455 North Park Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Price:
From £166 a night. Bookable on Booking.com* or Expedia*.
Neighbourhood:
Loews Chicago Hotel is the luxury brand’s downtown property; there’s another one at Chicago O’Hare Airport.
The hotel is in a great location in the Streeterville neighbourhood.
It’s just a few minutes’ walk to Navy Pier, about 10 minutes from Millennium Park and 15 minutes from the downtown shopping district.
Vibe:
Loews Chicago Hotel is geared towards business travellers – plenty of meetings take place right in its lobby though there are also meeting rooms on standby.
The overall feel is one of calm. Thanks to the very high ceilings, it never gets loud here, and there are also homely touches, like a fireplace and comfy couches.
Rooms:
The rooms at Loews Chicago Hotel are incredibly spacious, with a bright and airy decor that feels like it’s fallen out of an interiors magazine.
Each one has a seating area and desk, as well as comfortable beds that you can really sink into.
The bathroom is well-lit – a bonus for those who find it hard to see in the dark – and the showers are super powerful.
But perhaps the best bit is the view. Thanks to its location, the stunning Chicago skyline is captured by every window, but it’s especially beautiful if you have a lake-facing room.
Amenities:
The Lobby Lounge serves cocktails and light bites but ETA Restaurant + Bar is the main dining option here, and where breakfast is served.
Hearty American fare is the order of the day here; the menu offers plenty of choice, both sweet and savoury.
The portions are big and everything is cooked to order (rather than buffet) so make sure you’re really hungry and have plenty of time to indulge.
There’s also a coffee shop in the lobby with takeaway coffee.
Elsewhere, there’s a great fitness centre with a lap pool. And if you have time to relax, there’s also a spa offering treatments.
Highlights:
The hotel has an outdoor terrace that becomes Streeterville Social during the summer months.
Cocktails, food and great views make this a great spot to take in the city.
Downsides:
There’s a per diem destination fee to pay, which is currently $25 per day plus tax.
For that, you get free premium wifi, $10 Uber credit and $10 credit for the restaurants and bars at the hotel
Asides:
There are plenty of luxury touches here but the monochromatic decor makes it hard to shake off the corporate feel.
Depending on what you’re looking for, it may not necessarily be a bad thing.
