Chicago, from the river to the Gold Coast
Chicago built the first skyscraper and has been refining the idea ever since – Mies van der Rohe's last office tower stands on the north bank of the river, Adrian Smith's spire rises beside it, and Michigan Avenue runs north from the bridge to the Gold Coast.
Chicago built the first skyscraper and has been refining the idea ever since – Mies van der Rohe's last office tower stands on the north bank of the river, Adrian Smith's spire rises beside it, and Michigan Avenue runs north from the bridge to the Gold Coast. The four addresses here sit within about a mile of one another, so the choice is one of temperament rather than distance: a Shanghai terrace beside the Water Tower, a château a block off the Mile, two towers with the river at their feet. We kept only the hotels where the service holds up to the architecture. Four made the cut.
The collection
4 hotels
Good to know
Where should I stay in Chicago?
All four addresses are downtown, within about a mile of one another, so the choice is about mood more than distance. The Peninsula stands on the Magnificent Mile beside the Water Tower, and the Waldorf Astoria a few blocks north in the Gold Coast, a block off Michigan Avenue – the shops, Oak Street and the lake close by. The Langham and Trump International are neighbors on the north bank of the Chicago River at Wabash Avenue, with the Loop across the bridges and the water below.
When is the best season for Chicago?
Late spring through early fall is Chicago outdoors – the lakefront path, the rooftop bars, the architecture boats on the river – with June to September the warmest and fullest months. October brings clear, cool days and the marathon; winter is cold and honest, with Michigan Avenue lit for the holidays and an ice rink on the Peninsula's spa terrace.
Which hotels are on the river?
Two of the four. The Langham occupies the lower floors of Mies van der Rohe's former IBM Building at 330 North Wabash, and Trump International rises across the avenue at 401, both on the north bank with the water and the bridges in view. The Peninsula and the Waldorf Astoria sit north along Michigan Avenue and in the Gold Coast, ten to twenty minutes on foot from the river.
How do I reserve a stay?
Enter your dates on any hotel's page to see rates and availability, then book the room you want. A concierge is on hand throughout – to weigh the Mile against the river before you book, and to arrange the rest of the stay once you have.
