$$
Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection
A Streeterville hotel featuring glass-box center showers, comfortable beds, and dining near the Magnificent Mile.
Exceptional · Deep coverage · read from 25 sources · 100 traveler insights
96
RoomExpert Score
Exceptional
The verdict
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Located in Streeterville near the Magnificent Mile, Hotel EMC2 provides quiet, well-insulated rooms with relaxing beds and modern dining at the Albert restaurant. Service is generally attentive, with thorough housekeeping and a walkable downtown setting. However, the glass-box shower placed directly in the center of the room provides little privacy, frustrating guests traveling with friends or colleagues. 622
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Guests praise the Streeterville location on East Ontario Street, situated just a block and a half from Magnificent Mile shops and dining. 62120
- Rooms stay remarkably quiet and well-insulated from city noise, paired with comfortable beds that ensure restful sleep. drawn from the full read
- Housekeeping earns compliments for thorough service and for leaving plentiful complimentary bottles of water. 21
- The on-site Albert restaurant receives strong marks for its breakfast and contemporary Italian menu. 1911
The catch
- Reviewers are split over the glass-walled shower located directly in the center of the room, which some consider a sexy design centerpiece while others criticize for lacking basic privacy. 24
- Room views also differ significantly, ranging from panoramic terrace outlooks on higher floors to close-up views of adjacent tall buildings. 6
Who it's for
- — Couples and solo travelers who do not mind open-concept bathrooms
- — Shoppers wanting easy access to Michigan Avenue
- — Light sleepers looking for well-insulated downtown rooms
Skip it if
- — Friends or colleagues sharing a room who require separate bathroom privacy
- — Guests needing an ergonomic office desk chair with proper back support
How to book
With points
Bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points. We have not priced this property yet.
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Score breakdown
How the 96/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
97read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Food
93read from 6 sources · Solid coverage
- “My server at breakfast was top notch. With only three other customers in the restaurant, he devoted all of his attention to me, giving me a personal tour of all the food choices and making sure my coffee never dipped below half full.” 6
- “The restaurant, The Albert, references Albert Einstein and is a captivating celebration of creativity, beginning with its lab-like distillery features above the bar.” 11
Location
98read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Noise
92read from 2 sources · Light coverage
- “Hotel is near to the El and Magnificent Mile but still quiet inside.” 22
- “When I first heard about the robots, I was worried they would be a little too gimmicky and not especially practical. It wasn't until I was leaving that I bumped into both robots navigating the elevators by themselves and realized just how much time and effort they can save.” 6
Room
95read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Service
96read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Bed & Sleep
95read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Where it is, how to reach it
228 East Ontario Street
Chicago, Illinois
60611 USA
Details checked 2026-09-10
Where it sits
Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection and the 38 other hotels we cover in Chicago. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Punches above its peers
Beats what $$ usually buys
Scores 10 points above the mid-range median of 86, across 655 hotels in the same bracket. In Chicago it sits 8 points above the local median of 88.
Price bracket
$$
Mid-range
- This hotel
- 96
- Bracket median
- 86
- Index median
- 86
Based on 655 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
Ask for
- 1 mention
Avoid
- 2 mentions
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
Bathroom
76
Value
45
Food
39
Room
34
Service
10
Location
6
Bed & Sleep
5
Noise
5
View the 75 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
Location11 mentions
- “Plus, its location in the Streeterville neighborhood, adjacent to the Magnificent Mile, can't be beat.” 20
- “The room was comfortable, clean, and quiet despite the busy downtown location.” 21
- “Stayed here during Marathon Weekend. The location is perfect to walk to several spectator spots and the starting line is just blocks away.” 22
- “Located in the vibrant Streeterville neighborhood, the hotel acts as your headquarters to explore Chicago's cultural and culinary scene.” 10
- “I slept so comfy in the spacious bed. The location was unbeatable, relatively close to a large urban park.” 3
- “very beautiful location of the hotel, public parking, beds were good.” 3
- “The staff was knowledgeable, the hotel was clean and placed in an amazing part of the city really close to the main attractions and stores and Michigan Avenue.” 3
- “Hotel EMC2 is a fantastic Marriott property in a prime location in the heart of Chicago, near many of the city's most popular sites.” 1
- “Beyond the charm of the hotel itself, the location on East Ontario Street is...well - magnificent.” 21
- “EMC2 is located in a prime spot, just a block and a half away from Michigan Avenue and the never-ending shops and restaurants on the Magnificent Mile. I liked that it wasn't actually on Michigan Avenue, though, as there was less traffic when I was coming and going.” 6
- “Super buper, prime location. I loved the fact that it was a 15-minute walk from the subway.” 3
Value5 mentions
- “Rates for this property were much lower than I was expecting for an Autograph Collection hotel in a major city, but I was able to book a one-night stay for only $133 after taxes.” 6
- “With $19 cocktails and most entrees hovering between $29 and $60, The Albert's prices are splurgy-but worth it if you're celebrating an occasion.” 24
- “Our breakfast voucher covered the entire order. Although a bit overpriced, the breakfast was delicious. I especially liked the sweetened cream on my pancake, and my wife mentioned that her waffles had a crispy outer texture and a soft interior.” 1
- “If the rates stay this low, I'd happily stay here again.” 6
- “It's not cheap, but it's no more expensive than nearby competitors, and you'll enjoy exquisite interiors and four-star amenities.” 19
Bed & Sleep3 mentions
- “Cozy bed with tufted headboard for propping up with the laptop.” 11
- “I slept so comfy in the spacious bed. The location was unbeatable, relatively close to a large urban park.” 3
- “Luxurious beds feature a plush pillow-tops, and you can slide out of the sheets in the morning and into cozy robes and slippers.” 19
Service17 mentions
- “Stayed there 2 weeks ago. Very nice/friendly, great location. Would recommend if you can get a reasonable rate.” 16
- “The location was unbeatable, relatively close to a large urban park. We loved our elegant rooms and the staff was fabulously friendly.” 3
- “Interesting hotel, we loved the friendly staff and fabulous room.” 3
- “The staff was knowledgeable, the hotel was clean and placed in an amazing part of the city really close to the main attractions and stores and Michigan Avenue.” 3
- “Hotel accommodation was modern, I loved helpful staff.” 3
- “Lovely design, cozy and themed rooms and responsible staff.” 3
- “Very enjoyable stay, as always. It is a cool hotel and I loved its new-fashioned rooms and attentive personnel.” 3
- “Housekeeping was prompt and thorough, always leaving plentiful complimentary bottles of water.” 21
- “A friendly front desk representative welcomed us to the hotel and requested identification so we could begin the check-in process.” 1
- “Service was very exceptional during my stay too.” 3
- “The breakfast was consistently good, the staff was active, the grounds were quite clean.” 3
- “Joyful hotel, had a really decent service.” 3
- “The robots Leo and Cleo deliver towels, water, and extra soap directly to the room. Very handy for quick requests without needing to call down.” 22
- “With hotels nearly everywhere you look in Streeterville, Hotel EMC2 wins points for style and service that rank it far above its neighbors.” 24
- “I had minimal interactions with the hotel staff at Hotel EMC2. However, each encounter was positive. The hotel staff seemed to enjoy their job and were friendly with all requests.” 1
- “Amazing breakfast, perfect and immaculate room, cool staff.” 3
- “Even though the hotel was fully booked on a busy weekend when I visited, the front desk staff was calm, collected and conversational.” 24
Noise3 mentions
- “Hotel is near to the El and Magnificent Mile but still quiet inside.” 22
- “I don't know if I was the only one using the feature or if the hotel was just well-insulated, but I never heard a sound from any of the other rooms on the floor.” 6
- “When I first heard about the robots, I was worried they would be a little too gimmicky and not especially practical. It wasn't until I was leaving that I bumped into both robots navigating the elevators by themselves and realized just how much time and effort they can save.” 6
Food14 mentions
- “The food was good but not especially memorable, but my one complaint is that the restaurant ruined the relaxing atmosphere by blasting music from The Chainsmokers over the speakers at 9:00am.” 6
- “Unfortunately, the agent did not provide us with much information regarding the hotel's dining options or on-site amenities. I came down later in the evening to get my questions answered.” 1
- “Savoury breakfast, warm rooms and quiet beds. There were climate control, WiFi and coffee in the room, appreciated that.” 3
- “My server at breakfast was top notch. With only three other customers in the restaurant, he devoted all of his attention to me, giving me a personal tour of all the food choices and making sure my coffee never dipped below half full.” 6
- “The restaurant, The Albert, references Albert Einstein and is a captivating celebration of creativity, beginning with its lab-like distillery features above the bar.” 11
- “The food was amazing and there were a huge variety of dishes in the menu. Very enjoyable stay, as always.” 3
- “Amazing breakfast, perfect and immaculate room, cool staff.” 3
- “For dessert, don't miss the olive oil cake, a stunner of a finale with crunchy pistachios and flowered honey.” 11
- “The breakfast was consistently good, the staff was active, the grounds were quite clean.” 3
- “Satisfactory breakfast with lots of food. Our accommodation was set in a central location;)))” 3
- “Food was great and restaurant was absolutely excellent.” 3
- “When you're ready to leave the room, dinner at the hotel's highly rated Albert restaurant is recommended. The eatery serves up global cuisine in a contemporary open-kitchen layout.” 19
- “The menu, led by chef David Danielson, reveals a dedication to modern Italian cuisine and local sourcing. Two beautiful examples: the burrata, with stracciatella cheese, blueberries, and shallots, and the sea bass, artfully prepared al cartoccio (in parchment), with Vermentino wine and a medley of vegetables.” 11
- “Experience Chef Chiappetti's award-winning signature restaurant, an epicurean experiment for the senses.” 10
Room17 mentions
- “The left nightstand was empty. However, the other one featured the room's alarm clock and the safe, which was conveniently built into the nightstand.” 1
- “Spacious room and relaxing beds. They made my stay unforgettable.” 3
- “A quaint hotel, we had an awesome stay. Brand-new unit with a great decor.” 3
- “Perfectly comfortable beds, central heating, a safe and a coffee maker in the room.” 3
- “The queen room had a super comfy bed.” 3
- “room had a luxury bathroom and tv with satellite channels, a personal safe and a coffeemaker. and i was down to the desk.” 3
- “Amazing breakfast, perfect and immaculate room, cool staff.” 3
- “Although somewhat gimmicky, I really liked the brass horn that amplified music from my phone. Our 22nd-floor room offered incredible views.” 1
- “The room was comfortable and with extremely comfy beds...” 3
- “The murals above the bed, of a portrait obscured by clouds, set a meditative tone; while a brown and marine blue color scheme added to it.” 11
- “The decor is modern and elegant, a perfect pair to classic Chicago views from your window.” 19
- “Overall, the room was relatively basic, but it met our needs. Aside from the brass horn, there was nothing particularly interesting about the room. However, I did like the design elements and overall aesthetic.” 1
- “My room was stocked with lime-and-coriander-scented C.O. Bigelow toiletries, a hair dryer, plush bathrobe, makeup mirror and clothing steamer, but one of the best surprises was the panel on each side of the bed that controls all of the lighting in the room, including tiny book lamps, so I didn't have to emerge from under the cozy covers to turn off the lights.” 24
- “At 320 square feet, the room was barely larger than a standard guest room (285 square feet), and my supposed city view was just the sides of other tall buildings.” 6
- “The room's focal point was the king-size bed, which was placed between 2 nightstands. I loved the contrast of the wooden bed frame with the darker tones of the walls and curtains.” 1
- “Panoramic view, a large balcony, amazing bed, too.” 3
- “The terrace offered excellent views overlooking Ontario Street.” 1
Bathroom5 mentions
- “The focal point of the room, though, is the glass-walled shower. It's right in the middle of the room like a sexy sculpture of sorts.” 24
- “Made for curious travelers, and not for anyone requiring separate bathroom privacy.” 8
- “Room has large bathroom and big shower right in the middle of the space. Beds are comfortable with plenty of storage.” 22
- “The bathroom was horrible.” 3
- “A thoughtfully designed, glass-box shower, and Bigelow bath products.” 11
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about floor level.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Noise rests on 2 sources — too thin to rely on.
- 20 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 53/100We read 25 sources for this property, and pulled 100 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-11.
0
Editorial
25
Blogs & sites
0
Video reviews
0
Podcast segments
Breadth
25
Depth
54
Freshness
98
Watch this hotel
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Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
5 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 25 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 24Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collectiontimeout.comReview site2025-09-16Recent7 quotes used
“With $19 cocktails and most entrees hovering between $29 and $60, The Albert's prices are splurgy-but worth it if you're celebrating an occasion.”
Read originaltimeout.com - 21Hotel EMC2 - Chicago, IL - Small Barrelssmallbarrels.comReview site2024-09-12Ageing3 quotes used
“The room was comfortable, clean, and quiet despite the busy downtown location.”
Read originalsmallbarrels.com - 4Chicago Autograph Collection : r/marriottreddit.comForum thread2023-07-29AgeingRead originalreddit.com
- 9Review: Hotel EMC2 Chicago - Autograph Collectionreisetopia.chReview site2019-09-17Ageing7 quotes used
“Kritisieren könnte man nur die geringe Grösse des Zimmers, welches doch als ein wenig beengt umschrieben werden kann.”
Read originalreisetopia.ch - 6Review: Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection in Chicagothepointsguy.comReview site2018-05-20Ageing8 quotes used
“Rates for this property were much lower than I was expecting for an Autograph Collection hotel in a major city, but I was able to book a one-night stay for only $133 after taxes.”
Read originalthepointsguy.com - 1Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection, in Chicago [In-Depth ...upgradedpoints.comReview siteDate not stated13 quotes used
“The left nightstand was empty. However, the other one featured the room's alarm clock and the safe, which was conveniently built into the nightstand.”
Read originalupgradedpoints.com
Showing 6 of 25 cited · 25 read
1/5
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