The Windy City is an excellent destination for a family getaway.
Nestled on Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois, has hundreds of things for people of all ages to do during their stay. You won’t get bored with the excellent museums, Navy Pier, the Bean, and deep-dish Chicago pizza.
While it’s always nice to stay in budget-friendly hotels when traveling, especially with family, to save some money, sometimes you need to splurge and treat yourselves.
There are dozens of hotels in Chicago to choose from, but what ones are the best for your family?
Take a look at 14 of the best luxury hotels in Chicago, perfect for family vacations.
Waldorf Astoria Chicago
What’s more luxurious than staying in the heart of downtown Chicago? The Waldorf Astoria Chicago is a 5-star hotel perfect for your family getaway. You’ll find this hotel in the premier Gold Coast neighborhood with tons of shopping and great restaurants.
All the hotel rooms at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago are spacious and apartment-style. Many of them have beautiful fireplaces to keep you extra warm during the Chicago winters, and a handful has private terraces that offer great views and stunning sofas.
Rooms here include flat-screen TVs, a microwave, and a fridge. Staying at this hotel puts you within five minutes on foot of the Magnificent Mile and other Chicago attractions. You can take advantage of the hotel’s amenities when you’re not exploring the Windy City.
They have an indoor pool that you can use no matter what the weather’s like outside, a modern fitness center, and their luxurious on-site spa.
Nobu Hotel Chicago
Less than a mile from the famous Willis Tower is Nobu Hotel Chicago. This luxury hotel is surrounded by skyscrapers and puts you and your family within miles of tons of things to do in the city.
Nobu Hotel Chicago is the perfect blend of Japanese and modern styles that you and your family will love. All 115 rooms have a TV, mini-fridge, complimentary toiletries, and comfortable beds. There are also safety deposit boxes to store any valuables you have when you’re traveling.
While you’ll probably want to explore the city, if you feel like having a great meal without leaving the hotel, they have a signature restaurant on the ground floor and one on their rooftop. Check out their indoor tranquility pool, fitness center, and spa during your stay.
Four Seasons Chicago
The Four Seasons Chicago is in a prime location, only steps away from the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue. This location also puts you about 1.2 miles from Navy Pier and 1.5 miles from Millennium Park with the famous Bean.
All the bathrooms at the Four Seasons have remodeled bathrooms with marble and Le Labo toiletries. No matter what room you stay in, you’ll have panoramic views of the beautiful Chicago skyline or Lake Michigan. You can enjoy their on-site restaurant with cuisine the whole family will love during your stay here.
There’s a 50-foot pool inside so you can lounge and swim any time of the year, a fitness center, spa, and a kids’ club room where they can watch movies, play video games, and meet other kids.
The Gwen
The Gwen is a luxury collection hotel by Marriott that sits on Michigan Avenue. Like other hotels in the area, being on Michigan Avenue puts you in a great location to reach some of the best tourist sites in Chicago.
You and your family will be staying in the lap of luxury at The Gwen. Their rooms feature a flat-screen TV, free WiFi, a luxury bathroom with toiletries, and a fully stocked mini-bar for the adults. The artwork and sculptures add more elegance to the rooms.
The Gwen has several amenities you’ll want to check out. They have two on-site restaurants when you don’t want to leave the hotel, a rooftop terrace with amazing views, a fitness center with complimentary water and fruit, and room turn-down service.
Viceroy Chicago
Another beautiful luxury hotel in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood is the Viceroy Chicago. Travel and Leisure have voted the Viceroy Chicago the number one Chicago hotel, and you and your family won’t regret staying here.
At the Viceroy, all rooms offer flat-screen TVs with cable access, lounge seating, free WiFi, complimentary coffee, and a fully stocked mini-bar for those over 21 years old. You and your family can take full advantage of their seasonal rooftop pool and bar, on-site dining options, 24-hour room service, and their fitness center.
Staying at the Viceroy puts you only two miles from Navy Pier and Millennium Park. If you’re visiting during the summer, why not spend your day on the shores of Lake Michigan? It’ll only take you ten minutes to walk to Oak Street Beach.
The Ritz-Carlton
The name Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with luxury and elegance. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, staying at a Ritz-Carlton is always a great option. So if you want to treat your whole family to a luxurious Chicago vacation, the Ritz-Carlton is perfect.
You’ll find this hotel on top of the famous Water Tower Place in the Gold Coast neighborhood. The hotel is beautifully decorated with artwork and features large windows so that you can see Lake Michigan. Many of the rooms offer views of the lake, and others show other buildings on the skyline.
When staying at the Ritz-Carlton, you’ll have access to a 24-hour concierge, a casual cafe restaurant for quick bites, a fitness center, complimentary toiletries, a marble bathtub, and other luxurious amenities.
Ivy Boutique Hotel
The Ivy Boutique Hotel is a stunning property that features 63 hotel rooms and suites. Even their standard hotel rooms are larger than the average hotel room, giving you and your family more room to spread out.
It’s no secret that the views when staying in downtown Chicago are stunning, and every room at the Ivy Boutique Hotel features floor-to-ceiling windows that will leave you and your family mesmerized. These rooms have TVs, modern furniture, automatic window drapes, free WiFi, and a stocked mini-bar.
You’ll have free access to CorePower Yoga and Planet Fitness when staying here, in-room spa services for an additional fee, and on-site dining options. When the weather’s nice, you can enjoy a meal or just soak up the view from their rooftop terrace.
The Emily Hotel
Not all the luxury hotels in Chicago are in the Gold Coast neighborhood. The Emily Hotel is an excellent option for families, and it’s in the West Loop neighborhood. For families who love to eat, this hotel is surrounded by some of the best restaurants in the city. They even have their own on-site dining too.
The Emily Hotel features guest rooms with free WiFi, Bluetooth radio, TVs, modern artwork, and incredibly comfortable beds. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a hotel room with a turntable and a selection of vinyl records to listen to.
The on-site restaurant is delicious and offers room service if you prefer to eat in bed one day. The rooftop lounge and garden are great for taking in views of the city and fresh air. Other amenities include valet parking, a fitness center, and 24-hour guest services if you need anything.
Thompson Chicago
The Thompson Chicago is a fantastic choice for families looking for a luxurious stay while in the Windy City. You and your family will love dining at their on-site restaurant, Nico Osteria. It features handmade pasta dishes, grilled seafood, and delicious cocktails for the adults.
When you stay at The Thompson, you will feel like royalty. Each room features complimentary WiFi, bathrobes for every guest, toiletries, flat-screen TVs, and modern rain showerheads. They have a 24-hour fitness center, daily newspaper delivery, and complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby when you’re not in your room.
From The Thompson, you’ll be only a five-minute walk to the shores of Lake Michigan, a mile from Millenium park and other famous attractions.
LondonHouse
LondonHouse is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and a beautiful hotel in Chicago. It sits on Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River in a historic building. This hotel stands out among the other luxury hotels because it’s the only one in the city to have a tri-level bar on the rooftop.
Guests at the LondonHouse feature a large workstation, flat-screen TV, free WiFi, and beautiful city views. For fitness fanatics, you can use the 24-hour fitness center whenever you want. While staying here, you have to try their on-site dining with regional cuisine that the whole family will love.
They have a terrace that overlooks the Chicago River that you have to see before your vacation is over. You can walk to Millenium Park within ten minutes and will love wandering through the city streets.
Royal Sonesta Chicago River
There is a handful of Royal Sonestas in Chicago, but one of the best is the one on the Chicago River. Families rave about how this hotel is the perfect, luxurious home base for exploring the city.
The Royal Sonesta Chicago River puts you in the vicinity of fantastic shopping, restaurants, Navy Pier, Art Institute of Chicago, and Millenium Park. You can speak with the concierge at the front desk to assist you in directions or set you up with tickets to various museums.
The rooms at the Royal Sonesta feature an iPod docking station, flat-screen TVs, a mini-fridge, complimentary bottles of water, coffee, and amazing views of the city below your room. The hotel offers a valet car service if you’re driving or renting a car. Their on-site restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Loews Chicago Hotel
Loews Chicago Hotel is a newer one on the scene in the Windy City, but the company is known for its luxurious hotels across the United States. This large hotel features 400 rooms with 25 suites perfect for larger families.
You and your family will love spending time at their indoor pool, taking in the views on the rooftop, and dining at their delicious on-site restaurant. In addition, their luxury spa is excellent for a day of relaxation, and Loews is home to Chicago’s most extensive terrace bar.
The guest rooms feature a mini-bar, coffee maker, city or lake views, luxury bedding, and other modern amenities. You can reach the Navy Pier within ten minutes by foot, and you’re only a mile from Millennium Station, Millennium Park, and the Magnificent Mile.
Omni Chicago Hotel
The Omni Chicago Hotel is a staple in the city, and this luxury hotel is newly renovated. While it’s yet another hotel to sit on Michigan Avenue, it’s the only hotel to only have suites as guest rooms. The best part is that it has something for every family member, regardless of their age.
The newly renovated suites feature French doors that separate the bedroom from the living space. There are even suites that offer sofa beds to accommodate larger families. You’ll have all your basic hotel room amenities like a private bathroom, TVs, a mini-fridge, and complimentary toiletries.
If you’re traveling with young girls, they offer an “American Girl” package for fans of the brand. They even have packages where you can shop with Gordon Ramsy and then have him prepare a meal for you. Families love the pool, and if you’re traveling with kids under five, they receive a complimentary buffet breakfast every morning.
Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection
Last but not least is the Hotel EMC2. The Hotel EMC2 is a luxury boutique hotel near the Magnificent Mile. The entire hotel features modern decor, which adds some elegance to the property.
You and your family can enjoy breakfast in bed with their dining service, enjoy the artistic lobby, and dine at their on-site restaurants that offer seasonal options. Yes, there are kid-approved options if you’re traveling with particular eaters.
Other amenities the hotel offers are a fitness center, valet dry-cleaning, free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and free coffee in the rooms.
Final Thoughts
Chicago doesn’t have any shortage of luxury hotels for you and your family to stay at. You have great options, whether you want to go with something more well-known like the Waldorf Astoria or the Four Seasons, or something a little more unique like The Emily or Ivy Boutique Hotel.
Regardless of your choice, you and your family will love their luxurious vacation to Chicago.
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.