Hotel4Real!

The Moxy experience is still a must-have if you are a hard-core Marriott fan – it’s truly different from your day-to-day hotel stays, and I’m glad I chose Moxy Chicago to embark on my first Moxy experience.

You won’t find your typical front desk at Moxy hotels – check-ins are all done at the bar and that was exactly where I got my room keys, along with a casino-style chip to redeem for a welcome drink. The staff was delightful, and the lobby had an awesome atmosphere even at mid-day. The communal spaces felt alive and active, and quirky but locally-inspired designs could be found everywhere.

The room itself was okay for the price, but there were some noticeable “budget-y” details that I did or didn’t care about. For example, the room was very bare-bones furnishing-wise – my room did not have a closet, any drawers aside from the nightstand, any reliable desk (apart from the tiny one that folded down from the wall) or working chairs, and of course, no real sitting area – hence why the lobby is also called “the living room” by Marriott. I was also mildly surprised by the lack of a kettle or a coffee machine that produces drinkable hot water. The bathroom consisted of a small shower room in the middle of the room (literally) and a toilet. Humidity in my room was also quite high because the shower room did not seem to be sealed properly. The sink and towel racks were exposed in plain sight, which I’m not sure if I loved.

Although my room was only on the 3rd floor, I got to enjoy a nice city view. I had concerns initially with noise since the street was right there and the lobby/bar/”living room” was directly below me two floors down, but I slept very well during my stay.

There was an unassuming outlet in the lobby called Zombie Taco, but it was very reasonably priced and the food was REALLY good.

The Moxy idea is still fresh, but I think Marriott is on to something. They unlocked a completely different angle to hotel stays while keeping the business within the Marriott portfolio. But, the brand is not for everyone – in fact, far from it. The playfulness and quirkiness alone is enough to drive the typical Marriott clientele away, couple that with the bare-minimum “chambers”, guests would either absolutely love it or absolutely hate it. What’s my verdict? Well, it doesn’t matter, go try it yourself – it’s a whole new experience.

RealScore

Service: 7.5

Design and Room Size: 7.5

In-room Amenities: 5

Bathroom Size and Layout: 7

View from (my) Room: 9

Hotel Location: 8

Available Guest Facilities: 8

Food Quality: 8

Food and Beverage Service: 8

Executive Lounge Quality: N/A

Final RealScore: 7.50

Final RealRating: A

Hotel is built/opened: 2018

Total number of rooms: 156

Length of stay: 5 nights

Membership level at check-in: Silver

Room type experienced: Premium Room (better view)