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.

This is my second stay at the Sofitel here and it has been excellent both times. The staff are friendly, helpful and very efficient.

The hotel is very well located, two minutes walk from the Water Tower, and with many rooms having great views of the city and lake. The building is beautiful and both the public spaces and guest rooms are stylishly decorated and comfortable.

The restaurant and room service are excellent, and the bar manages somehow to have a good atmosphere despite seeming a bit of an aftertought in the corner of the ground floor.

On top of it all, it's really good value: I've stayed at all the premier hotels in Chicago and this is not only my favourite but also the best priced.

Wonderful hotel in fantastic location. Ugg shop directly opposite. On the corner of Rush Street where there is plenty of bars and restaurants. Close to the shops, especially water tower shopping centre and the John Hancock Building. Easy to pop back to the hotel for a rest and drop off your bags! Very helpful staff on the door and at reception. Beautiful room and bathroom with added bonus of the most comfortable beds. We loved it and would definitely recommend to others and stay if we were to return.

Stayed October 2008 for 5 nights. I have had the privilege of staying at a number of hotels across the world, including fantastic hotels in Las Vegas, but I can honestly say this was one of the best hotels I have stayed in.

Location, Location, Location - a very short walk to the Magnificent Mile (near the Water Tower Centre), which is next to the Hancock Centre. Everything was nearby including Jazz Clubs, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, the “famous” Pancake House and also convenience stores. Overall the location felt very safe and ideal for walking to restaurants and shops. You can walk to Water Tower Centre and Hancock Centre in 5 minutes, Navy Pier in 20 minutes and Wrigley Building in 20 minutes.

The Room - A fantastic view of the Hancock Centre – ask for a high room when checking in. The beds were like a giant marshmallow, fantastically comfortable and the rooms were so quiet it was the best sleep I have had in a hotel (although I am not sure whether or not we had guests next door).

Hotel Bar - Comfortable with a selection of beers, cocktails and food, although it is not as hip and lively as their website makes out.

Service – This was second to none. First class including concierge, reception, and bar staff. In fact there were literally dozens of staff on hand to assist with anything including holding the main doors open for you.

The only criticism was that the room keys constantly malfunctioned, denying entry to the room. Other guests experienced this too and I was told by reception it is because they become de-magnetised if held next to a mobile (cell) phone. Well this has not happened at any other hotel and I never carry my mobile phone when on holiday, so this was not the reason – so this is something for them to address.

There is absolutely no question I would return to this hotel again.

Finally, try the Segway Tour – absolutely brilliant fun to explore Chicago with a guide and at $70 for 3 hours it is great value.

This hotel has great service and a breathtaking decor. It is within short walk to Michigan Avenue(Magnificant Mile). The beds are really comfortable and the rooms smelled and looked execeptionally clean.

It was just a pleasurable stay.

I am not a coffee drinker, but those who are, should know there is no coffeemaker in the room. Given everything else, this point truly is not worth mentioning.

The conceirge referred us to Lawry's for prime rib, if you get that same recommendation, I advise you not to follow it. Lawry's has great service, but it certainly should not be in the steak business in Chicago.

My husband and I found the Sofitel to be very comfortable and luxurious for a one night "staycation" in Chicago. The room and bed were clean and super comfy. The staff was helpful and friendly, going out of their way to help us: one woman backtracked on her path leaving the elevator to turn around and push the 'up' button for us! About three people stood at the entry way to open the doors and wish us a pleasant day.

I love the Sofitel's modern, boutique style, gorgeous flowers in the lobby and sofas that allow lots of people to sit comfortably without feeling like we're in each other's way. (Practical and gorgeous!) There was just a 15 min wait for Sunday brunch (which was surprising considering the number of people in the lobby), and the menu had something for everyone.

The property is centrally located to walk to Michigan Avenue and lots of good restaurants.

I definitely recommend the Sofitel to friends coming to Chicago.

We just arrived from a 3 nights stay at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower. It was faboulous. Fine Linen, nice room with bigs windows, bathroom with a shower, flat TV. Check for the deals on the Sofitel website, we had 3 nights for the price of two !

Loved everything about the place,

Hotel is location a few blocks from Michigan Avenue, close enough to be in the heart of the City but just far enough to be away from the crowds.

All the rooms have great views of the City and are extremely comfortable for a City break hotel, all have king size beds, huge flat screen TV, seating areas, large bathroom with separate shower.

The restaurant is recommended for breakfast or dinner and Le Bar, which gets busy on a week-end, is a great place for a pre-dinner drinks or night cap. Take advantage of the free coffee to take away from the restaurant every morning which is on the bar.

There are some great restaurants near by, MK was one of our favourites, but also recommended is the Chicago Chop House – be warned, starve yourself before going, the portions are huge. I would also ask to be in the downstairs restaurant as this has plenty of atmosphere as well as live piano.

Chicago has plenty to offer all ages, here are a few I would recommend:

Take a trip up the Sky deck in the Sears Tower ($15 approx)

Take in the views from the Observatory within the John Hancock Tower ($18)

Take the Speed dog Architectural Tour ($25) which does the sites on the Chicago River but also a 10 min speed boat ride of the bay offering great views of the City.

Take a Tour bus ($29)

Go to Lincon Park Zoo (It’s Free)

Visit the Field Museum ($11)

Shall definitely visit again!

Excellent hotel, moderm bulding, friendly people in reception. Very good location just in front of the John Hancock, Water Tower and Magnificient mille. Rooms are very good, moderm and with everything you need for a business/pleasure trip. Free internet in the business center.

I'd booked a luxury room through the hotel's website - there was nothing else on offer, but when I arrived it wasn't quite that luxury at all. Quite small, the plasma TV blocked the mirror behind it and you couldn't fully open the doors of the wardrobe because the bed was right up against it. But there was a small seating area and the bathroom was spacious and well equipped ( apart from no slippers). I asked if I could upgrade to another room, but the hotel was full. However, the concierge Dominique could not have been more helpful. After a bit of a search he found a room that had come free unexpectedly, which was much bigger with a seating area and more space. it was perfect. Throughout my stay he constantly asked if everything was ok and whether I was happy with the room. I was.I found the service in the hotel really good. Everyone was pleasant, helpful and very polite and really did try and make your stay a good one. The hotel is in a great location, just off the Magnificent Mile and looks fantastic, very futuristic with a great lobby and bar. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone staying in Chicago. Keep up the good work Sofitel

The Sofitel is beautiful, hip, and the rooms are comfortable and well appointed. They have true hi def televisions with a nice menu system, not just cheap flat panels pretending to be hi def. This might not matter to many people, but I like to watch a little tv and hate the sets and the service at most hotels. The bar is fun to hang out in. The service was without fault.

Beautiful hotel, greatly located near all the shopping streets.

Could not fault the service, cleanliness, room choice or comfort levels. I was on the 9th floor.. not such a great view but it really didn't bother me. The room was gorgeous: bright, clean, pure comfort, loads of wardrobe space, loads of toiletries, bathrobes, bose music system, flat screen tv, room safe & 2 phones.

Expansive room service menu too..but watch out for the statutory 18% tip and 3 dollar delivery charge, and when the food is delivered you're obliged to give the delivery guy something too! ;o( Expensive mini-bar too but is to be expected in such a hotel (5.00 for a soda!!) Overall a perfect stay..expensive but absolutely worth it.

Hotel also offers a gym, business centre and great bar/restaurants and great concierge service...

A top recommend - great for business or leisure.

I would definitely stay there again!

Stayed here for three nights during September 2008 and thoroughly enjoyed it. The rooms were large, clean, comfortable and very well appointed - I especially enjoyed the huge HD flatscreen TV and the Bose Waveradio. The furnishings are to a high standard, lots of toiletries, bathrobes, towels - really everything you need

There are the usual facilities - we ate breakfast in the hotel only once and whilst it was of a very high quality and, again, superb service, it felt a little pretentious. So we walked 200 yds up Rush for something a little more Chicago.

The hotel staff were to a fault courteous and helpful, nothing was really too much trouble. It's also a very attractive building located around 200m from the John Hancock centre on Michigan Avenue. Perfect for shopping, and only 250m from the Chicago CTA Red Line station so very easy access from O'Hare.

Very highly recommended.

There were staff everywhere, you did not need to open a door once. The location is impossible to beat in Chicago, and the hotel is very new. Front office staff were very pleasant. Don't let their occasional use of French words surprise you, most actually can't speak French. Furnishings are contemporary. The parking valet was prompt and courteous. hard to beat, but quite expensive. Spend a $100 more at stay at the four seasons for nicer rooms.

My wife and I recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a stay at the Sofitel and everything was very good. I had ordered chocoloate covered strawberries, a rose display and a card to be in the room upon our arrival and it was, with a split of champagne sent up with the compliments of the manager.

We stayed in Suite 2308 and I highly recommend this suite - great views of Michigan Avenue, the Hancock Building and Lake Michigan, and since it's a corner there is another view of the city to the south. We paid $325 for the night and felt we'd received excellent value for our dollar. One problem was the mirrored door covering the closet space was off its track but I was able to fix it with little effort.

We had drinks in Le Bar and a room service breakfast on the morning of our departure. The food, drinks and service in both instances were great.

We had stayed here once before during the winter and like it then...we now look forward to making Sofitel our regular place to stay in the city.

Merci Beaucoup Sofitel!

An over-the-top staff, a bathroom bigger than some hotel rooms, a bed that looks and feels like a cloud, a theatre sized flat screen TV. Comfort, charm, cheap (200$ on early bird) - why would we ever stay anywhere else?

From the moment we arrived we felt like valued customers. Our room was on the 31st floor with views of John Hancock Tower and the lake. Everything was provided, both in the room and the bathroom including a UK/US plug adaptor. The place was spotless and eveything was great quality.

We ate in the restaurant and used room service - both were excellent ,food and service. The staff were friendly, attentive but not intrusive. Nothing was too much trouble.

It was my birthday during our stay and the hotel provided chocolate covered strawberries and a card for me. Another fantastic touch.

Absolutely faultless in every way. Book this hotel and a make a great visit to Chicago very special.

This hotel is a solid 4 star hotel with rooms, bedding, toiletries, restaurant and bar being up to this level. The only aspect of the hotel not four star level is its location which I would give a solid 5 stars. It is right at the foot of the Rush Street scene with shopping, restaurants, bars, clubs, and the Magnificent Mile .

The restaurant is ideal with adequate outdoor seating in a protected patio on a busy street so it is great for people watching.

The hotel did have a health club but no pool.

My only complaint with the hotel is that there is no complementary wifi in the rooms. You have to go through TMobil service and pay for access. I cannot understand why a such a great hotel tries to pinch a few extra dollars from its guests from wifi instead of just providing it for free like Motel 6 and low end hotels do.

I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone wanting a 4 star hotel in the center of the entertainment area of Chicago.

Down the street are some really world class restaurants but they are always crowded. Try to go to Gibsons for a bone in Prime rib that is two inches thick. Also Carmines has wonderful , cheap and plentiful Italian food.

My wife and I visited Chicago on the strength of recommendations from friends etc. We stayed here for 11 nights and it is a simply fabulous hotel. Very clean hotel, with friendly, unobtrusive staff. We had a great room with a great view of the Hancock building. Somehow we never got around to using Cafe Des Architectes even though it looked fantastic - there was so many great eating places nearby. Bar was great, and very popular too. It's easy to see why this hotel is number one. It's location for the beach, Michigan Avenue, the Pier was fantastic. We are definitely going back...!

A 2-block walk from the Chicago Avenue stop on the red line, this location can't be beat. (Can ride all the way from OHare for $2!) Our 23d floor room gave us a bit of a lake view, & the green roofs on neighboring buildings were also interesting. Room was nice size, all the amenites we expected (except no pool and didnt check the fitness stuff--enough walking to do around town!). Morning pastry basket at the 1st floor cafe seemed pricey at $14 until we tried to replicate it in the neighborhood. Hey, it's a French hotel and they get great French pastries, so why look elsewhere? From the hotel we walked to Merchandise Mart (interesting kitchen & bath retailers), the excellent Frontera Grill, and took the free trolley to and from Navy Pier, where we rented bikes and rode along the lakeshore.

I read the reviews on Trip Advisor for this property which had it ranked as #1 in Chicago. I got a king room overlooking Michigan Ave. The view was beautiful. The room was also impeccable. Nice and bright, very fresh and modern. I find it very hard to fault any Sofitel's. The service, attentiveness of staff, cleanliness and luxury are always top notch.

Location was great, head left from the lobby and you reach a bunch of european style cafe's and restaurants. Straight ahead of the hotel on Michigan Ave is a shoppers paradise. A great place to stay, and much better value than Park Hyatt. I do find some of the charges in luxury hotels to be a bit crazy, such as for the internet. When you are paying top dollar, a few inclusions would be nice.

Stayed at the Sofitel Chi for my Bachelor Party. Incredible room, reasonable prices, great location. Furhtermore, the service was second to none. Every wish granted.

I would strongly recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone visiting Chicago who wants a great North Side location close to all the best restaurants and bars.

I have stayed at this hotel a few times (always for business) and stayed again last week -- it is always excellent. The service is attentive and personal, the rooms are well appointed and very clean, the views are beautiful (I was on 29th floor facing lake side this time). You can't go wrong with this hotel -- great location, excellent all around.

Back today from a 3 night stay at the Sofitel. This is an excellent choice in the centre of town. Great location for all the shopping on Michigan Avenue and an easy cab ride to all the other sights.

We had a room on the 10th floor which didnt have stunning views but was more than adequate for our needs. Large comfy bed, large well equipped bathroom and all other mod cons with the exception of no iPod dock which is not a problem but worth knowing.

Hotel was buzzy with good restaurant and great bar which is a destination in its own right.

Would not hesitate to recommend this Sofitel for anyone looking to stay in Chicago and not necessarily wanting to go for the full on 5 star choice. That said, the service and facilities in the Sofitel are no less 5 star than any of the other top properties we have stayed in. Can't see why anyone would be disappointed with this choice.

Only thing I wish I had known was how booked up the top choice restaurants get, particularly on the weekend. If you want to go to the likes of Gibsons, Joe's, Hugo's Frog Bar or Carmine's you should not leave it till you get to Chicago to make the booking if you want to eat at a sensible hour.

My husband and I spent a special 20th anniversary at this Sofitel. Everything about this hotel exceeded our expectations, and it was a most wonderful stay. Our room was a very nice size and the bed was incredibly comfortable and luxurious. Our room was immaculate, and there was a leather couch and chair to relax in as well as a handsome desk to use. The TV was a 40" flat screen HD and it swiveled between the settee and the king bed areas. The Bathroom. WoW! There was a soaking tub, shower for two, SOFT towels and live ORCHID in a very luxurious marble bathroom. How about a soft robe and slippers to slip into... Heaven!

Chicago experienced a killer heat wave when we were there, but coming back to our plush, cool and quiet accomodations was the best. We felt like Rock Stars.

It just doesn't get better than the Sofitel!

We did not stay (yet) at the Sofitel, but were very pleasantly surprised by the way the lobby looked and the overall impression the hotel made. We did however have a really good lunch at the Café Des Architects, which is in the hotel. We took the 'one plate / 4 mini-course lunch' which includes an appetizer, salad, main course and dessert of choice, all for a bargain. The food was truly excellent and being Europeans, we thoroughly enjoyed the modest portions. Excellent wines too, friendly service and everything classy styled. We promised ourselves, if we ever return to Chicago, to try the Sofitel.

My husband and I have very expensive taste in hotels, but booked this Sofitel based on Trip Advisor reviews, not on hotel class (like five-star, etc.) which is our usual criteria. This hotel was not the most expensive in the city, but definitely seemed the best - not lacking in luxury. This was our 10th anniversary vacation, and due to limited time, we decided to do city/shopping long weekend instead of tropical/beach resort. We were NOT disappointed! This hotel was in a great location right in downtown Chicago, we walked everywhere and only used a cab when I was wearing my sky-high heels or going to a place far away. Great restaurant in the hotel (Cafe De Architecture) was awesome for sitting outside for breakfast and dinner - food was wonderful (and again, we have very high expectations). The service from every person we dealt with was exceptional. Very courteous and happy to assist. Almost never had to wait for anything. The cleaning staff were practically invisible. I dont think we ever saw anyone in our hallway, but our room was immaculate whenever we got back from shopping. Room was very contemporary chic with amazing city view. Great restaurants to be found everywhere around our hotel, best shopping in the Midwest too.

My friend Patty and I have stayed at the Sofitel and loved it.

When it came time to make plans for my husband and I to celebrate our anniversary last year and this year we chose to stay at the Sofitel. It is beautiful, clean, and the staff is helpful and friendly. You can walk to everything fantastic location! Candles always lit and burning in lobby (smells wonderful) Rasberry not over powering just right. Fresh beautiful flower arrangements in the lobby as well. Last year for our 16th anniversary they happend to have a suite available on the 16th floor and they upgraded us and gave us the "royal treatment" this year there was a wedding celebration but we were upgraded to a room with a great view! We will always stay at the Sofitel it is a great "romantic get away" and they truely make it a great experience. Thank you Hotel Sofitel see you in March of 2009 for our 18th anniversary celebration! Norine & Brett King

My wife and I just returned from a four day trip to Chicago and the Sofitel was wonderful. We had a suite in the 23rd floor and it was everything that I had imagined. We have stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York and other upscale hotels. This was by far the best. It was super modern. We had flat screen televisions in each room. The King bed was the most comfortable hotel bed that we have ever slept in. When the Bose alarm clock went off, I didn't want to get up. They sent us two Voss waters and some truffles the first night. Everything was well done.

The hotel is two blocks from the Magnificent Mile and everything that we wanted to see was a short walk or cab ride from the Sofitel. We will definitely be back.

Wife and I took a quick weekend to Chicago last minute. Booked hotel thru one of the last minute travel sites at around $200 per night. The hotel is very chic and trendy. Room was extremely comfortable and clean. We had drinks in the hotels bar when we arrived. A little pricey but very enjoyable. The hotel is one block off Michigan Ave near the John Hancock building. We had breakfast right next door at Tempo and had a great breakfast before heading out for the day. Be prepared that Tempo only takes cash so plan ahead for that.

All in all a great weekend trip to Chicago. Great shopping, great food and lots of fun. Bring lots of money and worry about how much you spent when you get home.

My wife and I have stayed here several times and it is always consistently excellent.

The bellmen greet you like friends and the valet takes good care of your car.

The lobby is attractive and modern. The receptionists are friendly, and this last stay, they upgraded us to better rooms for no additional charge!

The rooms are gems. Clean, modern and attractive. Super-comfy beds with great comforter-sheets. Nice soft pillows. WORKING air condictioners (nothing is worse than when the A/C doesn't work) . Bathrooms are granite-lined, clean and attractive.

All one block off Michigan avenue and all for about $300/night with the taxes.

You can't beat it.

Can't add much to the rave reviews; only can confirm to the fullest extent as to every positive previous review in all aspects with no negatives whatsoever! Do yourself a favor and spring for the suite. Can't vouch for the restaurant as there are so many great places within easy walking distance: Hugo's/Gibson's, Rosebud, Ditka's, etc., etc. but the bar was quite enjoyable for cocktails and people watching.

Stayed here as a treat to myself while in Chicago recently for a concert. I totally LOVED IT here!!

When you called either the Front Desk or Room Service, the phone was answered with "Hallo Mrs (Name)" which was a great personal touch. Vanessa at the front desk, went out her way to help me - storing some things in a safe for me before I could book into my room.

My room was wonderful - the bathroom was luxurious. I was on the 30th floor and the views were superb. We ordered room service and it came quickly and the guy was so friendly and nice. The doormen were great too and I wore jeans and a tshirt one day and they still opened the door for me, so no snobbery there.

Comfortable, cozy bathrobes were available in the bathroom, the lights went on in the wardrobe (never seen that before!!), tv was HD ready and flat screen. The bed was like sleeping on a cloud - best sleep for a while.

Would I stay here again?? Oh yeah!! No problem - just need to save up first!!

This is one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at. The rooms were AMAZING, Bathrooms were first-class, and Service was impeccable. The location was perfect... walking distance to John Hancock Tower, Rush St, Michigan Ave., and Red Line Train Station. The price is a bit high, but I found a good online deal. I hardly ever write reviews, so I felt this hotel deserved my 5-star write-up.

Haven't had a better stay -- ever. I was sad to leave and that I couldn't stay for longer. What struck me first was the smell of the hotel, it was fantastic. In fact, I had to buy the candle to bring it home. They have a great gift shop and a fun hotel bar -- good signs.

Ever detail was thought of and I recommend this hotel very highly to anyone that wants a breathtaking experience from the moment you walk in the door.

This was by far one of the best vacations I have ever been on. The staff at the Sofitel is amazing - from the front desk down to the housekeeping. I just loved every little touch that they added even down to the fresh flowers in the lobby. I honestly will never stay at another hotel again unless there is no Sofitel at my destination.The building is beautiful, the bathroom was gigantic (compared to other places). There was a bath and a shower. THe bed was the most comfortable bed ever and the room service in the morning never disappointed. I could go on and on but it was a magnificient stay and there is a cute little park across the street you should check out too

Big room, big bathroom, nice view, great service, comfy bed... what more could you ask for?

This was a great location to stay in Chicago. It was a first visit to the city for 4 days to see primarily architectural sites. The concierge was great, helping with restaurants, car rental, and transit information. Only one bad steer, pointing us to a pizza place that ended up with a 2 hour wait... no thanks! The bar is a great spot for to relax after a full day, but we did not try the restaurant. Lots of good options for food nearby.

The room itself was very nice. Spacious, and from our 22nd floor east facing room, we had a great view of buildings along the Miracle Mile. We even could see the lake through a couple of gaps between buildings. We are very noise sensitive, but there was nothing to notice, as either our neighbors were quiet or well insulated.

Overall, it was a good choice, and while expensive, worth the price for all the bad stuff that didnt happen!

A couple of years ago I met some friends in the lobby and loved the space but this was my first stay at the hotel. The service was above average. For the folks at the front desk that knew what they were doing, they were very helpful. However, there always seemed to be a long line of guests and some of the front desk staff seemed like they were still in training and a little perplexed.

The rooms are not huge, but very nice. Some smart, modern design throughout. Loved the remote curtains and shade. Very comfortable bed - although not so comfortable to warrant a listing in the book of Sofitel items for sale, which includes the ability to purchase the bed, comforter, pillows, etc. But hey, If you love it - you can buy it.

My family lives in Chicago and they think that the brunch in the hotel restaurant is one of the best in the city. I haven't tried many others in Chicago, but it was a great brunch. French press coffee, fabulous bakery basket of croissants and pastries and great eggs benedict. If you have the time, it's well worth it and not too pricey.

We had booked the hotel based on the fact that it was no. 1 on tripadvisor. That said, neither of us were expecting it to be that great. We were wrong. It was a very nice hotel in a great location and the staff were lovely.

The room was a good size, the bed was comfy and the bathroom was huge.

The only real downside is that there's no free internet access so you have to go across the road to the ING Cafe or Starbucks.

This was a great hotel in a great location - around the corner from the Magnificent Mile and a short walk from the lake front. It's also near lots of great bars and restaurants.

We stayed for my birthday and my lovely boyfriend had called in advance to request a special birthday cake (as I have food allergies). The chef produced a delicious chocolate cake without dairy or wheat - it was fabulous and made my day.

We booked a suite, which was wonderful and a surprise for me - all facilities were as expected or better (great HD TV!). The bath in the suite deserves a particular mention - it was huge.

On the downside, my boyfriend had booked via the Sofitel website and the deal he chose included a $250 Bloomingdales voucher and an extended checkout (until 4pm) on the last day. The hotel knew nothing of these (although we'd booked on their website) and we had to provide documentary evidence to prove that the extras were as booked. This left us with a bad taste. The lesson for others, take a printed copy of the details of your booking.

Overall, a great hotel and holiday!

I just loved this hotel. The room was clean, had all the amenities that I like, and just felt great to be in. The hotel is fun to walk around in. I liked the modern atmosphere and thought the lobby was one of the most stylish I have seen in Chicago.

I think this hotel can only add to your Chicago experience. I have stayed at several hotels in Chicago and feel this one is my favorite for style and cleanliness. Also it is in a great location for shopping and going out to eat. Have fun!

My husband spent one night at the Sofitel in Chicago. We are both avid travelers and have stayed at a lot upscale hotels in our day. Although we did enjoy our stay there were a couple of things that we felt the Sofitel missed on. The room was very small for what we paid, there was no dresser to place our clothes in, our turndown service consisted of the bedsheets being folded back, and there was no pool on the property. We did enjoy the huge shower and the wonderful smelling amenities in the bathroom. Our breakfast was outstanding however $50 is still a bit steep for breakfast! Overall we would recommend the Sofitel if we ever had to stay again.

Very much enjoyed the hotel. Nice location. Easy access to all of Chicago. Was unhappy that the hotel advertises "Internet access" and then charges $10 per day, per user. With all of the lower grade hotels now offering free internet access, it seems petty that Sofitel is not only charging, but advertising "internet access" as if it is some kind of perk. I mentioned the charge to the reservationist and all she said was, "I'll inform management." Maybe they should advertise telephone service too.

Very nice room - service was excellent - the staff are obviously well trained. The Consierge service was very helpful. The location is excellent if you want to be downtown near the city's major attractions. Only one block from the Mag Mile, Hancock Centre, Water Tower, etc. and only a short walk from a subway stop.

We had a good room - 25th floor with a view of the Hancock Centre.

Lovely decor throughout - fresh flowers in the lobby, clean and attractive.

No pool, however the workout facility looked nice.

The restaurant and bar are average - the prices were high. I would recommend, if budget-conscious, eating/drinking mainly at other locations.

We would stay here again.

Good hotel, excellent location, very attentive staff. Everything up to scratch!

But: the rooms are quite small, although the big windows help not making them claustrophobic. Also I found the lobby quite dark even during the day. True enough, it was very atmospheric, but it made it difficult to see properly!

Yes, like most reviews written here, it is the 'hippest' place to be staying while in Chicago. Now in all fairness, it is the only place I've stayed in Chicago..I hope to go back one day.

My sister and her husband suggested to us that we stay here because of the rooms and location.

Our welcome and exit wasn't the warmest I've encountered, but it was fast and routine. No issues.

Rooms are tiny, but very nice. The washrooms are awesome!

And location is everything. Who knew Chicago had so much to offer - I didn't.

I fell in love with this city and would tell people of this hotel. A little expensive for what you get, but if you're looking to be in the heart of the city, this is it.

We also ate breakfast at the Cafe des Architectes and it was delish. A little expensive, but well worth it.

Booked the Sofitel Water Tower for its location. Arrived on a Saturday at 5pm and took about 10 minutes before we were served by a Front Desk staff. I was then told that the room wasn't ready and had to wait a further 15 minutes.

The room was large enough, as was the bathroom and was clean, but it's the little details that the hotel misses. The bathroom doors are French double doors, so you have to open both doors to get in. Also, one of the doors is backed almost into the door of the room so much so that everytime I open the room door, I'm met with the door of the bathroom staring straight back at me.

There are also no dimmer switches for the lights so when getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, you literally have to grope your way around.

One evening, while I was getting ready to go out for dinner, the chambermaid knocked on the door and asked if I wanted a turndown service. I asked if she could come back in 15 minutes but was told that she couldn't as her shift had come to an end. So much for service!

Internet connection in the rooms is also not free, which is a shame as I had stayed at the Four Seasons only 2 months prior to this stay, and for about $10 more a night, the experience was night and day.

All in all, it was an ok stay, but it's unlikely I'll ever stay at a Sofitel again.

Given the price, uou would expect the Sofitel in Chicago to be a genuinely enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, the staff are rude and dismissive. The decor is profoundly unimaginative and slightly worn. The lay-out is badly thought through. It's a very very average hotel with an eye-watering pricetag.

I have never experienced terrible service like this especially at such a highly rated hotel. I had booked the hotel room for my parents for their anniversary weekend and stopped by earlier in the week to have the charge for the room put on my card as a gift. When my parents arrived, they were told that the front desk staff was new and did not complete the charge correctly. My parents then had to charge their own anniversary trip.

Additionally, my father had requested a non-smoking room to stay in and was reassured 3 times that his room was non-smoking. When my parents got to the room it reeked of smoke and there was an ashtray and matches on the desk tabletop. When my father caled down to the front desk to ask about this the guy at the front desk asked if my dad wanted him to come up and remove the ashtray and matches - something that would clearly not resolve the fact that they were put in a smoking room after being reassured 3 times that the room was non-smoking.

NEVER AGAIN.

I was a guest of a friend at the Sofitel of Chicago, IL, where we had stayed from June 27 through July 1, 2008. On June 30, 2008, we were having drinks at the Sofitel Chicago LeBar when around 10:45 p.m. my friend got into a disagreemment with another patron. SECURITY WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. Then I heard the Security officer call for assistance from another Security Officer several times and he was no where to be found. All I know is where they found him, I guess he was apparently flirting or doing something not work related and the other Officer needed help. He screamed in front of all of us that the other Security Officer always ran away from his job and was always doing other things besides Security". I thought at one point the two of them were going to fight. Very unprofessional I think. The two Security Officers acted very unprofessional. Myself along with other patrons heard the whole thing.

I think Security Officers employed by Sofitel should be doing their job. On several occasions that I have stayed at this hotel, when I needed assistance, Security is never around, or from what I have seen Security flirts way too much with hotel guests and always hanging outside. I am in town with my friend on several occasions and I think that this is unprofessional behavior for Security of such a presitage hotel like the Sofitel. It is giving the hotel a bad reputation.

I don't think that this Security at Sofitel especially the ones that covers between 8 p.m to 2:00 a.m. know what the definition of security is. Tell them not to argue in front of hotel guest, not to flirt so much and definitely not to drink and sleep. They should always be on alert because Security should know they never know who is watching or listening to them. Or maybe this is what the Sofitel allows and do not care. I hope this is not the case.