citizenM Chicago Downtown

citizenM Chicago Downtown Overview

First Impressions

Walking into citizenM Chicago Downtown, you immediately know this isn’t your typical business hotel. The lobby feels more like a trendy co-working space meets art gallery — there’s this massive digital art installation that changes throughout the day, and honestly, I found myself just watching it for a few minutes. The whole vibe is refreshingly modern without being cold, which is exactly what you want when you’re staying in the heart of the Loop.

Location & Neighborhood

You really can’t beat the location on East Wacker Place. I mean, you’re literally steps from the Chicago River, and the architecture tour boats pass right by — you can actually watch them from some of the hotel windows. The four-star property sits perfectly between Millennium Park and the financial district, so whether you’re here for business or pleasure, everything’s walkable. What I love is that you’re close enough to Michigan Avenue for shopping, but far enough from the tourist chaos that you can actually move around Chicago like a local.

The Room Experience

The room design is where citizenM really shows its personality. Everything’s controlled through this tablet system — lighting, temperature, even the TV — which sounds gimmicky but actually works brilliantly once you get the hang of it. The beds are these massive, cloud-like things that take up most of the space, and honestly, that’s fine by me. The bathrooms are compact but clever, with rainfall showers that’ll wake you up better than any coffee. Storage is minimal though, so pack light or get creative with your suitcase placement.

Dining & Social Spaces

The restaurant and bar area — they call it canteenM — has this communal feel that somehow works even for introverts like me. The buffet breakfast is solid, nothing fancy but everything you need to fuel up for a day of exploring. What’s nice is that the space transitions naturally from morning coffee spot to evening cocktail lounge. The rooftop bar is where things get interesting — the views of the Chicago skyline are genuinely spectacular, especially at sunset when the light hits all those glass towers just right.

Why Guests Love It

Look, this place isn’t for everyone — if you need tons of space to spread out or prefer traditional hotel service, you might feel cramped. But if you want to feel plugged into the city’s energy while having a stylish, efficient base, citizenM nails it. The staff genuinely seems to enjoy working there, which makes a difference in how they treat guests. Plus, the location score speaks for itself — couples especially seem to love how easy it is to walk to dinner, catch a show, or just wander along the riverwalk. It’s one of those places that makes you feel like you’re experiencing Chicago rather than just visiting it.

Chicago’s apartments welcome families with kid-friendly museums, lakefront playgrounds, and easy train trips to zoos.

citizenM Chicago Downtown Accommodations

Reviews of citizenM Chicago Downtown

• Raed from Jordan (9/10)

  Amazing hotel. High tech and great location.

• Ana from United States (8/10)

  Rooms are clean, property is brand new, everything is modern and beautiful. Bed is comfortable and room is not noisy, which is great. Stellar location.

• Anne from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Really handy location but got a quiet room. Chilled vibes.

• Cocoman from Ireland (9/10)

  Location

• Saila from Netherlands (8/10)

  Perfect location to explore Chicago. Small, but very convenient, clean and modern rooms. Comfortable bed. Overall a very positive stay and would stay again when in Chicago.

• Joel from United States (9/10)

  The design of the interior

• Adelyn from United States (8/10)

  Good rooms, cool lighting, great location

• Joe from United States (9/10)

  You can use the IPad in the room or the mobile app to control everything in the room.

• Frank from United States (9/10)

  Room was small but cozy. Fun vibe throughout the hotel. Staff was helpful.

• Paul-louis from United States (9/10)

  + well located
  + self check in/out super easy and convenient
  + room clean and functional ; confortable bed ; great city view ; good noise isolation
  + common space well decorated
  + staff super friendly

Facilities