The 60-room Ivy Boutique Hotel is a well positioned, upscale property, right off of Michigan Avenue. Rooms have beautiful, modern decor along with automatic window curtains and marble bathrooms with rainfall showers. There is a seasonal, lovely rooftop terrace and cocktail lounge offering great city views, plus a lobby bar that serves breakfast, but there is no fitness center or spa. The nearby Talbott is a possible alternative, with lower rates and free passes to a nearby fitness center and spa.
The 60-room Ivy Boutique Hotel is a well positioned, upscale property, right off of Michigan Avenue. Rooms have beautiful, modern decor along with automatic window curtains and marble bathrooms with rainfall showers. There is a seasonal, lovely rooftop terrace and cocktail lounge offering great city views, plus a lobby bar that serves breakfast, but there is no fitness center or spa. The nearby Talbott is a possible alternative, with lower rates and free passes to a nearby fitness center and spa.
The 520-room W Chicago - Lakeshore delivers the chic decor you'd expect from a W, and its impressive features -- a spacious gym, attractive indoor pool, on-site Bliss Spa, and absolutely stunning views of Lake Michigan and Navy Pier -- make this a solid upscale option. Current Restaurant and the Living Room lobby bar draw guests and locals, as does the rooftop terrace. Stylish, contemporary guestrooms have up-to-date technology, but smallish bathrooms and a charge for Wi-Fi. If the vibe here is a bit too hip for your taste, check rates at the nearby Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
The 520-room W Chicago - Lakeshore delivers the chic decor you'd expect from a W, and its impressive features -- a spacious gym, attractive indoor pool, on-site Bliss Spa, and absolutely stunning views of Lake Michigan and Navy Pier -- make this a solid upscale option. Current Restaurant and the Living Room lobby bar draw guests and locals, as does the rooftop terrace. Stylish, contemporary guestrooms have up-to-date technology, but smallish bathrooms and a charge for Wi-Fi. If the vibe here is a bit too hip for your taste, check rates at the nearby Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
Located in the heart of Downtown Chicago, the 400-room Loews Chicago Hotel is a luxury property catering to business travelers and families alike. Rooms are stylish and contemporary, providing great amenities such as Julien Farel toiletries, iPod docks, fully stocked minibars, and free Wi-Fi, plus wonderful city, lake or river views in most units. ETA Restaurant draws locals and visitors alike with an excellent American menu, while the lobby bar is a cozy spot for a nightcap or a casual meeting. In the summer, the rooftop lounge is a popular after-work spot, thanks to sweeping views and a light bites menu. The indoor pool, modern fitness center with Peloton bikes, and extensive meeting space are great perks, too, but the hotel lacks a spa. For a stellar luxury experience and access to a top-notch spa and health club, consider the similarly priced Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
Located in the heart of Downtown Chicago, the 400-room Loews Chicago Hotel is a luxury property catering to business travelers and families alike. Rooms are stylish and contemporary, providing great amenities such as Julien Farel toiletries, iPod docks, fully stocked minibars, and free Wi-Fi, plus wonderful city, lake or river views in most units. ETA Restaurant draws locals and visitors alike with an excellent American menu, while the lobby bar is a cozy spot for a nightcap or a casual meeting. In the summer, the rooftop lounge is a popular after-work spot, thanks to sweeping views and a light bites menu. The indoor pool, modern fitness center with Peloton bikes, and extensive meeting space are great perks, too, but the hotel lacks a spa. For a stellar luxury experience and access to a top-notch spa and health club, consider the similarly priced Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
The upper-middle-range Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile offers a great location near the Magnificent Mile, along with 455 spacious two-room suites that attract leisure and business travelers alike. Each Suite comes with a sleeper sofa, two TVs, Keurig coffeemaker, mini-fridge, and a microwave, but some get noise from the hotel's atrium. The free made-to-order breakfast and evening reception with free drinks are immensely popular, but past guests have complained of long lines for both. Other highlights include an indoor pool/whirlpool, a fitness center, a bar, and pricey valet parking. Rates are competitive given everything that’s included. But many nearby alternatives exist, such as the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago Magnificent Mile, which typically offers lower rates, although they don’t include a free breakfast or evening reception.
The upper-middle-range Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile offers a great location near the Magnificent Mile, along with 455 spacious two-room suites that attract leisure and business travelers alike. Each Suite comes with a sleeper sofa, two TVs, Keurig coffeemaker, mini-fridge, and a microwave, but some get noise from the hotel's atrium. The free made-to-order breakfast and evening reception with free drinks are immensely popular, but past guests have complained of long lines for both. Other highlights include an indoor pool/whirlpool, a fitness center, a bar, and pricey valet parking. Rates are competitive given everything that’s included. But many nearby alternatives exist, such as the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago Magnificent Mile, which typically offers lower rates, although they don’t include a free breakfast or evening reception.
Designed as a downtown convention hub, the upscale Sheraton Grand Chicago, with its massive event facilities, caters to business travelers and big groups staying for weddings or conferences. The rooms are large and business-friendly, with desks and work space, but the Wi-Fi isn't free. On-site restaurants, bars, a cafe, indoor pool, and even a full service FedEx office make it possible to attend an event and never set foot outside the hotel. But other guests can get lost in the shuffle among the events and the endless blocks of reserved rooms. With 1,214 rooms over 34 floors, housekeeping struggles to keep up. Families or couples looking for the conveniences of a big chain hotel from which to explore Chicago have better options, such as the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile or the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel.
Designed as a downtown convention hub, the upscale Sheraton Grand Chicago, with its massive event facilities, caters to business travelers and big groups staying for weddings or conferences. The rooms are large and business-friendly, with desks and work space, but the Wi-Fi isn't free. On-site restaurants, bars, a cafe, indoor pool, and even a full service FedEx office make it possible to attend an event and never set foot outside the hotel. But other guests can get lost in the shuffle among the events and the endless blocks of reserved rooms. With 1,214 rooms over 34 floors, housekeeping struggles to keep up. Families or couples looking for the conveniences of a big chain hotel from which to explore Chicago have better options, such as the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile or the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel.
This 500-room chain hotel two blocks from the Magnificent Mile is nicer than your average Doubletree, but still solidly mid-range. Rooms all come with 27-inch flat-screen TVs, Neutrogena toiletries, MP3 hookups and coffeemakers with free coffee and tea. It's a pretty good value for what you get, but it's worth comparing rates with the more charming Millennium Knickerbocker.
This 500-room chain hotel two blocks from the Magnificent Mile is nicer than your average Doubletree, but still solidly mid-range. Rooms all come with 27-inch flat-screen TVs, Neutrogena toiletries, MP3 hookups and coffeemakers with free coffee and tea. It's a pretty good value for what you get, but it's worth comparing rates with the more charming Millennium Knickerbocker.