Residence Inn Chicago River North Review

You may have read in my recent posts that Dave and I were in Chicago for BlogHer and to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

This post is written as a Marriott Resident Mom Ambassador. Gift Card was received.

When planning the trip we knew we wanted to extend our stay around BlogHer so we could spend time together sightseeing and enjoying the city.  We chose to stay at the Residence Inn Chicago Downtown River North because of its amenities and location.

When we walked into the lobby we were immediately struck by how large it was.

I was pleased to see there was plenty of stylish and comfortable seating.

The double fireplace was fantastic and I’m sure very popular during cold Chicago winters.

The old books lining the shelves were memorable and a nice touch.

There was a lot of seating available along the windows as well which was nice because the city views were captivating.

The business center was in the lobby as well It was nice to see it wasn’t hidden away in a corner office somewhere. You could use the computers and look out into the city while you worked.

After getting our room key we headed up to our room on the 15th floor. The elevators arrived quickly and as we opened the door to our room we were happy to see that the bright, bold colors from the lobby carried over into the room.

We stayed in a studio room which included a full kitchen, sitting area, queen size bed, and decent size bathroom. Here’s a video overview of our room.

The bed was very cozy and comfy and I was pleased to see an light extra comforter was provided. I’m often cold at night where Dave is hot, so having that extra blanket made for a good night’s sleep.

The tv was a good size and it turned to face the sitting area or the bed. I liked that the stand it was on doubled as a dresser with spacious drawers.

We loved that the couch was a nice rich red and in the form of a  fainting couch. It had both an old-fashioned look but was trendy at the same time. The coffee table was multi-functional. It stored an ottoman in it that could be used for resting your feet or as extra seating. I thought that was ingenious.

The desk was spacious and offered outlets in the base of the lamp.

The full-size kitchen was wonderful. There is a CVS in walking distance so we were able to pick up food and drinks and store them in the fridge. There was also a nice selection of plates, glasses, utensils, and servingware as well.

There was a nice dining table too that is compact and out of the way, but at the same time offers plenty of room for two to grab a bite to eat.

The bathroom offered a lot of room for beauty products. I appreciated that the vanity had a drawer and two open spaces to store my hair dryer, curling iron etc. It was nice to not have to deal with a cluttered bathroom sink on an extended stay.

The hotel itself is lovely and we had a chance to check out the fitness room which had a variety of workout equipment available. It is a popular place and every time we visited other guests were there which speaks well of the machines offered and the space itself.

The pool was wonderful too. Not only does it have large windows letting in a lot of light and city views, but it also has a whirlpool which Dave enjoyed. He said it was a great place to relax after walking around seeing the sites all day.

We were extremely pleased with the complimentary breakfast buffet. It honestly rivaled any restaurant breakfast I’ve had of late. There is a wonderful selection of hot foods including scrambled eggs, potatoes, and bacon along with made to order waffles. They also offer fresh fruit as well as a variety of delicious breads, bagels, and pastries. I was also happy to see that the nice selection of cereal, yogurt, and oatmeal with a variety of toppings too.

We also appreciated all of the seating. Each time we went to breakfast nearly every table was taken however it was never long before someone finished their meal just as we were arriving.

As a testimonial to the Residence Inn’s breakfast buffet, we went out to breakfast once and after we took a few bites and agreed we wished we had eaten back at the hotel.

We also enjoyed the location of the hotel. It’s just a few blocks away from the Magnificent Mile and we were able to walk it in about 15-20 minutes. The area around the hotel has a lot to offer too. We had a fabulous appetizer at RockIt, had a fun night out at the dueling piano bar – Howl at the Moon, and enjoyed a lovely rooftop lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery.

We recommend the Residence Inn Chicago Downtown River North to anyone looking for a place to stay in Chicago. With a fantastic location, great amenities, and a wonderful breakfast buffet we would stay here again. It’s a hotel with a lot to offer in a trendy, stylish, and comfortable way.