Loews Chicago Hotel

Character and identity

A purpose-built 52-floor tower in Streeterville, Loews Chicago plants itself a couple of blocks east of the Magnificent Mile, within easy reach of the Loop and a short walk from Navy Pier. The design pays explicit homage to Chicago's architectural canon, channelling Mies van der Rohe's clean lines and Louis Sullivan's ornamentation, with a lobby anchored by a full-height travertine fireplace, leather and mohair lounging, and a wooden skyline sculpture. Sleek rooms sit above a chef-driven restaurant, a 75-foot lap pool, a fitness centre and Streeterville Social, the city's largest rooftop terrace at 9,000 square feet.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets this hotel apart is the rooftop and the sense of place baked into the public spaces: Streeterville Social, with its expansive terrace, bistro and cocktail programme, is a genuine draw in its own right. Book a Lakeview Suite for the combined river-and-lake panorama, and target shoulder-season rates when the rooftop is still open but city pricing softens.