The Best Hotels in Chicago for Every Traveler

Once an office building, the 20-floor Conrad was transformed into a hotel in 2016. The building is set just off Michigan Avenue and boasts a large glassy facade, bone-china lobby sculpture and never-ending views of Chicago’s skyline. The rooms are modern and include top-notch Michigan Avenue-view and corner-suite options. The Conrad is known for its top-floor restaurant, Baptiste and Bottle, which serves 75 varieties of whiskey and offers a bourbon tasting experience.

Stay in Chicago’s River North neighborhood at the eclectic Kimpton Palomar. This boutique hotel has a strong art focus and contemporary design, with vast marble entrance walls, big windows and splashes of bold color. Rooms feature sitting areas, Chicago art and floor-to-ceiling windows. Head to the homey living room for complimentary wine hour, enjoy the heated indoor pool and soak up skyscraper views from the 17th-floor fitness center and sundeck.

The Waldorf Astoria has a vintage 1920s vibe, with a crystal chandelier lobby, fountain courtyard and high ceilings. Spacious rooms and suites come with flickering fireplaces, artwork and balconies. Margeaux Brasserie serves up exquisite French fare in its Parisian dining room and other lavish amenities include a spa, pool and health club. The hotel is set just a block from Michigan Avenue, and offers a complementary Mercedes car service to locations within two miles.

Come to Sophy Hyde Park for a touch of sophistication. The hotel is filled with art that complements the elegant decor and comes complete with marble-tiled bathrooms and hardwood flooring. The real highlight is the view over Hyde Park set against a background of towering city buildings. Opt for the Dorchester Suite for the best views, a separate living area and a soaking tub. Guests can also use the fitness center and have drinks in the lobby.

Coming to Chicago for a baseball game? Stay at Hotel Zachary just steps from Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs are based. The hotel’s bars and restaurants are filled with fans on game day and there’s a definite baseball theme, with Wrigley memorabilia on the walls and liberal use of blue, the team’s color. Premium rooms offer a glimpse of Wrigley Field itself and are decorated with dark woods and exposed brick.

If you’re a fitness fanatic you’ll love the Hotel at Midtown. Built in 1970 as the world’s largest tennis club, the building is now a cutting-edge hotel with unbeatable sports facilities spread over three levels. These include 16 tennis courts, as well as pools, gyms, a boxing ring and studios for classes. Venus Williams’s design firm V Starr created one of the hotel’s suites and a tennis lounge. Hotel at Midtown lies in Bucktown and also has city views, a spa and a farm-to-table restaurant, Chromium.

Majestic Hotel is an old manor-style property that dates back to the ’20s and has a stately vibe, with a fireplace in the lobby and a pretty courtyard. Don’t miss the free breakfast and freshly baked afternoon cookies, and take advantage of access to a nearby full-service gym. Set in the trendy Lakeview neighborhood, Majestic is another convenient option for fans coming to see a game at Wrigley Field.

The Hilton Garden Inn is set away from central Chicago in Oak Brook, just steps from the Drury Lane Theatre, ideal if you’re catching a show. The hotel also offers a free weekday shuttle service within a five-mile radius and has its own Terrace Grille and Bar, as well as a pool and fitness center. Rooms are comfy and high-tech, with coffee making facilities and plush decor.