The Best Hotels with Views in Chicago

You can enjoy excellent views of Chicago and Lake Michigan from your hotel | © EyeEm / Alamy Stock Photo

17 November 2020

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Chicago has a show-stopping skyline packed with soaring skyscrapers and historic buildings. Then there are the urban parks, Chicago River and shimmering Lake Michigan. Savor the Windy City in all its glory from one of these top hotels with a view.

The Drake, a Hilton Hotel

Courtesy of the Drake / Expedia

If you’re looking for a stay in a 1920s Italian Renaissance building, complete with ornate staircases, chandeliers and a ballroom, the Drake is the place for you. It sits on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and its north-facing rooms boast sparkling views of Lake Michigan and Oak Street Beach. Enjoy eggs benedict in the hotel’s Café on Oak, where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s initials are carved onto the counter, or afternoon tea in the Palm Court lounge, once visited by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Sophy Hyde Park

Courtesy of Sophy Hyde Park / Expedia

Set in the South Side neighborhood, the Sophy has huge windows that showcase views of Hyde Park and the cityscape beyond. The hotel has an extensive art collection and chic, modern decor featuring hardwood flooring and marble bathrooms. Stay in the Dorchester Suite for the best views of Hyde Park, and you also get a living area, dressing room and deep tub that’s perfect for a long soak.

Thompson Chicago

Courtesy of Thompson Chicago / Expedia

At Thompson Chicago, an award-winning contemporary hotel near Michigan Avenue, you can expect cutting-edge design with an industrial feel, evident in the iron staircase, wooden and leather furnishings and a neutral color scheme. All the spacious rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows so you can enjoy great views throughout. Blow the budget for a view of Lake Michigan, although the urban skyline isn’t too shabby to look at, either.

ACME Hotel

Courtesy of ACME Hotel / Expedia

This boutique lifestyle hotel in the River North neighborhood prides itself on its hi-tech features, which include Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin wireless audio systems. ACME has won multiple awards and is known for its hipster vibe, with a graffiti mural and traffic sign in the lobby, as well as modern art dotted around the hotel. The brightly colored rooms feature buzzing city views, and there’s a gym and ski-lodge themed hot tub area with a sauna and fireplace.

The Godfrey Hotel Chicago

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

Courtesy of The Godfrey Hotel Chicago / Expedia

Visitors come to the Godfrey Hotel, in the heart of trendy River North on Huron and LaSalle, for its exceptional city views. The Cubist architecture sets it apart, with striking marble floors and geometric design flair, plus a chocolate and grey color scheme. You can enjoy dinner and drinks in the rooftop lounge, with a glass ceiling and walls that show off the twinkling Chicago skyline after dark.

The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago

A modern bedroom at The Gwen, with a bed, armchairs, a sofa, coffee table and city views

Courtesy of The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago / Expedia

Named after Chicago sculptor Gwen Lux, this opulent hotel is full of her Art Deco design work, which compliments the 1930s building – think geometric shapes, brass fixtures and large stone-carved panels. The rooms showcase views of Michigan Avenue and its signature Chicago buildings, and in some east-facing rooms, patches of the lake. Enjoy swanky amenities such as a fitness center and two restaurants.

The Blackstone, Autograph Collection

A stylish room at the Blackstone, with a bed, coffee table, TV, armchair and hanging lights

Courtesy of the Blackstone / Booking.com

The Blackstone oozes history, dating back to 1910 when it was the city’s tallest building. Built in the French Beaux-Arts style, the hotel has hosted movie stars and presidents over the years, thanks partly to its location on Michigan Avenue with views of Lake Michigan and Grant Park. The Blackstone was renovated in 2017 but retains period features, including a rustic typewriter in the lobby, combined with a fitness center, tapas restaurant and lobby lounge.

Hotel Zachary

Courtesy of Hotel Zachary / Expedia

Heading to Chicago for a baseball game? Then check into Hotel Zachary just steps from Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. Book a premium room for a glimpse of the field itself and enjoy the baseball-themed decor, which includes Wrigley memorabilia and plenty of the Cubs’ signature blue color scheme. Hotel Zachary takes its name from the Chicago architect who designed Wrigley Field and has several bars and restaurants that heave with fans on game days.

Fancy a romantic stay in Chicago? Check out our guide to the best romantic hotels in Chicago, bookable with Culture Trip.

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