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With a cluster of accommodations around North Michigan Avenue (the "Magnificent Mile"), the Near North neighborhood is where many new hotels are springing up—or reinventing themselves, thanks to multimillion-dollar makeovers. Prices are at the high end, but there are a few deals to be found if you're willing to forgo a pool or concierge service. Consider the area's proximity to great shopping part of the bargain.
In River North, aside from the concentration of independently owned galleries, it's national chains that lead most of the commerce, including some surprising boutique hotels that may be part of a chain but have nevertheless carved out a personality all their own.
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.
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.
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.
Named a National Historic Landmark in 1999, the Allerton was a residential, 12-story "club hotel" for men when it opened in 1924; the hotel added 14 more floors in 1930, making it the tallest building on Michigan Avenue at the time. The guest rooms have been remodeled with an attractive mix of blue, white, and yellow; new king and queen beds are an added bonus. If you want to stay in the middle of it all, this is a very good choice.
Location-wise, this hotel scores big because major malls and flagship shops are steps from the front door; though once inside, the lobby seems a bit like an airport terminal—long, narrow, and full of folks tapping away on laptops. The rooms are very comfortable and furnished with specially designed Simmons Heavenly beds, which guests have raved about and even purchased. There's no restaurant on-site, but there is a Starbucks. You can book appointments for the hotel's spa through windycitymassage.com.
Just blocks from the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, it offers impressive views of the Chicago River and the heart of downtown. Clean-lined, contemporary rooms are decorated in soothing neutral tones, and all have free Wi-Fi and iPod docks. There's also a business center and fitness center, so you can decide whether to work or work out. Hoyt's, the hotel restaurant, serves creative, Midwestern-inspired fare and has a whole menu section devoted to snacks in jars.
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.
In an often overlooked section of Chicago just east of Michigan Avenue, this hotel has a sublime 29th-floor indoor/outdoor bar with an enviable view of the city; its stylish guest rooms are contemporary and comfy. The lobby, renovated in 2013, features oversize seating and opens to a restaurant and bar offering sit-down service as well as to-go items. This place loves kids and pets and has packages tailored to both.
Built in the late 1920s and originally filled with luxury apartments, this Gold Coast boutique hotel has hosted the likes of Katharine Hepburn and Mick Jagger. It offers spacious, updated rooms in a stellar location close to Magnificent Mile shopping, Rush Street nightlife, and the Oak Street beach; high-quality linens and lots of dark wood reinforce the elite feel. Two restaurants are on-site: Fornetto Mei serves Italian dishes that include standout pizza, while Mei's Corner is a casual, street-level Asian restaurant with authentic food and decent prices for the area.
