12 Top-Rated Resorts in Chicago, IL

Chicago is the third largest city in America. It’s a city that is all about cosmopolitan glitz and glamor, especially when we’re talking about the exclusive area surrounding Michigan Avenue, Grant Park, and Lake Michigan. So when it comes to resorts in Chicago, what we’re really looking at are high-end hotels, or “urban resorts,” that offer all the amenities of a traditional resort but typically in a ritzy, exclusive high-rise skyscraper in the poshest end of town.

Chicago has plenty of those. In fact, Chicago has some of the best luxury “resorts” in the United States. Whether you’re going all out at the Four Seasons or the Ritz-Carlton, or unlocking your inner funky side at locations like the W Chicago Lakefront or The Blackstone, a resort is waiting for you.

We’ve rounded up some of the very best right here. These city retreats have everything from top-of-the-line restaurants to state-of-the-art spas, rooftop pools, swanky lounges, fitness centers, and even rotating collections of art. If you’re ready to rest your head in style in the Windy City, check out our list of the best resorts in Chicago.

1. The Langham, Chicago

Accommodation: The Langham, Chicago

It opened not too long ago (2013, to be exact), but quickly The Langham, Chicago has skyrocketed to become one of the top resorts in Chicago. Set in a modern and elegantly designed skyscraper, the prestigious Langham Chicago has everything you’d expect from a world-class resort: gorgeously appointed rooms, impeccable service, fine dining, and wellness amenities.

The lobby is truly breathtaking, with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood it in light during the day, and keep it romantically dim in the evening. Hanging fixtures from the ceiling give a pop of modern to a hotel that is clearly rooted in Chicago’s Art Deco history.

Rooms are a beautiful splash of light purple and cream colors. Rooms begin on the fifth floor, which means that most rooms have views of either the city skyline or the Chicago River. If you opt for one of the Club Level rooms, additional perks include a complimentary breakfast buffet, afternoon tea and snacks, as well as butler service.

One of the hotel’s top features is its indoor pool, with a ceiling splashed in twinkle lights that give it an ethereal glow, especially at night. A spa and 2,000-square-foot fitness center means The Langham, Chicago is a palace for wellness, as well.

2. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

If there’s one thing to be said about Four Seasons resorts around the world, it’s that they are all about standards. The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is no different, and you’ll be able to see its well-deserved reputation for excellence immediately upon first glance.

The luxury hotel is perched atop the Magnificent Mile, which is a world-renowned section of North Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. It’s just a few blocks from Lake Michigan, on levels 30 to 46 of a towering skyscraper. (You’ll find some of the best brand-name shopping in the world in the same building.)

All of the 347 guest rooms have spectacular views of the city or of the lake. The design swings classic elegance, as is Four Seasons’ way, but offers pops of color through modern art. Bathrooms are splendidly decadent, clad in marble and featuring Malin + Goetz amenities.

Outside the room, the setting is no less posh, from the farm-to-table restaurant that sparkles under the light of glittering chandeliers, to the swanky spa that features a swimming pool underneath a skylight.

3. The Peninsula Chicago

Accommodation: The Peninsula Chicago

International jet-set destinations around the world are usually equipped with a Peninsula hotel. The name has become synonymous with luxury, and this particular one is no exception.

The 339-room hotel sits directly on the Magnificent Mile, and Peninsula aficionados will recognize its warm colors, natural light, and dark wood accents. Rooms are described as residential – even the smallest rooms have a couch and dining table.

No Peninsula is complete without a nod to the brand’s Eastern roots, and guests at The Peninsula Chicago will find that at Shanghai Terrace, which is often ranked among the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Set in a 1930s-style dining room, the restaurant serves up decadent Cantonese fare, while the adjacent The Terrace has swoon-worthy views over the skyline.

The 19th and 20th floors are home to The Peninsula Spa, with treatments heavily influenced by Asian and Ayurvedic therapies. The spa is where you will also find the half-Olympic-sized pool, a relaxation lounge with a fireplace, a yoga room, and a fitness center.

4. Waldorf Astoria Chicago

Accommodation: Waldorf Astoria Chicago

Waldorf Astoria is one of the most recognized luxury brand names in the world. And yet, the Chicago hotel exudes an extremely boutique vibe. The 215-room Waldorf Astoria is one of the best resorts in Chicago – and in the country, overall.

Guests check in to a chic, marble-clad lobby that harkens back to Chicago’s heyday of old-world glamour, though the hotel itself was opened in 2006. The design swings sleek and modern, with plenty of dark leathers, wrought-iron, and marble.

The 215 rooms are spread over 19 stories, all along the Gold Coast, with views of downtown and Lake Michigan. All rooms are, without a doubt, the peak of luxury. But the one to beat at this Chicago hotel is the Presidential Suite. Spread over 2,400 square feet, the 26th-floor suite offers panoramic Chicago views, two bedrooms, terraces, a fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, and three entrances.

The mood turns Parisian in the evenings at The Brasserie, a French fine-dining experience evocative of Jazz Age Paris. In fact, you can dine in 1920’s Paris all day long with a stop for fresh, decadent pastries and coffee at the hotel’s lobby Patisserie.

Of course a top-quality spa, pool, and fitness center are also available to guests.

5. Park Hyatt Chicago

Accommodation: Park Hyatt Chicago

What makes Park Hyatt Chicago one of the best resorts in Chicago is its plethora of amenities and proximity to some of the city’s most important sites and attractions. Park Hyatt hotels in general are known for their A-list features and iconic locations, and Chicago’s version does not disappoint.

Let’s start with the rooms and suites. The luxury urban resort has 198 rooms, including 13 suites. Each room has an elegant window bench that overlooks several impressive views, whether of the Water Tower, Lake Michigan, or the Gold Coast. All bathrooms have deep soaking tubs, as well. If you’re going to really splurge, spring for the Water Tower Suite, which spans 1,800 feet and comes with its own office and kitchenette. It has views of Lake Michigan from its 18th-story perch, as well.

Then you have NoMI, a decadent restaurant within the hotel, named for its location on North Michigan Avenue. NoMI is an interactive dining experience, and is said to have some of the best sushi in the city. It also offers views of the Water Tower and Lake Michigan.

The hotel boasts an impressive private art collection, as well as a pool, fitness center, and a spa. The luxury hotel is even pet-friendly.

6. The Ritz-Carlton Chicago

Accommodation: The Ritz-Carlton Chicago

The brand name alone needs no introduction, and the Ritz-Carlton Chicago lives up to all expectations. The 434-room hotel is perched on top of a luxury shopping mall – Water Tower Place – on the Magnificent Mile. The hotel is in good company, sharing the iconic street with high-end shopping and other ultra-exclusive hotel brands.

The Ritz-Carlton Chicago sits regally on the Gold Coast, a stretch of coveted real estate just off Lake Michigan. Like the rest of the hotel, rooms are decidedly elegant and traditional. Categories start with the Executive Suite and range all the way up to the Navy Pier Two Bedroom Suite, which has views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

Dining at this “urban resort” centers around Torali, an Italian steakhouse that makes its own pastas and dries its own meats. A more casual dining experience is at The Cafe, which serves specialty coffee, fresh juice, and sandwiches. Guests can head up to the chic Rooftop at Torali to overlook Magnificent Mile from the 12th floor.

Additional luxurious amenities include the spa and fitness center. The hotel even has its own indoor pool.

7. Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile

Accommodation: Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile

In a central downtown location just minutes from Michigan Avenue and the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile is a stylish, luxury choice. The skyscraper property was recently renovated and covers 32 floors in a glass prism that is the creation of French architect Jean-Paul Viguier.

A well-known French brand, this Sofitel exudes the signature, contemporary French designs mixed with local Chicago style. There are 415 rooms and suites. Each boasts avant-garde decor to match the contemporary building.

There are six different room and suites categories, as well as a presidential suite. All are designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and are very comfortable, but we like the Luxury Rooms for their location on the 22nd through 32nd floors, which provide unparalleled Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan views from floor-to-ceiling windows.

The 5-star hotel has a number of dining outlets on-site. CDA is the resort’s newest dining experience, serving up Mediterranean small plates on the lobby level. On weekends they do a popular brunch. There is also a swanky lounge.

Other amenities include a state-of-the art fitness center, conference facilities, and a business center. If you are traveling with a dog, the Sofitel is pet friendly.

8. Loews Chicago Hotel

Accommodation: Conrad Chicago

Accommodation: Loews Chicago Hotel

With 400 rooms in the heart of Downtown Chicago, the Loews Chicago Hotel offers a chic, modern hotel with resort-like amenities, all near Lake Michigan. The hotel overlooks both the Navy Pier, as well as the Chicago River, from its soaring glass skyscraper perch. Still, for all the glass and steel, it exudes an inherent warmth thanks to details like floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, and plush seating.

Rooms and suites pay homage to Chicago’s industrial history, with a color palette of gray with black and wood tones. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, which give way to either views of Lake Michigan or the Chicago River. The top suites, like the Chicago Suites and Navy Pier Suites, have kitchenettes. The top-tier Navy Pier Suits have small, private fitness rooms.

Chicago’s famous ETA Restaurant + Bar is actually part of the Loews Chicago Hotel. The relaxed restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The rooftop lounge, Streeterville Social, is a relaxed hangout with gorgeous views and a menu of small plates.

Other amenities include the 75-foot indoor pool and fitness center.

9. The Blackstone, Autograph Collection

Accommodation: The Blackstone, Autograph Collection

South Loop’s most luxe digs are at The Blackstone, an Autograph Collection hotel across the street from Grant Park. The 328-room hotel is an iconic architectural landmark, with interiors that practically drip Old World Chicago. Still, the vintage vibe is matched with quirky, 21st-century touches.

The 328 rooms are all decent in size, and many have views of Lake Michigan and the famous Buckingham Fountain. Bathrooms continue the vintage throwback with marble and black-and-white wallpaper. Club Level rooms come with extra amenities like access to the Club Lounge, which offers free hors d’oeuvres.

While the hotel doesn’t have a pool, it does have a well-equipped fitness center with everything you may need to take your regular routine on the road. Its restaurant, Mercat a la Plantxa, serves Catalan tapas. A spa is missing, but guests can book an in-room K’Alma Spa Journey, which offers four massages, two face mask treatments, and other therapies.

10. W Chicago Lakeshore

Accommodation: W Chicago Lakeshore

The vibe gets decidedly more hip over at the W Chicago – Lakeshore. The chic, upscale “city resort” is all about showing off Chicago’s best angles. W Chicago – Lakeshore directly overlooks Lake Michigan, with 520 rooms and a host of “vibey” amenities that cater to millennial travelers in particular.

This luxury Chicago hotel is located between Lake Michigan and the Streeterville neighborhood, which is one of Chicago’s most ritzy neighborhoods. It is known for its fine dining, expensive real estate, and plenty of shopping. The hotel also overlooks the famous Navy Pier, which has a calendar of events throughout the warmer months.

Rooms are mid-sized and edgy in design, with modern art; a monochrome color palette; and pops of bold, like an accent furniture or an eye-popping painting. Bathrooms are outfitted with signature Bliss spa toiletries. What’s great about the rooms at the W Chicago – Lakeshore is that most face Lake Michigan or downtown Chicago.

What makes this hotel more of a resort are the many amenities it features, from the on-site Bliss spa to the indoor pool, fitness center, and restaurant. The rooftop is decked out with comfy sofas, as well, to provide a funky communal hangout.

11. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago

Radisson Blu Aqua made a splash onto the scene back in 2011 when it became the brand’s first property in the U.S.It’s known for its 334 rooms, on-site restaurant, rooftop pool, and more.

The swanky high-rise hotel has prime real estate in downtown Chicago, within walking distance of Millennium Park, Grant Park, the Navy Pier, and the Magnificent Mile. But its location isn’t the only thing sleek about it – the design is worth writing about, too, from the gold-plated gas fireplace in the lobby to the steel-and-wood restaurant, the FireLake Grill House.

All rooms are splashed in natural sunlight from wide windows, and include flat-screen televisions, Nespresso machines, and robes. Bathrooms have walk-in showers, and some have tubs. Ask about which rooms offer balconies with views of the city or park.

Additional features include an 8,000-square-foot fitness center, basketball court, and seasonal rooftop pool that is surrounded by cabanas. An indoor pool is open year-round.

12. Hyatt Regency Chicago

Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Chicago

Overlooking the Chicago River, and just a few blocks from Navy Pier and Lake Michigan, Hyatt Regency Chicago is one of the largest resorts in Chicago. The hotel has more than 2,000 rooms, along with four restaurants, a fitness center, and more – making it one of the best stocked accommodations in the Windy City.

Although the lobby has more of an upscale train-station vibe, it is clad in glass, which floods it with natural light. To be fair, this hotel does cater more to business travelers, but it offers plenty of amenities for leisure travelers to kick back and relax, as well.

Rooms are clean and modern, with grey and wood tones. Rooms have views of the city, the river, or Lake Michigan. Spring for the Regency Club rooms, which have exclusive lounge access, which includes daily breakfast and all-day refreshments. Suites have additional space that includes dining and living areas.

Four dining venues help to round out the resort-style experience, from Stetsons Modern Steak + Sushi to the locally sourced The Living Room. The Living Room even has a rotating collection of art.

Map of Resorts in Chicago, IL