The Best Hotels To Book In River North Chicago

Built on the brushstrokes of artists, River North is dotted with countless art galleries that helped put the area on the map. Its creative community and heritage began to attract equally inspired restaurants, stores, and bars, turning it into a bustling hub for tourists in search of a taste of Chicago’s culture and the best bites to eat. If you’re one of them, stay in one of these close-to-the-action hotels in River North.

1. Royal Sonesta Chicago River North Hotel

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

Royal Sonesta Chicago River North Hotel takes a luxury-fueled approach to its retro interior. Its 17th-floor indoor pool is surrounded by striped loungers, where you can recline surrounded by views of towering skyscrapers. C.B.R. is an ideal spot for a craft cocktail or a glass of whiskey. After days spent perusing the designer boutiques of nearby Magnificent Mile, the elegant rooms ensure relaxation with yoga mats and luxury Atelier Bloem toiletries.

2. Talbott Hotel - Chicago Gold Coast

Boutique Hotel, Luxury

A double bed in a simple gray-toned room at the Talbott with a bedside table and a white lamp, a black writing desk and sheer curtains

Rising in the Roaring ’20s, this soaring structure saw life as an apartment block, laundromat, and jazz club before it became the Talbott. Now, the restored building clings onto its storied past with luxurious velvet furnishings, golden accents, and polished tiling. Flanking the lobby is 20 East, a restaurant where you can pull up an art deco-style seat for crispy brick chicken with Yukon gold potatoes. Skip dessert and order a pint of Jeni’s ice cream to your room, in flavors such as Savannah buttermint and cream puff.

3. The Godfrey Hotel Chicago

Independent Hotel

A bedroom at The Godfrey, with a modern decor, a double bed, a dark purple armchair, a writing desk with a leather seat and a navy carpet

The Cubist-inspired facade of the Godfrey looks straight from the world of sci-fi. Luckily, the interior keeps up appearances with a cosmic collection of shiny chrome furniture, Saturn-style light fixtures, and curved walls. When night falls, head up to the neon-lit rooftop bar and slide into one of the white booths with whale-tail-shaped awnings to try one of the CBD-infused cocktails. Rooms are sleek spaces with violet chairs, deluxe L’Occitane toiletries, and a coffee maker for morning pick-me-ups.

5. Moxy Chicago Downtown

Chain Hotel

A modern bedroom with floor to ceiling windows with city views, a double bed facing a gray wooden wall with a flat screen TV and an industrial metal rail with hangers and hooks at Moxy Chicago Downtown

Moxy Chicago Downtown is brimming with character, from the dinosaur cookie jars in the bar to the lounge filled with board games and cushions stamped with pop-culture references. Peruse books and a vintage vinyl collection in the library, where you can recline in alcoves lined with rabbit-print wallpaper. Rooms are more subdued, with sleek wood furnishings and cracked-leather headboards, but a retro edge is added with rotary dial phones. The ones overlooking the inner circle have views of an edgy art installation, reminiscent of a 1950s nuclear town.

6. Aloft Chicago Downtown River North

Budget Hotel, Chain Hotel

A modern room with a double bed facing a wall-mounted flat screen TV, two wooden desks, one with an orange office chair, and city views at Aloft Chicago Downtown River North

This hotel’s wrapped-in-glass structure rubs shoulders with the colossal Merchandise Mart and Navy Pier’s psychedelic lights. A rainbow-striped entrance leads you into a futuristic lobby with egg-shaped chairs and halo lights. Upstairs, rooms with far-reaching views of River North and signature platform beds are stocked with bespoke Bliss Spa toiletries. The gym is open 24/7 to suit all schedules, so you can fit in an early-morning workout before picking up a morning bun and latte from Beatrix.

7. 21c Museum Hotel Chicago

Chain Hotel

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

Part contemporary gallery and part sophisticated hotel, this art-filled accommodation matches the luxurious flair of its neighboring shops and restaurants. You’ll be welcomed by kooky sculptures at the marble-top reception, before retreating to soothing off-white rooms with decadent golden detailing and complimentary Malin+Goetz bath products. Splash out on the 21c Suite for sweeping downtown views and a deep soaking tub. The hotel’s mesmerizing gallery is a must-visit while staying, stuffed full of otherworldly art and eye-popping portraits.

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