17 Best Hotels in The Loop, Chicago

The former Hotel Monaco was purchased by Korea's Lotte hotel group, reopening in 2024 as the first American outpost of Lotte's L7 brand. Works by Chicago artists complement Asian-inspired decor in the newly refreshed rooms; amenities include in-room fitness equipment as well as complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks at the hotel's "Krave Station."

With design savvy inside as well as out, this gem breathes life into an 82-story skyscraper designed by revered architect Jeanne Gang. Indoor and outdoor pools, a game room, a movie screening room, a well-equipped fitness center, and lush landscaping on outdoor terraces are all part of the deal. The location is a winner, too, as it's close to Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue. Eight PCs and a conference room in the business center make this as good a fit for road warriors as it is for families with kids and pets. The lobby-level bar is bright and welcoming.

Theater lovers will relish an opportunity to stay at this art deco–themed hot spot, with its plush banquettes, intimate candlelight spaces, and oversize works of modern art. The service is solid, and the muted metallic walls and blue mohair headboards in the rooms are a treat. The bathrooms are well designed, with gleaming new gray marble, plus updated sinks and vanities. Rent a suite if space is your thing. The building, staying true to its original architecture, keeps the rooms on the smaller side.

On a quiet block between bustling Michigan Avenue and the Lake Michigan shoreline, this 45-story pink-granite building has suites with stunning views of Millennium Park. The standard rooms, with their neutral colors and contemporary decor, are spacious at 425 square feet, and the bathrooms include both a tub and a shower. The on-site Leaf Spa has eight treatment rooms for those seeking a relaxing respite from sightseeing. This spot is ideal for visitors wanting to take in Millennium Park's popular summer concerts.

The Hampton Inn Majestic is in one of the most high-traffic areas of town; it offers stunning, quiet guest rooms done up in designer tones. (Online photos, which can make the rooms look orange, don't do this place justice.) The Internet access and a 24-hour fitness center (both free) benefit more than just business travelers. The service is responsive and the common areas are large.

A massive, light-filled lobby—part of a $168-million renovation—is the centerpiece of the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the city's largest hotel with 2,032 rooms in a prime downtown locale. Perched between the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, and Michigan Avenue, the spot is perfect for business or leisure travelers. Technology updates offer computer screens for self check-in and checkout, as well as free Wi-Fi. Renovated rooms are modern and minimalist with crisp white linens. Stetson's, where sushi is as popular as steak, is definitely a cut above most hotel restaurants.

Mixing architectural elegance with a sleek modern style, this historic property has lots of gorgeous areas, from a bright and welcoming lobby bar to spacious guest rooms with high ceilings and marble baths. Built in 1914 as the Continental & Commercial National Bank, the Daniel Burnham–designed building is in the heart of the financial district and handy to Union Station. Its upscale Italian restaurant, The Florentine, is popular for business lunches and cocktails.

The epitome of a grande dame, this massive property in the center of the Loop recently underwent a $215-million renovation, but the lobby—with its wow-worthy ceiling mural and lots of gold, marble, and tapestry—preserves the original splendor. Guest rooms, which aren't quite as glitzy, have a boutique-hotel feel. This is the longest continually operating hotel in the United States; it's also the place where brownies were invented in 1893, thanks to socialite Bertha Palmer. The Palmer House celebrates its history along with its more modern attributes, among them a 10,000-square-foot fitness center and spa.

City history and contemporary design come together with stylish elegance at the Pendry Chicago, in the iconic 1929 art deco Carbide and Carbon Building. The minimalist decor with gold accents complement the original building design making guest rooms feel bright and modern. The ground-floor restaurant, Venteux, and the rooftop bar, Château Carbide, highlight French cuisine.

Perched on prime real estate on the south bank of the Chicago River, this cosmopolitan spot is shouldered by high-rises but you can still enjoy fantastic views of the Chicago skyline right from your room. Stay on the slightly pricier club levels for complimentary weekday access to a private business center, continental breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, and nonalcoholic drinks.

Don't be fooled by the tiny front entrance under the 'L'; the Silversmith's oak-covered lobby is enormous and houses a sleek, chandelier-decked restaurant and lounge. The guest rooms—with 12-foot ceilings—are also unusually large, and decorated with luxe touches like sequin-patterned wallpaper and silvery, tufted-leather headboards. The window seats are a treat. Steps from Millennium Park and the Art Institute, this hotel is ideal for art and theater lovers.

This historic property, built in 1895 by D.H. Burnham & Co. as one of the first skyscrapers, retains ornate original details including Carrara marble and wrought-iron-trimmed elevators. Rooms have historic charm (read: they're on the small side) but are comfortable, especially for the business traveler. There's also a great restaurant, Atwood, on-site that serves modern American food.

The Swissôtel's triangular Harry Weese design allows for panoramic vistas of the city, lake, or river—and the comfortable, contemporary rooms feel like condos. A 42nd-floor fitness center and pool are both a big draw, thanks to the bird's-eye views. Guests also enjoy the convenience of having a Palm steak house on the premises. Meeting rooms and an on-site UPS outlet ease the business traveler's burdens.

The atmosphere at this sleek spot, topped by ROOF, one of the Loop's most happening bars, is fun and youthful; the same can be said of the guest rooms, which are moderately sized and modern, with hanging wall art meant to resemble puckered lips. The hotel announces itself with a massive lightning bolt out front and winged lighting sculptures in the lobby. It's the perfect place to see and be seen; you'd never guess this is a Hilton property.

The world's first Virgin Hotel offers loads of tech-age amenities: a custom app called "Lucy" lets guests check in or out remotely, order room service, control the thermostat, and more, plus there is free Wi-Fi at unlimited bandwidth, and outlets are everywhere. Decorated in red and white, the rooms (called "chambers" here) feel airy and bright; each has a dressing area and a sleeping space separated by a sliding door. Pet-friendly digs have cute porcelain dogs stationed outside.

With a clublike lobby and spacious high-tech rooms done up in graphite and cream, this financial district hotel attracts both business travelers and tourists. The sleek, modern rooms are notable for incredibly comfortable beds with upholstered leather headboards, glass-top desks, and stylish bathrooms that feature more-than-the-usual toiletries. The location is also good, as it's within walking distance of theaters, Millennium Park, and the Art Institute.