location a block from Michigan Ave. and two blocks from the Red Line. Hotel is on Ontario which is quieter than some of the surrounding streets. 2. Excellent, friendly employees especially Robert at the front desk. 3. Very nice suite. I had Room 1719, top floor facing away from the street. I never heard a thing. Room was comfortable, good bed, shower pressure, small living area, coffee, water and a safe. Breakfast was included in the restaurant downstairs (maybe because of status) with a limited menu of three choices. 4. Fitness center was very nice minus the Peloton which will be discussed later. Many new weight machines and free weights, two stationary bikes, treadmills, stretching area. 5. Price, very reasonable compared to all the hotels in the immediate area. CONS 1. Obviously, I am a huge Peloton fan (one in my living room at home) and I only stay at properties at that have Peloton bikes. TripAdvisor and Marriott reviews mention the Peloton and I called the hotel before I booked and they assured me they had one. Even after I discovered there wasn't one, the front desk said they thought there was one there. As information, I determined that the Marriott one block away has six Peloton bikes and an even more impressive fitness room. How do I know? Figure it out.! I will definitely stay at Hotel 55 again (when they get their Peloton) Cheers! Marius

It seems like this hotel was recently added to the Marriott network and figured I'd check it out. From the beginning, the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. I was upgraded to a corner suite being a titanium member with Marriott without even requesting it, and the room was great. I called about a couple decaf Nespresso pods pretty late night and the front desk had it delivered within a minute. Shower water pressure was top notch, and super quiet at night (aside from the street noise but typical with any hotel in the middle of the city). Location is also really good, sort of in between the mag mile area and river north. Will definitely be staying here again, so glad it's part of Marriott now!