I spent two nights at The Quad Hotel last weekend. If you want a photo-heavy, play-by-play recap, you can also skim my no-fluff breakdown that lives over on Fortune Hotel. Work first, then a little fun. I brought my laptop, my sneakers, and, yes, my own tea bags. Old habit.
Check-in after a long day
I got there at 10:30 pm on a rainy Friday. The lobby felt warm and bright. Lemon water by the door, which I went for right away. There was a small line, but it moved. Maya at the front desk saw how tired I looked and said, “We’ll get you tucked in fast.” That helped.
My first key didn’t work. It beeped red twice. I went back down, and Maya fixed it and tossed in late checkout to 1 pm. That small win changed my mood. Funny how that works.
The room: clean, modern, and almost perfect
I had a king room on the 12th floor. Clean. No weird smells. The clean-lined furniture actually gave me a mini flashback to Hotel Julian in Chicago—same cool grays and matte-black fixtures, just without the skyline backdrop. If you want to visualize the vibe I’m talking about, take a peek at this photo-rich overview of Hotel Julian for a quick comparison.
The bed was soft, but not mushy. Firm edge support, which I like. Pillows ran soft, though. If you need a foam pillow, call down early. They found me one on night two.
The AC (fine, HVAC if you want the fancy term) hummed like white noise. Good for sleep. Blackout curtains blocked most light, but a thin line showed at the bottom. I used a spare towel to seal it. Old hotel trick.
There were USB and outlets on both sides of the bed. Thank you. The mini-fridge was quiet. The Keurig had two coffee pods and one decaf. I called the desk and asked for more. Housekeeping knocked in 10 minutes with four pods and extra cups. I made a cup, then ate pretzels in bed like a gremlin.
The view? Parking lot and a neon sign that flickered. Not cute. Ask for a city view if that matters to you.
Bathroom highs and lows
Shower pressure was strong. It took about 40 seconds to get hot. The shelf was small, so my toiletry bag did a little slide into the sink. Towels were clean but a bit scratchy. Hair dryer was light and fine for a quick blowout, but don’t expect salon-level power.
One odd thing: the fan switch squeaked. Not a big deal, just funny. I oiled it with a tissue. Yes, I’m that person.
Noise check: Saturday got rowdy
Friday night was quiet. Saturday, not so much. A bachelor group sang in the hall at 2 am. Classic. For contrast, my spring weekend at Hotel Royal Oak was shockingly mellow after 10 pm. I gave it 5 minutes, then called the desk. Security handled it. It settled. If you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the elevator and ice machine. Also, bring earplugs. Always helps.
Wi-Fi and work stuff
I ran a quick speed test: 58 down, 35 up. Solid. Zoom calls and a big file upload were smooth. No drops. If you need to keep a remote team thread going, a quick browser tab to the collaboration platform InstantChat lets you exchange messages and files in real time without installing extra software—perfect for hotel stays where you just want to log in and get back to work. I did have to re-log in after 24 hours. Also, one corner of the lobby couch near the big plant was a dead zone. I moved two seats over, and it was fine.
Desk chair in the room had decent back support. Not fancy, but I worked for two hours with no pain. Lighting was warm, which kept me from feeling like I was in a hospital.
Gym and pool: small but useful
The gym is compact and clean. Two treadmills, one elliptical, a bench, and dumbbells up to 50 pounds. Floor mats were new. Water cooler and towels stacked neat. Open 24/7, which I love. I did a 30-minute run at 6 am and had the place to myself.
The indoor pool is small. Water ran cool, not cold. Anyone chasing real sun-and-sand vibes might prefer the endless blue I found during my beach-escape in Jupiter. Families showed up Saturday afternoon, so it got loud fast. Towels ran out around 4 pm. I told the attendant, and they refilled in about 10 minutes.
Food on site: pretty good, a bit pricey
The lobby café does breakfast sandwiches, fruit cups, and coffee. My bacon egg sandwich was hot and tasty. The latte had a nutty taste, which I liked, but it ran a bit sweet. Prices were hotel prices. Not shocking, just… yeah.
The bar at night was chill. My margarita was too sweet at first. I asked for extra lime and a salt rim, and boom, fixed. No room service, but there’s a small market with snacks and yogurt. I grabbed a turkey wrap once. It did the job.
If you step outside, there’s a taco truck across the street. Cash only. I got two tacos al pastor with extra pineapple and felt like a genius.
Location and getting around
I walked to a river path in five minutes. Nice morning spot. There’s a light rail stop two blocks away. I used it to get to a meeting across town. Felt safe, even in the drizzle. Of course, if you’d rather swap trains for scooters and volcanic beaches, bookmark my field notes from Milos for a totally different pace. The hotel also has a rideshare pickup zone on the side street, which kept things smooth.
If your itinerary eventually drifts toward Detroit-metro layover land and you’re curious about low-key nightlife options that don’t involve endless scrolling on generic dating apps, the locally focused listings over at Backpage Romulus can help you cut through the noise with verified posts, safety pointers, and up-to-date contact info so you can decide quickly whether an after-hours meetup fits your schedule.
Parking and fees
I parked in the attached garage. $28 per night. Pay at the desk, use a QR code to exit. On Saturday the scanner glitched. The attendant waved me through after a quick check. Took about five minutes.
Heads-up: there’s a $25 “destination fee.” It covered Wi-Fi, two water bottles, and “local perks.” I still don’t love those fees. But it’s common now, and at least the Wi-Fi worked. If those extras feel steep, take a peek at rates over at the nearby Fortune Hotel where some of those basics come baked into the nightly price. Chicago visitors shopping around for a similar modern vibe often compare numbers with Hotel Julian’s current deals before they lock in a reservation.
After spending six weekends testing hotels in Stillwater, MN, I can confirm the nickel-and-dime approach isn’t just a big-city thing.
Staff who stood out
- Maya at check-in, who fixed my key fast and gave me late checkout.
- The night security guy who kept the hall quiet on Saturday.
- Housekeeping for the extra pods and blanket in under 10 minutes.
Little things matter. People made this place feel kind.
Small quirks you should know
- Elevator wait can be slow at 9 am. Plan a few extra minutes.
- The door has a gap at the bottom. Roll a towel if the hall light bugs you.
- The ice machine on 12 makes a clunk sound every cycle. It’s normal, but avoid that side if you can.
Who will like The Quad Hotel?
- Business folks: solid Wi-Fi, quiet desk space, easy transit.
- Families: pool and simple food options make life easy.
- Weekend couples: fine for a quick trip, but ask for a higher-floor view. The vibe is modern, not romantic.
What I loved vs. what bugged me
What I loved
- Clean room, comfy bed, fast fixes from staff
- Good shower pressure and steady Wi-Fi
- Easy access to transit and a nice morning walk
What bugged me
- Night noise on Saturday
- Scratchy towels and soft pillows
- Extra fee that covers things that feel like basics
Final take
Would I stay at The Quad Hotel again? Yeah, I would—especially for a work trip or a quick city weekend. The price felt fair for what I got. I’d ask for