The Best Spa and Wellness Hotels to Book in Chicago

Unwind from the buzz of the city in these relaxing hotels
Unwind from the buzz of the city in these relaxing hotels | Courtesy of The Langham Chicago / Expedia
Molly Codyre

After exploring the shores of Lake Michigan, digging into the city’s thriving gastronomical scene and perusing art galleries and museums, it would be easy to leave a holiday in Chicago just as tired as when you arrived. Instead, throw in some me-time at one of the best spa and wellness hotels in the city, bookable at Culture Trip.

1. 21C Museum Hotel, for creative spa treatments

Chain Hotel

A 21c Museum Hotel Chicago one-bed guest room with a purple polka dot carpet, white linens and striped curtains
Courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel Chicago / Expedia

It’s no secret that 21C Museum Hotel is a work of art – their contemporary collection is fascinating and way more intriguing than the generic “hotel art” aesthetic. What will really paint your canvas is the realization that their spa services are just as creative, artistic, and imaginative. CBD oils, hot stones, and percussive therapies are yours on a whim, all delivered to your room and bestowed with the utmost care.

2. The Hotel at Midtown, for exceptional personalized grooming

Hotel

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

Ladies, you won’t have any qualms about The Hotel at Midtown. Between the facials, massages, and lash extensions at their spa and salon, you’ll look more magnificent than, well, the Magnificent Mile. Gents, your haircare is a totally different story. Shave & Tonic is a true Chicago gentlemen’s barbershop. Straight talk and straight razors will boost your confidence to Willis Tower heights. You’ll feel as smooth, strong, and sexy as an aged scotch – which you should also treat yourself to at the Six Rooftop Bar.

3. Waldorf Astoria Chicago, for personalized body polishes

Suite Hotel, Luxury

An outdoor terrace at the Waldorf Astoria Spa with classic furniture
Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Chicago / Expedia
We’ve got a three-step plan for you to maximize your wellness at the Waldorf Astoria. First, we’re sending you to the health club where holistic methods and energizing kickboxing classes will get your heart pumping. Next, we’re prodding you into the indoor lap pool where aquatic classes will give sore muscles a much-needed stretch. Round out an afternoon of sweating by rehydrating your skin with a personalized body polish at the spa. Who knew that wellness at the Waldorf was as easy as 1-2-3?

5. LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton, for a tri-level rooftop bar

Suite Hotel, Luxury

The Tri Level Rooftop Bar with river views at the LondonHouse Chicago
Courtesy of LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton / Expedia

Though eight hours’ flight from England’s capital, LondonHouse Chicago is as posh as any riverside hotel in The Old Smoke. This renowned Big Four skyscraper will convince you to come with its close proximity to Magnificent Mile shopping, but it’s the amenities at LondonHouse that’ll urge you to stay indoors. A massage at the spa will make every knot as smooth as The Bean. Chi-town’s only three-level rooftop bar will certainly relax you if a strong pair of hands doesn’t.

6. Eurostars Magnificent Mile, River North, for a spa hotel with masculine accents

Chain Hotel, Spa Hotel

The gym at Eurostars Magnificent Mile, previously Dana Hotel, with wood floors and mirrored wall
Courtesy of Eurostars Magnificent Mile / Expedia

A bachelor pad in style – all dark-stained woods, leather headboards and dusky tones – Eurostars Magnificent Mile is a quintessentially American hotel. It’s got enormous, comfy beds, bathrooms big enough to charge rent on and two drinking and dining options that allow you to feast on world-class food without stepping out the front door. If you’re looking to unwind after a big day in the city, the spa is a local favorite and will have you slipping swiftly into holiday mode.

7. The Peninsula Chicago, River North, for Asian-influenced and Ayurvedic treatments

Independent Hotel, Bed and Breakfast

The Peninsula Chicago indoor pool with plants and loungers
Courtesy of The Peninsula Chicago / Expedia
Take your morning workout to the top of the world at the Peninsula, where the spa and wellness center is set high up on the 19th and 20th floors of the hotel. An enormous sun terrace sits alongside the indoor pool – perfect for taking in views of the city and Lake Michigan over a post-workout coffee. Further bliss can be found in the spa, which offers myriad Ayurvedic and Asian-influenced treatments.

8. Ruby Room, Wicker Park, for spiritual and physical rejuvenation

Boutique Hotel, Budget Hotel, Inn

Ruby Room lounge with unique, glam decor including fluffy seats
Courtesy of Ruby Room / Expedia

Ruby Room believes beauty is soul-deep rather than skin-deep, and its approach to wellness follows this ethos to a T. Alongside all the usual treatments, the spa (dotted with crystals and faux fur throws) offers hydrotherapy and healing sessions, plus a range of yoga classes to help you feel alive from the inside out. Upstairs, lime-green armchairs and floods of natural light add a fresh feel to large rooms with pillow-top mattresses. Hidden away in the back is a secluded garden, perfect for a morning coffee in the sun.

9. The Langham Chicago, River North, for traditional Chinese medicine

Suite Hotel, Luxury

The Langham, Chicago marble bathroom with plants and flower decoration
Courtesy of The Langham / Expedia
The Chuan Spa at the Langham Chicago is a heavenly idyll perched high above the busy city streets. Centered around a glittering indoor pool with city views, it’s a setting that’s perfect for unwinding in. The focus is not simply on rebalancing the body, but also the mind and the soul; this holistic wellness experience includes bathing rituals and traditional Chinese medicine treatments such as acupuncture. A pearlescent color scheme adds to the sense of peace, which lingers long after you’ve left the massage room.

10. Nobu Hotel Chicago, West Loop, for a Japanese Zen garden vibe

Luxury

Nobu Hotel Chicago with traditional wooden bath, shaggy bathmats and tile floor
Courtesy of Nobu Hotel Chicago / Expedia

This restaurant chain-turned-hotel has become synonymous with a certain kind of ethereal peace, and the Chicago outpost is as soothing as its predecessors. In the spa, a cream and pale wood color palette and a design reminiscent of traditional Japanese Zen gardens make the atmosphere extra relaxing. The indoor tranquility pool will help you unwind, while the fitness center, equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, is the perfect spot to sweat away your stress.

Nick Dauk contributed additional reporting to this article.

For some more indulgence, check out the best five-star hotels in Chicago, bookable with Culture Trip.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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