9 of the best hotels in Chicago, from art deco landmarks to warehouse district stays

Founded on a swamp in the 1830s, only to be entirely reimagined after the great fire of 1871, Chicago is a city built on resilience, creativity and innovation. Looking out over Lake Michigan, its glass-and-steel skyscrapers pioneered the architecture that transformed the modern world. Beyond this, however, Chicago is a city of neighbourhoods — 77 in total — and while there’s much to explore, most of its hotels are in and around The Loop, the central business district. From five-star properties and warehouse conversions to budget boutiques in heritage buildings, Chicago’s hotel scene reflects its history as a progressive, forward-thinking city.

1. The LaSalle Chicago

Best for: design-lovers

Soaring above the Financial District, The LaSalle Chicago offers a taste of the Windy City’s art deco heyday. Marble columns, wood panelling, thick geometric rugs — everything about it evokes the city’s golden era during the early 20th century. The lavish rooms and bathrooms are generously sized, with queen- or king-size beds and walk-in showers, while the on-site restaurant, Grill on 21, has a swanky members’ club feel. The hotel’s lavish interiors are matched by its ornate, classical revival facade. The property, once a bank, was the final work by 19th-century Chicago architect Daniel Burnham — creator of New York’s Flatiron Building. Rooms: From $331.

2. The Langham, Chicago

Best for: city views

Occupying 13 floors of one of Chicago’s most significant structures — the last skyscraper in the city designed by pioneering architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe — The Langham, Chicago is worth a stay for the views alone. Towering over Wabash Avenue Bridge, the glass-and-steel structure offers vistas down the Chicago River to Lake Michigan, along with the design and hospitality you’d expect from the Langham brand. Bright and spacious throughout, with original artwork adorning the walls, the five-star property has extensive facilities — many with those views — including a spa, fitness room, pool and hot tub, kids’ suite, cinema room, bar and restaurants. Rooms: From $513.

3. The Peninsula Chicago

Best for: serene luxury

Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Peninsula Chicago remains one of the city’s premier addresses on the Magnificent Mile — a prime hospitality, dining and retail destination on Michigan Avenue north of the river. Calm and refined, the property features many of the brand’s signature offerings — including regular contemporary art exhibitions and city tours in a 1946 Packard Clipper car. The 339 spacious rooms and suites are where the Peninsula really excels, combining elegant decor, ridiculously comfortable beds, plush marble bathrooms and tablets to control almost everything. Don’t miss the half-Olympic-size swimming pool on the 19th floor. Rooms: From $650.

4. The Hoxton, Chicago

Best for: cool cats

In the heart of the Fulton Market District, over in the West Loop, The Hoxton artfully reflects the personality of its location. Occupying a warehouse space in the former meatpacking district, the hotel — along with its industrial decor, mid-century furniture and buzzy lobby bar and restaurant — feels a world away from the Magnificent Mile. From the rooftop pool to the basement speakeasy Lazy Bird, The Hoxton is as much a place to see and be seen as it is to sleep. Its rooms — all 182 of them — blend brass bed lamps, wooden floors, leather headboards and large windows overlooking the city. Rooms: From $189 (£141).

5. Pendry Chicago

Best for: art deco heritage

Dating back to 1929, the Carbide & Carbon Building on Michigan Avenue has been a registered Chicago Landmark for more than 30 years, with the art deco skyscraper one of the few hotels mentioned in the city’s many architectural tours. The grandeur of its black-and-gold facade continues inside, where the marble-floored lobby, bar and restaurant lean into a sleek but cosy vibe. Despite its size, the property has the feel of a boutique hotel — each of its 364 rooms is unique thanks to the preservation of the original architecture. Rooms: From $295.

6. Chicago Athletic Association

Best for: vintage style

Expect the unexpected at this 19th-century men’s club turned hotel. Originally built for Chicago’s American football team, the CAA’s exquisite Venetian gothic exterior gives way to a grand marble lobby. The ascent to the check-in desk reveals a hang-out space worthy of a Scottish castle — complete with stone fireplaces, stained glass windows and tartan fabrics. The rooms incorporate clever nods to the hotel’s more authentic past, including vintage gymnasium props and bathrooms reminiscent of retro locker rooms. A final treat awaits at Cindy’s Rooftop restaurant, which overlooks both the nearby Millennium Park and the New Eastside neighbourhood. Rooms: From $192.

7. Nobu Hotel Chicago

Best for: celebrity stays

When it landed six years ago, Nobu Hotel Chicago was the first five-star hotel to open in the West Loop, bringing Japanese minimalism to the neighbourhood. This refined offering attracts the A-list, partly due to its proximity to the entertainment giant Live Nation office and the United Center, home to the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. The city’s ‘Restaurant Row’ is also nearby, although you’ll find Nobu’s signature Japanese-Peruvian cuisine on site. The property itself is newly built, but its 115 rooms and suites echo the area’s industrial heritage, offering floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden floors and Venetian plastered walls. Larger rooms even feature teak soaking tubs. Rooms: From $417.

8. Acme Hotel

Best for: fun

The Acme Hotel lives up to its reputation as the ‘rock ‘n’ roll boutique’. The independently owned property has 130 stylish, playful and surprisingly spacious rooms, each featuring retro decor and eclectic artworks. Formerly the Berkshire Hotel, the 100-year-old property pays homage to its former incarnation, with the lively Berkshire Room bar retaining its opulent 1920s grandeur. The ground-floor bakery and coffee bar will keep you sustained the morning after. Rooms: From $235.

9. Freehand Chicago

Best for: budget trips

Just next door to the Acme Hotel, Freehand — like its sister properties in LA, Miami and New York — offers social spaces and smart design at an extremely competitive price. Housed in a restored art deco building, it has shared quad dorms at bargain prices. The king- and queen-size rooms also come at affordable rates, with vintage-infused furnishings from design duo Roman and Williams. The Broken Shaker bar is where the action’s at. Rooms: $114 for a queen.