Sofitel Chicago

This is an OK hotel with a somewhat responsive staff. I arrived first and gave them the name of my friend who would be checking in later, which the front desk person seemed to type into the computer, though his name wasn't in the system when he arrived.

When the battery in the smoke alarm in our room went low and began making an intermittent clunking sound, they changed that right away. When the chain that lifts and drops the sunscreen that scrolls over the window broke, they fixed that pretty quickly (and the woman who came to fix it was nice). When we asked for some non-down pillows and comforter (which caused allergies), they did remove the pillows and comforter when we were out, but they didn't replace them until we called again and asked them for, uhm, some pillows and blankets. The King size bed is actually two twin beds stuck together, or actually, not stuck together, so you pretty much stay to your own twin-bed side of the bed unless you want to sleep in a crevice.

The bathroom lights are painfully bright, and I suspected in fact at one point that it might also double as a tanning booth. The water turns on scalding hot unless the faucet is all the way to the right. (You can tell this is a not an American hotel.)

After going out on our last night, I asked the folks at the front desk about arrangements for getting to the airport the next morning -- that is, scheduling a pick up for the airport express bus. I was dismissively told to talk to the concierge in the morning.

Actually, as I write this, I'm becoming much more critical, and view this as a pretty bad hotel experience, with small, though cumulatively annoying misfires -- though maybe our experience is not typical and you might do ok.

Having said that, I LOVED Chicago and my time there. I will definitely visit Chicago again, Hotel Sofitel, not.

On a recent trip to Chicago to attend a major trade show I had the pleasure of staying with the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. I say stay with as that is how they make you feel, from check in to check out they go above and beyond to ensure your stay is perfect and you want to return.

The rooms are clean, chic and roomy, the beds - the best I have slept in, bathrooms large and super clean.

What can I say, my new home when in Chicago...

It is indeed one of the best hotels I've stayed so far. Very trendy. Staff is courteous, room service is awesome, view is amazing, decor is fantastic, I mean almost close to perfect! Just that it doesn't have a swimming pool and spa, and not many food options within the hotel (though room service is very good). I would strongly recommend this to everyone who visits Chicago

Based largely on the TA reviews, we selected the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower for a five-day stay in May 2009. We were not at all disappointed! Our room was comfortable and spotless; the staff was very accommodating, and the meals we had at the hotel left us wanting to come back for more. The location is convenient to shopping and restaurants, with public transit about two blocks away. Considering the level of comfort offered, we thought the hotel was an excellent value (especially when booked early at a discounted price). Without a doubt, when we come back to Chicago we will plan to stay at the Sofitel.

Stayed in the Sofitel in November 2008 for a winter get away. Staff very friendly, room huge with comfy bed, lots of space, large flat screen TV and large luxurious bathroom.

Location spot on at the beginning/end (depending on where you're coming from) of the Mag mile and near some great resteraunts (Hugos Frog Bar being one of them).

Couldn't fault anything and will definately be returning.

Have just returned from a 1 week stay at the Sofitel and had a brilliant time. First of all the location is excellent, just a few minutes walk from the Mag Mile. The hotel is very modern and very clean with contemporay decor throughout. We had a King size room on the 28th floor with great views of the city and lake beyond. The bed was very very comfy (and huge!). The bathroom was great with a bath and separate walk in shower , L'Occitaine products and bathrobes. Free water was delivered to our room every night. The reception staff were very friendly and the service great. Free internet access on the 2nd floor, a nice extra touch. They also let us have the room for an extra few hours on the day of checkout, no charge, no fuss - really helped us. We didn't eat in the hotel so can't comment on the food. We were put off by the price of the breakfast and thought that staying in the heart of the city we should be able to hunt out our own breakfast for cheaper - which we did!! There is a breakfast place on the corner of the block called 'The Goddess' which serves good coffee, filled croissants, bagels etc. We also visited L'Apetitio many times which is a fab little Italian deli at the bottom of the John Hancock Centre (5mins walk from the hotel on the Mag Mile) - they have yummy toasted sandwiches, croissants, muffins and coffee and you can fill up for a lot less than the cost of a hotel breakfast. Both places you can eat in or take out. Overall well worth the money and I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone looking for modern luxury and excellent service in the heart of Chicago.

We, my wife and myself, stayed there for three days and I have to say that all good reviews here are perfectly accurate. This hotel is almost perfect !!

The building is an architectural piece of art, everything seems to be cared in the details, the room, we had an executive suite, is spacious and confortable, everything is new and well kept. The bed is quite comfortable, the marble bathroom is huge with the shower space separate of the bathtub, what is quite nice.

The location is perfect, just two blocks from magnificent mile and within walking distance of all Chicago downtown atractions .

The staff is perfect, they helped us in a very professional and personal way.

The only two things I think they have space to improve are, first is the hotel breakfast that is good but a little pricey ($ 50 for two), there is no buffet, and the food tastes too American to me, I would prefer a more European style breakfast, Maybe it should be better if we had breakfast in some other place. The second one is the fitness center that is too small and crowded, the equipments are very well but the space deserves an improvement, specially in a city with such inclement weather like Chicago !!

Overall, this is one of the best hotels I have ever been, I strongly recomend it to everyone !!

Last of all I would like to recommend an Italian restaurant, Rosebud on Rush, that is two blocks from the Hotel. It is cheap and has a marvelous Italian food and a quite good wine list that makes us very happy !!

I booked this hotel for a romantic getaway with my girlfriend based almost exclusively on the Tripadvisor ratings, all of which were based on hundreds of rave reviews. Count me in as among the same, this was an OUTSTANDING experience! I travel for a living and know a good hotel when I see it and this is among the top 1% of experiences I have ever had. Splurge and get the executive suite, it was perfect! Strongly recommend passing on the $20 breakfast as the Tempo Cafe is THE place for breakfast, just right around the corner on the same block at half the price (awesome food!). Next time I'm in Chicago, this is the only place I will settle for, location, value, comfort, class, service ... all first class, truly a perfect experience all-around!

Stayed 4 nights for cost of 3. Suite was a relatively good deal - comfortable and well appointed tho' on a relatively low floor given the tall buildings in the neighborhood. Service was excellent all around. Hotel restaurant was too crowded (with locals?) to accommodate us on Sunday morning, but concierge steered us to several nice neighborhood alternatives. Delicious pastries in the restaurant and addictive french candies at the front desk.

The hotel has everything you need for a weekend away (or longer!). Decor is fab and the staff are really friendly and very helpful. Hotel is located about 2 minutes walk from Michigan Avenue, right near the John Hancock building and lots of shops. I always judge a hotel room by the bathroom...this one was lovely! The room was a good size (we had a good sized crib which wasn't a problem in a standard room) and the bed was very comfortable. We didn't eat at the restaurant (just didn't fancy anything on the menu) but we had drinks and desserts in the hotel bar (Le Bar) and they were delicious. Tempo Cafe is on the same street as the hotel (about 1 minute walk) and serves a great breakfast/brunch - it gets really busy on a Sat/Sun AM but it's worth the wait. We didn't drive, but parking at the hotel looked pretty pricey (although I'm unsure of parking rates in Chicago in general!) Nothing bad to say about the hotel or Chicago. Loved it!

Stayed two nights in this hotel for our 20th anniversary. The location is fantastic, near great shopping, restaraunts and entertainment. The staff was great. The bed was the most comfortable I have ever slept in. I wanted to take it home with me! The rooms and halls were quiet and peaceful. The bathroom was incredible, sparkling marble, huge space, impecably clean. The only down side was how expensive it was to park our car. YIKES! Over all we could not have asked for a better hotel and we will definately stay here again. It was worth every penny.

We lived close by when we lived in Chicago, on Chicago and Wabash, and purposely chose to return to that area because of the convenience factor. Excellent restaurants are within 5-15 min walk, with shopping close by. Subway (red line) is 1 1/2 block away (Chicago and Wabash). 3-4 grocery stores within 15 min walk (Potash Brothers closest, Trader Joe, Whole Foods, and Jewel-Osco).

Service at the hotel was excellent, and hotel room is typical Sofitel standards - not much else to add if you've been to other Sofitels before.

Not only was the hotel highly convienient to everything but the service knocked me out. The concierges are first rate ( Thank you Heather and Brian) and so is the rest of the staff. Any request was responded to quickly and with extra courtesy. I had a taxi accident and needed ice for my injuries and the bell man brought up packages of chipped ice wrapped in towels. Another example among many, was a housekeeper who was vacumning, saw me coming and pushed the elevator button so I wouldn’t have to wait. The General Manager ought to be quite proud of his staff.

The dining room didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed a wonderful appetizer of tuna tartar with an avocado relish on top. For dessert I was one happy camper. Picture a shallow bowl of pink strawberry crème Anglaise and a white floating island, almost like a fluffy cloud of white poached meringue, sitting on top. Underneath the floating island a scoop of stewed rhubarb was tucked into the bottom of the white puff. I wondered why dishes like this aren’t are more menus and then of course, I realized I was in a French hotel. I say Bravo. And for those of you traveling at different seasons, the chef recreates the dishes based on seasonal ingredients.

If you are watching your weight check out the egg white scramble.

Sofitels can be a bit hit and miss, but this one is really great. I had a room on the top floor with amazing views. The room and bathroom were both a good size and very clean. All the furniture seemed very new, with none of the tattiness you see at some of the other Sofitels. As an A-Club member, I got a voucher for a free drink at the bar, which was very atmospheric, with floor to ceiling windows giving a great view of the snowstorm outside. The restaurant was good too.

The location is nice, close to some great shopping and lots of restaurants. I'd definitely stay here again.

I do quite a bit of travelling and love boutique hotels. There is something about the Sofitel chain that I feel makes them really wonderful places to stay around the world. I usually stay at Sutton Place Hotel or here and this hotel is better. It's just something they do that makes it better than a lot of other 4 star hotels. Rooms are oh so clean - no dust that you might find in other places. Bathrooms are PRISTINE. Size of room is large but the design still makes the room cozy - just a different feel than your standard avg. hotel room. The hallways and elevators are beautifully decorated and the view from the 17th fl is amazing! The beds have featherbeds so their uber comfy and rooms offer plenty desk space if you are working. The hotel charges for wi-fi in rooms but Tmobile is cheaper per day you can get too.

There's a level of quality that makes this hotel my fave in Chicago. There are other cuter more boutique hotels that actually fit my style but Sofitel has for me always been clean, service friendly and consistent most importantly. I like that the staff is courteous, helpful and friendly - professional - w/o trying to be your friend which some hotels do. I'm from Chicago just visiting on this trip but if in Chicago for the 1st time, location in Gold Coast is ideal for restaurants and shopping.

myself and my wife stayed here for 7 nights and i have to say that this hotel is excellent. the rooms were large and very clean and the bathrooms again were large and clean.the hotels location is its selling point with everything on your doorstep. we never tried the hotel restaurant simply because there were so many nice places to eat around but it was always busy. staff were very attentive and i had good fun with the bar staff. overall i would tell anyone reading this review to stop wasting their time reading about other chicago hotels as the sofitel was perfect..........i spend around 6 months per year in hotels because of work so i should know !!

The Sofitel Water Tower Place is one of my favorite hotels in America. I probably spend an average of 15 nights per year there and have never been disappointed. The location is great - just one block from Michigan Avenue, Water Tower Place, and Two blocks from the high end fashion on Oak Street. Also easy walking distance to Gibson's, The Whiskey Bar, Level night club, Le Coloniale restaurant, and the really rowdy party district up at the end of Rush Street. You will not hear a sound once inside your room.

The staff is very attentive without being pushy (I can cary my own bag, thank you). I am often surprised when the parking valet or one of the desk staff remember my name even when I haven't been to the hotel in several weeks.

The lobby is spacious and modern and has a great vibe. A very international clientelle stay here. The rooms are well appointed, I believe they all now have flat screen HDTV. The feel is luxurious contemporary and the bed is perhaps the best anywhere. Just crawl under that big Frette comforter, pile up the pillows, and you'll never want to leave.

Bathrooms are fantastic. Cream marble and blonde maple finishes. The best designed vanity mirror/light anywhere. Good shower pressure (some bathrooms on outside walls can take a long time to get hot water in winter months) and very nice bath product.

All rooms are of a nice size. The upgrade to "executive" (or whatever they call it) gets you a larger work desk and small seating area. Most of these rooms also have a separate tub and shower.

If you splurge on a suite, ask for a room ending in 01 or 08. The 01 rooms are on the triangular point of the hotel and have a nice living area separated from the bedroom. Each of these rooms is somewhat unique, as the corner of the building expands the higher up you go. The 08 rooms are even larger still and have an even larger bathroom with separate toilet room, shower, bath tub (no Jacuzzi) and lots of room to spread out.

Unforttunately, over the years, many highrise buildings have been built around the hotel, and lake views are very limited. There are still some great views of the city.

Le Bar downstairs is a very good spot for cocktails and often has great scenery no matter what your gender or orientation. You can also get dinner served here from Les Architects, the hotel restaurant. Les Architects has always been a good restaurant. However, they brought in a new chef aboout a year ago and the quality has improved significantly. Some VERY good food here.

If you want to camp in the room without using room service, there is a Potash Bros. market just behind the hotel and a very nice wine and gourmet food store as well.

If you have stayed at the Sofitel in Rosemont near O'Hare and were unimpressed - so was I. The Water Tower Place location is 100 times nicer.

I also recommend The James hotel in this same general part of the city.

this is my new favorite place to stay in downtown chicago, and I've been to this hotel at least 4 times. the rooms are clean, wonderfully designed and comfortable. The staff is friendly, service focused - and the restuarant is great, especially for the breakfast fruit crepes. Love this hotel. It's a great location, very good and consistent service and quality .

I am a new fan of Trip Advisor and Sofitel. My husband and I wanted to get away to the city for a day and do sightseeing. We booked Sofitel since Trip Advisor rated it so high. It fufilled the expectations. We were able to check-in at 9:30am, drop off luggage and walk the couple of blocks to Water Tower, Hancock, Michigan Ave. etc. We'd hoped to catch the sunrise over the lake in the a.m but it couldn't be seen from our window( tho I recommend the higher floors for the view of the city). So it was a fun 10 min walk to the lake in the early hours. Appreciated the earlier reviews of the El Tempe Restaurant for breakfast and Pizzeria Due for dinner - worked out well. There is a nice stocked fridge in the room and the Evian water on the nighstand before bed was a nice surprise. The fitness room is a bit tight for space but had bowls of apples and bananas, nice touch.

Absolutely no complaints.

Very nice hotel with excellent staff. The large room size and exceptionally helpful staff are really what make this place great. I was able to check in early and easily got a large room on a top floor simply by asking for it. I failed to pack an umbrella but the hotel was happy to let me borrow one during my stay. The bathroom was spacious too with lots of amenities and a separate walk-in shower. The room had everything except a coffee maker. If you need coffee in the morning, you can get complimentary coffee downstairs in the restaurant downstairs (which happens to be very good) starting at 6am. If you are on a tight budget, don't look to the hotel bar to save any $$. It's good but expensive. I agree with everyone else--the Tempo cafe at the end of the block is the place to go for a hearty breakfast. Please note, they only take cash. There is also a Starbucks around the corner. For dinner, I highly recommend walking a few blocks to Pizzeria Due for their classic Chicago deep-dish pizza. It's about $10 and you'll have to wait 30 minutes. It's worth every minute! Another good option is Frontera Grill for some gourmet Mexican food (just be sure to make a reservation). Only downside is that you have to pay for internet access from your room. Otherwise, they offer a business center with free internet access.

Excellent stay, staff friendly and efficient. We had a large well appointed room on the top floor with a view of the lake, nice bathroom. Starbucks and Potash grocers within a block if you need coffee or beer and prefer not to pay 5* prices.

We usually stay at the same hotel in Chicago but decided to do something different. I am so glad we decided to try this hotel!! The lobby smelled WONDERFUL. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The room was exactly how it appears in the pictures. We will definitely stay at this hotel again. Go ahead and splurge at least once. You'll be glad you did. For a great inexpensive breakfast, try the little restaurant on the opposite end of the hotel named El Tempo Cafe. Nice portions for a great price.

my wife and two teenage daughters stayed in this hotel for 4 nights in late july 2008.

unfortunately, our elder daughter took ill on the first night of our stay and had to spend the rest of the time in hospital before she was discharged and considered well enough to fly down to florida.

the hotel were brilliant in helping us with her illness, and the reception staff invariably asked how she was doing as we passed in & out of the hotel on our way to visit her in the hospital

nevertheless, the hotel was great and we are determined to return and enjoy the hotel in happier circumstances

the good things this hotel did for us was arrange for a limo to meet us at the airport, suggest and arrange on our first day (before illness struck) for us to go on a historic river cruise (the concierge got us the last 4 tkts for the last cruise of the day), and also when our daughter became ill in the middle of the night were very quickly and courteously on the scene to see why we were running from one room to another at 4 a.m. they also arranged a taxi and guided us to the nearest emergency room, phoning first whilst we were on our way to advise them of our imminent arrival.

in our opinion, there are two massive factors when rating a hotel: cleanliness being the absolute first, and location thereafter. the common areas, bedrooms and bathrooms of the hotel were spotless; towels and bedding crisp and clean; a great range of toiletries in the bathroom. the hotel is brilliantly situated, a safe walk from the main shops and sights in central chicago

our daughter's illness had no connection with our stay at the hotel (it was a return of the kidney stones she had suffered some weeks before our arrival in the US), and the care shown by the night staff / security team who responded in the early hours presumably because they had seen us dashing across the hallway on CCTV was exceptionally reassuring in retrospect.

the hotel was also good value; had we booked when we first chose to stay there the prices were sensational, but by the time we actually booked a few weeks later the prices had gone up - still reasonable but the first prices were fantastic and we regret not booking then. clearly, if you are in a position to book several months in advance, savings can be made!!

We got a good deal on a suite at the Sofitel and decided to splurge, and were not disappointed! The hotel location is fantastic -- so nice to walk just 2 blocks and be at Water Tower Place -- and the property itself is great. Our suite was modern and bright and impeccably clean, with great views of the city. Beautiful, fresh orchids in living room and bathroom, and turn down service with a personalized note and chocolates. Roomy bathroom, bedroom, and living room. The safe that's big enough to accomodate a laptop was great -- most are too small. We had two kids with us and when we called to get linens for the sofabed, housekeeping staff came and made the bed and quickly took care of requests for extra pillows, etc. The concierge was great with restaurant recommendations, too, and didn't try to push us into the hotel's spot. Would love to return! One note... it's not the hotel's fault, but parking is pricey. There's an attached but independent garage, and it cost us $34 a day. Ouch. Would be great if Sofitel could work out some sort of validation / discount with them.

Got a great rate here. Very stylish decor and relatively small hotel. friendly staff. We were upgraded for free but supplement for king size bed is a bit steep otherwise. Happening bar. Liked free computers available to use

Every thing is top notch at the sofitel. The minute you arrive your are immursed in pure luxury. The prestige suite we stayed in is very spacious and luxurieous. Bath room is great with wall to wall marble. Great service from the staff. Best stay in Chicago!

Stayed two nights with the better half for a birthday weekend in the city, and we were very pleased with this hotel. We decided to spring for a suite since it was my birthday. We received a very nice rate booking directly from the hotel website; much cheaper than standard rooms at comparable hotels. Our room was spotless, and very well appointed with two flat screen TVs, and a Bose Wave Radio on the nightstand - a nice touch. The staff were always friendly and we were always greeted with a "hello" and a smile when passing in the hallway. Despite the great room and friendly staff, the main attraction of the Sofitel is the location - just steps from some of Chicago's most iconic destinations. Overall, we wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

I read the great reviews in advance and was not disappointed. Everything was pretty much first-rate, especially the bed. The staff were also great.

Okay so paying for the wireless was a bit of a downer, but most of downtown Chicago is within easy walking distance, so why are you in your room surfing the web.

Went for a long weekend for Valentine's day - from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the service was excellent. The room (King suite) was spacious and nicely decorated, the hotel is in a great location and the staff were very helpful. Definitely would recommend.

Just got back after my Girlfriend booked a Valentines weekend trip to Chicago !

What can I say ?? .... She booked a Junior suite only to find they upgraded us to an Executive suite ... Kingsize bed, big flat screen tv in one room .... big flat screen tv with Bose sound system in the lounge area, which also had a nice glass desk with fast internet connection ($9.95 per day) and sofas to relax on. Beware of the mini bar though .. can of Coke $5 !!!

We had a nice big marble floor bathroom .. with a big bath and a large walk in shower

Like other have said .. the beds and pillows were so comfortable !

We didnt eat in the hotel, but had a massive breakfast at the Tempo Cafe next door which kept us going till we had dinner in the evening.

The staff were heplful and polite .. the decor of the hotel was very nice and the foyer had nice smelling candles burning .. the location was good ... 200 yards from the Water Tower shopping mall, Magnificent Mile, Hancock Building and the Cheesecake Factory.

We cannot fault this hotel at all ... it was awesome .. it was the icing on the cake for such a memoriable trip to a great city !!

Fantastic hotel. Staff were great, room was huge (it was a top floor suite) and comfortable. Room service was great.

We has no faults at all while here. Location is great as well.

This was such a nice hotel. the rooms were large and comfortable and the staff were amazing! The location is just a few blocks from the Mag Mile and we walked everywhere. You're also just a couple blocks from the Red Line which got us to The Green Mill and Wrigley Field and shopping in Lincoln Park for just $2.25. The restaurant and bar had excellent service and great food. I would go back to Chicago just for this hotel. It was the best hotel I've ever stayed in. I loved it!

We stayed in Chicago for a short break end Nov/Dec 08.

Hotel was great. Lovely rooms with little luxuries. Friendly atmosphere, attentive staff.

Most amazing breakfasts in the French restaurant. Room service prompt and delicious though expensive. We didn't eat in the hotel restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Situated on a quiet street just off Michigan Ave. Fantastic location for shopping and sightseeing. Main sights (John Hancock Tower, lake, pier, river, shops) within walking distance. Chicago is a fantastic city with lots to see and do - we wanted to move there after we had visited!!

Knowledgable concierge, arranged an architectural river cruise for us which was fantastic.

Would recommend this hotel, and Chiacgo for a fantastic break. Would stay there again should we return to Chicago (hope to soon).

Based on other TripAdvisor comments, we booked two nights there this past weekend. Turned out to be absolutely the right choice.

1) Great location, just off Michigan Avenue and all the shopping, an easy walk downtown to the Art Institute, lots of interesting streets all around, a few blocks from the lake front.

2) Beautiful room, unbelievably cushy bed, lots of bathroom amenities, cool view, etc. etc.

3) Very good French-oriented restaurant in the lobby, Cafe Architects, which also apparently handles the exquisite room service. We ate a light dinner downstairs, had room service, both were excellent.

4) For breakfast, though, ignore their pricey option and go where everyone in the area goes: walk the fifty feet from the front door to Tempo Cafe (www.tempocafechicago.com). Worth the wait, if you have to.

5) Really fine service. We had a small issue with hot water, they had a servuice guy at the room in two minutes fixing it. The concierge in the lobby had the answer to any question we had, and, when we said we needed a charger for a cellphone, pulled out a box of them left behind by previous guests!

Overall, definitely worth it. And my suspicion is that there are always room deals to be had.

My husband and I had a fantastic stay at the Sofitel! The highlights:

-incredibly friendly and helpful staff. They de-feathered my room (I have a feather allergy) without any sort of complaint, and at the convenience of my husband and I. I rarely experience that anywhere - many hotels ignore my requests until I demand it.

-our room. The staff gave us a free upgrade from a low floor to a room on the 28th floor with an incredible view of the Hancock and the lake. The bathroom was amazing, the view was (again) incredible, and the bathrobe/slippers were super comfy.

-location. We went to Morton's (just a few blocks away) for dinner, and passed a number of other great restaurants on the way.

-restaurant. We had an amazing Sunday brunch at Cafe des Architectes. We both got the brunch sampler, and it was absolutely delicious.

Overall, it was a fantastic stay. We were nothing but pleased and will definitely stay there again!

This hotel was amazing. We had a suite and it was very comfortable. The room was very clean and tidy.

It was in a perfect location and felt very safe.

The staff were all very friendly towards us and very polite.

The free internet was nice although I couldn't seem to get the wireless to work for free and had to use the network cable on the desk.

The highlight was the bathroom! Have never stayed in a hotel with such a huge bathroom!

Would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone.

Mostly great with a few islands of relatively minor problems. First the good: Outside of the hotel and lobby were decorated like a winter wonderland, as befitted the season. The restaurant service was absolutely flawless ( servers who don't write orders because they are expected to remember them, remember clients clearly from one day to the other, and go above and beyond consistently). Rooms are comfortable: yes the beds are great! The gym is well equipped. Second the slightly off putting:

mmmhh...we got the "I love chocolate package" which advertized: bfast every day, dinner once, snack once and...a gift. And we have an A-Club favorite guest membership, which also advertized " a gift". So, no gift...either for the chocolate package or the favorite guest membership. Upon enquiry, "the snack was the gift". Not at all what the package suggested. That said, bfast was sublime and the chocolate dinner outstanding as well. Some problems at checkout though: we got charged for all dining despite having booked the package and it took quite a while for a polite but seemingly less than informed front desk staff to correct the problem.

Would absolutely go back, but probably not on a special package.

My wife and I take a yearly trip to The Sofitel. The hotel is perfect for our get-away. Rooms are impressively decorated, comfortable and very quiet. The staff is efficient, professional and helpful. The lounge provides a relaxing venue to enjoy a libation and conversation. We ate breakfast at tthe hotel restaurant and enjoyed it immensely. The hotel is very close to shopping areas and the Rush Street restaurant/club area. We look forward to visiting again next year,. There really is no reason to go elsewhere.

Loved the modern, abstract, and innovative public areas. Food very good. Service very good. And consistent. Would definately stay here again if price was right.

We used Trip Adviser when booking a hotel for our recent trip to Chicago and we weren't disappointed. The hotel is justifiably at the top of the rankings - it's in a great location, stylish but not pretentious, rooms are outstanding with everything and more you could want - and the beds are out of this world. The staff are all extremely helpful and professional as well as being extremely personable. We were made to feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. We can recommend the hotel bar for its ambience - we also used room service which was excellent. The hotel is surrounded by great places to eat and drink - we can recommend McCormick & Schmick's right across the street for its fantastic seafood. We'd definitely stay here again when we go back to Chicago.

Chris & Viv, Manchester, England

I had a hard time finding a place to stay in Chicago because a very large conference was going on. The usual place I stay was booked up, so I got a room at the Sofitel.

IT WAS AMAZING!

The front desk staff was very friendly and helpful. I didn't really need them besides checking in and checking out, but had no problems.

The room is amazing. I was on the 32nd floor, which is the top floor. I didn't have a view of the Hancock tower but instead had a south-east view. I still loved it. I just had the standard king room. Great bathroom, great seating area with chair and sofa and coffee table, and AMAZING bed. The bed was the most comfortable bed you can imagine sleeping on.

The bed has a feather top that is about 4-5" thick with feathers/down. Then they have a down duvet on top of that. It's like you are in a sandwich of softness. I slept so well. I never heard any sound from the hallway or other rooms, and I was right by the elevators.

The wireless internet was very reliable (T-mobile hot spot). If you don't have wireless, there is wired internet available in the room from the hotel. If you don't even have a computer, there is a business center with computers and internet access you can use for free.

The restaurant is not like any hotel restaurant. I would be happy to go out to this restaurant for a nice date or dinner anytime. The breakfast was amazing! Expect to pay about $20 after tax and tip (which includes the main course, coffee, juice, and your choice of toast or a bread basket full of an assortment of french pastries and bread).

I had dinner once in the hotel restaurant and it did not disappoint either! The atmosphere is great.

The hotel is only 2 blocks from the Chicago/State red line, so very convenient. Cabs are always close by. You are just blocks away from Water Tower Place. Yet there is relatively little traffic outside the hotel. You couldn't ask for a better location.

The turndown service with complimentary bottled water each night was welcome too. I guess if I was looking for something to complain about, there was no chocolate on the pillow. hehehehe

Seriously though, book this hotel. You will have an even more amazing trip in Chicago because of it.

The Sofitel Water Tower Hotel was perfect for our Chicago visit. The interior is gorgeous, but it’s the staff that treats you like royalty even if you’re in a pair of sneakers and jeans. This hotel definitely deserves its high ranking on Trip Advisor. Here’s my take on the Sofitel:

STAFF--Over-the-top genuinely friendly and helpful. From the moment we got out of our taxi, the bell hops were there to assist with luggage and get us to our room. The front desk had a good system in place. While one person was keying in our information on the computer, someone else chatted with us making us feel even more welcome. Room Service personnel are some of the best I’ve experienced. The Concierge Staff, especially Jacquie, offered great suggestions that really made for a great weekend. She told us about the best restaurants in the area, and gave us great suggestions on what to do, including a beautiful boat ride and absolutely wonderful bike tour. Thank you Concierge staff.

ROOMS--Tastefully decorated, comfortable beds and but average in size. All of the needed hotel ammenities were provided.

VIEW--I booked a Deluxe Room which had great views of Rush Street, down toward Michigan Avenue. We were 20 some stories up and the view was spectacular.

LOCATION--Can’t be beat. Right on Rush and State Street, blocks from Michigan Avenue and shopping. Blocks from the Rush Street Entertainment Area, and blocks from the Lake Michigan Lakefront and Bike Path. All these are must sees while in Chicago and the hotel is perfect for all of them.

RATES--You can definitely find a less expensive hotel, but you won’t have the same experience anywhere else for the price.

Absolutely everything is first rate at this hotel with only ONE downside.

Charging $47 PER NIGHT for parking is a massive turn off.

If you're not parking, this is a first rate hotel. restaurants are nearby as is all possible shopping.

Try Japonais Restaurant for an absolutely memorable meal but be warned, either book or you will not get in.

Stayed three nights at the Sofitel on a 'third night free' offer - extremely good value. Booked a 'suite' and was upgraded to a one bedroom suite on floor 15. The rooms were great with a good sized living room and a vestibule leading off to the bathroom and bedroom. Floor to ceiling glazing along one wall meant the entire suite was light and airy whilst the orientation allowed it to feel quite private too. Great bed. Good bathroom - although the bath seemed quite high and whilst I wouldn't say it was small (as other reviewers have commented) it is a European size ie deeper than a typical US bath.

The service in the hotel is faultless. We did not have to open the front door once, if it rained umbrellas were provided in abundance at the door and the concierge service is excellent and helped with everything from restaurant reservations (and cancellations) to site seeing and TV scheduling....... Well we didn't want to miss the American Idol results.

Good location too one block from the John Hancock tower and the top end of Michigan Ave plus easy access to all the stores. Plenty of good restaurants and coffee shops around. Any negatives? well there was no chocolate on the pillow with turndown but I would prefer the cool bottle of Evian provided on my bedside cabinet any day.

Does the Sofitel deserve to be number 1 on tripadvisor? Possibly. It's housed in a great neighbourhood near some lovely bars and restaurants which has a bit more character than the heart of downtown. It is also set in an architecturally very impressive building. The service, especially from the concierge, was absolutely great and they booked us dinners at some very nice restaurants. I also liked the little touches like the free internet and printing as well as the trendy bar with its rather lethal absyinth menu!

So why not 5 stars? Well our 'luxury' room was nice but nothing amazing. The bed wasn't that big though it was very comfy and while the room was quite big for a city hotel, I wouldn't say that it had any wow factors. It was also slightly business-like with a pine desk area that could have been lifted from an IKEA catalogue. I also agree with the reviewer below about the bathtubs - they are far, far too small and it really is difficult to have a relaxing soak. So overall it was fine and I certainly didn't regret staying at the Sofitel, but perhaps if I go back to Chicago i'd look for somewhere where the room was a bit more luxurious.

My daughter and I spent two nights at the Sofitel Water Tower for a college visit. Although we had little time to take advantage of the many amenities offered by the hotel, we found the rooms clean, and the beds super comfortable. As this was our first trip to Chicago we were thrilled by the location of this hotel which is in walking distance to Lake Michigan, tons of shopping, and many other attractions. All of the hotel staff that we encountered during our stay were courteous and professional.

I read many reviews here prior to selecting the Sofitel Water Tower for my recent visit and couldn't believe how glowing the majority were...sounded fantastic. After having stayed five nights, I can attest that the hotel is nice and very well situated. Service is courteous and prompt, but not outstanding...I don't think it was anything more than I've experienced at other hotels. If you want a solid, well situated hotel in the heart of Chicago it's great...just not extraordinary. I thought it a little odd that wireless internet access was provided by a third party for less than the hotel's own wired service. That said I would reccomend the hotel and it provides decent value overall.

Stayed here for a family wedding and really was impressed with this hotel ! The location is perfect for shopping and (in warmer temps) walking to some nice restaurants. Rooms are nice with oversized bathrooms. The actual sleeping area is a little smaller than I anticipated, but rooms are kept very clean matching the contemporary style. The front desk is very helpful and the gym is small, but effective with a good amount of treadmills and free weights. Beds are comfortable, but they are soft... Those with back issues take note.

Note that the hotel does not have a gift shop or snack shop. A great $1/coffee Internet cafe is directly across the street as is Tempo Restaurant where breakfast is spectacular ! Their staff is friendly, helpful and seem to enjoy their jobs. A great hotel !

Was "wowed" by all the reviews here, so excited about booking for our stay. I am an interior designer and also really love hotels, so judging by the reviews, versus our experience, I can only conclude that we got the stump-end room of the whole place. Our room was absolutely tiny; to get from door to sleeping area, you went down a very narrow hall. Bed was about 9" away from the closet which ran along-side, making it a hassle to hang clothes.

I am fussy about lighting; one lamp on desk gave a soft glow, while the uber-modern sconces flanking the bed gave a harsh, in-your-eyes glare--not cool. Bath lighting had only bright and bright as options, again not cool for romantic bath, etc.

Bath: Had separate tub and shower, but I am a 5 foot, nine-inch tall woman, and the cheap, acrylic tub was so crampy, there was no nice bath to be had there. Bath toiletries were a European label with "natural" in the name...and all were very chemical when you looked at the label, not a shea butter or green tea extract, etc., in sight, only un-pronounce-able ingredients--yuk! Robe was nice, slippers nice touch. Loofah was nice, but again--could not enjoy in the micro-tub that was no nicer than a Motel 6.

Bed was very comfortable--But we think it was a queen, is that possible??? Seemed smaller than a king, my husband swore it was queen-size, while we had ordered king. But plush and comfy. Not good reading light, however.

So while we would not stay there again (and in fact, after 2 nights moved to the Talbott around the corner which, while being completely different (traditional vs. super-mod), was very cozy and well-done, it was the A player of the trip to be sure!)--I have to conclude that we must have somehow been given one of the very few extremely average-to-poor rooms of the whole place.

Yes, has cool super-hip lobby, slick bar, but so does your average Marriott these days. Devotees, enjoy--But we just DIDN'T GET IT!

Great hotel in great location. 2 blocks east to north end of Michigan Ave near Hancock / Water Tower Place and 900 Shops. 2 blocks south to Chicago stop of Red Line subway. Good McCormick & Schmicks across the street. Coffee shop (Tempo) and 2 small markets (Potash & Goddess and the Grocer) on same city block as hotel. Great bed - great bathroom - good (mostly just numerous) staff. Stay here or try other top end properties.

After reading the Trip Advisor reviews, I was expecting an exceptional stay. I was not impressed overall. The concierge, the view, and the hotel resturant were the highlights. The bed, although not horrible, was not nearly as comfortable as mine at home, and I do not consider myself and extremely fussy person. I was traveling for business, and although not dressed in formalwear, was also not dressed down, but all in all, it felt a bit pretentious to me. There are better options for the money, and would gladly stay at the Sutton Place, Sheraton Towers, or Trump for the similar price and better stay. I would ask Trip Advisor to move it down in the ratings......not #1 in Chicago, in my book.