By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Nov 11, 2015 at 11:04 AM

Check in early and stay late during OnMilwaukee's "Hotel Week" sponsored by VISIT Milwaukee. The next seven days will be packed with stories about historic area hotels, reviews, history, food and drink, staycations and more. Find out what it's like to be a tourist in this town. (Chocolate on your pillow not included.)

Sometimes size matters.

But in the case of hotel rooms I’m not sure that’s necessarily true. Take for example, the very pleasant stay we had at the Hotel Felix, 111 W. Huron St., during a recent visit to Chicago.

Online reviews frequently malign this eco-friendly (read: the first hotel in Chicago to be LEED certified) hotel for its cramped quarters. However, while the rooms are small, they are clean and functional. In fact, they’re comparable to a variety of European-style hotels I’ve stayed at in New York and beyond (often at a much higher price).

Room

Our room, which featured a comfortable king sized bed with well appointed linens, a basic bath with a standing shower, a desk with a comfortable chair and flat panel HDTV. Locally made truffles provided a welcoming touch, coming in handy after a long day when a sweet treat felt well-deserved.

Decor was modern, the room was clean, and the bed was comfortable. Bath robes, quality towels and verbena-scented L'Occitane products spiffed up the otherwise basic bathroom, where my one complaint was the shallow depth of the sink, because water had a tendency to splash up and out of it, particularly while I was washing my face.

While there wasn’t a bounty of space, the layout was efficient and we were able to work, dress and enjoy a bit of down time when we weren’t out and about in downtown Chicago.

Amenities

Complimentary fair trade coffee and tea is served daily in the lobby, where you can lounge in comfortable chairs and relax to the sounds of a trickling water feature.

The free wi-fi was fast and efficient; I was able to plow through a work project or two (including processing some video) without any trouble. Valet parking with in-and-out service was $50 per night, which is priced competitively for Chicago. Even better, staff were friendly and efficient, even calling it to our attention when we almost left one of our cell phones in the front seat of the  car.

Although we didn’t take advantage, the hotel also has a fitness center where you can get in your daily workout; there is also an Aveda spa that offers up a variety of treatments, including facials, body treatments and massages.

Location & dining

Hotel Felix is conveniently located less than 10 blocks from eateries like Frontera Grill, Naha and MK. It’s also within a mile of hot spots like Eataly and just about five blocks from Michigan Avenue shopping. There are also conveniences located within just a few blocks, including a Walgreens and Whole Foods where you can pick up snacks or last minute supplies.

Before heading out on Saturday morning, we grabbed a reasonably delicious breakfast at the attached French restaurant, Troquet. Staff was friendly, and the food, which included a respectable eggs Benedict and a great cup of coffee, was solid. The restaurant itself was quaint and seemed like it would be a great place to grab a glass of wine during the evening hours when the restaurant features live music Wednesday through Saturday.

Rates

Our room was $179 (with most running under $250) over a busy weekend, which is definitely competitively price in the Chicago market.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for a comfortable, clean hotel in a great location where you can get a great night’s sleep, the Hotel Felix just might be your ball of wax. 

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.