What a pleasant surprise.
My family and I were in need of a Chicago-adjacent place to crash for a weekend, and Chez kept pulling up during my search. I read the reviews. Some good, some bad. But the place looked slick, it was affordable, it was pet friendly, and we were in a pinch. So, to the Chez we went.
It's pretty. Very pretty. Much more upscale of an aura than I expected. You walk in, and it's vaulted ceilings, swanky lighting, modern accent pieces, and lavish floors. Our room had two extremely comfy Queen beds, a huge TV, and a serene, spacious rain-style shower. I love the design. No nonsense, just a few mirrors and pieces of art in a well laid out space. Bonus points for the creative book shelf wallpaper in the bathroom. And probably most important of all, our room was exceptionally clean, with zero wear and tear.
I took a peek at the rooftop restaurant and special event spaces, and was impressed. I totally get why people would host a party here. Just look at the photos. The rooftop bar was open for a bit during our stay, and I could absolutely see a fun night out. They've got a retractable roof to fit whatever mood, and clearly sleek cocktail lounge was on the mind while putting it together.
But the REAL reason we enjoyed the Chez as thoroughly as we did, was the staff. Ten out of ten. I started by booking via phone with Fatima, who graciously handled my many questions. She was pleasant, patient, and knowledgeable. Hospitality employees should be nice, but Fatima exudes what it is to run a hotel at an elite level. Extra thanks to her for finding my wife a nice space to handle a few work calls without interruption. After Fatima was off the clock, Nora took over. So incredibly polite and helpful. I first hit Nora up when I realized our groceries wouldn't fit in the mini-fridge, and she had a solution to keep our stuff chilled in no time. The next morning, I spoke with Andy about room service, and had yet another solid, friendly experience. These were not the fake smile, "yes of course," while rolling eyes behind your back experiences. Real service. Genuinely kind staff are hard to come by, let alone three shifts in a row. These three get it, and because of them, our stay was five stars.
Yes, there were some minor issues, but they did not impact the overall experience. We had room 409, and could hear a slight hum when the elevators were operated. I assume that's the case for all the '09' rooms, so this is more of a heads up for those extremely sensitive to sound. The AC struggled a wee bit, and the water temp was finicky at times. But we were comfortable, we rested well, and every request was handled in stride. During our stay, the first floor event space had a graduation on Friday night and a snazzy fundraiser on Saturday night, and we didn't hear a peep. We slept like babies, thanks to the superb beds and blackout curtains.
I'd 100% come back here. We are in the process of relocating to North Chicago, and if I have friends or fam in town that don't want Chicago proper, I am absolutely pointing them this way, even if it is a bit of a drive. Thanks to Fatima and team, we had a great stay. The Chez is a beauty, but it's that crew that really makes it shine. read more