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Our Ritz-Carlton Chicago video review is our review of a City View Club Room (the first room we were given), the Lake View Club Room we were given in light of the problems with the City View Club Room, and the Club Lounge on the hotel's 15th floor. Also see our Ritz-Carlton Chicago Club Lounge Review.
Ritz-Carlton Chicago Location and Check-In
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago is located in Water Tower Place, at 160 East Pearson Street, on the Magnificent Mile. Without traffic, the drive from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) can take as little as 25-30 minutes, although with heavy traffic, expect it to take well over an hour. We arrived in the late afternoon for our check-in, which went smoothly, at least until we got to the room.
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City View Club Room, Lake View Club Room, Ritz-Carlton Chicago
We reserved a City View Club Room with STARS benefits, and were told that no upgrade was available, as the hotel was sold out due to the Chicago Marathon. City View Club Rooms are 418 sq. ft., with either a king bed or two double beds. The room at first glance looked fine, if not particularly memorable.
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View out the window:
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The welcome amenity consisted of still and sparkling bottled water and some fruit: apple, orange, banana, and dried apricots.
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The bathroom of this City View room was renovated around the the beginning of the pandemic, but given its size, the toilet isn't in a separate toilet chamber as it generally is with new build Ritz-Carlton hotels. There were double sinks, however; a rain shower; and a separate soaking tub.
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Bath products are by French perfume house Diptyque:
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Now the problems: 1) the bathroom door didn't close; and 2) there was someone else's hair on the bath towel, which called into question overall housekeeping quality as well as maintenance checks.
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I requested a room move, and was eventually accommodated in a Lake View Room.
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The view was nicer, but unfortunately the bathroom was smaller and appeared to not have been fully renovated, since it was a bathtub-shower combo, which is more akin to a 3-star hotel instead of a 5-star hotel. Given the small space, it really should have been taken out and replaced with a walk-in shower only, no bathtub.
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STARS Benefits at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago
TravelSort Clients enjoy STARS benefits:
- Priority for a room upgrade, based on availability at check-in
- Welcome amenity
- Daily breakfast for two (up to $60 credit) for use at Torali Restaurant or via in-room dining
- $100 hotel credit once during the stay (may be used at Torali Restaurant, The Cafe, for in-room dining, or spa services)
- Early check-in and late check-out, based on availability
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The Verdict
Our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago was mixed. Pre-visit communication was prompt, but not all Club Lounge staff had been informed of the allergy-free food that was being held for us, necessitating back and forth until we found a staff member who was aware and brought it out for us.
More concerning was the poor room quality control, given that in the City View Club Room we were initially given, the door to the bathroom didn't close, and we found someone else's hair on one of the bath towels.
That said, apart from the initial communication confusion, we experienced excellent and friendly service in the Club Lounge. Highlights were sushi and very good salads during evening hors d'oeuvres, the allergen-free tiramisu and mango and passion fruit sorbet that was saved for us, and smoked salmon and fresh berries at breakfast. We also really liked the breakfast acai bowl and Lobster Eggs Benedict with tarragon hollandaise at Torali, although the benedict needed more lobster.
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