The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago

Great hotel in a great location in a great city. Business travel for me this trip. Nice updated king room with the fantastic Westin bed. All essentials were met, fast free wifi, clean room, huge flat screen tv, comfortable bed. It’s always nice to be on Michigan avenue. I received a nice welcome gift from the Mgt. Chicago soda and popcorn was a nice touch. I’ll stay here again.

The Westin has a great location off Michigan Avenue, one of the friendliest staff and really comfortable beds and heavenly showers too. I was sick with a cold when I arrived at the hotel and the staff sent up hot tea to my room — how thoughtful! I will definitely stay here again when I am visiting Chicago!

The design is unsophisticated, the materials are exceptional cheap and there are just no outlets. Why would you bother to do a renovation and not ad adequate outlets? Only one side of the bed, are you still in 1998? Additionally, you billed me even though I had prepaid room!

This is one of my favorite local bars in Chicago. The food is phenomenal and the bar staff are true mixologists. Always a good time to be had there!

I flew into Chicago 12÷30÷15 to spend New Year’s with my boyfriend who lives in NW Illinois so we decided to stay overnight in Chicago and do some site seeing before we headed North to his house New Year’s Eve. My flight arrived on time (YEAH Midway) but I was HUNGRY so we decided to visit the White Castle Diner (we’re both fans of Diner’s, Drive In’s and Dive’s and try to hit as many spots as we can while traveling) so I called the hotel to let them know that we were going to be checking in late and they said «no problem, your room will be waiting for you when you get here». Well, we lingered a bit but finally made it to the hotel and were greeted by smiling faces and excellent and prompt service at the door. We checked in and headed up to our room which was VERY nice and it was warm in our room (it was 22 degrees when I landed several hours prior to that). The room had a fridge, a safe and a small but sparkly love seat that was just as comfortable as the bed.
This hotel is only ½ block off of Michigan Avenue and only a few blocks from Lake Michigan and beings that it was the day before New Year’s Eve when we checked in, we felt that we got a great deal on the room rate ($ 199). We paid extra for a Club Level room and weren’t very impressed with the Club Level breakfast but we made our way to Hash House A Go Go and were very impressed with the portions versus the price of the food so we highly recommend them for breakfast, lunch and/​or dinner.
When in Chicago in the future, we will be booking with this hotel again and again because it’s location is convenient and close to everything and the service was AMAZING!

3.5 stars. This hotel is in a great location on Michigan Ave. I just feel that the interior it is a little out dated. The staff was extremely nice. But the hotel itself needs some remodeling. The rooms were very plain. Bed was a little antique looking. Check in is at 3 pm but we arrived at 10 am and they already had a room set up for us. The person we spoke in the front desk told us she had upgraded us to a bigger room which I thought was nice. But when we entered the room, my husband and I looked at each other thinking «If this is a bigger room, then how small are the actual rooms?»…It was very small.

We stayed here for one night with my 8 year old.
Location is excellent, right next to the Hancock and we could see American Girl from our room.
The employee’s were very nice and excellent customer service, we brought our French Bull dog with and they were super excited to meet him.
We stayed in a newly redone room, it smelled like mold and you could hear the guests directly next door to us.
I wouldn’t stay here again, based on the location we can stay at a million other choices with much better amenities for the price we paid.

This hotel has policy. Taxi driver can’t use their wash room. Most hotel allow it some don’t. Taxi drivers serve all these hotel’s guests. They don’t have designated wash room in the city of Chicago.

Went to meet a good friend who is staying at the hotel. It was cold and windy and we didnt want to venture outside so we decided to hang out in the hotel restaurant «the grill». This restaurant is exactly why I dont dine in hotel restaurants. High price and not so good food. The service was poor as well. My ahi taco took almost half an hour and this was almost 10 pm. The only reason I ordered food was because I have not had dinner. Despite my hunger, I did not manage to finish my 4 small pieces of baby tacos for $ 20. Never again
This review is only for the restaurant and not the hotel

I can’t comment on the prices because I was here with a company for a tech related event. It is in a great location, so I expect that it is pricey. Half the people get screwed with a view of some rooftops, but the other get one of the most iconic buildings in the city.
Check in was easy and the hotel room was clean. The beds are comfortable. TV is okay, nothing special. No HBO or HD channels. They do have HDMI, so I plugged my laptop in and just watched movies or TV shows on there.
We had two breakfasts and one dinner at the hotel during my stay. The food was great all around and I never saw anything go empty. The bartenders were quick on handling the drinks so there was no line. The attendants around during that time were very attentive with empty dishes.
Wi-​fi costs around $ 15 a night, which is entirely too much for internet. I have been to many places that offer free internet and it’s disappointing to not see it in a place like this, especially when almost all business is online now.

I like this hotel. Its nice. Its a Westin.
I am an SPG platinum. I book at 909 n Michigan on my SPG app. The rooms are always nice and the service is fine. The first few times I booked without reading these Unilocal reviews. Had I read these reviews, I may not have booked here.
I am fan of Unilocal as its a couple of Illinois engineers who started this startup (Russ and Jeremy). I am a fan of this hotel. THe layout works great. If you’re doing a work meeting the 2^nd floor slew of meeting rooms is just so nicely planned and laid out. Of course, there is a Kinko’s on two, so you do not need to schlep boxes and boxes from Oak Brook, the airport or X.
I think there is a Hertz on site, but correct me if I am wrong (Just googled. yup, there is a hertz)

Good location that is central to a lot of activities. Clean and organized.
Rooms are pretty basic and sad but we didn’t have much of a view. Surrounded by some large buildings.
Was nice for a large convention. Took care of a large group. Über was a big help for us traveling around the city. Without it would have been nicer to be more central to downtown.
Just wish there was a hot tub and a little closer to central downtown.
Otherwise was a great experience.

Awful. Please, Unilocal reader, heed other reviewers one-​star ratings of the Westin on Michigan Avenue. There is no reason why such an expensive four-​star hotel should ever have so many one-​star reviews, one after the other. Clearly, this signifies some type of management deficiency, and I can testify to that. Before I get into my (long) explanation, if you don’t want to read further, but are just here to see if you’d like to book, take a look at the picture of the (gross) pubic hair I’ve attached to this review. Nothing was done to fix that. Just DON’T BOOK HERE. Go the Sheraton or the W (for a similar price point) instead.
The Westin on Michigan Avenue’s manager, Bonnee, not only refused to acknowledge my complaint about my room, but she did not apologize for its untidiness. My room not only had that piece of pubic hair, but my TV was broken and my room did not look anything similar to what the website advertises. According to Bonnee, who so rudely put it, I did not book the «right room» (aka one of the updated, newly renovated ones that are for «preferred customers»). So basically, if you’re a «preferred customer,» you get one of the few rooms that are actually updated. Even though I booked a room with the same name as a picture of the updated room, apparently, I was the one who made the mistake of thinking I would be getting what I paid for! Comical. This is FALSE ADVERTISING. And quite frankly, such deceptive advertising is a violation of Illinois law (see the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act — 815 ILCS 505)
I know it may sound ridiculous complaining about a piece of hair (there’s more to this story), but it’s the hospitality service that we pay for when we book $$$$ hotels and how they «manage» relations with customers. If I had to write a thesis for my review, then I’d simply assert this: The Westin on Michigan Avenue embodies a culture where management refuses to be held accountable for their actions and don’t even attempt to rectify their customers’ legitimate complaints (e.g., see other reviews below). This, as a result, leads to poor and unsanitary room conditions, and most of all, unhappy customers. I ended up checking out without even staying the night, and Bonnie refused to offer me a full refund (even though I did not use the room)! I will NEVER book here again.
P. S., One more point. I notified management (Bonee — there seemed to be no one else I could report to) that I had just received a medical procedure and was on my way from the hospital. When I arrived, not only did she not ask how I was doing or what the hotel could do to fix my awful room situation, she just said, «OKAY.» Her apathetic nature and quite frankly, lack of business acumen, made it clear to me that this hotel is run by unskilled and inexperienced managers.

Had a great 2 night stay as we were in town from Atlanta to celebrate our 15^th wedding anniversary. Received a room in the «renovated» building of the hotel (main building). Our room overlooked the John Hancock Building courtyard and Michigan Avenue which was nice. The room was clean and fresh.
The front desk staff was very accomodating and friendly. The best was the concierge, Kira. She helped us reserve tickets for the water architectural tour of Chicago and was very helpful and attentive.
Great location on Michigan Ave. Just a block from Water Tower Place. Highly recommend.

Location, location, location. First time at this property yet a big fan of Starwood Hotels in Chicago. Wow… this one is a must.
Great check-​in process and friendly staff. Room was comfortable and spacious and clean. Very large TV in my room too.
Received great instructions on where to run — so close to Oak Street Beach and the path — ran 6 miles so that I could come back and go across the street and eat $ 20 worth of Teuscher’s Chocolates (believe me, $ 20 doesn’t buy a lot of chocolate but it is the best).
I tend to stay at the same hotels in each city and will not be adding this Westin to my short list!
Did not have a car. Took the blue line from the airport. you can transfer to the red but I just took Über for an under $ 10 ride directly to the hotel.

Location, location and location. Summer time in Chicago is shopping, the lake, eating and seeing the sights. This location is located on the north side of downtown. It’s just a short distance from the North Ave beach. If you are on one of the upper preferred levels, you will be able to see the beach, Lake Shore drive and the lake. The view is great. This location is also across the street from the of the Hancock building and just a block away from shopping at the Water Tower Place. With the magnificent mile being so close and all of the high end shopping, it’s a great location. My room was a suite. So there was a mini fridge, sitting area.
My suite was clean, housekeeping was also friendly.
There is a hotel bar, restaurant and a gift shop.
The cost maybe more than others, but in my opinion it’s worth it.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. They also have late checkout available.
Parking: I know they have valet parking, however I’m not aware if there is an additional cost.
Overall experience was a positive.

The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago is Westin’s downtown hotel. In a town where location is everything, the Westin can’t be beat. However, the cost of staying here is quite high (especially if you valet) for an above average hotel room.
My Overall Rating — 2 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Facility, Return)
Atmosphere — Located right off Michigan Avenue and across the street from the John Hancock Center, The Westin puts you right into the heart of downtown Chicago. The valet and main entrance is off Delaware Avenue. Upon entering you’re greeted to their long lobby. Nice but not extravagant. The Westin doesn’t necessarily distinguish itself as being upscale, but it’s not a dive either. ½ Star.
Service — No issues with the bell desk, doorman, or staff in the market. They were all courteous, friendly, and seemed eager to help. Our major issue was with our check out, where hotel made some erroneous charges and it took a while for the staff to reverse the charges. Our check out was delayed upwards of 45 minutes, which led to a snowball effect with traffic. ½ Star.
Facility — Location is key, but the rooms are just typical. You will get a comfortable Westin bed and a modern flat screen TV, but the bathroom has seen its age. Knowing that I’m paying a premium for location, I would have hoped the rooms would be a bit more updated. The lamps did have built in USB ports, so that’s a bonus. Another note — you shouldn’t have to rent a car in Chicago, but if you do, know that the daily valet fee is almost $ 100. Wi-​Fi included if you are a Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). ½ Star.
Will I Return? — Only if I want the location. Honestly the rooms are not impressive & check out left a bad taste in my mouth. But location is king and it’s hard to beat. ½ Star.
My Unilocal Rating Scale (Sum of all parts):
1 Star — Atmosphere — Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I’ll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm.
1 Star — Service — You can have a great meal with bad service. But that’s also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It’s important to the dining experience that service is great and on point.
2 Stars — Facility — I’ll award up to two stars for the facility, since this is the main reason we go out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it’s really all about the facility.
1 Star — Will I come back? — If I know for a fact I’ll return, I’ll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return.
Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Unilocal score.

Ahhhh… Westin. My mind is always at ease when I find out my company is having us stay at a Westin.
Check in was easy and pleasant, all staff were very friendly.
Rooms were clean and comfortable, lots of outlets, heavenly beds.
Location is right off the Miracle Mile, walking distance to some pretty incredible shopping and dining.
One note, and this isn’t Westin’s fault as I’ve found it’s endemic for ALL Chicago hotels, the valet parking fees are STEEP. As of this writing the charge was $ 67/​night! Ouchie.

Just stayed here for our anniversary and will never go back. We generally stay at the JW Marriott or Park Hyatt but figured we would try something new.
Upon arrival the doorman was completely useless so we got our own bags. We valeted the car which was fine but very expensive.
At check in I was not welcomed as a SPG member with status, was not told ‘happy anniversary, thanks for staying with us’, I got nothing just a blank stare and a room key.
Our room was 417, and had a lovely view of the roof and venting towers and was the size of a closet. We were told it was newly renovated, they might want to check that and redo. In general it was average at best and a little dirty, or maybe it seemed that way because of all the crap piled up just outside our window!
When leaving for dinner the doorman had no clue where Sepia was, which is odd considering he should know or have heard of a Michelin Star restaurant in his position.
Upon arriving back our room I was surprised to see nothing left as a token from the hotel for our anniversary (now based on 13 years experience of going downtown I can say every year the JW or Park Hyatt had a bottle of champagne or chocolates or something waiting for us), but here NOTHING!
Finally at checkout I explained all these things and said we would not return. The response I got was ‘sorry, but ok’, really is that the way to do business. To top it off they charged me for my room despite having used points to pay for it!!!
Clearly they don’t care and in return I will go back to giving my business to their competition.
FYI the Westin River North is as bad or worse.

The Grille — repeatedly busy and understaffed, and as such service and quality mixed. The pepper burger was so good I got it twice. The salad was good the first two times but was less than fresh the third time. I enjoyed the atmosphere and drinks though.
Hotel — thank goodness I had a view of Lake Michigan because the service and amenities were lacking. It’s looking dated, and it takes an hour to fill the tub. Not being able to check in until over an hour after checkin time started us on the wrong foot. Great location though. Bed is comfy and wifi was adequate.

dies ist nur eine bewertung des hotel-​restaurants und bar: le grill.
gut besucht, authentische bar/​restaurant atmosphaere und gute fleischgerichte szeak, burger, etc. sowie gute auswahl an vorspeisen, die man auch gut zu einem guten wein aus der reichhaltigen und qualitativ hochwertigen weinkarte genieSsen kann.
ueber das hotel, ausser seiner unschlagbaren lage kann ich nichts sagen.