Our thanks to Choose Chicago for hosting our visit so we could write this detailed review about our experience. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
This summer, my family and I went on an epic trip through Italy, Greece, Turkey, Nantucket, Toronto and our last stop was Chicago on our way back to Los Angeles. From O’Hare (ORD) at 2:30pm, it took about an hour to get downtown where our hotel was located.
The Hotel
The lobby of the 21c Museum Hotel (55 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL) was surprisingly busy. There were a lot of people checking in, a mix of business and leisure travelers from both the U.S. and abroad.
In case you’re wondering, “21c” stands for the 21st century which reflects the hotel’s focus on contemporary art and living culture. It was conceived as a hybrid boutique hotel and art museum and makes modern creativity part of the everyday guest experience. The chain was founded in Louisville in 2006 and is now part of Accor’s MGallery Collection. There are locations across several U.S. cities including Louisville, Cincinnati, Bentonville (Arkansas), Durham, Lexington, Kansas City, Nashville, St. Louis and Chicago, each featuring its own curated exhibitions and cultural flavor.
Despite the long line, check-in was surprisingly quick, less than five minutes, which was way too short for my kids who were busy checking out the hotel’s art installations. Some of them are interactive like a mini theater, a piece of art that blends your photo into it and even half a ping pong table where you can play against yourself.
What’s cool is that the rotating exhibitions can be found throughout the hotel. The galleries in the lobby and second floor are free and open to the public 24/7. I observed a couple not staying at the hotel admiring the work.
The two elevators are small but quick and you need a room keycard to access floors.
My wife’s first impression of the hotel wasn’t great. The biggest issue for her was the black carpet, which makes the rooms and hallways look dark. However, the hotel grew on her over the course of our stay.
The hotel is centrally located with everything you could possibly need within a few blocks. Michigan Avenue, The Riverwalk, restaurants, shops and grocery stores are all nearby. There’s a Trader Joe’s directly across the street and a Ross department store. We walked a lot and loved it.
Our Room
Our kids loved the hotel immediately because they had set us up in a family room with a tent. My son wouldn’t leave it from the start. I loved the concept but it needed to be angled differently so the kids could see the TV from the tent to watch a movie. We also couldn’t access the window shades without jumping over the cords holding it together. My wife didn’t like the pole in the middle of the mattress but I had no problem with it. I even slept one night inside the tent after reading to my son.
My biggest issue with the hotel was the windows because they weren’t soundproof. There’s a fire station a block or two away. We were on a lower floor, the fifth. I got used to the noise after the first night and earplugs helped.
The bathroom was long and narrow and the water pressure in the shower was solid.
They have MALIN+GOETZ toiletries, a New York apothecary brand known for clean unisex skincare and fragrances.
The bedroom itself was very nice with a comfortable bed and nicely designed headboard and wall treatment. The service was quick. I asked for extra pillows and they arrived within 10 minutes. There’s a mini fridge in the room, which was perfect for leftovers and goodies from Trader Joe’s.
The Restaurant
Our restaurant experience was mixed. The manager on our first day was not friendly and we almost walked out, even though breakfast was included. Thankfully our waiter was super-friendly and made up for it. The manager on the second day was kind. The food was good, especially dinner. You know a restaurant is good when you see the locals eating there.
The hotel has a partnership with Soothe so we were able to get an in-room massage. The masseuse brought her massage table in and got sheets from the front desk. The only awkward part was that she asked to use our bathroom at the end.
Overall the 21c Museum Hotel Chicago has some quirks but real charm. The art makes it stand out, the location is unbeatable and our kids will remember the tent forever. If you’re sensitive to noise or prefer brighter hallways, it might not be for you but we enjoyed our stay and would definitely go back.
KEEP READING
–How to Save Money With a Secret Third Carry-On
–How to Use Your Wireless Headphones to Watch In-Flight Movies
–10 Airport Security Hacks Every Traveler Should Know
–How to Get the Best Coach Seat on the Plane
–The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
