River North, United States
Convenient, central location in the River North neighborhood near many attractions
Low rates for the area
Indoor pool with an outdoor sundeck
All rooms have ergonomic work chairs and coffeemakers
Pizzeria Ora serves deep dish Chicago-style pies and has a bar
On-site business center equipped with a computer and a printer
Small fitness center
Lobby has free coffee
Free underground parking
Free Wi-FI
In a loud, touristy area
Needs a general updating, especially the carpets and floors, and some of the rooms
No free breakfast
Strong smell of cleaning products in the hallways
The Best Western River North is a mid-range hotel for the budget-conscious business traveler in the center of Chicago's trendy River North neighborhood. It's on a touristy block surrounded by high-rise loft condos and theme restaurants. The rooms are clean, but 2011 renovations are already wearing thin, and the hotel needs an overall update. The hotel provides amenities to business travelers, with ergonomic work chairs (and free Wi-Fi), but lacks the on-site breakfast comparable hotels offer. Low rates and free parking, a rarity in Chicago, make this a good choice for travelers who want to stay near the Magnificent Mile, but the worn carpets and overpowering scent of cleaning products in the hallways might turn away others. The nearby Hampton Inn & Suites trades free parking for a less appealing free breakfast but significantly more updated decor.
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Scene
Mid-range business hotel
From the outside, the Best Western Plus River North Hotel looks generic: a brick facade accented only with a bright red sign advertising the hotel's name. Inside, the lobby looks like a living room, with aging big chain furnishings on worn checkerboard area rugs. A bookshelf stocked with hardcover tomes and serve yourself coffee adds a little warmth to the space. The indoor swimming pool is a nice size and includes patio furniture indoors and on the adjacent outdoor deck. Many of the visitors are business travelers, though tourists like the location and low rates as well.
Location
In the center of River North
The hotel is located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, once a warehouse district populated by artists and writers, it's now best known for its high concentration of restaurants, art galleries, and boutique shopping. Between the large "Rock-'n-Roll" McDonald's across the street, with the Hard Rock Cafe and the Rainforest Cafe all within shouting distance, this hotel is in an epicenter of chain-style tourist traps. A crowded tourist destination, it's also brimming with nightlife options, from upscale clubs to chain, theme restaurants. The Magnificent Mile, an iconic stretch of North Michigan Avenue, filled with upscale shopping and famous landmarks, is within walking distance, six blocks away. Guests can pick up the popular double-decker tour buses a block from the hotel (right in front of the McDonald's and the Hard Rock Cafe). It's a seven-minute drive to the lakefront and Navy Pier. Expect a 25- to 40-minute drive to O'Hare International Airport, depending on traffic.
Rooms
Desks, ergonomic chairs, coffeemakers
Renovated in 2011 but already in need of updates, the contemporary rooms have a neutral decor with gray/brown carpets and curtains, bright-white walls, and dark wood furniture. They're average in size, with small desks and nice ergonomic work chairs. Double Rooms also fit in comfortable-looking armchairs and ottomans. The bathrooms stand out with checkerboard black-and-white tiled walls, but the shower/tub combos have aging fixtures. Flat-screen TVs with HBO, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers come standard, but only Deluxe Rooms and Suites have mini-fridges.
Features
Indoor pool, outdoor deck, pizzeria, and free parking
This property has convenient and fun features. The indoor pool is large enough for laps, and the connected outdoor sundeck is a good spot to take in views of downtown. The adjacent fitness room is small, with only a handful of cardio machines. For dining, the on-site bar and restaurant, Pizzeria Ora, serves Italian American standards as well as Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Guests can find free, locally roasted coffee (but no breakfast) in the lobby all day long near the small business center, which has a single computer and printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The most notable feature is the free underground parking, a significant perk, and a rare one, in Chicago.
