I will be in Chicago during April and have reservations at the Downtown Marriott. Any feedback (positive/negative). Also, any great, nearby coffee houses/shops? Thank you!

If this is the MArriott on Michigan Avenue it's literally in the center of Michigan Avenue shopping. The rooms are fine-nothing special but not bad either. This hotel is truly about location, location, location.

swalter518 has said it all about that Marriott. You can beat the location if you want to be in the heart Chicago's shopping, etc.

If you're getting a great rate and you're not really particular about rooms, the Marriott will work out great. It's a huge, impersonal business hotel with very average rooms...not bad, not great, clean and predictable.
But there's quite a bit of competition in that area and if there are no large conventions in town you should price alternatives to be sure you're getting the most for your money.

I've stayed here many times on business, and the word "huge" is not an overstatement. It's the epitome of the Big City Downtown Monolith hotel, with a vast lobby, shops on the lobby perimeter, and lots and lots of Big City Downtown Monolith hotel rooms. It's a business hotel, no more, no less. The rooms are fine for what they are-- clean and pretty comfortable--, but you won't mistake them for a Ritz-Carlton's. Still, as everyone else has said, it's right in the heart of it all, and doesn't that count more?

When I stayed there, there was a coffee vendor in the lobby-- can't remember if it was a Seattle's Best Coffee or a Starbucks or what-- and it was just fine for sipping while waiting to go to that 9 AM business meeting in the Loop.

I dearly love Chicago, but it's been a few years since I've been to that Marriott, so I can't recall any particular coffee houses/coffee shops of note. But c'mon, there's BOUND to be at least four Starbucks within stumbling distance...! And there are many, many places up and down Michigan Ave, so you'll be just fine.

There are at least 4 Starbucks within a 4 block radius, not to mention that each of the big shopping venues has some type of coffee shop so your coffee craving will not go unfed!

I Stayed there with my wife and two kids in August. I Thought it was nice. Like everybody else says you can't beat the location. There is a basket ball court outside on the ninth floor wich was cool. Lobby seemed nice. And the pool and fitness center was great ,full weight room if your into that. Ive Stayed at the westin and doubletree and liked the Marriott best. We had great views from are room on 40 something floor. ONly negative thing is the rooms are a little small but so are most in big cities.