Stayed here on election night in order to get to Grant Park easily and not have to fight the crowds going home. W's can be interesting and sometimes feel uncomfortable because they are so trendy. That was not the case here. The rooms were quite large and the bathrooms were top notch. Slate walls, great Bliss amenities as usual. Great location in central loop near all modes of public transit. Much better than the W Lakeshore a few blocks away.

This was probably the nicest hotel I ever stayed in. I work for Starwood so maybe I am biased for Starwood properties and know the hotel industry so I don't complain at small little things like most hotel guests. The room was very nice and we weren't even on a renovated floor. Three people stayed in a room with 2 double beds and we had a great time. We heard the subway but in the distance, sounded like wind. It's not really the front desk agents problem so call the city with a noise complaint and there is free wireless in the lobby so you can skip the fee.

I booked a "last minute package" through a travel site and stayed at the W City Center for 3 nights in May 2008. From the moment I walked in, I fell in love with this hotel and from the moment I left I knew I'd always look for a W hotel for future hotel stays. They have a "whatever, whenever" philosophy that is truly that. When checking in, I was given a free upgrade on my room without asking. The rooms were nicely decorated, and beds super comfortable. Bath products were from Bliss Spas. The hotel is nicely situated...walking distance to Milenium park, and the car service could take you to Mag Mile or Hancock Building. They have a free Acura car service that will drive you around town, and a concierge who is very knowledgeable. I asked which CD was playing in their car service, and not only did they tell me, but I received 2 free CDs (compilations by the W hotel). On my last day there I had lunch at the "living room" bar and asked the bartender if she knew where to find Voss water (outside of my room since it was $8 there)...she gave me a bottle for free. Every encounter I had with a staff member at this hotel was above and beyond and this stay made me fall in love with the W brand. Every time I travel, I look first to see if there is a W to stay at.

To start off, the hotel doesn't appear to view natural light as an amenity. Upon entering the lobby, you're deposited in "The Living Room," a bar/lounge/dinner area where people mingle and check-in. The furniture was in decent condition, but the lighting was so dim it would be easy to miss the details. Later in the week, the lounge filled up with patrons making it difficult to pass through the front doors.

We stayed in a double room on the 4th floor, with a bathroom + half-bath. The room itself was spacious but worn out. The carpet had stains and bathroom counters were minute. There was a complete absence of towel racks, forcing you to discard towels on the ground! Room service was polite and timely, but expensive and bland. Supposedly the hotel is undergoing renovations, colleagues attending the same conference reported being woken up at 0700 by workers and water dripping in their room from above! Careful if you book this hotel anytime soon. The location is mediocre (in the heart of the financial district) for exploring Chicago, expect to roll a cab to get to the Magnificent Mile, Sears Tower, or other attractions. As a side note, most of the surrounding Starbucks were closed over the weekend.