13 Best Hotels in Chicago, Illinois

Exuberant original art is everywhere at this boutique property that's rich with design details and thoughtful touches—see the inviting lobby fireplace and the custom wooden cabinetry, hardwood floors, and turntables in every guestroom. (A curated library of Chicago-centric vinyl is kept at the front desk.) Mesler, the stylish first-floor cocktail bar and restaurant, is a popular hangout for local professionals. Yes, Hyde Park's a bit of a haul from the city center—but with digs this glam, who needs the Loop?   

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Just off North Michigan Avenue, this is a favorite hotel among business travelers—rooms are small but stocked with essential amenities, like desks and docking stations. If you're looking for more space, book one of the rooms at the Residences, which are equipped with full kitchens and are more like studio apartments or corporate housing. The property attracts many European budget travelers.

This Tuscan-themed bed-and-breakfast—complete with a (shared) fully stocked gourmet kitchen—allows guests all the comforts of a top-notch hotel in a residential neighborhood where such rooms can be hard to find. The common area is small but well-appointed; mahogany floors and columns, silk couches, plus an enormous hand-carved banister add a regal touch. The bathrooms, with floor-to-ceiling marble, are spacious and decadent. Be sure to visit the grotto out back; the bricks are from Italy.

One of the condo-like rooms in this small B&B is a great choice for anyone who wants to venture outside downtown Chicago and sample two of its most popular neighborhoods—Wicker Park and Bucktown. Each room is unique; all are tastefully decorated with streetscape photography, handmade beds, and hardwood floors, and some feature original fireplaces. A stylish shared kitchen serves as the main hangout space. This is a great place for a long stay.

Hip but cozy, the Hotel Felix uses a mixture of soft browns and grays throughout; the rooms are stylish, and the lobby, decorated with glass sculptures hanging from the ceiling, is small and inviting. The views are solid and the spa is divine: ultradark and quiet, it protects visitors from outside noise.