The Best Hotels to Book Near Chicago Union Station

This business-focused hotel is in the very heart of the Loop and the city’s business district. But it’s not just the location that makes it a no-brainer for business travelers, as the hotel goes the extra mile with its many work-focused amenities.

The highlight is the Club Living Room – a private lounge with collaborative workspaces, super-fast free wi-fi, individual workstations and free coffee and tea. Dog-owners can bring two canine buddies at no extra charge and when business hours are over, you’re minutes away from the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s HQ.

It’s all about the location at this quietly cool venue, which is ideal for exploring downtown Chicago at its most lively. Headline attractions like Willis Tower and Cadillac Palace Theatre are a few minutes away on foot – and Grant Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago are also within easy reach.

Stay hydrated on your excursions with free purified water on every floor of the hotel – just one of the many inviting features to make your life easier. Other great extras include gym and yoga equipment delivered to your room along with an eye mask, earplugs and an in-room ambient sound system to help you drift off after a busy day.

Being listed on the National Historic Register is a boon for any hotel, but the 19th-century Hotel Blake doesn’t play on its historic status too much, instead opting for a classic feel in its neat and comfy rooms. The location on Printer’s Row is another big selling point, as you’ll be minutes – sometimes moments – away from some of Chicago’s best bits.

The Auditorium and Grant Park’s mighty Buckingham Fountain are nearby, surrounded by bus stops and stations on the city’s comprehensive L Train network – meaning that everything else is within easy reach.

Hip, artsy features sit side-by-side with grand columns and intricately tiled floors at this striking venue, with the MSC Bar taking pride of place in the lobby area. Admire it all while sipping a cocktail mixed on the illuminated bar top, with floor-to-ceiling street art in the background.

All rooms are crisp, clean and stylish, offering welcome features like robes and ergonomic chairs, while higher-grade options boast whirlpool bathtubs and wine stations – a perfect combination if ever we heard of one.

Named after the distinctive grey Georgia Marble that helps give the hotel its class, the Kimpton Gray is a sleek operation in every sense. As well as looking the part with its opulent decor, the hotel has seriously on-point amenities: custom-designed bikes for adults and micro-scooters for kids, seasonal book recommendations delivered to your room, a fitness center with a Peloton and pop-up art installations – the list really is endless.

Don’t miss the gorgeous cocktail bar, Vol. 39, which nails mid-20th century grandeur and has become a destination spot in its own right. Try an old-fashioned or a negroni and you’ll understand why.

A bright, warming lobby makes Fairfield Inn an inviting place to step into and that atmosphere continues throughout the rest of the building. Rooms are cozy and modern and if you want extra space, a studio suite offers a separate living area to stretch out in.

A big bonus here is the daily free breakfast, meaning you can start the day hassle-free and save a few bucks in the process. For other meals, in-house restaurant Ēma serves up colorful Mediterranean mezze platters and Fairfield is surrounded by restaurants and bars offering a great range of global cuisines.

Aesthetically styled on Italian Renaissance architecture, this four-star boutique venue boasts an unashamedly grand and glorious air that also tips its top hat to the roaring 1920s – the decade in which the hotel was built.

Set directly on Chicago’s lively Magnificent Mile, crammed with upmarket stores and restaurants, gives the hotel a further buzz. But you’ll be forgiven for staying in and visiting the M Avenue Lounge – an update of the hotel’s nightclub that once hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Lucille Ball.

Enjoy riverside life at this smart hotel, which is a great bet for business travelers and anyone looking to max out their Chicago sightseeing time. You’ll be steps away from the southern end of the Magnificent Mile if you want hustle, bustle and retail therapy and a few minutes in the other direction takes you to Grant Park and then Millennium Park, where you’ll find Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture.

Rooms are comfy and all feature smart TVs and unlimited free bottled water. Business travelers can power through the day in comfort at the Club Living Room, a private lounge built for efficient working – and efficient snacking thanks to fruit, granola bars and wasabi peas – before unwinding with Wine @ 5: a happy hour showcasing tipples from local wineries.