The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

My husband and I just wrapped up a long weekend stay in Chicago where we split our stay between The Ritz-Carlton and The St. Regis (please check out my separate review of The St. Regis which we cannot say enough good things about and would choose over this Ritz property any day after now staying at both). I'll summarize our stay into a few important categories: Check-In/Initial Introduction: We stepped off of the elevators which take you from ground level up to the 12th floor where reception and the hotel lobby are located to a scene of utter chaos and noise. Granted, we arrived midday when other guests were trying to check out and the great "switch over" was taking place but it immediately felt like a crowded convention/conference type of hotel with lines and multiple groups of people standing around. Some to check in, some to check out, some apparently waiting for tables at the restaurant. Regardless, after having just left The St. Regis (10 minutes before, legit) where it was calm, serene, and quiet this was an immediate shock to our system. The line did move rather quickly and a kind gentleman did attempt to check us in though our room was not ready so alas we headed to the Club Lounge for lunch and to await word for our room. During our stay, the lobby was consistently busy and streaming with guests as well as people just coming into the lobby to look around. It definitely does not have a sense of exclusivity or refinement. Club Lounge: Unfortunately, the Chicago location is on par with the trend that we are consistently seeing across multiple Ritz properties which is a very basic and generic Club experience. While websites and materials may state that their presentations "tell the destination’s story through locally sourced ingredients, iconic dishes and signature drinks" (I legit just copied and pasted this from the RC Chicago's own website), what we did find were dry turkey and roast beef sandwiches at lunch time, empty cookie and snack containers that would go hours without being refilled, wine and champagne bottles that were consistently empty and not replaced, and a lack of consistency between Lounge Concierges ranging from polite and helpful (a nod to Ursula who stood out) to seemingly quiet and reserved members who stayed behind closed doors in an apparent attempt to avoid guests. I will say that the Saturday night sushi and Asian presentations were a welcomed surprise after the other offerings that we experienced. While one should not depend on the Club presentations as their primary meals, we do oftentimes see them as a representation of the overall food and beverage presentation capabilities of the property and this location fell very short based on our experience and using comparisons against other properties who accurately deliver on what should be expected (such as the RC Nomad in NYC). Guest rooms/Housekeeping: The guest room itself was nice and we slept comfortably. The bathrooms, while on the smaller side especially after coming from the large offerings at The St. Regis, were adequate. House keeping did not (ever) remove any of our dirty dishes (i.e., champagne classes or coffee cups that we brought with us from the Club Lounge) and instead they just accumulated on the counter during our stay despite servicing our room both day and night for turndown services. Overall, we were simply not impressed and would not choose to stay at this property again. As noted in my St. Regis review, I also found it odd that except for a quick "thank you for your loyalty" at check in, the Ritz did nothing to acknowledge our Ambassador status in any way. Most Marriott properties have done a great job of tightening this up and even at Courtyards, ACs, Deltas, etc. I am now rather accustomed to a bottle of wine or a local snack or some kind of gesture being sent to our room. The typical offering at Ritz properties that we see most commonly is a bottle of champagne or wine. While it's not a pre-requiste, we just felt that it was another sign of the hotel's overall lack of detail and finding the smaller ways to live up to the expectations that one has when checking into a Ritz-Carlton property. To sum it up: Crowded, dated, average, and mediocre when there are other true luxury and refined addresses to choose from when in Chicago.

Nice hotel, lousy service. While waiting for our room to be ready, we sat at the outside balcony, ordered drinks but ate our own food (we have dietary restrictions). There were only two tables occupied, and 20 empty, and yet we were kicked out of the area because we were eating our own food. I've never experienced anything like that. What hotel, let alone a nice one, does that? There many other service problems, and not just on this trip. The hotel should have someone come in and lecture the staff how to provide appropriate service.

Decent room, great services, great view. Got upgraded to a lake view suite with a pretty nice view. The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. The room feels a little bit old and dated, perhaps that’s just the vibe of Ritz-Carlton. Location is great, lots of cool shops around.

From the time you get out of the car on the street and greeted by the doorman, its an amazing place! The rooms are awesome the staff is very good! I have nothing negative to say about this property!

I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago in November 2024, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. We had two rooms — a corner king and a connecting room with two double beds. Both were spotless and incredibly comfortable. The linens and robes were luxurious, and the beds were perfect for a restful stay. What really impressed me was the housekeeping team. Somehow, they always knew when we were out for an extended period, and like magic, we’d return to beautifully cleaned and refreshed rooms. The amenities were equally fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed the pool, gym, and steam rooms — all well-maintained and relaxing. We were also upgraded to the Club Level, which turned out to be the highlight of our stay. I was traveling with a very hungry 20-year-old, and the Club Lounge did not disappoint! They served fresh, high-quality food throughout the day — from poached eggs and pancakes in the morning to sushi, steak and fish in the evenings. Every meal was delicious, and the service was top-notch. I especially want to mention the gentleman who worked the mornings at the Club Lounge during our stay — I regret not getting his name ( weekend of Nov, 7 2024.) He was kind, welcoming, and genuinely fun to chat with. You could also order any cocktail, and everything was included. The Club Level upgrade was completely worth it. The set up was roomy and just over all AMAZING. After staying here, I also visited the Ritz-Carlton in Boston, but it honestly felt more like a standard Marriott by comparison. The Ritz-Carlton Chicago truly stands out. I can only hope to return soon. Thank you, Ritz Chicago, for such a memorable stay!