I have been wary of boutique hotels in the past because sometimes I think they put the "pretense of looking cool" over service or substance. The Hard Rock Chicago, however, is a really solid boutique hotel. There is of course a rock and roll theme but it is not pervasive all over the hotel (i.e. its not cheesy)- there is paraphanelia here and there. It doesn't attract annoying teens or loud party people; there was definitely a diversity of people staying at the hotel, from businessmen to families. We stayed in Room 1404, which is a standard room but on the corner which had a nice view of Michigan Avenue. I highly recommend requesting a corner room because we had a lot of space, and also specify facing Michigan Avenue because an entire side of the hotel faces another building. There were two sitting areas, as well as a desk, dresser, two free standing closets and a bed. The bathroom was large as well, with a huge window by the bathtub. (Yes, there's a shade you can pull down. :) ) The products are Aveda, which is nice. The decor was modern and new. We ordered light bites for room service every morning and always received a follow up message on our room's voicemail asking if we needed anything else and if the service was satisfactory. We also got freebies with our room service every day. It was nice that they took the time to care. The gym was also very nice and spacious with a variety of machines. Be advised that while this hotel is downtown, it is not on the Magnificent Mile - it is a several block walk. (You are closer to Millenium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago.) However, you are close enough to have access to the Magnificent Mile and you will probably get a better deal at this hotel than others in that area. We had debated between this hotel and the Hotel Monaco (a Kimpton Hotel) which was down the block, and having walked into the Monaco to check it out, I am very glad we stayed at the Hard Rock. The Monaco's lobby looked kind of tired looking and Marriot-esque. All in all, a very positive experience and I would recommend it to anyone.

After reading some of the negatives I found the Hard Rock a great stay! Location was amazing and I never found myself wanting to be closer to anything , as a first time visitor to Chicago I relied heavily on the conceirge staff and wasnt let down one bit, the door staff and front desk staff was helpful approcable and friendly, staff wise I couldnt ask for much more! I did however have a couple small negatives, first was so minor but my boss who stayed in another room complained of how far the toilet paper was from the commode, minor I know but not when your already sitting lol. The fixture for TP was over 2 arms lengths away and how women havent argued this point I just dont know! The only other issue I had which was resolved very quickly is that the mini bar is motion sensor controlled, meanign if you even move a bottle from its original place it will signal a purchase, so after attempting to squeeze a deep dish pizza box into the mini fridge I was billed over a hundred dollars for the drinks I moved and not drank! Again though they are aware of the system and make refunds easily enough to rectify it! We stayed in the side that wasnt towers and our rooms were spacious, clean and well maintained, something I have some to expect of a 200 a night room! I payed far less than that as I used the housing board for a trade show to book so receiving the discount was a added bonus! I will say its rather noisy downtown and comming from a suburb of south Florida I wasnt used to hearing sirens and street noise but I managed to get plenty of sleep! the hotel restuarant was pricy but expected try the place around the corner for a cheaper same quality breakfast or ask the Concierge desk! If you seek good valuie, friendly staff and a amazing location close to everything this is a great choice! The added bonus of music everywhere you go and a surround sound sysytem on the room tv was a real plus as well!

I really enjoyed my stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago. The facilities were clean and elegant and the view of Michigan Avenue from our room added to the ambiance. The trendy lobby bar was a good place to relax, and the service at the desk was polite and timely. The highlight of the stay for me was the room. It was a spacious room with modern decor. The beds were the most comfortable I have ever slept in. I truly melted when I laid down. The small touches added a lot - the guitar embroidered on the pillow cases, the CD player, the coffee machine, the bath robe, the huge shower... The only thing I can complain about is that the blow drier in the room didn't work. I highly recommend this hotel.

We loved the modern elegance and simplicity of our room complimented by rock and roll art and artifacts. The service was excellent and the ambiance of the lobby coupled with a nightcap in the lounge made for an excellent end to a perfect long weekend in Chicago. I highly recommend this hotel.

Stayed at this hotel with two girlfriends - they were in a queen hard rock room, which was really cool with a hallway and a big glass shower. I got the corner suite, which was awesome! There was a squarish modern-looking couch and a big TV, and really great views. The bed was one of the most comfortable I've ever slept in. The three of us agreed the hotel goes out of their way to hire eye candy staff - and we're not complaining. Service was friendly, bar drinks were really creative, and the rock theme of the hotel made us feel WAY cooler than we really are. Our stay was great, and we'd highly recommend this hotel to anyone.