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Chicago, IL

North America

United States

# Le Méridien Essex Chicago – Premier hotel experience in Chicago, IL

Le Méridien Essex Chicago is a distinguished hotel located at 800 South Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, offering a blend of modern amenities and historical charm. Known for its strategic location near Grant Park and various cultural attractions, this hotel caters to both business and leisure travelers. With a commitment to guest satisfaction, it features a restaurant, comfortable accommodations, and a welcoming atmosphere. Despite mixed reviews regarding service and room quality, the hotel's elegant lobby and proximity to the city’s vibrant life make it a notable choice for visitors.

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Not sure why this hotel has such a low rating but my experience was pretty good. Was in town for work and this hotel was reasonable considering many of the other options. Valet pricing was pretty high so I parked in a nearby garage that had in and out privileges. Staff was friendly upon entering and the lobby area is really nice. I ate in the hotel restaurant 2x and it was pretty good. My room was comfy but on the small side. The biggest negative is that noise from the hallway traveled quite a bit. I was only there for 2 nights but had a pleasant stay.

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I've stayed at many Marriott hotels over the years, and one of the reasons I've always preferred them over other brands is their consistency, professionalism, and guest-first service. Unfortunately, this location completely broke that standard with one of the most illogical and inconsistent policies I've ever experienced--along with an unsafe and pathetic check-in process. I arrived at the hotel at 12:30 pm--just 90 minutes before their standard 2:00 pm check-in "at no cost." My room was already clean and ready, yet I was told that in order to check in early, I would need to pay $25. Otherwise, I had to sit in the lobby and wait until after 2:00 pm to get the exact same room, in the exact same condition, that was already prepared for me. Meanwhile, their tiny lobby was packed. Rather than give a customer their room, they preferred to have guests sit in the lobby for 90 minutes. This makes no sense on multiple levels. I've checked into Marriott properties across the country as early as 10:00 am or 11:00 am without ever once being asked to pay extra. The simple rule has always been: if the room is ready, you can check in. In fact, one of the hallmarks of Marriott's service has always been flexibility when rooms are available. For this location to take something as simple and customer-friendly as allowing an early check-in, and instead turn it into a $25 money-grab, is both inconsistent with the Marriott brand and insulting to loyal guests (I am currently Gold Elite). It's just bad business logic. The room is empty, clean, and ready--yet before the arbitrary time of 2:00 pm it costs $25, but after 2:00 pm it's magically free? There is no additional cost to the hotel, no extra work for the staff, and no legitimate reason for the fee. It's simply an arbitrary rule designed to squeeze money from guests while undermining trust in the brand. Once I was finally able to check in, my sister and I were assigned room 916. We went upstairs, but our keys didn't work. I went back down to have them reactivated while my sister waited with our luggage outside the room. After 15 minutes--thanks to the painfully slow elevators--I returned, only to find the keys still did NOT work. So, I went back downstairs for a third time and asked for a manager. While I was speaking to her, my sister called me frantically to say there were people inside "our" room. This put her in a very unsafe situation, as a complete stranger thought she was trying to gain access to their room. How does a simple check-in get messed up that badly? They gave me keys to another guest's room without realizing it. I'm just grateful the keys didn't work, because otherwise, I would have walked in on strangers in their room. Shame on this location for completely dropping the ball and turning what should have been a simple one-night stay--after a long week of work at another Marriott location that was seamless--into a stressful and unsafe experience.

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Recently stayed at Le Méridien for a conference in the area. Upon check in, I was immediately greeted. The lobby area is not that big, but the decor is very nice. There is a restaurant located to the left of the entrance. I did not visit the restaurant but overhead someone say it was kind of pricey. I had a king size room on the 4th floor. The room was small and there was not much space. I am also one who likes to iron and I did not see an iron located in the room. I was also on the side where the trash truck picks up and was woken up at 2:35 in the morning by the sound of the dumpsters being emptied. As a light sleeper this was not how I wanted to start my day. I believe there are 16 floors. The elevators became quite busy once people started getting moving in the morning and we had to wait for several elevator trips before we could get downstairs.

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I stay at Le Méridien often in Europe, and have always liked it, but I have to say, I was disappointed in this version in Chicago. The room was not particularly clean, especially the bathroom...the towels were worn and cheap feeling....and there was nowhere near enough storage space in the bathroom. Whoever designed the bathroom should be fired. On the plus side...great location and a comfy bed. Overall, I prefer the nearby Blake Hotel.

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We booked this for a long weekend in Chicago. Needed to bump up my Marriott status to platinum and this stay will get that done. The room was very affordable although small. Room configurations are limited and not sure an upgrade is worth the price. We went with a standard room. It's New York tiny but decently appointed. Comfy bed. Lots of pillows and even an ironing board. It feels junky due to the compact size and the amount of stuff they jam in there. Used the desk for a remote day of work. It was ok. WiFi wasn't great for hosting teams calls so I ended up cancelling one. Coffee setup is ok. Heating and cooling were good. Room has lots of windows which are nice but when it's cold outside, it quickly gets cold inside. Heater worked well to keep it warm. Two elevators were always busy and reasonably fast. Deal service was blah. Barely could be bothered to acknowledge us at check in. I wanted to ask for an upgrade but felt like I was going to get a snooty eye roll and so I let it go. Bathroom is small but live the blue tile and sink. Natural ventilation keeps it from being too humid. We had Hilton towels during our stay. Haha thought that was odd. Feels trendy. Great location for us. We normally stay next door at the Hilton and prefer that but this was ok for the purpose. Quick access to grant park, museums, cloud gate etc. Twenty minute walk to blue line. Red line is closer. Decent food options nearby. Valet parking only and I have no idea how much. I wouldn't stay here again but it served its purpose.

259b3eec-ee86-488c-93e3-fd6e25a8a20f

The Le Méridien Essex is one of the better Marriott stays I've had in a while. The people were amazing and they clearly put a lot of effort into the hotel; the changeover of lobby decor was a nice touch. I appreciated the champagne upon check-in. The stay was easy for my conference next door at the Hilton. I liked being able to get away from the conference to a different space, but it only took me 3-4 minutes to get to my sessions from my room. My only complaint was the stain on the walls of my room. It is something I would expect a hotel that prides itself on presentation to take care of.

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Booker beware: don't expect customer service from this hotel if an issue arises. I won't stay here again, that's for sure. I had a reservation with this hotel earlier this month. I am very respectful and tidy wherever I stay. I don't make noise, I don't take anything that doesn't belong to me, and I don't spend much time in the room. During my stay in Chicago, I mostly explored the city until it was time to take a shower and go to bed. I even returned my card keys the morning I checked out so they could be recycled. Once I got home, I noticed that, in addition to daily destination fees, I was charged a one-time $50 fee. When I called the hotel to get clarity on the charge, I was told that the remote control in the room was damaged. The only time I touched the remote was to turn the TV off, since it was on when I entered the room. I was not examining the remote - only turning the TV off - but it didn't seem damaged the one time I used it. I was told that the manager was not in and that she would contact me after an investigation was done. I never received a call. I tried calling again three days later and was told again that I would receive a call from the manager. Again, she never called. I followed up another three days later and was told that the manager would be out for two days. I don't understand how a hotel doesn't have a manager on staff. Yet again, I agreed to wait to get a call back about the situation. Yet again, I received no call from her. I have been charged $50 for something I did not do and have not even gotten the respect of a call about it. I have given the hotel nine days to investigate this situation and contact me, but after clearly being ignored for over a week, I will issue a warning to people looking at this hotel: make sure to record and take pictures of all of the items in your room the day you check out. It's truly your word against the hotel's, and no one there cares enough to reach out to you and speak to you about the situation. I don't know what happened to the item in question. All I know is that I had nothing to do with it and I'm being penalized for something I didn't do.

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Comfortable room. Was on 14th floor. Took me a bit to figure out the shower. Clean room.. wish they had a master switch on both sides of the bed. Also provided a $16 coupon to use at the restaurant to offset the destination fee.

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Stayed here on a business trip. I waited outside 5-10 mins for valet parking, and no one was around. Finally, I noticed him standing at the front door. Valet is $75 a night, stay far away from this. Went inside for check in, we received a daily $16 credit for food, so we went in for a quick snack. We ordered the Buffalo chicken sandwhich and fries. The fries were full of oil and the chicken was horrible. I didn't use the credit the rest of the trip. There were no rooms available, so I got the two double beds. Who wants two double beds! This is very weird. The beds were ok, but I looked out my window and all I saw was another bldg. The next morning, I went down for coffee. They don't have coffee except for inside the restaurant. Overall, not what I should expect for a Marriott.

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This is a customer service issue with Marriott overall and NOT the hotel which in the past has been great when I have made reservations for family members. First, I tried to call hotel at the number on my reservation to add names to a reservation. Then this: Marriott now appears to not let you talk to the hotel even when you call the hotel number on the reservation. Their new AI agent is total impediment and now provides the worst service ever with Marriott. This is now case both with their MVC (Timeshares) and hotel customer service. I've had to make two calls in the past two days on different issues. One I was told I need to call back and the other with a reservation at this hotel. After nearly 15 minutes on both calls, I finally got to talk to agent. For the MVC call at least to was someone at the actual resort. For the Le Meridian it was an agent who I fear was located in India. There was so much noise in the background that I could not hear the agent and she was telling me I had a bad connection. Ridiculous and a bad joke. I'm ready to dump Marriott completely. This is the level of service I get as a "Titanium Lifetime Member"!

Discover Le Méridien Essex Chicago, a premier restaurant in downtown Chicago. Experience exquisite cuisine and vibrant city views. Book your table now!

Le Méridien Essex Chicago Hotel - Luxury Stay in Downtown Chicago

Chicago

Le Méridien Essex Chicago

Illinois

Discover luxury at Le Méridien Essex Chicago on South Michigan Ave. Enjoy exquisite dining, stylish rooms, and vibrant city views. Book your stay now!

Le Méridien Essex Chicago - Chic Downtown Hotel & Dining Experience

Learn about Le Méridien Essex Chicago, a premier hotel offering modern comfort, exceptional dining, and prime location in the heart of Chicago. Explore more!

About Le Méridien Essex Chicago - Stylish Downtown Hotel & Restaurant

Opening hours for Le Méridien Essex Chicago, located at 800 South Michigan Ave, Chicago. Find opening hours for dining and hotel services on South Michigan Ave.

Le Méridien Essex Chicago Menu Overview

Signature Dishes

Beverages and Pairings

Dietary Options

Chef Recommendations

Experience the Menu at Le Méridien Essex Chicago

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