The Best Hotels With Pools to Book in Chicago

Get a flavor of Chicago with a stay at one of the best hotels with pools
Get a flavor of Chicago with a stay at one of the best hotels with pools | Courtesy of The Hoxton, Chicago / Booking.com
Sarah Gillespie

Chicago is packed with fun outdoor activities, from hitting the rides at Navy Pier to snapping your reflection in the famous Cloud Gate at Millennium Park. While indoor attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago and Field Museum provide some respite, the roasting summers in the city temperatures can break your stride. There’s no better way to cool off than submerging in the water. Whether you want respite from the heat or just a leisurely indoor swim with a view, these hotels with pools in Chicago, Illinois, have you covered from the River North Art District to West Loop – and all are bookable with Culture Trip.

1. AC Hotel Chicago Downtown, for European sophistication

Hotel

Outside view of the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown
Courtesy of AC Hotel Chicago Downtown / Booking.com

Just a stone’s throw from the Magnificent Mile, Streeterville, the Navy Pier and Millennium Park, this stylish, pet-friendly hotel brings European sophistication to the River North neighborhood in Chicago. Once you’ve clocked some hours at the generous workspace in your room, chill on your private balcony or head to the indoor pool for a dip. Come nightfall, don’t miss the spy-themed onsite restaurant, SafeHouse Chicago, where your mission begins the moment you locate the red door and whisper the secret password.

2. Loews Chicago Hotel, for experiencing the beating heart of the city

Suite Hotel

An outside bar area with tables and sofas at the Loews Chicago Hotel
Courtesy of Loews Chicago Hotel / Booking.com

Situated just steps from Navy Pier and close to popular attractions, including Millennium Park and the John Hancock Center, this luxurious hotel gives you the chance to experience the heart of the city – choose between suites with spectacular city skyline or lake views. If you’re looking for a Chicago hotel with a pool, know this one boasts a 75ft (23m) indoor lap pool, so you can get some lengths in during your stay.

3. The Hotel at Midtown, for fitness fanatics

Hotel

A king bedroom with grey features at The Hotel at Midtown in Chicago
Courtesy of The Hotel at Midtown / Booking.com

Fitness fanatics, this is one for you, as a guest of this hotel in Chicago, you are an honorary member of its world-class athletic club. Enjoy access to a cornucopia of facilities, including a yoga studio, boxing gym, indoor and outdoor pools with lap lanes, golf simulators and 190 group fitness classes each week – it’s every gym bunny’s wildest dream. After an action-packed day, you’ll be ready to unwind in your boutique room; the hotel even boasts a suite designed by tennis legend Venus Williams.

5. Hilton Garden Inn Chicago/Oakbrook Terrace, for a quiet escape east of the city

Chain Hotel, Luxury

Hilton Garden Inn Chicago:Oakbrook Terrace
Courtesy of Hilton Garden Inn Chicago/Oakbrook Terrace / Booking.com

This reasonably priced stay in Oakbrook Terrace – 19mi (31km) from central Chicago – delivers everything you’d expect from the Hilton chain: big rooms, a friendly welcome and American restaurant classics served with a pint of beer. The indoor pool is small but heated and fairly quiet due to the remote location. There’s also a fitness center with free weights and treadmills.

6. Best Western River North Hotel, for city views from the rooftop deck

Hotel

A rooftop with sun loungers at the Best Western River North Hotel in Chicago
Courtesy of Best Western River North Hotel / Expedia

Nestled among the sleek art galleries and nightclubs in the River North district, this Best Western comes with a modest, tucked-away pool. The hotel has 150 rooms which are decked out in tasteful greens and grays for a soothing night’s rest, and there are great views from the rooftop deck. Chow down on deep-dish Chicago-style pizza at the Pizzeria Ora restaurant.

7. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, for the 50-foot indoor pool

Hotel

A modern bar with lots of bottles at the Four Seasons Chicago
Courtesy of Four Seasons / Expedia
It’s hard to know where to start with this opulent, 345-room hotel located next to Gucci and Louis Vuitton on Magnificent Mile. The marble-clad lobby is festooned with white calla lilies and artworks by Warhol and Matisse. Feather-soft terry cloth bathrobes come as standard, and the concierge can score tickets to even the most exclusive plays and musicals. The highlight, however, is the 50ft (15m) indoor pool lined with Romanesque-style columns and topped by dome-shaped skylights.

8. The Hoxton, for admiring the skyline while you front crawl

Hotel

A lounge area at The Hoxton in Chicago
Courtesy of The Hoxton / Booking.com

The leafy bohemian vibe of this boutique hotel reflects its location among the trendy warehouse restaurants in the West Loop. Kick back with a craft cocktail from the basement speakeasy, Lazy Bird, or a shakshuka brunch from Cira, the onsite cafe. The rooftop pool is less notable for its size than its eclectic teal-and-vermillion color scheme, large loungers and stellar skyline views.

9. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, for early morning laps

Hotel

Outside area with lounge chairs and a fireplace at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago
Courtesy of Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel / Booking.com
Looming over the blossom-heavy Lake Shore East Park, this four-star hotel cuts a magnificent silhouette on the Chicago skyline with its undulating facade. It’s a theme which continues throughout, in the rooms’ curved balconies and the wavy armchairs in communal spaces. The indoor and outdoor pools are long and narrow, more suited to early morning laps than splashing around with the kids.

10. Viceroy Chicago, for the rooftop pool overlooking Lake Michigan

Chain Hotel, Luxury

A retro bedroom in the Viceroy Chicago with turquoise curtains and cityscape views seen through floor-to-ceiling windows
Courtesy of Viceroy Chicago / Expedia

Modern luxe is the order of the day at this Gold Coast hotel clad in brass and geometric tiles. With metallic wallpaper art, triangular chaise longues and blue velvet curtains, the rooms live up to the high design standards set by the lobby. Chef Stephen Gillanders oversees the seasonal menus at Somerset, the upscale American restaurant on the first floor, and the rooftop pool boasts views over Lake Michigan.

Francesca Paul contributed additional reporting to this article.

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