Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Chicago hotel rates are as temperamental as the city's climate. And just as snow in April and balmy weather in November are not uncommon, it is widely accepted that a hotel's room rates may drop $50 to $100 overnight—and rise again the next day. It all depends on the season and what festivals, conferences, and other events are happening around town.
Even so, it's wise to shop around. Focus on a neighborhood of interest, like the Near North Side, and you'll find budget chains such as Embassy Suites and luxury properties such as the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago within a few blocks of each other.
Ask yourself whether you'd rather be surrounded by the sedately dressed—think Trump International Hotel—or tattooed hipsters, à la the James Chicago. Is it romance you're seeking (try the Drake) or a quick weekend escape with the kids in tow (they can splash around the pool at the Radisson Blu Aqua, then walk a block to Millennium Park)?
On the lower end, expect well-maintained, but often boxy and sparsely decorated rooms. The good news is that free Wi-Fi is now a feature of most budget-friendly hotels, such as the Best Western or Holiday Inn chains, and local outfits like the Essex Inn.
Top-tier hotels have no problem filling their rooms: in some cases, this has little to do with amenities. Instead, their vibrant bar scenes are the draw, as is the case at the W Chicago–Lakeshore, W Chicago–City Center, the Wit, and the James Hotel. Rooms at these hot spots usually don't go for less than $250, but the "it" factor is huge. That said, between 2013 and 2015 the city saw a building boom that introduced some 2,700 new hotel rooms; the added competition may help lower prices and increase overall quality.
Tech-minded travelers who like to mix business with pleasure will feel right at home at this hotel, which has what worker bees need (generously sized in-room desks with multiple outlets) and what party animals want (a sizzling rooftop bar, I|O Godfrey). Rooms have glittering city views and start at 350 square feet. An on-site spa with two treatment rooms offers 30-minute massages that are perfect for the corporate crowd.
Named for the late sculptor Gwen Lux, this central hot spot recalls the 1930s, from its rooftop bar to its restaurant to its monochromatic-glam guest rooms.
The Hampton Inn Majestic is in one of the most high-traffic areas of town; it offers stunning, quiet guest rooms done up in designer tones. (Online photos, which can make the rooms look orange, don't do this place justice.) The Internet access and a 24-hour fitness center (both free) benefit more than just business travelers. The service is responsive and the common areas are large.
On a busy day the lobby of this Hilton might be mistaken for a terminal at O'Hare Airport; it's a bustling convention hotel, but one that retains its distinguished 1920s heritage in a Renaissance-inspired entrance hall and gold-and-gilt grand ballroom. Renovations completed in 2012 provided new dining and drinking options (the venerable Kitty O'Sheas bar remains), while renovations completed in 2015 lend a more modern look to 1,000-plus guest rooms. A grab-and-go market offers Starbucks coffee, pastries, and sandwiches during daylight hours and local craft beers and cocktails in the evening. The 28,000-square-foot gym has enough room for an indoor track and swimming pool.
Not only is this Holiday Inn close to Chicago's main attractions, it's also within steps of CTA trains that go directly to either O'Hare or Midway airports. Decor-wise the rooms are a bit bland, but they’re comfortable and equipped with pillow-top mattresses, workspaces, and free Wi-Fi. That’s good news for the hordes of business travelers who are drawn here by the hotel’s proximity to the financial district; in summer months they and everyone else have an added incentive to visit—the rooftop pool.
The suites here seem custom designed for families, with sleeper sofas, separate bedrooms and fully equipped kitchens that feature full-size refrigerators and granite countertops. Free food isn't lacking; there's a complimentary hot breakfast seven days a week as well as an evening reception with drinks and a light meal on Wednesdays (there's also a fitness center to work off those calories). Within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile shopping area, the hotel is just a short cab ride away from most other attractions.
Far from just a generic amenity, the fitness facilities are the raison d’être at this independently owned Bucktown property; after all, it got its start as a tennis club that’s hosted the likes of Billie Jean King and Venus Williams (who kindly pitched in and designed a lounge when the club was overhauled and the hotel added in 2017). The multistory facilities and class offerings are impressive---think sunrise rooftop yoga and spinning, a heavy bag boxing gym, two sleek pools, and a virtual driving range, to name but a few. And the coolest feature is that they’re all open to hotel guests—with the $45 resort fee, that is. (Spa treatments and personal training sessions not included.) Throw impressive skyline views and slick mid-century guest rooms into the mix, and you’ve got a seriously unique spot to rest your head.
A multimillion-dollar renovation a few years back updated this spacious landmark in Chicago's historic Printers Row neighborhood; the lobby is dark but welcoming, and the rooms, in a mix of browns, reds, and creams, are very large considering the location. Choose a suite and you'll have a condo-size spread with fantastic views of downtown. It's ideal for business travelers who want to be near the city's financial district, yet close enough to Grant Park, the Art Institute, and other museums to have touristic appeal.
With cheerful rooms and nicely designed public spaces, the Hotel Cass is a true boutique property that bears little resemblance to more generic branches in the Holiday Inn chain. The crisp white lobby is sparse and elegant, and the dramatic red hallway is offset with humorous portraits. Accommodations are modern and bright, with green headboards that nearly reach the ceiling and artwork that includes photos of 1950s fashion icons; subway-style tiles in the bathroom hark back to the 1920s.
Eclectic design meets high-tech details in this daring boutique newbie, which has robots delivering room service to your small, midcentury modern–inspired quarters. The wired, inspired philosophy and amenities (like in-room Amazon Alexa) attract business guests, who like to use the steampunk-style lobby as their office-away-from-office.
Guest rooms are in need of updating, but on the whole, there's a lot to love about this historic property, starting with a cool, kitschy vibe that feels authentic. And then there's the location, so close to Lincoln Park that guests can practically roll out of bed and into the zoo. Make a point to head up to the J. Parker rooftop lounge; the food and cocktails are only okay, but the view is one of the city's best. Other dining options range from locally made pastries at casual Elaine’s Coffee Call to lavish 17-course feasts at Sushi Suite 202, an omakase “speakeasy” secreted inside a converted guest room. For the best views, request a room on the ninth floor or above, facing east toward the park and the lake.
In the middle of one of Chicago's most vibrant neighborhoods and close to Rush Street nightlife, this trendy hot spot delivers solid rooms and excellent cuisine. In the bright and inviting "living room" lobby, you'll be offered a complimentary glass of wine daily at 5 pm. Texture is everything here; the speckled woodwork adds a unique touch to the spacious and modern rooms. The bathrooms feel vaguely Zen, with spartan countertops and marble Jacuzzi tubs in the suites.
Located on the very southern edge of Lakeview, the Versey is a great spot for launching an exploration of Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and points north. The Versey has a long history of famous musicians as guests, thanks to its proximity to clubs like Metro, Schubas, Beat Kitchen, and others. Among others, legends like Kurt Cobain and Radiohead have rested their heads here. Rooms are aggressively Chicago-themed with accommodations that include full-size beds for solo travelers and features like in-room Nespresso machines and free Wi-Fi.
Located across the street from Wrigley Field, this boutique hotel is a home run on all accounts, from the Cubs-centric design to the buzzing cocktail bar to the rooms with private balconies that overlook all the action at nearby Gallagher Way. Rooms are plush, and most feature rainfall showerheads, pin-striped carpet, and ivy-green headboards (the latter being a nod to the Cubs outfield). Dining options include an upscale tavern, a Mediterranean-inspired lounge, and an outpost of Chicago's legendary taco spot, Big Star.
A massive, light-filled lobby—part of a $168-million renovation—is the centerpiece of the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the city's largest hotel with 2,032 rooms in a prime downtown locale. Perched between the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, and Michigan Avenue, the spot is perfect for business or leisure travelers. Technology updates offer computer screens for self check-in and checkout, as well as free Wi-Fi. Renovated rooms are modern and minimalist with crisp white linens. Stetson's, where sushi is as popular as steak, is definitely a cut above most hotel restaurants.
Mixing architectural elegance with a sleek modern style, this historic property has lots of gorgeous areas, from a bright and welcoming lobby bar to spacious guest rooms with high ceilings and marble baths. Built in 1914 as the Continental & Commercial National Bank, the Daniel Burnham–designed building is in the heart of the financial district and handy to Union Station. Its upscale Italian restaurant, The Florentine, is popular for business lunches and cocktails.
Prominently centered on the financial district, this handsome historical landmark (formerly home to the New York Life building) received a sleek, bespoke redesign appealing to young professionals with discerning tastes. The lobby is spacious, with clean lines and high-vaulted ceilings, while rooms feature a blend of design elements riffing off classic suites.
The former Hotel Monaco was purchased by Korea's Lotte hotel group, reopening in 2024 as the first American outpost of Lotte's L7 brand. Works by Chicago artists complement Asian-inspired decor in the newly refreshed rooms; amenities include in-room fitness equipment as well as complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks at the hotel's "Krave Station."
The friendly proprietors (and longtime Bucktown denizens) launched this guesthouse, at the end of a residential street, in 2021 after lovingly restoring its three guest rooms with a mix of crisp modern style and cozy touches like butter-soft linens and Aesop bath products. Cool graphic posters from the annual Bucktown Arts Fest (which the owners help run) add local color to the hallways. There’s a small shared kitchenette, but if you prefer to let someone else do the cooking, the property’s ground-floor tavern serves a smash burger that’s wildly popular with the neighbors.
Nestled between Michigan Avenue and the lakefront, this hotel is loved by families for the suitelike accommodations and other offerings (like a game library, indoor pool, and amenities for teens, tweens, and kids) that make boredom impossible. The on-site ETA Restaurant & Bar is a great place to spend the evening.
The restaurant known for whiskey and nose-to-tail cuisine has opened a six-room inn by the same name, and each of these homey quarters is full of original art and handcrafted furnishings. No room has the same look and feel, but each is residentially styled to appeal to the young travelers who stay here to be in the middle of a cool neighborhood scene. Comfortable and welcoming, it's like crashing at your (very tidy and organized) best friend's pad.
Everything at this charming boutique hotel says homey—from the quiet, side-street location to the roaring fireplace in the lobby and the complimentary round-the-clock coffee service. Guest rooms are contemporary yet cozy, and plush bathrobes hang in the bathrooms. Great for a stay off the beaten path, yet still within walking distance of Wrigley Field and the many shops, bars, and clubs of the Northalsted neighborhood.
This 1927 hotel has had a number of identities—including the speakeasy for Capone to a 1970s stint as the Playboy Hotel and Towers under owner Hugh Hefner; these days the guest rooms sport a gold, beige, plum, and espresso color palette. Your downtime is well spent in the lobby bar, which offers seasonally inspired cocktails and an extensive martini list.
You couldn't pick a better name for this 14-suite charmer: a lovingly rehabbed 19th-century apartment building set in Lincoln Park's residential heart, it's about as close as you can get to living like a local without signing a lease. While it's not a luxe downtown high-rise (a fact you might feel keenly aware of when you're hoofing it up the stairs), creature comforts like modern kitchenettes, soundbars, and even yoga mats abound. Better still, suites are bursting with vintage moldings, warm light, and artwork that celebrates 1980s Chicago pop culture, making for memorable, if not hyper-polished, spaces. A rear coach house offers extra privacy.
The only all-suites hotel on Michigan Avenue has a lot going for it: every room is a good size, and French doors separate the living room from the bedroom, making them feel more like apartments. It's a smart choice for extended stays or family trips—most rooms have pull-out couches, and all have multiple TVs plus MP3 plug-ins; at check-in young travelers also receive a backpack with goodies and games to keep. If you want to dine on-site, the 676 Restaurant & Bar has Midwestern-style American cuisine and views overlooking Michigan Avenue.
The epitome of a grande dame, this massive property in the center of the Loop recently underwent a $215-million renovation, but the lobby—with its wow-worthy ceiling mural and lots of gold, marble, and tapestry—preserves the original splendor. Guest rooms, which aren't quite as glitzy, have a boutique-hotel feel. This is the longest continually operating hotel in the United States; it's also the place where brownies were invented in 1893, thanks to socialite Bertha Palmer. The Palmer House celebrates its history along with its more modern attributes, among them a 10,000-square-foot fitness center and spa.
City history and contemporary design come together with stylish elegance at the Pendry Chicago, in the iconic 1929 art deco Carbide and Carbon Building. The minimalist decor with gold accents complement the original building design making guest rooms feel bright and modern. The ground-floor restaurant, Venteux, and the rooftop bar, Château Carbide, highlight French cuisine.
Location is a big draw for visitors to this hotel near the Magnificent Mile; inside you'll find spacious, comfortable rooms in neutral shades, with modern-looking bathrooms and superlative city views.The clientele is international but also includes suburbanites eager for a city fix. Don't linger in the small lobby—with little more than a check-in desk and a few chairs, there's not much excitement there; ascend instead to the 18th floor, where Drumbar offers craft cocktails, roaring fireplaces in winter, and a bustling patio in warmer weather.
Perched on prime real estate on the south bank of the Chicago River, this cosmopolitan spot is shouldered by high-rises but you can still enjoy fantastic views of the Chicago skyline right from your room. Stay on the slightly pricier club levels for complimentary weekday access to a private business center, continental breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, and nonalcoholic drinks.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
