The Fairfield Inn and Suites is a fairly new property of the Marriott chain, and it is well located on a side street about one and a half blocks east of North Michigan Avenue. It is a limited-service property, but as long as you do not miss having a lobby bar or an in-house restaurant, you will enjoy staying at this property.
The ground floor lobby has the look of an apartment complex, with a clean minimalist appearance. Since there is no lobby bar, you will basically find the front desk, the elevators, and a few chairs. The hotel has 15 floors and 185 rooms, with a few suites sprinkled amongst the standard rooms. The standard rooms are comfortable, with amenities like coffeemaker, mini-refrigerator, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, and free local calls. Closet space is fairly limited here. Toiletries include only soap and shampoo. In the suites, you get two rooms (living area with sofabed and separate bedroom) with a large TV in each space plus a microwave. A door does not separate the two rooms, but the design allows for enough privacy between them. The suite is not a bad place to have a small party.
A complimentary continental breakfast buffet is served on the second floor. It is not a bad spread, as you can fill up on sweet rolls, cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, beverages, etc. The tables in the breakfast room can fill up fast when there is a full house at the hotel. There is a small fitness room that is also on the second floor, and there is a stand with some tourism pamphlets. There is no pool in the hotel, but guests can use the pool at the full-service Marriott about four blocks away.
The Fairfield is a fine place for the business traveler on a budget or a small family looking for good value and a clean room in an attractive location. Besides its proximity to North Michigan Avenue, it is not too far from Navy Pier. There is a post office across the street, and of course Ontario Street is a main drag for many restaurants and bars.