Accommodation In Chicago For The Savvy Traveler

The boutiques and gourmet restaurants of the Magnificent Mile, the neoclassical trio of Museum Campus, the decadent jazz scene that inspired a musical – Chicago is packed with things to see and do. To avoid burnout, you’ll need a good night’s rest, nourishing food and perhaps a massage or two, courtesy of the Illinois city’s luxurious hotels.

1. The Langham, Chicago

Suite Hotel, Luxury

Cream-toned room at The Langham with a four poster bed and floor-to-ceiling windows

Arguably Chicago’s finest hotel, the Mies van der Rohe-designed Langham combines London-level luxury with Chicagoan mid-century modernity. Expect four-poster beds, floor-to-ceiling windows and an art collection that museums would envy. The biggest draw in a hotel of highlights is the oriental Chuan Spa, which defies the usual minimalist aesthetic with purple chaises and bird-and-flower art worthy of an emperor.

2. Conrad Chicago

Chain Hotel, Luxury

The rooftop terrace with cream-toned seating, fairy lights and city views at the Conrad Chicago

Celebrated French firm Pierre-Yves Rochon designed the sweeping lobby of this five-star hotel, which transports you back to the 1950s the minute you step inside. The interiors are a masterclass of mid-century modern with tufted sienna sofas, flowing chrome and pill-shaped bathtubs. Elsewhere, the Baptiste & Bottle restaurant is an explosion of bourbon-based creative cocktails and elevated pub classics.

3. The Robey

Boutique Hotel

This art deco-inspired option is owned by Mexico’s Grupo Habita, known for setting star designers on historic buildings with outstanding results. There are 89 rooms ranging from light-filled corner suites to queen-and-twin lofts for families and groups of friends. It’s a great entry point to the bohemian Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods – browse vintage boutiques and independent cafes nearby.

5. The Peninsula

Independent Hotel, Bed and Breakfast

Potted palm-trees line an indoor swimming pool at the Peninsula Chicago, while large windows offer views over the city

You’d be hard pushed to find a better hotel than this five-star grande dame on the Magnificent Mile, where celebrities and CEOs come to enjoy the half Olympic-length swimming pool, complimentary fitness classes and rooftop ice-skating rink. The spa is one of the city’s best, offering marine facials in a soothing, wood-paneled space. Rooms have every imaginable amenity, including printers and tablet-controlled everything.

6. The Hoxton, Chicago

Hotel

The rooftop pool at the Hoxton, with guests swimming and the Chicago skyline as a backdrop

A little piece of California in the Windy City, The Hoxton brings bohemian vibes to Chicago’s West Loop. Rooms are stylish, if a little snug, but it’s the three drinking and dining options that draw visitors. Lazy Bird offers cocktails and jazz in Prohibition-era interiors; Cira serves vibrant Mediterranean brunches; and you’ll find ceviche and pisco sours at Cabra Cevicheria, the teal-hued Peruvian restaurant.

7. Kimpton Palomar Chicago

Chain Hotel

A room with a double bed, a gray quilt and matching decorative pillows, red curtains, a patterned beige and red carpet, and floor to ceiling windows with a view at Royal Sonesta Chicago River North Hotel

Decked out in ruby, ochre and chartreuse by turns, the Palomar doesn’t take itself seriously and asks that its guests do the same, supplying animal-print robes in the bathroom and the option to have a goldfish delivered to your room as a temporary pet. The Sable Kitchen and Bar is just as popular with locals as with visitors, specializing in North American bar bites and bourbon-fueled cocktails.

8. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago

Hotel

Overlooking Millennium Park, this is the hotel for design lovers. The undulating exterior, designed by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang, makes this one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. The substance lives up to the style, too, supplying a high-end fitness center, a basketball court, a movie theater and two large swimming pools. Rooms come equipped with enormous tubs and staggering views – spend a little more for a balcony if the weather’s fine.

For more unique accommodation options, read our guide to the best historic hotels in Chicago – bookable on Culture Trip.

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