Background & Location
In looking for a three-night stay in Chicago, the Renaissance Chicago Downtown seemed like a great option with its convenient location, and since I would be sharing with a friend, the Two Queen Beds seemed nicer than the Two Double Beds that many other properties in the city offered.
The Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel boasts a prime location in the heart of the city, along the Chicago Riverwalk. Surrounded by vibrant theaters, top dining spots, and iconic landmarks, it offers easy access to the best of Chicago’s culture and nightlife. It’s also about a 10-15 minute walk to Millennium Park & the famous Bean.
Travel Agency Benefits
I work with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays. Fora is part of Marriott STARS and Luminous. This partnership gives you special perks when booking with me. The Renaissance Chicago Downtown comes with the following:
- Daily breakfast for two
- Complimentary upgrade upon availability
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in/late check-out upon availability
If you are interested in getting these perks and want to stay at The Renaissance Chicago Downtown, please email me at takeofftotravel@fora.travel, and I would be happy to help you plan your trip.
Takeoff Points for the Renaissance Chicago Downtown
Date of Stay: May 2025
Pros: Solid club lounge, comfortable rooms, and a nice rooftop bar.
Cons: Rooms are slightly dated, and the fitness center could be refreshed.
Takeoff Point: A solid choice along the Chicago Riverfront with comfortable rooms and great views.
Arrival and Lobby
The morning of my arrival, I saw on the Marriott Bonvoy App that I was upgraded to a Chicago River View, thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Status. I checked into the property around 3 pm after checking out of the Westin Michigan Avenue.
I found the entrance and lobby to be quite chic, and liked the hip but tasteful decor. For me, W Hotels seem a bit too modern, while standard Marriott’s are a bit plain, so I like how Renaissance is a bit more hip.
I was checked in quickly by a friendly associate and headed up to my room.
2 Queen River View Room
Our room was located on the 21st floor. Upon entering the room, there was a closet, and then a standard three-piece bathroom across from it.
Bathroom
The bathroom was a good size, with ample counter space. The towels were of solid quality, and the shower pressure was decent.
Toiletries were provided by two different brands, which was a bit interesting. The shampoo and conditioner were by Aveda, while the body wash and lotion were provided by Kevin Murphy. Makeup removal wipes were also included.
Bedroom
There are two queen beds separated by a nightstand with an alarm clock, notepad, and pen. The beds were of great quality, and I got a solid night’s sleep.
The only issue was that I noticed on the first night before heading to sleep that there was a large stain on the comforter, so I had to put a towel over it and decided to worry about it in the morning. I requested my sheets to be changed, and thankfully, the stain disappeared the next night. Other than this, the other aspects of the room were clean.
There is a TV, plus a coffee maker & tea bags, as well as a mini fridge for personal use.
There is an armchair with a small table, and an additional armchair with a larger table. I think the larger table is serving as a replacement for a desk, though having a traditional desk setup would have been nicer.
View
The highlight of the room was the view of the Chicago River. It was quite breathtaking, and it was particularly nice on a sunny day.
Destination Fee
The Renaissance Chicago Downtown has a daily destination fee of $25 plus tax per night. It comes with:
- $25 Food & Beverage Credit
- Historic Store Tour of Macy’s on State Street
- One time entry to the Chicago Architectural Center (up to 2 people)
- eAtlas Self-Guided Walking Tour
- Hotel Postcard
And, Marriott Bonvoy Elite Members receive a complimentary bag of Garrett’s Signature Popcorn.
I used the F & B credit daily, once at the Raised Rooftop Bar & then twice for just grab-and-go snacks.
Club Lounge
The club lounge is located on the lobby level next to the guest elevators. It’s a nice space, and during opening hours, you can get refreshments from the fully stocked fridge.
Hours during my stay were:
- Sunday from 5 pm to 10 pm
- Monday to Thursday from 6:30 am to 10 pm
- Friday 6:30 am to 12 pm
Breakfast is served from 6:30 am to 9 am Monday-Friday, and the Hors d’oeuvres service is from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Sunday-Thursday.
For breakfast, I found the spread to be pretty good for a club lounge. There were hot items like eggs, bacon/sausage, cold cuts, pastries, fresh fruit, and yogurt.
I visited the hors d’oeuvres twice during my stay, and each day they switched it up a bit. There were cold cuts and a bar with alcohol for purchase. For hot items, they switched it up each day. One day, they had cold beef skewers and a delicious tofu kimchi. The other day, there were stuffed artichoke hearts and BBQ buns. For a domestic US lounge, it’s pretty decent.
On weekends, since the lounge is closed, there is a continental to-go breakfast offered at the lobby bar’s Staytion window from 7:30 am to 11 am. It comes with a coffee/tea, pastries, and cut fruit, which is a bit on the basic side.
Amenities
Fitness Center
There’s a 24/7 fitness center, and it has a decent amount of equipment, though they were a bit dated. I worked out here one day, and I just wish they had some Pelotons.
Indoor Pool
Next to the fitness center is a heated indoor pool that is open from 6 am to 10 pm daily. There are locker rooms and towels provided.
Dining
Staytion Market & Bar
The main restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner is Staytion, and it also features a bar component as well as a grab-and-go market.
Raised, an Urban Rooftop Bar
On the 4th floor, Raised offers amazing views of the Chicago skyline and river. It offers elevated bar food and indoor/outdoor spaces.
I visited for a drink at night, and the views were great.
In-Room Dining
Room service is also available 24/7.
The Verdict
Overall, I truly enjoyed my stay at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown. The room was comfortable, and I enjoyed the riverfront view and location. The lobby was nice and hip, and the club lounge was solid.
Have you stayed at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown before? How was your experience? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
