United States Illinois The Best Hotels in Chicago The Gwen is our favorite spot for a night in the Windy City By Amber Gibson Updated on 05/23/22 Fact checked by Erin Medlicott Fact checked by Erin Medlicott LinkedIn Twitter New York University Rutgers University Erin Medlicott is a fact checker and researcher with a background in lifestyle and finance. Prior to her work at TripSavvy, she did financial research for the American Express Departures Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal. She earned a TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. The Windy City is known for its sports teams, friendly locals, world-class restaurants and majestic architecture, including some gorgeous Chicago hotels. Chicago hosts the James Beard Awards each year, the Oscars for restaurants, and the city is full of delicious eats, from humble to high brow. Chicago comes out of hibernation and springs to life each summer with free dance classes in Millennium Park, rooftop revelry at hotspots like Utopian Tailgate, and neighborhood festivals each week, not to mention blockbuster events like Lollapalooza. Most hotels in Chicago are concentrated in River North, Gold Coast, the Loop and West Loop neighborhoods, but there are gems sprinkled throughout the city for travelers who wish to live more like locals. Here are the top hotels in Chicago, whether you're traveling for work or fun, with kids, or on a romantic getaway. The Best Hotels in Chicago Best Overall: The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel Best Luxury: The Langham, Chicago Best Boutique: Neighborhood Hotel Best for Families: Loews Chicago Hotel Best for Business: Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel Best for Sports Fans: Hotel Zachary, Chicago, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Best Budget: Ambassador Chicago The Best Hotels in Chicago View All The Best Hotels in Chicago Our Top Picks The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel The Langham, Chicago Neighborhood Hotel Loews Chicago Hotel Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel Hotel Zachary, Chicago, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Ambassador Chicago See More (4) Final Verdict Compare the Best Hotels in Chicago Methodology Best Overall : The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It This Art Deco design hotel has larger rooms than most and an incredible location, along with creative programming throughout the year. Notable Amenities Directly connected to Nordstrom and Shops at Northbridge, weekend Tipsy Tea by James Beard Award-winning chef Carrie Nahabedian, winter curling rink on the rooftop terrace Pros Prime location on Michigan Avenue Year-round rooftop terrace Dog-friendly Cons No spa No pool This Mag Mile hotel is named for Chicago sculptress Gwen Lux, and replicas of her original work adorn the hotel entry. Smooth wooden floors and bronze metal screens are accented by plush blue velvet couches in the lobby, setting the tone for a stylish stay. All 311 rooms have marble soaking tubs and junior suites are especially spacious–a worthwhile upgrade. Many rooftops in Chicago are seasonal, but The Gwen's fifth floor terrace lounge, Upstairs at The Gwen, is open year-round with fire pits, plus a curling rink and alpine chalet in winter. The hotel is centrally located on Michigan Avenue, which is perfect for shopping. You can even take an elevator directly to Nordstrom and Shops at Northbridge, one of Chicago's top luxury malls. That means during cold winters, there's no need to don a coat to shop 'til you drop. Best Luxury : The Langham, Chicago The Langham, Chicago See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Even standard rooms here feel remarkably lavish and amenities like the club lounge and Chuan Spa are the best in the city. Notable Amenities Complimentary BMW house car, Langham Club lounge with breakfast buffet, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapés, cinema suite for private screenings that seats up to 12 people Pros Chuan Spa is the best hotel spa in the city with an array of Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments Well-equipped fitness center and indoor heated swimming pool with stunning skyline views Weekend afternoon tea service with live music Cons Limited number of rooms with double beds No outdoor dining venue The nondescript exterior of a former IBM office building designed by Mies van der Rohe belies the beauty and glamour awaiting in the sparkling double-height lobby at The Langham, Chicago, with marble floors and gleaming floating glass pebbles above the front desk. Club Level guests can skip the lobby entirely and check in at the 12th floor club lounge while enjoying champagne and gourmet bites with views overlooking the Chicago River. The $150 daily fee to upgrade for club access is well worth it. Spa treatments here are unlike anything else you'll find in Chicago, including acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion, along with more traditional massages and HydraFacials. You'll fill out a questionnaire beforehand to determine your current dominant element–earth, fire, air or water–with treatments recommended accordingly. Even if you haven't booked a treatment at Chuan Spa, hotel guests can enjoy the Himalayan salt sauna, herbal steam rooms, and heated loungers. Best Boutique : Neighborhood Hotel Neighborhood Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It This apartment-style hotel helps guests live like locals in the heart of Lincoln Park. Notable Amenities Every suite has a washer and dryer in-unit, sheet masks in the bathroom, extras like yoga mats, coolers, bikes and sleds can be placed in your room upon request Pros Full kitchen stocked with local goodies Helpful digital concierge available by text Contactless check-in Cons No gym No on-site restaurant No elevator The large apartment-style suites at The Neighborhood Hotel feel like you're crashing at a stylish friend's pied-à-terre in a late 1800s walk-up, rather than a hotel. A well-curated collection of contemporary art by local artists, books and accessories reflect the neighborhood's happy-go-lucky vibe and you're within easy walking distance of attractions like North Pond Nature Sanctuary, Lincoln Park Conservatory, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Several of the 14 suites have two or three bedrooms and most have sleeper sofas. There are even a couple suites with bunk beds available for families too. There's no restaurant, but delicious food options are just down the street, including Jibaritos for authentic Puerto Rican street food and The Weiners Circle for a classic Chicago-style hot dog right next door. Best for Families : Loews Chicago Hotel Loews Chicago Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It There are so many extra amenities, from cribs and coloring books to pool toys and gaming consoles available so children of all ages and interests are sure to be entertained during their stay. Notable Amenities Indoor heated pool open daily all year long with pool toys upon request, bedtime story cart, iPads on loan with pre-loaded games and movies Pros Largest hotel rooftop in the city In-room refrigerators instead of mini bars Plenty of adjoining rooms Cons No spa Rooftop access is seasonal Fee for parking This 400-room hotel is within walking distance to family-friendly attractions like Maggie Daley Park, Millennium Park and Navy Pier, which you can spot from lake view suites. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, suites have a separate living area for kids to play, and 88 rooms have an adjoining option for families. Plus, the hotel offers a bunch of unique amenities for kids, including children's coloring books, crayons, and board games available to rent. The lobby is spacious with plenty of outlets if mom or dad needs to get out of the room to work and a new chef team has upped the ante on food at ETA Restaurant and Bar. There are healthy breakfast options like protein bowls and avocado toast along with more indulgent coconut waffles and cinnamon French toast so everyone in the family can eat up before embarking on a day exploring the city. Book the Splash and Snooze package for bedtime story cart service with milk and cookies, pool toys, and a pop-up kid's tent set up in your suite during your stay. Best for Business : Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It With a riverfront location and plenty of business services, this hotel has everything a business traveler needs. Notable Amenities Healthy grab-and-go options from Staytion Market, chic rooftop cocktail bar and lounge for entertaining clients, dry cleaning service Pros Riverfront location More than 41,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces with city and river views State/Lake subway station right outside Cons Valet parking for a fee No spa Gym is small and mediocre Centrally located in the Loop, Renaissance Chicago is a great home base if you're exploring the city using public transportation, and it's easy to access from both Chicago O'Hare and Midway airports. Rooms are traditional but serviceable, with pops of modern art and useful updates like bedside charging cord stations. Business travelers will appreciate onsite printing, fax and copy services at FedEx along with parcel service upon request. Plus, there are 22 separate event rooms and 28 breakout rooms, equipped with audiovisual technology for a variety of meetings. Raised Urban Rooftop is a fun spot to gather after hours and entertain colleagues and clients. The lobby is also well-equipped for group brainstorm sessions with communal tables and cushioned bleacher-style seating with plentiful outlets. Best for Sports Fans : Hotel Zachary, Chicago, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Hotel Zachary, Chicago, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Cool modern design combine with great dining options just across the street from one of the country's most renowned baseball stadiums. Notable Amenities Pool table, The Bar at Hotel Zachary has outdoor terrace views of Wrigley Field, complimentary cookies and coloring books at front desk for kids Pros Great views of Wrigley Field Pet-friendly with pet amenities Wide range of on-site dining Cons Heavy traffic on game days No spa or pool Far from downtown Chicago Just across the street from Wrigley Field, Hotel Zachary is named for the architect who designed the legendary ballpark and it's a great spot for baseball fans, families and travelers looking for a local Chicago neighborhood experience. The Bar at Hotel Zachary is a fun social hub, with weekly live music. Plus, it's a great place to catch a Cubs game if you don't have a ticket. Guestrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Wrigley and Wrigley Stadium, with historical photographs, and rare Wrigley Field memorabilia decorating each room. There are more than a half dozen local eateries on Gallagher Way, the same block as the hotel, including barbecue at Smoke Daddy, tacos at Big Star, and coffee and sweet treats at West Town Bakery + Tap. Best Budget : Ambassador Chicago Ambassador Chicago See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It A relative steal in the city's toniest neighborhood, this boutique property feels surprisingly plush for the price. Notable Amenities 24-hour fitness center with customized workouts by Fitbod, complimentary two-hour bike rentals Pros Quieter than most hotels in the city Just a couple blocks from Lake Shore Drive and Oak Street Beach Pet-friendly Cons No spa or pool The restaurant here isn't what it used to be Inconsistent service Originally opened in 1926, Ambassador Chicago was one of the city’s original boutique hotels, hosting everyone from Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor to David Bowie throughout the years when The Pump Room was a magnet for celebrities. Now renamed the Ambassador Room, the restaurant is no longer a crown jewel, but only offers a basic menu of soup, sandwiches and pastas. There are reasonably priced suites on each floor, with 52 suites in total, and rooms are light and modern, with bright white walls and minimal décor making the space feel larger. That's a stark contrast to the moody library just off the lobby, which is a cozy spot to work if your room isn't quite ready yet for check-in. Final Verdict There's so much to do in Chicago, and many hotels cater to a specific kind of traveler. Whether you're traveling with kids or alone, looking to shop along the Magnificent Mile, enjoy a sumptuous spa day, live like a local in Lincoln Park, or bask in the sun along Lake Michigan, there's a hotel for you, with comfortable rooms, warm service, and photo-worthy design. Compare the Best Hotels in Chicago Property Room Rates Free WiFi Resort Fee The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel Best Overall Best Overall $$ Yes No The Langham, Chicago Best Luxury $$$$ Yes No The Neighborhood Hotel Best Boutique $$ Yes No Loews Chicago Hotel Best for Families $$ Yes $25 Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel Best for Business $$ Yes $25 Hotel Zachary, Chicago, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Best for Sports Fans $$ Yes No Ambassador Chicago Best Budget $ Yes $17 Methodology We evaluated more than 40 different hotels in Chicago to choose the best in each category. We considered more than a dozen criteria when making our selection, including the design and quality of guestrooms and public spaces, service, value, and food and beverage options. Plus, we assessed the availability and quality of notable hotel amenities, like an on-site spa or pool. In determining the list, we analyzed hundreds of customer reviews and incorporated our first-person experiences at each property. 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