The 8 Best Hotels in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago’s only tri-level rooftop is definitely a sight to behold. Located where Fort Dearborn once stood, the building itself is a designated Chicago Landmark. Roman figures are engraved into the stone facade, but the interior is fully upgraded with high design and an elegant feel. The hotel is situated on a corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, leading to Hubbard Street and Navy Pier. A stay at one of the city’s first skyscrapers will take you back in time.

The Chicago River is experiencing a bit of a renaissance, and The Langham is perched just above the action. Top critics continually rank this five-star property among the best in the country. Treat yourself to a massage at the award-winning Chuan Spa before cruising to dinner on a water taxi and then dozing off in a room that faces either the lake or the river – you choose!

Playing host to a highly anticipated new restaurant from a world-renowned chef, a basement speakeasy and a rooftop bar, this recently opened hotspot in the Fulton Market District is a classic in the making. Rooms come in three sizes – snug, cosy and roomy – and feature modern art, custom-designed bed linens, free calls to anywhere in the world and curated guides to the neighborhood. It’s the third US outpost from a celebrated London-based hospitality brand, so you know it has to live up to some high standards.

There’s just something about this stylish hotel in the Loop that feels akin to a sleek condo residence in the city. With one entrance on State Street and the other facing the river on Wacker, you can choose your own adventure when heading out. The rooms are sophisticated, and the indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge is a solid way to spend sunset before watching a show in the nearby Theater District.

Treat yourself to a luxurious stay at the Waldorf Astoria. The entrance terrace, dressed with string lights and violet awnings, looks like something straight out of a storybook. The hotel is located in a prime spot in the exclusive Gold Coast neighborhood, steps from the Magnificent Mile. Relax and take in views of the city before enjoying a happy-hour martini and a swanky Italian dinner on nearby Rush Street.

Ace Hotel knows it’s cool and doesn’t try too hard. As more bars and restaurants take over the area, the West Loop is fast becoming Chicago’s most see-and-be-seen neighborhood. Wave hello to employees at Google Headquarters across from the seventh-floor outdoor bar, and kick back in your minimalist-chic room.

Contemporary and clean, the Loews is surrounded by greenery and feels like a modern oasis. Its Streeterville location makes the 52-floor hotel ideal for both business and pleasure. Peer out at the Navy Pier Ferris wheel or take a quick walk to Ohio Street Beach. With design influenced by Chicago architects Mies van der Rohe and Louis Sullivan, intricately clean lines are apparent in every detail of the tower.

Cubs fans, look no further, because Hotel Zachary is your spot. Wake up in a handsomely designed suite adorned with vintage photographs and rare Wrigley Field memorabilia directly across from the stadium. Surrounded by both modern and classic sports bars, the hotel is part of a brand-new renovation at the historic stadium. Game day or not, bouncing from pub to pub in Wrigleyville is the perfect way to spend a weekend.