W Chicago City Center

01/07/06

Something Different!

by blubird821 at Citysearch

Hotel is definitely for 20-early40-ish crowd. Stayed during the New Year's weekend. Walking in to the hotel is like walking into after work happy hour. The style is definitely gothic. The staff was helpful overall. Maybe "Cherish" had bad day when I tried to ask 4 info. on amenities and room preference 1 1/2 wks prior 2 our stay. Would I stay again? No but, it was nice to try something different!

• Pros: Location, Overall polite staff, clean rooms
• Cons: small rooms

03/17/05

Loud, loungey music pulses through the lobby of this lively Loop hotel.

by Elisa Kronish at Citysearch

The Scene
Formerly the Midland Hotel, the renovated W retains its elegant gilded ceilings and inlaid tile floors. The dark, cushy lobby (nicknamed the Living Room) feels like a hip nightclub, with a resident DJ spinning tunes from the overlooking balcony. It's quite a scene, with more than half the lobby loungers coming from nearby offices for pricey drinks and potential pickups. Black-clad, leggy cocktail waitresses flit from bar to bar--W Cafe, Plateau and Whiskey Blue, all run by Rande Gerber of Whiskey Bar and Grill fame (and Cindy Crawford's hubby). The "whatever you want, whenever you want it" policy is provided with 24-hour concierge service. Meeting rooms include a cozy, loft-like room with fireplace.

The Details
The 390 standard rooms, 11 suites and 38 loft-style rooms combine high-tech amenities (27-inch TVs, high-speed Internet access, cordless phones) with pampering luxuries--chaise lounges in some, cushy robes, Aveda products and goose-down comforters.