Quiet, central location in Chicago's River North neighborhood near popular attractions
Stylish, eco-friendly rooms with iPod docking stations
French restaurant and lobby bar/cafe on-site
Full-service spa
24-hour fitness center
Meeting rooms and 24-hour business center
Free Wi-Fi
Artistic and cozy lobby has a fireplace
Eco-friendly property
Fee for valet parking
Small rooms, no mini-fridges or coffeemakers
Some furniture shows excessive wear and tear
No sauna or hot tub in spa
Chicago's first hotel built to meet Silver LEED certifications for its eco-friendly practices, Hotel Felix merges upscale amenities with renewable furnishings and energy efficiency. It's just off the busy thoroughfares, making it a relaxing spot to stay (with a spa), while it's still an easy walk to the action on the Magnificent Mile, and all of River North's nightlife. The environmentally-conscious will likely appreciate just how thoroughly green this hotel is, if they don't mind small rooms. While it's a central location for tourists, the Felix caters to business travelers, with its comfortable, if somewhat cramped, work spaces, and stylish meeting rooms. The nearby Dana Hotel and Spa doesn't share the sustainable pedigree, but it has similar amenities with larger rooms.
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Scene
Elegant and eco-conscious
The hotel's reliance on compact fluorescent bulbs, sustainable artwork, and carpets made of recycled materials doesn't intrude on its sleek, elegant atmosphere. Blown glass orbs hang from the ceiling in the lobby, which is filled with natural light from high windows, and accented with some low-voltage decorative lighting (the few non-florescent bulbs in the hotel). Contemporary arm chairs and a glass fireplace make the space stylish and cozy. The LEED-certified renovation used local, sustainable, and recycled material in the remodeling. Housekeeping uses non-bleach, green cleaning products, and an energy management system that relies on motion sensors regulates the building's heating. Couples and business travelers are the main clientele -- though kids are welcome, the elegant atmosphere is more suited to adults.
Location
On a quiet street in the city center
The hotel is centrally located in River North. 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. Hotel Felix is on a quiet street, but the area brims with nightlife, from upscale clubs to chain theme restaurants. The Magnificent Mile, an iconic stretch of North Michigan Avenue known for its upscale shopping and famous landmarks, is five blocks away. The Loop, Chicago's most concentrated business district across the river, is less than a five-minute drive. Midway International Airport is about a 30-minute drive southwest, and O'Hare International is 40-minutes to an hour through more congested traffic to the northwest.
Rooms
Small and eco-friendly with iPod docks
The small rooms designed to meet LEED certification leave out a few energy-guzzling amenities like microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers, which some may miss in a four-star hotel room. Beyond that, the rooms lack for nothing (save floor space), with iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, stylish sitting chairs, and work desks with comfortable roller chairs. Some of the furniture shows an excessive amount of wear and tear, which might be due to the cramped space. The small modern bathrooms have walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads and L'Occitane toiletries. Some rooms have gorgeous views of the Chicago skyline.
Features
French restaurant, coffee/cocktail bar, spa, 24-hour fitness center
The on-site restaurant, Troquet River North, serves French cuisine, breakfast, (including weekend brunch) lunch, and dinner. By day, the lobby bar is a cafe serving locally roasted, fair-trade coffee and by night it's an intimate cocktail bar. The hotel caters to business travelers with three meeting rooms, all with ergonomically designed seating, audio-visual equipment, and a 24-hour business center with multiple computers and printers. The spa has neither a sauna or hot tub but uses organic products in its full-service range of treatments and massages. The 24-hour fitness center has treadmills, Stairmasters, and free weights -- all in a room with a recycled floor.
