Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile

The Hyatt exudes big-city sophistication from arrival at the 17-story property. The recent extensive renovation has yielded a modern, multi-color decor throughout. A thoughtfully designed lobby gives the large hotel a more intimate feel. Several separate areas offer living room-like spaces with dark-wood and leather sectional couches and chairs, coffee tables, and floor lamps that provide soft light. Colorful patterned carpet and artwork, large sculptures, and a dazzling array of modern chandeliers create an inviting environment throughout the public spaces. The bar adjacent to the check-in area is equally sophisticated with a light wood-framed bar with softly backlit bottles. And the business center feels like a posh private library with dozens of books on illuminated shelves, comfortable leather couches for reading, and work stations with leather chairs and Apple computers. With 20,000 square feet of meeting space including two large ballrooms, this can be a busy hotel at times with meeting delegates packing the street-level Starbucks and the restaurant throughout the day. And the lounge is lively with live entertainment five nights per week. 

The Hyatt is located one block east of the upscale shops along the Magnificent Mile (North Michigan Ave.) and within a 20-minute walking radius of many other downtown Chicago landmarks including the Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, and Chicago Riverwalk. Surrounding the hotel is the posh, tree-lined Streeterville neighborhood, a primarily residential area with an array of restaurants and street-level shops. Northwestern University's Medical Center and campus is directly across the street. Two major bus stops are within one block, but the Grand Red subway station that provides train connections to O'Hare and Midway Airports is six blocks away. Driving times to the airports are approximately 40 to 55 minutes (O'Hare) and 25 to 50 minutes (Midway) depending on traffic and time of day.

Rooms earn high marks for being clean, comfortable, spacious, and tastefully decorated with beige and dark-wood accents and light cascading from the patterned cloth headboard behind the signature Hyatt Grand bed. Modern touches include iPod/iPhone docking stations, plug-in media centers, and leather chairs with stainless steel legs. Bathrooms are equally spacious, modern, and light with stainless steel fixtures, large mirrors, and tan-tiled shower/tub combos. Corner King Rooms offer double sinks, more windows, and a layout the makes them feel more spacious. Bathrobes, safes, coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee, iPod/iPhone docking stations, free Wi-Fi, media plug-in panels, 46-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and motion sensors that light a path to the bathroom are standard in all rooms. And bathrooms are stocked with Kenet MD products, toothpaste, and mouthwash. Note, rooms facing the Northwestern Memorial Hospital's emergency room can hear sirens at all hours, but the noise is generally muffled. 

The restaurant serves American cuisine with a farm-to-table focus throughout the day, including a full breakfast, which is not included in room rates. The adjacent bar and lounge offer custom cocktails with ingredients made in-house, local craft beer, and live evening entertainment. Rooms service is also available, and there's a Starbucks on-site. The 24-hour fitness center is large and equipped with the latest weight-lifting and cardio equipment. It overlooks a small indoor pool and whirlpool. Business travelers can make use of the 24-hour business center and 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Concierge services and valet parking are also available. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel.