Essex Inn Rating: 3.0 Pearls

South Loop, Chicago, Illinois

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Inside, the Essex Inn feels somewhat generic -- ugly carpets, chain-like furniture, and few personalized details or artistic touches. But its great extras -- an impressive indoor pool, a rooftop garden overlooking Lake Michigan, a free shuttle to tourist sites -- make it better than a run-of-the-mill mid-range property. Plus, it's got great amenities for both families and business travelers: Coin-operated laundry, mini-fridges, and large suites for families, and a 24-hour business center and quality fitness center for business travelers.

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The Essex Inn is located on the southern end of the so-called Michigan Avenue Cultural Mile, the stretch of Michigan Avenue that runs from the Chicago River down the length of Grant Park. It gets its name from the numerous cultural attractions it goes past, including the Jay Pritzer Pavilion at Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum Campus, home to the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History.

The Loop, the historic commercial center of Downtown Chicago, is a 5-minute drive away, or a 15-minute walk. Magnificent Mile, an iconic stretch of North Michigan Avenue famous for its upscale shopping, and home to galleries and landmarks (the historic Water Tower, the Wrigley Building) is a 7-minute drive away. The Essex Inn provides a free shuttle that makes four runs in the morning to the Museum Campus and then makes stops in the afternoon at North Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute, and Navy Pier.

• 4-minute drive to Grant Park
• 7-minute drive to the Chicago Cultural Center
• 7-minute drive to the Magnificent Mile
• 7-minute drive to the Museum of Contemporary Art
• 7-minute drive to Tribune Tower
• 7-minute drive to the John G. Shedd Aquarium
• 8-minute drive to the Chicago Water Tower
• 8-minute drive to Chinatown
• 10-minute drive to Lincoln Park Zoo
• 30-minute drive to O’Hare International Airport

King Suite

All the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, some with great views of Lake Michigan, Grant Park, and the Museum Campus. But the decor feels generic and slightly dated.

All rooms include:

• Flat-screen TV
• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• Free Wi-Fi
• Desk
• Alarm clock radio with iPod hookup
• Mini-fridge
• Coffee/tea maker
• Iron and ironing board

Room types:

• Standard Room: King bed, queen bed, or two doubles
• King Deluxe: King bed; sitting area
• Double Suite: 2 double beds; separate living room with queen sofa bed; 2 flat-screen TVs; option to connect to adjoining king deluxe room
• Family Suite: Two bedrooms; one with a queen bed and one with 2 double beds; 2 flat-screen TVs
• King Suite: King bed; separate living room with sleeper sofa; 2 flat-screen TVs; option to connect to adjoining standard king room

The pool

The Essex Inn’s enormous, heated indoor pool is a big hit with families. The hotel also has a moderately priced restaurant, Savoy Bar and Grill; a rooftop garden overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan; free Wi-Fi; a sauna; and a well-equipped fitness center.

• Indoor rooftop pool (open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) in a big, airy room on the fourth floor with a view of Lake Michigan; lots of lounge chairs as well as tables with board games; decorative plants; international flags hanging from the ceiling
• Sauna
• Fitness center: 1,350 square feet; treadmills, bikes, elliptical machines, weight machines, free weights, and 6 TVs; open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Rooftop garden overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan
• 24-hour business center with desktop computers, high-speed Internet access (for a fee), a printer; copy machine and supplies; fax machine at the front desk
• Free Michigan Avenue shuttle; runs in the morning to the Museum Campus and afternoon to North Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute, and Navy Pier
• Valet parking $37 per day with in-and-out privileges
• Free Wi-Fi in the room and throughout the hotel
• ATM in the lobby
• Laundry room with supplies and coin-operated machines
• 5 meeting/banquet rooms
• Savoy Bar and Grill: Serves a wide range of moderately priced American food; open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Smoking rooms available