The Langham, Chicago
330 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 60611, USA
Why We Like It
Feeling pampered by the staff is glorious, but the hotel’s pink accents make it even more fun, from the retro town car to Langham-branded single-use boxes of water. To access the Riverwalk from the property is a rare amenity and ideal for joggers and walkers. On weekends, an elegant afternoon tea ($125 per person) is served in Pavilion, along with small bites.
Fodor's Expert Review
Within Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s last building design, this black, boxy skyscraper spans 52 stories and sits along the Chicago River in River North. As one of only three Langham hotels in the U.S. (others are in Boston, New York City, and Pasadena, California), the lone Midwestern outpost from the Hong Kong luxury brand checks off all the boxes, including lavish spa treatments and dining with a view. It’s also LEED Gold certified, the highest sustainability level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
PROS
- Killer views from Travelle
- In the heart of River North
- A uniquely themed spa that departs from the normal pampering experience
CONS
- Pricey room rates
- Not a lot of hang-out spots inside the hotel other than Travelle
- Only one restaurant (Travelle)
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Room
Spacious in size, each of the rooms in the three Deluxe room categories is elegant and luxurious without feeling fussy, with purple and cream color combos and seating areas. There are also six suite types. The best rooms, of course, are the ones with Chicago River views (thankfully, there are many!). The brand’s signature Blissful Bed is just like it sounds: pure bliss to help you sleep. If you do have to work, the oversized desk is more than an afterthought and quite comfy for long stretches.
Bathroom
Created from high-end materials like travertine, Botticino Fiorito marble, and Alaskan White granite, not to mention Dyson hair dryers and full-size Diptyque body products, these baths are so lavish you might want to spend a lot of time in there, whether taking a shower (each one features a rainfall showerhead) or soaking in a tub.
Lobby
An elevator whisks you up to the 2nd-floor lobby, near the entrance to Travelle, the hotel’s bar and restaurant. With high ceilings, 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and shiny metals woven into the interior design, like the ceiling-wide art installation, and living-room style seating, this is a fitting place to check into a glam hotel.
Pool
The hotel’s 67-foot pool is on the fourth floor and accompanied by a steam room and two saunas (one herbal and one Himalayan salt).
Spa
Adopting not just a highly personalized approach, but also principles borrowed from Eastern cultures, each guest at the 16,000-square-foot Chuan Spa fills out a detailed questionnaire to determine their mood and stress level, which guides the treatment, including scents and oils chosen. Treatments can last up to three hours—pretty much unheard of at spas—such as the Chuan Serenity Chen that starts with a stone-therapy massage.
You Should Know As fantastic as the spa is, the cost for treatments will set you back. An hour-long massage costs around $250 and therapists inquire about whether or not you want enhancements, such as hot Himalayan salt stones or CBD cream, increasing the cost even more.
Gym
Referred to as a fitness studio, this area of the hotel is stocked with Peloton bikes along with strength and cardio equipment from the Life Fitness Signature and Elevation Series. An active class schedule is also offered. Locals snap up monthly memberships because the fitness offerings are that good.
Tip Unlike most luxury hotels, yoga, Pilates, barre, and sound-meditation classes in the fitness center are complimentary to guests—and also offered daily.
Dining
Whether one wants comfort food, like the Travelle Smash Burger with truffle fries, or a bottle of wine pulled from the free-standing, back-lit cellar, there’s Travelle. Desserts are indulgent, such as Grandma’s Warm Chocolate Cake and house-spun ice cream in seasonal flavors. Lunch folds in salads and sandwiches while breakfast and brunch straddle sweet and savory, such as brioche French toast and the lobster-topped Travelle benedict. Afternoon tea in the Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday afternoons evokes an English tea room with Wedgwood china.
Tip Executive Club rooms include access to a 12th-floor lounge, where you’ll feel shoulder to shoulder with incredible architecture, including Marina City. The lounge’s food—served all day—is substantial enough to be a meal in the evening and features alcoholic beverages plus a candy bar.
Drinking
With its conversation areas, Travelle Lounge is a popular after-work spot for American Medical Association employees, who work in the same building. Windows on two sides invite an amazing vista, whether it’s before or after sunset. Cocktails are also great for Instagram, such as one served in a porcelain cat. Be sure to try a cocktail such as Walk on the Boulevard, featuring bourbon, amaro, sherry, and maple syrup in the new Langham Luxury Line. It’s smoked in a cloche with cinnamon bark chips before topped with caramel shards.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
Due to its central location—on the North side of the Chicago River in River North, close to shopping on Michigan Avenue, public transportation and the Loop—having a car isn’t necessary. Simply call an Uber, Lyft, or taxi for the quick drives. Or take the CTA bus (one block East, on Michigan Avenue, you can catch many lines) or “L” elevated rail lines (the closest stop is at Clark and Lake, a 9-minute walk). Strolling along the Riverwalk is a fun activity before or after dinner.
Restaurants
Craving a good steakhouse? There are many nearby, including the locally famous Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf (10-minute walk). For a casual meal the whole group can enjoy, the country’s largest Eataly (the 64,000-square-foot) Eataly Chicago is a 7-minute walk North of the hotel and its three restaurants are a veritable trip to Italy.
Bars
From House of Blues across the street and City Winery at the Riverwalk—on the other side of the Chicago River—to the many bars and lounges in River North (such as the glam Tiki lounge Three Dots and a Dash, Bar Goa’s tropical-India vibe and flutes of bubbles at Pops for Champagne) that are within a 5-minute walk, staying here is a dream for cocktail enthusiasts.
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Quick Facts
HOTEL INFO
HOTEL DETAILS
Rate Includes: No Meals
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