17 of the Best Hotels in Chicago for the Most Memorable Visit to the Windy City

1. Londonhouse

Best Overall

• Neighborhood: The Loop
• Yelp Rating: 5 stars

LondonHouse is, by far, my favorite hotel that I’ve ever stayed at in Chicago. Sure, it’s not the fanciest you’ll find in the city (that honor goes to the Peninsula, listed below), but that’s actually part of its charm. Don’t get me wrong—this place is nice (like, up to $498 per night, per room nice). And yet, there’s none of the pretentiousness you might expect for the space. Rather, everything from the sunny lobby, where afternoon tea is served daily, to the espresso machine (ooh la la!) and robe you’ll find in your suite cupboards, is welcoming and cozy. There’s room service (a must for any top-ranking hotel, in my humble opinion), a stunning rooftop space where you can take in one of the best views of the Chicago River the city has to offer, a lovely spa and a 24-hour fitness center. We also love that there’s a selection of rooms with accessibility features, such as roll-in showers and notification devices for the hearing impaired.

From $369 per night, 312-357-1200, 85 Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL, 60601; hilton.com

2. Pendry Chicago

Most Trendy

• Neighborhood: Loop
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

Pendry Chicago only just opened in the historical Carbide and Carbon building in May 2021, but already, it’s cemented itself as one of the most trendy spots in the city. Not only is it a destination spot for stars such as Rosario Dawson and Lollapalooza cofounder Perry Farrell, who gave an intimate concert for fest-goers at the building’s stellar rooftop bar in 2021 before rocking the house in the lobby downstairs, it’s got plenty to attract the city’s culture lovers, too. From the Parisian-chic French bistro found on the first floor, Venteux, to the uniquely boozy afternoon tea at Bar Pendry, the dining scene goes way beyond satisfactory. The accommodations aren’t too shabby, either: They’re giving Art Deco meets modern day luxury.

From $385 per night, 312-777-9000, 230 Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60602, pendry.com/chicago

3. Nobu Hotel Chicago

Best Food

• Neighborhood: Fulton Market
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

Robert DeNiro’s Nobu isn’t just one of the newest properties on the Chicago hotel scene (Nobu opened quietly in the summer of 2020), it’s also one of the most unique. Rather than taking its decorating cues from the French, like the Waldorf or the Sofitel (another honorable mention), the actor’s hotel, of which he is a co-owner, has its roots in Japanese culture. Here, you’ll find cedar tubs, “Zen suites” filled with walk-in showers, yoga mats and sisal-and-wool rugs, all of which give a nod to the country’s clean, simplistic aesthetic. Its pièce de résistance? The 11^th floor rooftop restaurant, where Chef Nobu Matsuhisa serves up his famed James Beard award-winning Japanese and Peruvian dishes.

From $415 per night, 312-779-8888, 155 N. Peoria St., Chicago, IL, 60607; chicago.nobuhotels.com

4. The Peninsula Chicago

Best Luxury Hotel

• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Yelp Rating: 5 stars

When you want the best of the best, it’s gotta be The Peninsula. There’s a reason that everyone and their mother, from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, has stayed here, people: It’s luxe. We’re talking grade-A, 5-star swank, from the ginormous rooms (rooms start at 531-square-feet with suites going up to a mind-blowing 3,645-square-feet, though they’ll cost you a pretty penny) to the 24-hour wellness concierge that can book classes for you, support your nutrition goals or walk you through a dedicated mediation. Hell, the spa alone, which features a half-length Olympic-size swimming pool leading out onto an outdoor terrace, a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the city, could inspire sonnets. You can check in and out whenever you like, too, thanks to the hotel’s “Peninsula Time” option. Swoon.

From $518 per night, 312-337-2888, 108 E. Superior St., Chicago, IL, 60611, peninsula.com

5. The Langham Chicago

Best Hotel Spa in Chicago

• Neighborhood: The Loop
• Yelp Rating: 5 stars

This 5-star mecca of luxury has everything you’ll need to enjoy the great indoors this fall—most notably, its world-class Chuan Spa. Described as a “wellness sanctuary,” this oasis in the heart of the city uses the five elements—wood, fire, Earth, metal and water—to guide its practices, which range from stone therapy and balancing massage to facials and wraps. Guests of the spa will also have access to an enormous 67-foot pool, a steam room, Eucalyptus and Himalayan salt stone saunas and a hydro-vitality hot tub. Since you’ll likely be ready for a nap after all of that tranquility, you can retreat upstairs to your 516-square-foot (or more) room, where the beds are cushy and the bathrooms serve as mini spas in and of themselves (hello, rainfall showers!). Space allotting, you can also skip the snooze in favor of a family movie night—the hotel has a cinema suite with room for 12.

From $500 per night, 312-923-9988, 330 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611; langhamhotels.com

6. Waldorf Astoria Chicago

Most Stylish

• Neighborhood: Gold Coast
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

From the moment you pull up to the brick courtyard of the Waldorf Astoria, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived: These Parisian-inspired digs are as vogue as they come. That’s especially true after the multi-million dollar renovation the hotel underwent in 2022. Included in the upgrade? New dining options (and an old favorite with the return of Bernard’s in fall 2022 in its former space), enhanced guest room and suite designs that pay homage to Coco Chanel with their black-and-white color schemes and Parisian apartment feel, and a facelift for the already-impressive spa, which features a sunning terrace, an impressive indoor lap pool and a state-of-the-art health club with Pilates and Gyrotonics. Dogs up to 30 pounds are also welcome for a $75 fee.

From $523 per night, 312-646-1300, 11 E. Walton St. Chicago, IL 60611, hilton.com

7. Viceroy Chicago

Best Service

• Neighborhood: Gold Coast
• Yelp Rating: 5 stars

There seems to be a common thread when it comes to reviews of the Viceroy, be they on Yelp or in the New York Times: top-notch service. Yes, the space where the historic Cedar Hotel used to be is rather striking. And sure, you’ll probably get a kick out of the three-wheeled electric “Tuk Tuk” vehicle that can take you to the beach or the sweeping views of the city from the seasonal pool deck. But at the end of the day, it’s the staff here, who take the time to remember your name or help you look for a Christmas tree on December 23 (yes, really), that set it apart from the pack.

From $383 per night, 312-586-2000, 1118 N. State St., Chicago, IL, 60610; viceroyhoteslandresorts.com

8. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

Best Hotel Pool in Chicago

• Neighborhood: Gold Coast
• Yelp Rating: 5 stars

Giving the Peninsula a run for its 5-star money is the recently renovated Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. In fact, we’d venture to say it even has the edge in certain aspects—like the jaw-dropping 50-foot pool complete with Roman columns and domed glass ceiling overhead that you can swim in to your heart’s content. (You might even recognize it—it’s the site of Kevin’s Home Alone 2: Lost in New York lost swim trunks scene.) It's amenities like this (you know, along with its guided art tours, bespoke menu creation experience, 24-hour fitness center and Michelin guide restaurants) that have reportedly beckoned everyone from Julia Roberts and Barbara Walters to Mariah Carey through its doors. The hotel even has its own yacht for guests to enjoy from June through September. Say less!

From $535 per night, 312-280-8800, 120 E. Delaware Pl., Chicago, IL, 60611; fourseasons.com

9. Palmer House

Most Historic

• Neighborhood: Loop
• Yelp Rating: 3 stars

The Palmer House is more than a Chicago hotel—it’s a hugely important piece of the city’s history. After burning down in the Great Chicago Fire less than two weeks after its grand opening, it was rebuilt to the cool tune of $2.5 million, opening its doors to guests in 1873. It was later replaced with the current 25-story building that exists today. Having undergone a $170 million renovation in 2019, it maintains its old-school charm with its positively stunning Art Deco lobby ceiling murals (courtesy of Louis Pierre Regal) and 24-karat gold Tiffany & Co. candelabras—features that are particularly enchanting around the holidays. The rooms are less modern than some, but for history buffs, staying here will be a dream come true—there’s even a resident magic show on-site that runs through December!

From $292 per night, 312-726-7500, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago, IL, 60603; palmerhousehiltonhotel.com

10. The Blackstone, Autograph Collection

Best for Art Lovers

• Neighborhood: South Loop
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

Dubbed the “Hotel of Presidents” for the famous guests who’ve frequented its halls—including Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy and historical icons like Al Capone and Nat King Cole— Blackstone runs a close second to LondonHouse for those looking for somewhere chic and modern that won’t cost a million dollars. Everything—right down to the artsy fleur-de-lis printed wallpaper found in the bathroom—has been carefully curated to reflect the impeccable eye of its former owner, Timothy Blackstone, who was a great art collector and lover in the city. In addition to the Instagram-worthy décor in the rooms and lobby areas, guests can visit the fifth floor Art Hall, where an ever-changing roster of new media, photography and paintings from local artists are always on display. Though it loses some points for its limited dining services (the one hotel restaurant, Mercat a la Planxa, is only open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and serves a particular palette with its authentic Spanish tapas), what it lacks in room service, however, it more than makes up for with in-room spa amenities—something we haven’t seen ready available at many other area hotels.

From $293 per night, 312,447-0955, 636 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60605; theblackstonehotel.com

11. Chicago Athletic Association

Best Hotel Gym in Chicago

• Neighborhood: Loop
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

If staying on track with your #fitnessgoals while you travel is high up there on your list of priorities, the Chicago Athletic Association will be a safe bet—it’s come a long way from the elite men’s athletic club it started as before being abandoned in 2007 and restored to its current hotel state in 2015. Its fitness center is not only open 24 hours to accommodate any wonky jet lag hours you may be keeping, personal training sessions are also available for those who need a little extra push. Or, if you’re less of a traditional athlete, you might prefer the hotel’s Topgolf Swing Suite, where you can bone up on your golf skills with up to eight of your friends.There’s a game room and complimentary bicycle use in the warmer months, and, once you’ve worked up an appetitie, you’ll have seven dining options to choose from.

From $389 per night, 312-940-3552, 12 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60603; chicagoathletichotel.com

14. The Gwen Chicago

Best Amenities

• Neighborhood: Gold Coast
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

The Gwen has all of same the things you’d expect from a luxury hotel, only amped up a notch. Those charming afternoon tea parties you’ve been eyeing all over Instagram? It’s got a boozy version called the “Tipsy Tea Party” that will one-up them all. Those nighttime views you were hoping to peep from your skyline-level suite? Why not get a closer look by sleeping under the open sky with up to five of your pals in the Gwen’s urban glamping tent? Looking for a relaxing spa experience? Check out the La Mer package, which brings skincare gurus and the company’s top-notch products to your room. Oh, and did we mention the opulent hotel design, which screams of ‘30s glam?

From $469 per night, 312-645-1500, 521 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL, 60611; marriott.com

15. Thompson Chicago

Best Hotel in Chicago Downtown

• Neighborhood: Gold Coast
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

To stay at the Thompson is to get a glimpse into what it’s like to live in downtown Chicago. It’s right in the heart of the Gold Coast, for one thing, just steps away from the Magnificent Mile and all its shopping splendors. Its Italian eatery, Nico Osteria, is regularly packed with locals, for another. And its stylish rooms, furnished in line with a swanky high rise, are sure to make you feel right at home. There’s in-room dining, a small fitness center where you can get your morning sweat on and your pets can come, too.

From $234 per night, 312-266-2100, 21 E. Bellevue Pl., Chicago, IL, 60611; hyatt.com

16. Virgin Hotels Chicago

Best for Families

• Neighborhood: River North
• Yelp Rating: 5 stars

Traveling with the fam? We’re going to make it easy for you. Not only do kids under the age of 18 stay free at Virgin Hotel, your four-legged family members will also stay free of charge, with no restrictions on sizes or breeds. You won’t have to worry about stuffing everyone into a too-small space just to fight over a cot, either: For a little more (from $301 a night), you can book a 501-square-foot three-room suite for the crew, complete with a living room, a dressing room, a double vanity and a sleeping lounge. Hardwood floors and rainfall shower heads keep things nice and homey, and there’s even a cute Smeg fridge for their juice boxes. (Psst: Illinois residents also currently get 30 percent off.)

From $248 per night, 312-940-4400, 203 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL, 60601; virginhotels.com

17. Sable at Navy Pier Chicago

Best Hotel Views

• Neighborhood: Streeterville
• Yelp Rating: 4 stars

While most of the hotels on this list will give you stunning views of the city skyline, Sable at Navy Pier, which opened just last March, is the only one that will give you floor-to-ceiling window views of the lake, from, well, the lake (er, Navy Pier—close enough). As the first hotel on the Pier, this 223-room behemoth, named for the Navy training ship that used to call the pier home, it also offers prime viewing to the fireworks show the Pier puts on every Wednesday and Saturday through Labor Day. The rooms are designed to feel like you’re on a boat, and you’ll have front door access to all the charms of the Pier itself, like the architecture cruises that take off from its hub and the mouthwatering al fresco dining options along its boardwalk. The nearly 200-foot-high Centennial Wheel is also not to be missed.

From $273 per night, 872-710-5700, 900 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611, hilton.com