18 Best Hotels in Chicago, Illinois

At the refined Four Seasons, guest rooms begin on the 30th floor (the hotel sits atop the tony 900 North Michigan Shops), so there's a distinct feeling of seclusion—and great views to boot. On the seventh floor, white marble and plenty of natural light flood the lobby where you’ll also find Adorn Bar & Restaurant and a lounge that hosts live entertainment and serves bar food all day. Guest rooms are all about comfort and style, with luxurious beds and marble bathrooms. There's a spa on-site, with an indoor pool. 

This Gold Coast star still dominates the skyline above the old Water Tower and the views are as spectacular as ever following a $60-million renovation to all of its guestrooms and suites in early 2022. Inspired by the adjacent Water Tower Park, the redesign includes a soothing color palette and organic materials. The NoMI Garden bar and restaurant on the seventh floor serves contemporary American and global dishes; its popular outdoor area welcomes alfresco diners in summer. Guests can also take advantage of the hotel's soothing NoMI Spa.

Sophisticated yet comfortable, the Ritz-Carlton has indoor access to the Water Tower Place shopping mall and is close to many high-end boutiques. The classy hotel specializes in showering guests with attention, and its rooms are spacious, with walk-in closets and separate dressing areas. A fitness center, indoor pool, and spa services are all close at hand, and you don't need to go far to find quality dining: Torali, an Italian steak house, is on the 12th floor. The restaurant also has a rooftop bar and lounge.

Channeling the old-school glamour of its Gold Coast neighborhood, this completely rehabbed 1920s property is draped in luxury; think generously sized gold-and-black-adorned guest rooms, a dazzling rooftop pool that overlooks the Gold Coast Triangle, and a happening dining room and bar. Nested between bars, shops, and restaurants, it's a magnet for fun-loving travelers.

Just steps from the Mag Mile, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago is a haven of exclusivity, located near some of the city's best shops, dining, and nightlife. The elegant cobblestone roundabout outside the hotel leads guests into a lobby where a crystal chandelier patterned after a Coco Chanel brooch hangs high above. The restaurant features classic American cuisine for dinner, lunch, and breakfast—when the lobster toast steals the show. A speakeasy lounge serves classic cocktails alongside drinks with unique twists like dry ice, gold leaf, and a tableside experience. Guest rooms feature fireplaces, wet bars, oversized bathrooms with soaking tubs, and suites with outdoor terraces. There's also a fitness center, pool, and spa.

With some of the best views in Chicago, the Trump International Hotel & Tower attracts power brokers, women in fur coats, and anyone else who is prepared to pay for top-of-the-line luxury. The spacious, elegant guest rooms have muted gray walls, cream-color couches, and chocolate-brown furniture; each has its own small kitchen, plus a TV inside the bathroom mirror. The full-service spa is immense, and the on-site restaurant and bars are outstanding. If you book a suite, a chauffeur will drive you around town.

Rooms here are arranged around an 11-story, plant-filled atrium lobby, making efficient use of space. All suites have separate living rooms with a pullout sofa, four-person dining table, and an extra TV. A 24-hour business center, plus a complimentary full breakfast each morning and cocktails each evening are especially appealing to business travelers. The indoor pool and fitness center are added perks, as is the renowned on-site restaurant, Osteria Via Stato.

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.

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.

Steps from iconic Chicago attractions, the Royal Sonesta has some of the largest standard guest rooms in Chicago, many with a river or city view. Amenities include a restaurant with outdoor patio dining, a 24-hour fitness center, and an outdoor terrace with skyline views.

An urban sanctuary amid iconic attractions, this hotel calls out to families with its generously sized rooms and indoor pool, while business travelers appreciate the large amount of meeting space. And everyone loves the Chicago Burger Company, a lively riverfront restaurant. 

Built in 1927, this classic boutique hotel has an elegant and inviting lobby and guestroom accommodations that mix classic and contemporary. It strikes a happy balance, retaining a somewhat historical feel while also being eco- and tech-friendly. The Talbott is blessed with a great Gold Coast location, and guests can take advantage of a state-of-the-art fitness center with Peloton bike and FloWater purified water refill station. 

Contemporary and design-centric, this gallery-like hotel (with unique art in each room and fabulous lobby art) is known for its homey, wired rooms geared toward the business traveler. 

Overlooking Lake Michigan on a prime spot on Lake Shore Drive, this hotel is a sleek, contemporary escape with easy access to the Mag Mile, Navy Pier, and the rest of the city's cultural and business landscape. The lobby is part lounge, part club scene, with DJs on weekends; there's also an on-site restaurant serving American bites. The hotel's "whatever, whenever" desk—its version of a concierge service—is on call 24 hours a day.