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Hotel Sax Chicago
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Near North Side
333 N Dearborn St
(at Carroll Ave)
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 245-0333
333 N Dearborn St
(at Carroll Ave)
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 245-0333
- Nearest Transit:
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Clark/Lake (Pink, Brown, Green, Blue, Purple Express, Orange)
Lake (Red)
- Price Range:
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$$$
38 reviews for Hotel Sax Chicago
Since I was kicking off 2010 at the Crimson Lounge it only made sense to stay at the Hotel that was hosting the event. Good call, Josh G.
The ambiance of the hotel is dark and sultry. When you walk through the halls to your room I got the feeling of some dark and glamorous scene from a movie where someone is about to be seduced by an exotic stranger. The room itself is a bit brighter (but not much) with a more contemporary feel. The giant mirrors in the room creeped me out a bit at first, but turns out they can be quite handy.
The hotel has tons of great amenities. There's the Crimson Lounge, which is more plush and upscale spot to have a drink or you can take it down a few notches and head over to the bowling alley right next door. The hotel even has a game room where you can play xbox.
Room service is crazy expensive but after the party I was starving so I couldn't help myself. Almost as soon as I sunk into the ultra comfortable bed they were forgiven. Free wifi but the service seemed a bit spotty. I was never really able to get a good signal, but that could be just my iPhone being difficult. Loved the complimentary soaps and body wash, great scent. Actually loved the bathroom in general, including the nice, soft robe and the fabulous shower head with great water pressure. Hey, it's the little things...
Anyway, this hotel seems to have it all going on. Reasonable room prices, great location, tons of amenities, and great people. Happy New Year!
While I have stayed at Hotel Sax several times for overnight meetings, my most recent interaction had me at a function in it's banquet and reception area.
Hotel Sax is a contemporary hotel with all the amenities that you would expect. There is free wi-fi throughout the entire hotel (there are even 3 computers in the lobby where you can print your boarding passes or check on sports scores). A great convenience for the business traveler.
I also love the smell of this hotel. Crazy, I know, right? But there is some smell that permeates this hotel that gives the illusion that candles are burning everywhere. I can't put my finger on the scent but trust me- it's lovely.
The rooms are spacious and come with all the amenities that you could want, fluffy towels, soft linens and upscale toiletries in the bathrooms. The obligatory flat screen TV is also in all the rooms.
As for the function space- it was great. Right off the elevator is the pre-function area complete with a bar and ample room for mingling. While meeting rooms are just that, meeting rooms, if you can figure out how to have your entire reception in the pre function area- you will be pleased. The curved walls, modern feel and easy flow of this space is perfect for an upscale cocktail party.
The hotel is adjacent to so many great restaurants and touristy things that it makes it's location ideal for the business or leisure traveler. We got a room rate of around $150 which is great for the area on a weeknight.
I have stayed at Thompson Hotels in New York and LA and come to expect a high level of service and amenities from them. And their Chicago venue, Hotel Sax, delivers on just that!
Not a bad place. I got it for a steal from a discount website but I would not pay full price. It's a basic hotel with unique decorations. The standout was by and far, the game room. My friend and I jammed out on rockband for a while and I'm sure the guy working outside had a good time listening to me on the microphone.
Everything else was pretty basic. The conceriege wasn't anything special, neither was the room or other amenities. Well, we did like the bathrobes even though I looked like a little kid playing dress up in it. As for the reviews on here and tripadviser, I did not find it overly trendy in the least. Perhaps that's just me.
Bottom line: good location and basic place to stay. Just don't expect a super nice hotel.
Found out what the scent is! And it's not the candles.
The nice girl at the front desk was nice enough to tell me. She even gave me a print out that describes it.
It is a scent story that is piped in through the vents and made just for this hotel. Pretty cool concept. I'm guessing the won't bottle it for me. Darn!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/8/2009
I really really like the modern baroque style of this hotel. I don't know what it looked like when… Read more »
This hotel was amazing, service amazing, price amazing, location amazing!
Our company had their meeting here and I also stayed overnight. I really liked this hotel. I loved the lounge and the various seating. The staff was friendly & very accomodating. Our meeting went off without a hitch. The food was pretty good for "hotel conference food" and our beverages were refreshed on cue. Another important thing to note (at least for me) was that free wi-fi is provided throughout the hotel. If any of you travel - you know this is a nice perk.
I liked the room I was in. It was spacious, I liked the decor and dug the snakeskin chair in my room. Some things were a little off (like the mirrors in the room) but overall I thought the room was nice. The bed was comfy as well.
Our meeting attendees also really loved this hotel and this very well could be our first choice to have our downtown meeting next year....they were that happy with it. Yes, there are plenty of other hotels in this fine city but the rooms were very affordable and the savings we got with the free wi-fi were huge. If you've never been, Hotel Sax is worth a shot...
Before I moved to the city I would typically shack up at my friend's apartments for the night. However, last January my best friend and I went to see Tripping Billies at the House of Blues and due to the complicated logistics of a snowstorm and making multiple transfers with public transportation, we opted to get a room at Hotel Sax. We got an incredibly low rate of about $120 for a room with 2 queen beds and a sweet view of the Marina Towers and the river. The hotel itself is tastefully done in a dark, swanky manner...very classy. Our room was clean, big, and had a huge bathroom with upscale toiletries. If you're willing to pay top dollar, the treats provided in the mini bar were all top shelf (both the alcohol and the snacks).
The location is, of course, terrific if you're going to a HOB concert and the bar downstairs is super trendy but not full of Eurotrash like Enclave or Excalibur. I don't remember cocktails being any more expensive than the rest of the city, but then again, I don't remember much from the end of the evening. When it's cold out and you've just blown a ton of money on a concert and HOB drink prices, it was nice not to cab it all around the city and to just stay in one spot before staggering back to our room.
My only complaint is this (but it won't deter me from giving it 5 stars) - the room service is EXORBITANTLY priced. We each ordered a hamburger with fries and 2 Sprites (to mix with our vodka we brought, obviously). Turns out the Sprites were those mini half size glass bottles (think airplane size). The burgers were large but the fries were sorta cold. After the hefty original price, the room service charge, and the ridiculous Cook County sales tax, we each ended up spending $35 on dinner. Oh well, it made up for what we saved in the room rate that cold, January night....
Hotel Sax is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed in in a big city. The location is superb, right next to the iconic Corncob Towers and House of Blues along the River. You can easily jump on an architectural boat tour, walk over to the magnificent mile to throw down some scrilla, and only a short walk to the nearest subway and some great grub!
The design is trendy leaning towards modern without being sparse or too shi-shi. I think this explains the low lighting, but it's no problem if you just throw back the huge curtains or bring people home from the bar you don't want seeing you in the AM. (This is a joke.)
The beds are luxurious! The most comfortable hotel bed I've ever slept in or jumped on (sorry neighbors!) An ipod docking station would have been nice next to the bed. There was a nice flat screen TV which I never once turned on. And mirrors were ample (especially important if you were going with a group of girlfriends!) The size of the room was bigger than I would have ever imagined, as well as, the bathroom space. Toiletries provided were good quality. And I did notice an ironing board in the closest for those folks worried about wrinkles.
The hotel bar, Crimson, was hip and had parties most nights we were there. The hotel is attached to 10 Pin bowling and Bin 36 wine restaurant. So if you run out of things to do in the Windy City there's always bowling and wine!
I reserve my 5 stars for things that are mind blowing, but Hotel Sax gets 4 easily!
This is the tackiest and most gaudy hotel in Chicago, nothing flows or goes together as far as design goes.
The lobby appears way too simplistic, stark and yet hard around the edges as if their budget was limited not to do much more than shuffling some discarded props around and saying "whala"!
The front desk resembles a long glass display case, very similar to a cosmetics counter at the former Carson Pirie Scott on State Street. What where they thinking? Very cold and uninviting. Doesn't remotely look like a hotel lobby but rather more like a temporary, makeshift concession as it leaves one pondering whether they really entered the correct door to that of a hotel. Nothing vaguely chic here.
The bar off the lobby is the complete opposite, stuffed to the gills with a carnival assortment of theatrical looking furniture, props and decor in deep jewel tones. Almost eerie, very dim and spooky if no one is present, you kind of wonder if someone will startle you coming from out behind one of these cumbersome stage props.
Some of the hallways have brown quilted leather niches with a statuettes of Venus de milo or something going on, how offensively Greek diner. The kitchen areas in the suite were done in chocolate brown overkill, in fact if you were a naked couple of color, you would blend into the background quite nicely. Way too much chocolate brown, how long has this color been cool? ...and to go overboard with it, this late in the game is a good recipe for dating a place before it's time.
The rooms were a hodge podge of low end decor, mixed with contemporary blond colored furniture and then again more chocolate brown and a blood red velvet floor to ceiling drape to boot. I wanted to gag.
The bathroom was nice as you can always cover yourself in bubbles and pretend you've checked into the Peninsula or the Wit.
The Wit is a fun, new urban hotel in the loop.
BIG FAN. Makes you feel like a rock star even when you're just there on business.
This place knows a thing or two about doing upscale modern. Makes The Standard hotels look like a tired ole game of chutes and ladders.
Totally worth the money.
Most of the reviews here cover the guest rooms, and the hotel is an unlikely mix of modern and Victorian*. I would give that section four stars. More on that later.
Instead I want to focus on the amazing five star conference room facilities. My company held our annual event here and I was blown away. Walk out onto the 4th floor to be greeted by an amazing A/V display. I have a projector at home and it takes a lot to impress me. Yet this curved screen was easily 200" long. There is an equally impressive 3/4 circular white leather couch. I didn't count the number of seats, but I bet it could have accommodated a dozen people or more.
Walk past some cool contemporary curves (think less industrial Richard Serra), video screens outside each meeting room updating itineraries, a backlit waterfall, and you will find your way to an oval board room par excellence. Very tasteful wood and spotlights. Individual leather placemats for plates or laptops. A huge flat screen and enough room for a small buffet. I am sure the meeting venue was not cheap, but I can't imagine many places surpassing it.
*Getting back to the guest rooms, sadly when I say modern and Victorian, I do not mean in a steampunk sort of way. That would be much cooler. No, instead Hotel Sax has sort of a retro feel layered on top of a boutique hotel. Urban Outfitters is a good analogy. For instance, my wallpaper had a print of a chandelier shadow. The front desk consists of fine crystal cabinets.
The decor walks the line between cool and cheesy. I would say the rooms are quirky enough to mention but not enough to bother capturing in a picture. I am 6'2" and got stuck with two full beds instead of a queen or king, so that was a minor annoyance. Definite props on the water pressure. Not something I typically comment on, but that H2O blasts out of the oversized shower head and is hot right away. Overall, I can appreciate the style they are going for even though I probably wouldn't go back if I had to pay $180 again (including tax). If you can get a good deal for less, go for it.
Felt like a boutique hotel but I am nto sure if it is a chain or not. My family was in town and after doing some yelp research I decided to have them stay here.... and then I decided to stay here. The price was decent, the views were good and the decor was what my lil brother would be into as well as my parents. The wifi connection was pretty awful though.
I had an unexpected night added to my Chicago trip and Hotel Sax was what came up via Priceline. I was really happy with the result. Cool little boutique hotel, great decor, several restaurants nearby. The room had a very comfortable bed and the shower was awesome - giant showerhead and killer water pressure, the lack of which is often my pet peeve with hotel room. My only complaint would be the lack of counter space in my bathroom, but that's awfully minor.
The Crimson Lounge looked like a great spot for drinking but it was completely dead the night I was there (a Tuesday).
Thanks to my Friend Katrina we stayed here for a weekend stay for free!
I seriously didn't think it was gonna be that nice though...being a free weekend stay courtesy of Jet Blue.
The Hotel is very clean and a little on the Gothic side. The Walls are Dark red and brown with Paintings of Naked woman. They have Free Internet...YAY I can Yelp! and of course a lounge that is pretty cool.
They had a Microsoft Room which is like a game room. They had Rock Band which we tore up!!!
Now for the Service:
Who orders A large plate of Fries and Hot Tea like 5 during the night.....Yeah we do! Ha They staff was really nice and informative. They delivered our food even after the ordering hours.
Overall one of the best Hotels i have stayed at!
Only 3 1/2 stars? Are the people reviewing this place actually staying here?
This is my second stay here, this is one of my favorite hotels in the country. Fantastic modern design and architecture. Everything is top notch here. I would love to come stay here on vacation for a week.
Love this place. Fantastic amenities. Comfortable beds. Great shower heads with good pressure. Big Tvs. 6th floor has a lounge with xbox's and tvs to chill out in.
And if this place doesn't get any cooler, they have snake skin chairs. Where the hell are they finding snakes big enough to make chairs with?
Beautiful hotel, wish I could stay here more often.
The hubby and I stayed at Hotel Sax for a long weekend while exploring the city and visiting friends. Overall, it was a great experience, that I never would have booked if they didn't offer free valet through http://hotels.com. The free valet was a major selling point, but ultimately lead us to a great hotel experience. The service was excellent, the room was very clean and comfortable. I really appreciate a hotel that doesn't look like every other hotel, and Hotel Sax hit the mark! Our room was functional and gorgeous, the bathroom was pretty and offered nice bath products.
A few very minor complaints: the tv was s-l-o-w and lacked a tv guide channel; there was an ice machine on our floor that did not work; the mini bar was SO expensive, but did not stop us from digging in; the wifi did not seem to work with our laptop, but we didn't try very hard.
Kudos: gorgeous, upgraded hotel with a lot of style; very comfortable; friendly staff; clean rooms; nice bathroom with heat lamp; fantastic restaurant with wine and cheese bar; great location within reasonable wakling distance to Michigan Ave and the entertainment district.
I feel like Hotel Sax was a great find in a fabulous city.
Hotel Sax is a very trendy boutique hotel, but once you get past the weird decor, it really has a lot to offer. First, if I hadn't been familiar with the Chicago area and known that it was the old House of Blues hotel, I'm not sure I would've been able to find the place. The address says it's located on Dearborn, but once I got to (what I knew as) the Bin 36 building, there wasn't actually any signage by the hotel entrance that *said* it was Hotel Sax. There are signs for 10 Pin, Chase Bank, and Crimson (the lounge located inside Hotel Sax), but it would've been nice if there were actually a Hotel Sax sign by the Crimson sign. That being said, I was able to find the entrance based on the presence of bellboys.
The hotel is decorated a bit oddly; I think it's trying to invoke some kind of Victorian era manse/haunted house, with its ornate, embossed wallpaper. The elevators are speedy, which was a huge relief after my disastrous experience at Hotel 71. The room itself was a nice size, and the beds were super comfy. (Fans of firm mattresses will be pleased with the accommodations.) No problems with the shower -- the hot water came on immediately, and the shower pressure was reminiscent of that elephant showerhead that Kramer bought on Seinfeld.
The best part for me, as a lazy business traveler, was the fact that room service comes from Bin 36. Whenever I travel, I tire of eating out constantly, and I really miss being able to cook simple meals for myself. The Bin 36 menu contains a lot of simple, whole foods, that remind me of meals I'd make for myself -- sandwiches, salads, hummus, and other dishes that aren't deep fried or swimming in grease. It's not that I don't enjoy a fine steak or eggplant parmesan every now and then, but it's certainly nice to have healthier dinner options.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by my stay. While the Amalfi is still my favorite hotel in the River North area, I'd be quite happy to stay at the Hotel Sax again.
We absolutely loved this hotel! Having never been to Chicago before I was a little concerned because the price seemed too reasonable especially considering the price of the surrounding hotels. But the reviews had been good, the location was perfect and I liked the photos. So, we decided to go for it and could not have been any happier. The staff went above and beyond our expectations, the rooms were recently remodeled and beautiful and they even had martini makings waiting for us. What more could we ask for! I will go back here again and recommend it to all my friends.
You know, a lot better than I would have expected. Hotel Sax is basically trying to be the Viceroy of the Midwest. And by Viceroy, I mean trying to look like how Marie Antoinette would decorate if she were alive today and living in Wicker Park. It's at least a good update on the tired W-style look that every other hipster hotel affects. Plus, this place definitely wins for Best Achievement in the Use of Wallpaper. I spotted at l least six different kinds between the hallways and my room, each more ornate than the last.
But two things set this place apart:
1) Skittles at the reception desk. Why has this never been done before. A giant jar, always filled to the rim. I always took a giant scoop with the miniature ladle and yet it was magically replaced by the time I had returned. The Skittles alone are worth an extra star.
2) The 6th floor has a Microsoft Experience lounge. No, that doesn't mean you get to hang out with the animated paper clip and have Windows Explorer freeze on you again and again. It means comfy sofas and XBoxes with a menu of games you can pull of the hard drive. Plus, a full Rock Band set-up. Again, why did no one else think of this?
I really enjoyed staying here. This boutique hotel has all the amenities of a high-end chain, but also included a lot of neat little add-ons you don't normally see. The check-in counter is a glass display case full of old glassware and some of them are filled with beta fish... Neat huh?
Make sure you call for the turn down service before 8 pm each night. It's not automatic, but they come in on request to turn down your bedding along with giving you a bottle of water and a pair of slippers, and they leave the TV on a soothing channel of images.
The amenities are really nice. Soap smells great.
Between 4-6 each day (I think, not really sure of the schedule) they have a game room on the 6th floor for you to relax and play PS3 and XBox in... Neat huh?
Crimson Lounge is very trendy. The music they played the night I was there was mostly Salsa. People were dancing and everything.
Free internet.
The only negative, if you call it one, is that the whole place is rather dark. It's the whole mood they are trying to convey, so if you are not into that dark hotel room thing, then this may not be for you.
"So what do you think of hotel sex?"
This was what I thought my co-worker asked me the other morning as we sat in the lobby waiting for our ride. The answer, "Um, love it!" Oh, you said Hotel Sax. The answer, "Um, love it!!"
Hotel Sax rocks my hotel socks. Maybe not as much as hotel sex, but the two...and especially combined...would make for one hell of a good time! I wasn't so lucky during my 2 day stay in that latter arena, but I did get lucky with a great room.
The decor here is so cool and pretty much defines eclectic. It's like staying in some Urban Outfitters retreat, but with a lot more sass and a lot more frass. (Who even says frass anymore?)
For example, the walls have this really groovy print on them that is complimented by the funky pattern of the drapes. Do they match? No. Does it work? Hell yes. Then there is a snake skin chair (not real snake skin, mind you, but awesomely cool regardless) coupled with a tall classic lamp, but painted this indigo blue color. Finally to top it off there is this awesome headboard that is wrapped in black faux leather with yet another funky design that would be just perfect for grabbing, you know during hotel s...yeah, you get the gist.
The bed was also a dream to sleep on. Sooo comfy and coming from an insomniac on a different time zone, this was like a gift from the sheep jumping Gods!
The only thing I didn't like about my room was the bath tub situation. It's more of a shub (shower+tub) then an actual bathtub. My friend got me on a bath kick recently so now in hotels I wanna unwind in one, so this was a bit of a bummer that is was so teensy tiny.
Other than that though, the room service was good. The staff was friendly and there is a beeeeoooteeful bar downstairs that serves a 25 year old scotch that makes for one tasty good time!
I'd definitely stay here again!
I have mixed feelings. I heard the House of Blues hotel was pretty awesome, so I was shocked at how "Vegas-esque" the Sax Hotel was.
The lobby is beautiful. It really does smell like fresh gardenias. Very fragrant, the lobby is brightly lit with flowers and jewelry cases full of rough crystals. The presentation was very pretty, but seemed out of place. Cool lounge music sets the tone and you feel like you're in a nice boutique hotel.
We get into the elevator, look at each other like "what the heck is going on???" The back wall has a portrait of a woman with a skull on her lap. Strange, right??
We get into the room. It is pretty big actually, with nice plush carpeting. I loved the textured wall paper, but the room was poorly decorated. There was just too many mirrors. One took up the whole side of the wall next to the bed (ok, it was 2/3 of the wall). One of the nightstands was made with completely mirrored glass. There was a large mirror in back of the bathroom door and the bathroom mirror was quite large.
The only think I really liked about the decor was the window treatments (a beatiful shade of blue/gray), bed spread (similar color as the window treatment) and the wallpaper in the bathroom (very cool textured green). One of the towels in our bathroom had a stain on it... a yellow stain. I was FLOORED by this. Rusk bath products are ehhhh.... smelled too fruity (I hate fruity bath products). They also give you a bottle of Fiji water in the room for $6.00. What the hell is that??? Oh, and the chandelier painted on the wall has to go.... as well as the faux snake skin chair.
The bed was too soft, as were the pillows.
After a rough rough night, I was in rare form Sunday morning. So we ordered room service. We both had the eggs benedict. It was ok. The english muffin must have been stale because it was hard to cut and slightly burned. But I was in such bad shape that I could have eaten anything.
Location wise, I love. We were a flew blocks away from Fox & Obel, about a mile away from the lakefront and just down the street from Blue Water (love their Challah french toast!).
If there aren't any hotels available in the area, check out the Hotel Sax. But if there are others to choose from, you're better off elsewhere.
UGH... the Peninsula has spoiled me for any other hotel in the city!
Nice place and convenient location. Easy to get there by train and walking.
The reservation person was very helpful. When I told him I was travelling alone, he recommended that I stay in the Junior Studio because it is cozier--a little smaller room but with all of the amenities.
The room itself:
--bed is very comfy
--housekeeping is great--they don't skimp on replenishing supplies
--free internet is always a bonus
--nice decor, except for the vinyl desk chair--the backs of my thighs had to be peeled off when I stood up
One morning, the vanity light burnt out and it took them 2 hours to come and fix it although they said they would send someone "right away". Very difficult to get ready without a light as the room is quite dark and there aren't any outlets in the shower/toilet room.
The doormen/concierge are so-so. One greeted me as young lady (which is good) but I think the staff overall assumed I was a kid and not on a business trip. They didn't deliver my daily paper, even after I called them on it.
Coffee served in the lobby every morning is good--but I get Dunkin' Donuts when I can! They do have a swanky little cheese and wine bar which is nice for after work. The food there is good as well.
I will come back because I get a corp. discount, otherwise, I don't think it's worth the standard rate they charge.
A great boutique-feeling hotel in downtown Chicago. The room was pretty spacious and the bed was quite comfortable. Modern and upscale decor. I liked the flat-screen HD TV, especially since I couldn't score tixs to the Cubs playoff game.
The bar, Crimson, serves up a great martini. It is a cool place to meet and greet.
I'm going back there. Front desk, valet, bell-man, and cleaning services were top-flight. Plus it was nice that they had 3 computers avail in the lobby to check email or to print boarding passes.
If you tend to gauge a hotel by virtue of how cool/comfortable the rooms are, whether you can get around easily via there, whether there are nifty little extras, then you'll likely have some idea where it is that I'm coming from. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a transcendent lightning-in-a-bottle mojo in some place where you actually spend half your time with your eyes closed, perhaps hotels are not your thing.
Anyhoo, platitudes aside, I like the Hotel Sax: pricing was fair, the room was a snug upscale number with plenty to like. I slept like someone hit me in the head with a four-iron, and the staff seemed for the most part completely on the ball. Also, there appears to be some sort of video game parlor on my floor. And though I've not given it a shot just yet, since I'm apparently secretly an eight-year old boy, I may dive in there before I check out.
I've stayed in a few various Chicago Hotels on my various yelp-related stops over, and so far this was my favorite, when you put cost, comfort, locale, and lots of little extras in your yuletide stocking, it was the perfect place to camp out and watch the snow fall on downtown Chicago. They do need to seriously upgrade the wi-fi (or I need to spend more time awake during non-peak usage hours), but regardless, this will likely be my choice for next go-round in Chitown. As far as I'm concerned, the only blues 'round here are next door.
Good for business travel - centrally located, but not great for tourists unless you are planning on seeing lots of concerts at the house of blues.
The interior decor is interesting, but not sure how long it'll feel new and fresh. It's more like a modern rococco blended with the 70s.
The beds were super comfortable, the shower head was enveloping and warm, staff was okay. It's definitely an interesting crowd. I think that I actually overheard a trio of rock band groupies talking about who they've slept with in the band!?
As a business traveler, one of the most crucial features of a hotel to me is the Internet access. Although Sax offers free WiFi, it is so slow that I regularly had to leave the hotel and hop over to Starbucks to get a better connection. I would have preferred to pay a fee and get a strong connection. If all you need to do on the road is check email, then it wouldn't be a problem. For those of us who need to access information off of our company server, and attach and download documents, this was a deal killer.
If this is not an issue for you, then the hotel was kind of cool. Central location, interesting onsite amenities (wine bar, gaming room complete with Rock Star set up, bowling alley). The room was fine, though the bath tubs are only 3 ft long. WTF? Who fits in a 3ft bathtub? (Being desperate for a soak I actually tried; not recommended). Room was kind of dirty when I first arrived, the most remarkable item being the big ole jheri juice stain on the window from the previous guest, but they did manage to clean it up by the second day.
Just to be fair, the other folks on my trip seemed to not have as many problems with the place as I did. The onsite bowling alley was enough to win them over. But for me, Hotel Sax is charging boutique prices, yet falling short from delivering that level of service and amenities. I wouldn't go back because, for the same price, I can stay at one of the Kimpton properties downtown.
Lovely boutique hotel. Love the quirky dark but clean and elegant decor.
Room was large, clean, very comfortable. Has the now standard large flat screen tv, expensive luxe mini bar, and very comfortable bed.
Bathroom was large, but nothing especially stylish, looks like the original motel style tub/shower but fantastic abusive strength water pressure in the shower. Towel rack was a bit far from the tub so you dripped water all over the floor while walking over to get a towel.
My visit unfortunately sucked and was full of drama which left me sulking in my room alone for much of the trip. Thankfully room service was prompt although not very satisfying. I had two meals in my room, wine was lovely but the ceasar salad had the most repulsive overly fish dressing I've ever tasted. It didn't have the smokey salty anchovy taste, but rather a tinny sardine fish skin taste. awful. lettuce and accoutrements were of good quality, but ruined by the dressing.
Nice well appointed mid-range hotel. It's not a luxury place, but stylish and decently located. The staff were wonderful and helpful and made my trip tolerable despite my personal drama.
Will stay here again. Liked it better than W lakeshore, even without the lake view.
I only visited The Hotel Sax for a networking event so I cannot say anything about the staff or the service only about the decor and the amenities.
The lobby is great, I love the non-traditional check in area and the very contemporary feel of the entrance that you notice just as you walk in. The Crimson Lounge (which I will review next) is beautiful. Very similar to the former House of Blues Hotel lobby structurally but I prefer the decor of both the Crimson Lounge and the Hotel Sax Lobby to the former HOB Hotel. Hotel Sax has the same reasonable room rates that HOB Hotel did.
It is a complete cosmetic renovation from the HOB Hotel, everything is a little different. The check in area is different, the layout is very similar but they re-did the hallways and sleeping rooms, new carpet, new wall coverings etc. They clearly spent a good amount of $$$ on the cosmetic overhaul.
The sleeping rooms are large and they are very, very decorated - Marie Antoinette meets Sophia Coppola meets Ian Schrager. I really like the fact that the rooms all have flat panel TVs, the carpet is very "today", the washrooms are large with Italian Marble and the bedding is a bit grand yet the other furniture is very contemporary. They really play with those two elements of style and balance them well.
My favorite part was THE FOURTH FLOOR! They have a "media room" where you can play video games and listen to the microsoft version of the iPod. They have three flat panel TVs where you can play video games (Xbox?) against two other opponents simultaneously. They also have Rock Band in this space along with music listening stations and a business center down the hall. The entire hotel is also Wi-Fi equipped for FREE. Finally, the meeting rooms and conference center are certainly up my alley - ultra mod and unlike anything I have seen in Chicago.
I hosted an event for a client who was living at the hotel for three months, sent to me by the Concierge from the Hotel, he was in the film industry and after visiting the hotel I can see why he stayed there. This is certainly a hotel for those in entertainment, new media and technology. Very young and very (god I hate this word) hip.
Hotel Sax is swanky. The place itself was swanky when it was the House of Blues hotel, but the new folks changed decor, remodeled some floors, and re-swankified it, perhaps to a slightly higher degree than before they came around.
The conference floor is cool, but in a way that will make people laugh in 10 years. Still, maybe they'll reswankify between now and then.
The downside of this place is two-fold. First, and more important than the other "fold" is that the place isn't completely on its game, business-wise. I had to spend a bunch of time during and after my stay getting strange charges removed from my card, and then had to make it clear they'd actually undercharged me. The upper-level management, when you could get them, were virtually silent yet always ended the conversation by writing off whatever charges you were protesting. That's good, but the lack of dialogue led me to believe they weren't interested in solving mistakes, just removing charges to mollify customers. Small beef to be upset about, I guess, now that I type it, but still.
The second problem I had (though others won't have it, while still others will find it even worse) was the ridiculous nightclub the bottom floor becomes on weekend nights. What a pain in the ass to come into my hotel after a late dinner on a Saturday. I didn't really dig having to prove I deserved to access the elevators to muscle-bound, shades-wearing bouncers. I'm glad they were hassling people, as I wouldn't want club-goers strolling the residential floors, but still.
I guess all in all I have a bunch of minor complaints, but at the price I shouldn't really have any complaints, certainly not several. And they all seem to be of the type where you can't really do anything about it.
In sum, if you are young and patient, stay at the Sax. If you are young and impatient, stay there if you can get a great rate and monitor your credit card charges. If you are old, stay somewhere else.
This place rocks! Great atmosphere....Great location....Right behind the House Of Blues....Friendly employees (katrina).....The room was amazing........this place was exactly like i expected! =)
I did not stay at this hotel so I cant comment on any of that sorta stuff. It was pretty cool, very central location and is fancy and hip to the point of intimidation. I was in one room, which was nice, a little small, but made up for it with funky decor. The bathroom was great. It was big and and in direct contrast with the stark nature of most hotel bathrooms, I kinda wanted to hang out in there. The best part, unequivocally, was the "mini intimacy kit" that comes with the minibar, I think it speaks for itself.
We spent some time in the bar downstairs, which we enjoyed. Nice atmosphere, interesting drinks with reasonable prices, but one night it was positively shaking with the musical stylings of Rihanna and 50 cent. The crowd was part business travelers and part Chicago yuppies. It was very cool inside though, detail oriented and like a mix between victorian cathouse and a disco at the haunted mansion. In general, I get the impression a lot of attractive people get laid and discuss stock options here.
Super duper trendy. My dad's room had a snakeskin chair in it. Personally, I thought the decor was awesome. The views are good too, some of them overlook the river. I definitely feel like it is a step up from the House of Blues Hotel, which is what occupied the space before Hotel Sax. The House of Blues' colors were an eyesore and it looked like a circus, in my opinion. Hotel Sax has really spruced things up. Bin 36 and Crimson Lounge occupy the bottom of the hotel if you're looking for a place to eat or drink without leaving your hotel. I'm a fan.
Cute cute cute. That's what I need in a hotel. The staff is almost friendly to the point of sickening, but they actually seem happy to work here. The rooms are adorable - I'm in the initerior design field so I notice every detail. It smells good. It's clean. The wallcovering in the hallway is *amazing* The adorable room made me smile and had interesting little touches (like a chandelier painted on the wall and luxurious finishes and a trippy screen saver on the huge flat screen television.) The bar is pretty cool and the restaurant BIN 36 let me take my wine upstairs (although they didn't have a choice). Super location - I can see the river from my room.
Excellent Place will definitely stay here when I return to Chicago. It is very trendy, stylish and tacky at the same time I loved it. The sixth floor lounge is awesome place to unwind they have video games, mp3 music stations and movies. The lounge/night club down stairs was great really freindly bartenders Mauricio and Todd were great hooked my wife and I up with some tequila for our anniversary. Great location and very friendly service comfy bed.
Sigh. I want to love this hotel and while on one hand I appreciate the decor, I also think it was way over-thought. It is very Jonathan Adler but it just felt a bit forced to me.
The Lobby - Your friendly front desk representative can help you from behind china cabinets. Yes, china cabinets filled with fine crystals.
The Elevator - The back wall has a Renaissance painting... only its not. Its a print that catches a glare from the light making it look slightly tacky.
The Entertainment Room - After stepping off the elevator, there is a game/tv room for everyone to enjoy. Fantastic. It was very modern and seemed to be the most focused theme to any other portion of the hotel.
The Room - Typical in size and shape, the decor was clearly the focus. The bedding was a great collection of patterns, colors and textures but I must admit that the baby-puke-yellow leather pillow was appalling. I had to remove it immediately because it was seriously disturbing. I liked the room divider. It was the one key element that helped reinvent the layout of your typical hotel room. The flat screen tv is a nice touch and I appreciate the concept of the drapes surrounding it but in such a close quarters room, they were slightly awkward. The headboard, desk chair, curtains, bench, etc were all different patters, textures and colors. While I love a good mix of such things, I feel strongly that the combination should tell a story or evoke some feeling. This just seemed too thrown together... like a beginner designer who felt he/she had something to prove but failed. Individually, the items work on their own but when put together the sum was not greater than its parts.
The Bathroom - I do not understand the concept of the open shower. There is simply no way to prevent the water from soaking the bathroom floor. This is clearly dangerous and I am not a fan.
The Service - I honestly cannot say much to the service. We didn't really require any assistance. However, the fact that it wasn't memorable is often a good sign. It meant that our needs were anticipated and met before requiring a request. I like that.
fabulous. i celebrated by birthday here and the staff was amazing. if you need to book a reservation, ask for crystal s. she is great. also, if you want to have a great event, ask for juan k, she puts on some great events. for my birthday, they gave me the star treatment...even cake and champagne in my room:) love this place!
I went to the grand opening of the hotel tonight. I have to say I have some thoughts, good thoughts though. The event itself was quite well put together. The drinks were quick, the food was good and the people were lovely and spread all across the place, even though 1100 people were supposed to be there.. it really didn't feel over crowded. They had open some of the rooms so people could get the over all feel to the place.... if you want to fly high class, the 16th floor is the way to go. Damn. Multiple flat screens, bar, large meeting table,... this place is the shiznit. Then we move on to the 12th and the 6th floor, more of your basic standard floors, still a nice 42" plasma, double to king size comfy beds, nice bathrooms, (which had surprisingly bathing naked women... ooops!), but here is where the Red Hot Chili Pepper and J Lo rooms were.... not overly exciting but not bad. For some reason a lot of Guitar Hero.... This hotel is in the heart of the River District. You have Pops for Champagne, Weber Grill, Rock Bottom Brewery, Redfish... basically a ton of restaurants to go outside of here, parking, central location to a lot of Chicago and from what I could gather a friendly staff...... I would stay here... would I call it the hell's belle's of hotels of Chicago... no... but if I wanted to experience the heart of Chicago with a little attitude.... yeah... I would stay here.
