The Ultimate Chicago Hotel Guide (2025)

Best Places to Stay by Neighborhood, Style & Budget

Your Chicago hotel shouldn’t just be a place to crash. It should reflect the city’s energy, creativity, and layered charm. After more than a dozen visits and stays at over 20 different hotels, I’ve built this guide to help you cut through the noise and book something that actually fits your trip—whether you’re here for rooftop cocktails, gallery hopping, or just trying to avoid a hotel with beige everything.

This where to stay in Chicago guide is organized by neighborhood, style, and budget so you can skip the scroll spiral and book something worthy.

 

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Downtown Drama & Old-School Glam

The Loop is Chicago’s architectural heart—and the place to be if you’re visiting for the first time. It’s home to Millennium Park, the Bean, the riverwalk, and buildings that basically invented modern architecture. Stay here if you want to walk to almost everything and don’t mind a little weekday hustle.

Historic Palmer House lobby with ornate ceiling and vintage decor in downtown Chicago

The Palmer House Hilton

Neighborhood: The Loop | Style: Gilded Age Grandeur | Budget: $$

This is the hotel that invented the brownie—because of course it did. Its lobby ceiling is basically a Sistine Chapel fever dream, and the location puts you smack in the middle of downtown.

Best for: Theater lovers, architecture tourists, and anyone who wants their hotel lobby to look like it could host a royal wedding.

Exterior of Pendry Chicago in Carbide & Carbon Building with gold Art Deco architecture

Pendry Chicago

Neighborhood: Loop / Riverwalk | Style: Moody skyline swagger | Budget: $$$$

It’s dark, dramatic, and comes with glam style. Pendry lives in a gold skyscraper that feels like a Bond villain’s lair (in the best way).

Best for: Couples, design junkies, travelers who want a skyline soak and a strong negroni.

Elegant guest room at Silversmith Hotel with Art Deco touches in Chicago Loop

Silversmith Hotel

Neighborhood: The Loop | Style: Polished, low-key Art Deco | Budget: $$

Think Palmer House’s cooler, quieter sibling. It’s grown-up, well-placed, and doesn’t try too hard.

Best for: Business trips, return visitors, quiet luxury with a side of symmetry.

West Loop & Fulton Market: Cool Kid Central

Once warehouses, now wine bars. The West Loop is where Chicago goes to eat, drink, and look good doing it. Think hip brunch spots, art walls, rooftop lounges, and a neighborhood that still feels like it's figuring itself out—in a good way.

Trendy rooftop pool and skyline views at The Hoxton in West Loop Chicago

The Hoxton

Neighborhood: West Loop | Style: Industrial chic, rooftop energy | Budget: $$

Exposed brick? Check. Mid-century chairs you’ll want to steal? Check. This place nails the “cool without being exhausting” vibe. The rooftop has a pool and skyline views—and you’re basically sleeping above a food hall.

Best for: People who plan trips around dinner reservations, solo travelers who want a scene but also a good night’s sleep.

Chic boutique interior of The Publishing House with velvet chairs and vintage records

The Publishing House

Neighborhood: West Loop | Style: Boutique B&B | Budget: $$

This one’s personal. A reimagined publishing house turned into an 11-room haven with vinyl records, velvet chairs, and breakfasts that feel like a warm hug.

Best for: Creative couples, quiet rechargers, design devotees who hate chain hotels.

Industrial-style lobby at The Emily Hotel with concrete finishes and creative vibe

The Emily Hotel Chicago

Neighborhood: West Loop | Style: Retro, concrete, swagger | Budget: $$

Classic energy: moody lighting, vintage touches, and lobby vibes that say, “I freelance.”

Best for: Creatives, coworking types, people who packed Aesop.

River North & Streeterville: Luxe, Views & Vibey Bars

River North is where upscale meets energetic. Expect galleries, cocktail bars, and some of the city’s best restaurants tucked between high-rises. Streeterville skews a little quieter but gives you direct access to the lake, Navy Pier, and museum row.

Modern room with river views at The Langham, a luxury hotel in River North Chicago

The Langham, Chicago

Neighborhood: River North | Style: High-art, high-rise luxury | Budget: $$$$

Set inside a Mies van der Rohe masterpiece, this place feels like an art gallery that also gives massages. Quiet, polished, and as luxe as you want it to be.

Best for: Spa weekends, architecture fanatics, honeymooners who hate clutter.

Futuristic hotel room at Hotel EMC2 featuring tech decor and robot room service

Hotel EMC2

Neighborhood: Streeterville | Style: Techy, artsy, surprisingly sexy | Budget: $$$

Quirky and confident, with science-themed art and room service delivered by robots. And yes, the bathrooms are awesome.

Best for: Couples, tech-forward travelers, people who want the hotel to be part of the story.

Luxurious suite at Four Seasons Chicago overlooking Lake Michigan

Four Seasons Chicago

Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile | Style: Understated elegance | Budget: $$$$

It’s calm, collected, and you can actually hear yourself think. Expect Lake Michigan views, plush everything, and service that’s somehow both invisible and perfect.

Best for: High-end escapes, adult birthdays, people who don’t want to feel “on.”

Gold Coast: Quiet Luxury, Brunch Energy

The Gold Coast is all charm and quiet confidence. It’s close to the beach, the boutiques, and some of the city’s most expensive real estate. If you want elegance without the noise—or if brunch is your cardio—this is your zone.

Rooftop lounge at Viceroy Chicago with skyline views and sleek boutique design

Viceroy Chicago

Neighborhood: Gold Coast | Style: Sleek boutique rooftop | Budget: $$$

This is where bold design meets morning mimosas. Floor-to-ceiling windows, geometric everything, and a rooftop that delivers.

Best for: Brunch lovers, boutique hotel addicts, couples who dress up “just because.”

Cozy guest room at Thompson Chicago with leather accents and urban style

Thompson Chicago

Neighborhood: Gold Coast | Style: Urban cozy | Budget: $$$

Leather, wood, and moody lighting make this feel like a stylish hideaway. It’s quiet luxury for introverts with good taste.

Best for: Low-key getaways, winter escapes, fireplace energy (even if it’s imaginary).

Wicker Park, Bucktown & Logan Square: Indie Energy

These neighborhoods serve local cool, indie shops, and vintage cocktail bars. You’ll trade downtown glitz for murals, dive bars, and street tacos—but gain character and some of the city’s best people-watching.

Rooftop terrace at The Robey hotel with Art Deco architecture and panoramic city view

The Robey

Neighborhood: Wicker Park | Style: Minimalist deco | Budget: $$

A converted Art Deco tower with light-filled rooms and unbeatable rooftop vibes. Also, it’s near the Blue Line, so O’Hare is a breeze.

Best for: Bar hoppers, design fans, second-timers who don’t want downtown.

Modern fitness-focused room at Hotel at Midtown with access to wellness facilities

The Hotel at Midtown

Neighborhood: Logan Square | Style: Sporty, spa, city retreat | Budget: $$

Attached to a massive wellness complex, this is the spot if your idea of vacation includes a steam room and weight rack.

Best for: Gym lovers, wellness travelers, off-the-path adventurers.

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Hotel Comparison Table

Hotel Neighborhood Style Price Best For
Palmer House Hilton The Loop Gilded glamour $$ First-timers, history
Pendry Chicago Loop / Riverwalk Moody glam $$$$ Romantic getaways, skyline views
Silversmith Hotel The Loop Polished Art Deco $$ Quiet, design-minded stays
The Hoxton West Loop Industrial chic $$ Foodies, solo travel
The Publishing House West Loop Boutique B&B $$ Creative couples
Ace Hotel West Loop Retro, concrete cool $$ Freelancers, creatives
The Langham River North Art-forward luxury $$$$ Spa days, calm stays
Hotel EMC2 Streeterville Science meets style $$$ Techy, design-forward travelers
Four Seasons Magnificent Mile Understated elegance $$$$ Luxe, lake views, quiet
Viceroy Chicago Gold Coast Sleek, rooftop-ready $$$ Boutique lovers, brunchers
Thompson Chicago Gold Coast Urban cozy $$$ Romantic, low-key stays
The Robey Wicker Park Indie minimalism $$ Return visitors, creatives
Hotel at Midtown Logan Square Sporty wellness $$ Fitness & spa travelers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question Answer
What’s the best neighborhood to stay in Chicago for first-timers? The Loop or River North—central, walkable, and full of iconic landmarks. Easy access to trains, museums, and the riverwalk.
Are Chicago hotels expensive? In summer? Yes. Midrange hotels typically run $250–$350/night. Luxury properties can reach $600+ during events or peak weekends.
Is it safe to stay downtown? Yes. Areas like Streeterville, Gold Coast, and the Loop are heavily traveled and tourist-friendly. Use standard city awareness.
Do I need a car in Chicago? Not at all. The “L” train, Divvy bikes, and walkable neighborhoods make it easy to get around without renting a car.
Which hotels have rooftop views? Pendry (soaking tubs!), The Hoxton (pool), Viceroy (rooftop lounge), and The Robey all offer skyline views from above.