Hyatt Centric Chicago
When the Hyatt Centric brand was first introduced a few years ago, I didn’t really get the concept or see how it filled a gap in Hyatt’s portfolio of properties. I really like the Andaz brand and it’s been my “modern” choice when traveling for a while now; however, my company has a list of preferred hotels in each city that I must use, and the Hyatt Centric was one of the only decent options for my trip to Chicago a couple of weeks back. I booked the standard room and redeemed a Diamond Suite Upgrade which got me into a Hyatt Suite.
Check In
I arrived in Chicago pretty late and didn’t make it to the hotel until around 1:00AM. The night auditor was friendly and got us our keys quickly. She seemed a little caught off guard though when I asked her about the breakfast options for Diamonds and other amenities. I guess most people don’t want to delve into deal that late at night. To my surprise, room service was an option for the free breakfast.
The property feels a lot like a european hotel, tiny elevators and halls, minimal common area and Ikea-like finishes. The room itself was spacious and had a nice flow, with a few exceptions. The hotel gave me the ADA Hyatt Suite, so the toilet was on the complete opposite side of the bedroom as the main vanity and showers (that’s right, 2 showers!).
Breakfast
Knowing I needed to be out of the hotel by 7:30 the next morning I called down and left my room service breakfast order with the front desk. Room service was right on time the next morning, but the food left much to be desired. It was boxed up in to-go containers, cold and tasteless. My pancakes were definitely frozen before I got them.
The second morning, we went down to the restaurant and had a much better experience. The menu was the same, but the food was fresh and tasted a lot better. Do yourself a favor and just go down for breakfast. In the past, the hotel only offered Diamond guests $20-$30 voucher. The hotel has since dispensed with that policy and it’s no longer limited for 2 people.
Final Thoughts
There is a lounge onsite; however, after reading the reviews of others on Flyertalk and BoardingArea, I decided not to bother. Apparently, the “lounge” is open to all guests and just has a small fridge with bottles of water. Overall, this hotel is a solid property. I do think they could offer more services targeted toward business travelers, given the hotel is The Loop, which is the main financial district of Chicago. What you’re getting with this brand is a mix between a Hyatt Place and an Andaz with Ikea furniture. While there are better properties in Chicago, the Centric’s prices are competitive, and it’s a convenient location for business travel. If you’re traveling to Chicago on vacation, I suggest staying closer to Michigan Ave.
