Top 10 Chicago Hotels of 2025 According to GoTravelDaily Readers

Summary of Top Hotels in Chicago

How Voting Works
What Readers Loved
The Winner
The Full List

When you’re looking for a place to stay in Chicago, you’re likely to come across a lengthy list of skyscrapers clustered in and around the Loop and the Magnificent Mile. The Windy City is, after all, a thicket of mighty high-rises. However, a deeper exploration reveals that the best hotels in Chicago possess distinctive qualities appealing to different types of travelers.

How Voting Works

Every year, for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences globally, sharing their opinions on top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 readers completed the 2023 survey, reflecting a significant increase of nearly 25 percent compared to pre-pandemic voting levels. Consequently, over 685,000 votes were cast across more than 8,500 unique properties.

Hotels were categorized as resort hotels, city hotels, or safari lodges based on their locations and amenities. They were rated specifically on the following criteria:

Rooms/facilities
Location
Service
Food
Value

Respondents could rate each characteristic as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores represent averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

If you’re interested in being within easy walking distance of great works by American masters Edward Hopper and Alma Thomas at the Art Institute, consider staying at Arlo Chicago (formerly the Hotel Julian), which readers voted into the No. 2 spot, or the No. 3 hotel, Le Méridien Essex Chicago. For those needing proximity to high-end shopping, the No. 5 Park Hyatt Chicago or the No. 4 Four Seasons Hotel Chicago are excellent options. According to one reader, the Four Seasons is also recommended for a drink; “The speakeasy on the top floor is amazing,” they mentioned. Additionally, for a unique experience in an Art Deco landmark, the Pendry Chicago (No. 8), situated in the elegant 1929 Carbon and Carbide building, is a remarkable choice. One voter who visited for work plans to return with their family.

No matter your travel style or reason for visiting Chicago, there’s a suitable home base among this year’s honored hotels.

The Winner

The Peninsula Chicago

Readers found much to commend about this 22-year veteran of the Magnificent Mile. Notably, the hotel’s service gained the most recognition. “The attentive staff help create memorable experiences,” noted one reviewer. Another remarked, “The staff and service are superior to any other hotel that I’ve stayed at.” However, readers also appreciated the tangible pleasures offered, with one writing, “A dirty martini next to the fireplace in the bar is a must!”