The 7 Most Luxurious Hotels in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois, is a city of boundless energy and immutable charm, a metropolis that flawlessly fuses its rich history with a modern urban panache. From its iconic skyline accentuated by architectural wonders, to its world class museums, diverse food scene, opulent shopping, and rich musical heritage, Chicago offers a memorable experience to every visitor.

Chicago is a distinctive luxury destination that delivers endless adventures. The Gold Coast, The Art Institute, Alinea, Michigan Avenue, Lake Michigan, Soldier Field – there is so much to see, do, eat, and drink in Chicago, that the list is virtually infinite.

With all this awaiting you, it’s very important to secure the perfect hotel. After all, finding the right place to stay can set the mood for your entire trip, and even make or break your experience. So to guarantee your trip to Chicago will be unforgettable, here are our favorite luxury hotels to ensure a perfect stay in the Windy City. Every hotel on our list demonstrates masterful attention to detail in their hospitality and offers the latest amenities in the lap of luxury. Note: the hotels on our list are in no particular order as they all offer an impeccable, luxurious experience.

The Peninsula Chicago

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Situated in the heart of Chicago’s affluent Gold Coast neighborhood, The Peninsula Chicago gives you access to some of the city’s best shopping as well as the Magnificent Mile, Millenium Park and Navy Pier, which are all within walking distance of the hotel.

Traditional European-style grandeur and gracious service is bestowed on every guest. Expect not to have to lift a finger when staying at The Peninsula Chicago.

The Peninsula Chicago stands out with its wide range of guest rooms and suites that offer from 531 to 3,645 square feet of views of Lake Michigan and Michigan Avenue. All room spaces (besides being spacious) are elegantly designed with neutral colors, tastefully placed floral arrangements, and thoughtfully arranged seating areas. The bathrooms are equally luxurious with separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers.

The Peninsula Spa is a draw for both visitors and locals, as the facility includes an outdoor sun terrace for warmer weather, a half-Olympic-length pool, gym, yoga room, and a relaxation lounge complete with a fireplace perfect for the most frigid of Windy City winter days.

You’ll have plenty of dining options at The Peninsula Chicago where there are three restaurants: The Lobby (the pinnacle of Chicago’s power breakfast), Z Bar (coveted rooftop spot for cocktails), and Shanghai Terrace (refined Chinese cuisine). Additionally, there is Pierre Gourmet, a European-style cafe, adjacent to the hotel.

The Peninsula is family friendly with the convenience of a kids club, adjoining rooms, and activities for younger travelers (you needn’t pack a games console; Playstations are supplied).

Waldorf Astoria Chicago

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When it’s time to check-in at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, you’ll feel like you pulled up to a French chateau in the middle of the Gold Coast District. The stunning entrance to the downtown Chicago hotel showcases its status as one of the best luxury hotels in the city. Designed by famed architect Lucien Lagrande, the hotel has a grand Parisian feeling and scale that starts at the old-fashioned motor court.

You won’t find a doorman or bellhop at the check-in desk. The luxury hotel eschews the traditional welcoming system and instead employs a jack-of-all trades staff, which means any staff member might help you with any certain type of request.

Situated in the Gold Coast neighborhood, it’s close to high-end shopping, dining, and many of Chicago’s main attractions. The hotel offers spacious, elegantly appointed rooms and suites with fireplaces, private terraces, and soaking tubs, coupled with stunning city views. When it’s time to unwind, visit the on-site spa that features a whirlpool, steam room, sauna, and pool. The family-friendly spa services extend to in-room treatments like manicures and pedicures.

Dine at The Brass Tack for hearty brasserie fare like veal osso bucco or porterhouse steak cooked in a wood oven. The restaurant sources its ingredients from local farms, giving the dishes a Midwestern taste. Sit down at the second floor lounge, Bernard’s, to sip cocktails or Cristal by the glass while peering out at the gorgeous lobby. Every guest has access to a personal concierge to help with everything from arranging city tours to making dining reservations, ensuring a seamless stay.

Good to Know: The Waldorf Astoria Chicago is pet friendly.

The Ritz-Carlton Chicago

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Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton location (in the center of the Magnificent Mile on the exclusive Gold Coast) can’t be beat. Shopping mecca, Water Tower Place, houses the hotel as well as some of the best stores and restaurants in the city.

Just an elevator ride down from the hotel in Water Tower Place is an elegant shopping center with more than 125 stores. You can also walk out the door to find high end shops like Chanel, Cartier, and Bloomingdales; it’s a shopper’s dream.

Along with big picture windows featuring lake and city views, the light-filled accommodations come with elegant furnishings in silver and cornflower blue. All accommodations feature marble bathrooms while the spacious suites offer deep soaking tubs and separate showers.

Head to the serene spa where you can indulge in treatments like the anti-aging yoga facial which targets points on your face and neck to relieve tension. The atrium-enclosed swimming pool is the perfect place to take a dip or swim some laps regardless of the weather.

It’s a great choice for those with children: Ritz Kids’ Club provides a “red wagon” on arrival, from which each child can select a toy, a candy cart does the rounds, the restaurant has menus for younger diners, and rooms come with mini-sized robes and slippers.

Torali is the Ritz’s Italian-focused restaurant (specializing in hand-made pastas and dry-aged meats) that also includes a bar and rooftop lounge of the same name, though morning coffee at the Cafe, a glassed-in setting with a greenhouse-like vibe, can feel just as fabulous.

Good to Know: Pet friendly

Park Hyatt Chicago

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The personality of Park Hyatt Chicago reflects what the Windy City is known for: stunning art and design, great food, and warm midwestern hospitality. Its exclusive Gold Coast address along the magnificent mile speaks to the type of place it is: a luxury hotel with thoughtfully crafted amenities, a well-curated art collection, and elegant design.

Park Hyatt Chicago debuted a $60 million renovation in 2022, bringing understated contemporary luxury to everything from the public spaces to the accommodations. The hotel offers spacious and elegantly decorated rooms and suites. Many of them have stunning views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline.

The Park Hyatt Chicago boasts an impressive art collection with works by renowned artists. This gives the hotel unique cultural appeal. From in-room dining to a rooftop bar, concierge services to a heated indoor pool, the Park Hyatt offers numerous amenities to enhance the stay of their guests. The hotel’s restaurant, NoMi Kitchen, offers a memorable dining experience with its Michelin-starred menu and sweeping views of the city.

Good to Know: Pet friendly

Tip: Ask for a high level, east facing room for breathtaking views of the historic Water Tower and Lake Michigan just beyond it.

The Langham, Chicago

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Located in River North and overlooking the Chicago River is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Bauhaus-style 1970s architectural triumph. Steel, expanses of glass, and fine art create a trendy yet opulent and airy feel. The soaring 52-story structure (the hotel occupies the first 12 floors) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

With a riverfront location in downtown Chicago, the hotel is mere minutes from the Loop, Grant Park, Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier.

Guest rooms and suites are bright and tastefully refined and offer incredible up-close views of the Chicago skyline. A largely earth-tone color palette runs through most rooms and suites, with the occasional accent of dark wood furniture or a purple blanket artfully arranged here or there.

The gorgeous 67-foot indoor pool offers the perfect place for a dip accompanied by a hydrotherapy hot tub and luxurious locker rooms featuring heated loungers, Himalayan salt saunas, and steam rooms. Located on the second floor of the hotel, Travelle serves up seasonal American fare in an industrial chic David Rockwell designed dining room.

The Pavilion has a warm elegant feel with sofas, plush chairs and a fireplace, making it an inviting place to experience The Langham’s afternoon tea. Families are welcome and can even bring up to two dogs and a cat, making it one of the most pet friendly places in the city.

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

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With its prime Magnificent Mile location and attractive contemporary rooms, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is a top choice for visiting celebrities and those who appreciate the peace and quiet the polished staff practically guarantees.

The lobby, grand ballroom, restaurants, and the larger suites and apartments received updates in 2020 from renowned architecture and design firm, Rottet studio. Two things haven’t changed though: the wonderful personal service and the location.

The hotel is situated above the upscale shops of 900 North Michigan and steps from the lakefront and Chicago’s top shopping. There are 345 guest rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and all are elegantly decorated and come with stunning views of Lake Michigan. The spa is huge, incorporating a 50-foot roman style pool, while the expansive conference rooms and banqueting spaces make it a popular choice for business events or private celebrations.

Enjoy a meal at Adorn Bar & Restaurant, where a globally inspired menu features Midwestern ingredients. Adorn sits on the seventh floor of the hotel and offers a lively, convivial vibe and live music.

Viceroy Chicago

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Built in the 1920s, the Viceroy’s terracotta and brick exterior has remained, but an entirely new 18-story glass building has been erected behind. It is filled with mid-century furnishings, all imagined and created by Goettsch Partners and TAL studio. It’s an artfully designed hotel, slightly high brow (the grand lobby even sports a poetry wall).

A strong color palette of deep blue and gold, along with rich velvet fabrics on couches and chairs, makes this an inviting, luxurious place to stay. Chaise lounges, floor to ceiling windows, mid-century, modern furniture, and jewel tones will entice you to stay a while in your stylish room A rooftop pool offers summer swims, plus there’s a fitness center, ample meeting facilities for business travelers, and a rooftop lounge, Devereaux, with a black stone bar. A seasonally changing menu and a yacht club feel are the highlights of the in-house restaurant, Somerset.

Forget Uber; use the hotel’s Tesla vehicles.

The pet-friendly hotel furnishes your pooch with a bed, bowls and a toy. It charges a nightly $50 pet fee, a portion of which goes to Orphans of the Storm, a local rescue that aids homeless animals in the city.

The Gold Coast location is a nice step back away from the tourist scene of Michigan Avenue.