21c Museum Hotels · Deluxe King Room · North America›United States›Chicago

21c Museum Hotel Chicago

Name: 21c Museum Hotel Chicago Review
Item: 21c Museum Hotel Chicago
Rating: 3.6
Author: Janko Zehe

Price / nightabout €129 (I stayed 18 nights)
ALL StatusGold: one welcome drink for the whole long booking, probably an upgrade, no breakfast
WiFiNot covered in this review
WalkabilityExcellent. The L and the Loop are within walking distance, and I got around on foot the whole time
Airport / TrainNot covered in this review

The corner facade of the 21c, a big brick building that looks impressive from the outside. I stayed 18 nights in this boutique hotel.

My favourite piece in the lobby: a set table with a wedding cake and two screens showing faces at the chairs. It made the lobby special.

The very generous room, with a blue headboard, a standing mirror and wooden furniture. I slept well, even though the carpet is getting old.

Looking through the room to the bed, with the coffee station and a wooden cabinet on the left. There was no real work desk, but the seating area did the job.

My window faced the inner courtyard and its rooftops with air-conditioning units. Not pretty, but not very loud either, although in an American city you always hear some background noise.

The street in front of the hotel at dusk, with the Mexican cantina next door that served really great food and a Trader Joe's opposite, practically a supermarket.

The Bean in Millennium Park, with the crowds and skyscrapers behind it. Within walking distance of the hotel, like almost everything here.

The Buckingham Fountain with its sea-horse sculptures and the skyline behind it. I reached it on foot too, as I got around on foot the whole time.

The Chicago River by day, with a bridge, the L running through downtown and skyscrapers all around. The river is lovely.

The Chicago River at night, with brightly lit buildings along the bank. Just as lovely as by day.

The oyster counter at Shaw's Crab House Oyster Bar, one of my tips for Chicago. The oysters are opened fresh in front of you, and I ate really well.

Fresh oysters on ice with lemon and sauces. These were not from the hotel but from Shaw's Crab House, and they were great.

Eataly, the big Italian food hall around the corner that works like a department store. The food is very good, but also expensive.

An L train at an elevated station. The L and the Loop are within walking distance of the hotel, so I rarely needed it.

The 21c Museum Hotels Chicago is a boutique hotel with real art in the lobby, right in the middle of River North. I stayed for a long trip, and the spacious room, the great bathroom and the central location made it easy to feel at home. The hotel is a bit worn in places, and as a Gold member I was not celebrated much, even after many nights.

Quick verdict: A very central, spacious and stylish hotel with art in the lobby, a fantastic bathroom and friendly staff. The carpet is getting old, there is no real desk, and Gold status did not bring much beyond a welcome drink. I would come back. JCI Score 3.6 out of 5.

Location

The hotel is incredibly central. River North may sound far away from the city centre, but it is not: the L and the Loop, the downtown area, are within walking distance. I got around on foot the whole time.

Next door there is a Mexican cantina, and opposite is a Trader Joe's, which is practically a supermarket. Pizzeria Due is next to the cantina, the second restaurant of the original place where Chicago deep dish pizza was invented. I don't like deep dish, but if you do, it is right here. The cantina, on the other hand, served really great Mexican food.

Getting There & First Impression

The hotel is a big building on a corner and looks impressive from the outside. In the lobby you are greeted by contemporary art, because this is a museum hotel. I particularly liked an installation in the lobby: a set table with a wedding cake and two screens at the seats. It was nice and made the lobby special. The art in the hotel was impressive overall.

Check-In & Loyalty Experience

Check-in and check-out were smooth, and the staff was super friendly, although I did not have much contact with them.

I was Gold, and my status brought me one welcome drink and no breakfast. I was not celebrated much, even though I stayed for such a long time. That comes from my booking: I had one long booking, so I got only one welcome drink. With many single bookings I would have received a drink every day, which might have been the better trick. I think I got an upgrade, but I am not sure.

The Room

The room was very generous and spacious, with a small desk and a seating area that was nice to sit in. My window faced the inner courtyard, so it was not very loud, although in an American city you always hear some background noise.

The bathroom was great, and I showered very well: a proper jet with plenty of water. The amenities were lovely, sorted by spices and herbs, and a real treat.

There was air-conditioning, and the room climate was okay.
There was a small desk, but not really a work desk. The seating area did the job, so I give Work two stars.
The carpet and some of the furnishings are getting old, so I give Cleanliness four stars.
There was a coffee station in the room.

I slept well. Comfort gets only two stars from me, because there was not that much to the hotel beyond the room itself.

Food & Drink

I ate once in the hotel's own restaurant, an Asian fusion kitchen. I did not have breakfast at the hotel. I always bought something on my way out.

The best food was nearby. Eataly is around the corner, a big Italian food hall that works like a department store. The food is very good, but also expensive. The oysters in my photo were not from the hotel. I ate them at the Oyster Bar of Shaw's Crab House, and I ate really well there. It is one of my tips for Chicago: a lively oyster bar where the oysters are opened fresh in front of you.

Digital Customer Experience

Nothing digital to report.

The Bill & Value

I paid about €129 per night on average for 18 nights. The restaurants downtown are expensive. It is an American city centre, and cheap does not exist there.

Verdict

What I particularly liked

The very central location, the spacious room, the great bathroom with a strong shower and spice-themed amenities, the art in the lobby, the friendly staff and the welcome drink.

What I didn't like

The carpet and furnishings that are getting old, the lack of a real desk, and that I was hardly celebrated as a Gold member after so many nights.

Would I come back? Yes. I stayed for a longer trip, and I liked it very much. Hotels of this kind do not exist in Europe in the Accor world, so I would place it in the upscale boutique corner.