This was the perfect place for our group. The room, while not huge, had enough room for four adult women. There were plush robes for us to lounge in and big window seats to look out at the fabulous view of the Chicago River below. The room had a very cute decor. It's by Cynthia Rowley who does the Swell line for Target.There's a wine tasting each evening in the lobby that was really nice. A fortune teller provided some entertainment with tarot cards and palm reading. There was a roaring fire, which was quite nice on this very chilly Chicago evening.In the morning, there's free Starbucks Coffee and the lobby is a lovely place to read the papers.The concierge helped us get tickets to the ballet. We had great seats. Overall, the entire staff was attentive and very helpful.The location is great because it's close to Michigan Avenue shopping but also convenient to theaters and the art museum.I highly recommend this hotel for a girls' trip or a romantic couples getaway.

It may look nondescript on the outside, but the moment you enter the Hotel Monaco lobby, you’ll discover it’s no cookie-cutter hotel. A small luxury boutique hotel, the Hotel Monaco is just one block west of Michigan Avenue and a half block south of Wacker Drive. With Millennium Park, the Art Institute and other Grant Park attractions to the south, The Magnificent Mile directly north, and the thriving Randolph Street Market District’s Restaurant Row just a few blocks west, you couldn’t ask for a more convenient downtown location.

The lobby is fun and funky, with an eclectic mix of furnishings and fabrics that will have you wondering if the Fab 5 has been by to whip the décor into shape. The lobby hosts complimentary coffee service every morning and free wine tastings in the evening.

The funkiness (is that a word?) continues in the guest rooms. Our room was very comfortable and larger than we’d expected, and featured wall treatment of bold green and while vertical stripes, a red headboard, red window coverings, a table, and two chairs upholstered in a vibrant gold pattern. A large armoire hid the TV, a CD player, fax machine, and a fully stocked honor bar from view. While I wouldn’t want to decorate my house in such a bold scheme (the Better Half loved it, however), I give the hotel credit for being creative and trying to distinguish itself from its competition.

The bathroom was small, but featured an elegant vanity and luxurious bath products. The other fixtures were more or less generic looking.

The hotel has an exercise room with free weights and aerobic machines.

Our only complaints were very minor ones. The Better Half would like to see the complimentary morning coffee service extended beyond 9:00am (on weekends, anyway). And when we checked in, the thermostat in our room was set to a chilly 64˚F. We adjusted it to a more tolerable 72˚F, but the next day we returned to find that it had been reset again to a frigid 61˚F. Is that really necessary? Are all their other guests from the Arctic Circle? I probably sound like Andy Rooney, but c’mon people, once your guests have set the thermostat to their liking, leave it alone.

The Hotel Monaco is pet-friendly, and the word is out. We saw numerous four-legged "guests" in the lobby during our stay. They offer special packages for those traveling with cats or dogs, including pet walking and sitting services, day care, and grooming. And 10% of the proceeds benefit PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago, a non-profit organization working to help homeless animals.

While this hotel’s best asset may be its location, there’s plenty of comfort and value here to keep me coming back. I wouldn’t hesitate in the least to book another stay at the Hotel Monaco.

The strength of the Hotel Monaco is its ambience. The lobby is attractively appointed with a fireplace on one end, and large windows on the other. The furniture has a 1930s look. We had a standard room. It was large, with plenty of room to move round the bed. The colors were eye-catching, yet not overwhelming. The fixtures in the bathroom worked well, and were easy to use. The bedroom was very comfortable, and the room was clean. However, the window did not open to allow access to fresh air. My friend, who meditates, noted that this limited her enjoyment of the meditation station.

A weakness of the Hotel Monaco is consistent service. I wanted to bring my two cats. The website states that kitty litter is available. Housekeeping said "no." Since I wasn't sure, I left cats at home. Also, the people on the phone just did not seem to know about the products offered at the hotel. Front desk/sales and housekeeping should all have the same information. They should also be able to give consistent information to the guest. Also, the much-advertised goldfish was never offered, and I overheard other guests lamenting about not getting one. This inconsistency between what is offered by advertising and what is provided is another weakness.

If you need information about the Chicago area, check in with concierge Sylvia Rollins. She is knowledgeable about the area, and is able to provide clear directions. She was the one strong employee at the hotel.

This hotel is a good value if you can get a room for around $100 a night. If you're spending much over $140, you are being overcharged for what you get.

The hotel is centrally located; you can walk to most stores on the magnificent mile, and to most places in the loop.

Avoid the in-room minibar, and go across the street to the 24-hour White Hen Pantry convenience store.

First, the bad news. Wabash Avenue is now being rebuilt RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL. We woke up early Saturday morning to the sound of jackhammers galore. When you reserve your room, check the status of the construction and book accordingly. We also thought the sheets were kind of itchy, but no one else had ever voiced that complaint to the front desk.

Now the good news. I arrived at 5:30 pm, halfway through the wine hour hosted by the hotel. Guests gather in the lounge and chat while sipping free merlot or chardonnay. The front desk staff and concierge are friendly and calm, and go out of their way to make sure you are not rushed and remain relaxed. I loved the room decor - big green and white stripes line the walls and, across from the king sized bed, a HUGE mirror. The windows are recessed into the wall so that you can sit on a bench seat and watch the building across the way. Or you can pull the curtains and have your own mini-chill out space. It's very peaceful. The room space is used well - no clutter. My 6'5" boyfriend loved the showerhead, which are elevated so he had no trouble getting wet from head to toe. The rooms are stocked with a wonderful bathrobe, CD player (bring your own romantic tunes - the CD provided by the hotel stinks), big TV, minibar, and tray of goodies. Stay away from the last two if you are worried about money, and don't forget your toothbrush - selections range from massage oil ($12) to a toothbrush or wax lips ($2.50) to Perrier ($5). Free Starbucks coffee is served in the lobby during mornings. We also tried out the 24 hour room service. The side of macaroni and cheese is the best either of us has ever had.

Again, if you want to save money, cross Wabash and visit the White Hen (a small grocery). What else? Hotel parking is $30 for 24 hours. This includes in and out privileges. The valets are friendly and prompt. The exercise room looked well-stocked and has free-weights.

Hotel Monaco is laid-back - I didn't sense that only the uppity stay here. The crowd in the lobby was friendly and chatty, the service is top-notch, and the rooms are comfy and super romantic. Now, the hotel has a "Do Not Disturb" package for $159 that includes a bottle of wine and breakfast in bed. If it's time for a splurge, this is the place to go.

In a world of cookie-cutter hotel chains, Hotel Monaco offers its guests a unique experience. From the moment you walk into the elegant lobby, the attentiveness of the staff to the comfort of their guests tells you that you are in a hotel where service is foremost. A small luxury boutique hotel in downtown Chicago, Hotel Monaco is ideally situated to museums, the financial district, and the Magnificent Mile.

Guestrooms are lushly decorated in a sensual mix of colors. My queen double room had soft yellow and pistachio green striped wallpaper, and furniture in a dark wood. Bed skirts are a dramatic red and gold stripe, which picks up the red and gold from the floral-patterned bedspreads, as well as the red and gold in the draperies. The padded headboards are brilliant scarlet, trimmed in gold. Easy chairs (and matching ottoman) are upholstered in gold, and the carpeting is a muted gold. A large armoire gracefully conceals the TV, minibar, CD player and fax machine. The bath is large, with a huge counter area and tasteful artwork to grace the wall.

Room amenities include CD player, TV, fax machine, magazines, two phones (one in the bath), Aveda bath and skin products, minibar, iron, ironing board, safe, an umbrella (in case you forgot to pack your own!), coffee-maker, and a complimentary robe which you won’t want to give up when you check out. Minibar prices are, for some items, quite reasonable. Beers are in the $3-4 per bottle range (about what you’d expect to pay in a downtown Chicago bar), and a bottle of Chardonnay was $14.00. Shortly after my arrival, I found complimentary mineral water and fresh fruit in my room.

Guests are treated to a hosted wine reception in the lobby nightly, as well as complimentary morning coffee. On the desk in my room I found a welcome letter with complimentary CTA passes and VIP vouchers to Navy Pier enclosed. For guests wishing to exercise, there is an exercise room or the staff will be pleased to bring a treadmill to your room. My favorite touch was my "pet for the weekend". Not only is Hotel Monaco a pet-friendly hotel, they offer their guests a pet goldfish for the duration of their stay, conveniently fed and cared for by the hotel staff.