The 10 best spa hotels in Chicago for 2025

Just minutes from the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park and Navy Pier, the Langham Hotel in Chicago puts the best of the city on your doorstep. Not that you’ll want to leave, though. Set inside the last office building designed by modernist icon Mies van der Rohe, the hotel doubles as a sleek sanctuary and art gallery, with more than 140 works on display.

Design runs through every detail here. The hotel’s signature restaurant and bar, Travelle, features interiors by David Rockwell (of Nobu and W Hotels fame) and serves up seasonal American fare for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Think cobb salads, smash burgers and indulgent grilled cheese. Craving something lighter? Head to the Pavilion for the hotel’s legendary afternoon tea, which began at the hotel’s London location in 1865.

Wellness seekers can retreat to Chuan Spa. Taking its lead from traditional Chinese practices, they specialise in holistic treatments relating to the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Book in here and your experience will start with the Chuang bathing ritual before moving on to a treatment (or treatment package) of your choosing. There’s also a steam room and healing liquid pool, plus a variety of traditional Chinese medicinal remedies on offer to help you feel like the best version of you.

Upstairs, every guest room is primed for relaxation with deep soaking tubs, rainfall showers, Diptyque amenities and the Langham’s special blissful bed for the kind of sleep you’ll actually remember. For something truly special, book the Cinema Suite—a private screening room with oversized armchairs and a 111-inch screen, ideal for a movie night in ultimate style.

Time Out tip: Given its North River location, The Langham makes for a perfect spot from which to watch the St Paddy’s Day parade.

Address: 330 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Price: Starting at approximately $438 per night (for a member rate and excluding taxes and fees)
Closest transport: State/Lake station on the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Lines

As one of the longest continuously operating hotels in North America, the Palmer House is a Chicago institution brimming with history and glamour. First opened in 1871 and rebuilt twice—most notably after the Great Chicago Fire—this 25-story landmark has hosted everyone from former presidents and kings to Oscar Wilde and Frank Sinatra. The lobby, with its frescoed ceiling, Tiffany-designed candelabras, and gold-leafed Empire Room, sets the tone for an opulent stay, and while the rooms feel a touch dated, the sense of heritage makes up for it, and the location in the heart of the Loop is unbeatable.

Food and drink are another highlight. This is where the original brownie was invented for the 1893 World’s Fair, and you can still try it today at the hotel café, Lockwood Express. The main restaurant serves hearty American breakfasts, burgers, and steak dinners, while the lobby bar keeps things lively with cocktails like the (irresistable) Brownie Old Fashioned, often accompanied by live music. For a quieter vibe, Potter’s Bar offers a speakeasy feel with classic cocktails.

Amenities go well beyond dining: there’s a 10,000-square-foot fitness center, complete with Peloton bikes and yoga spaces, and a spa which offers treatments from massages to high-tech facials. There’s also a heated pool, recently renovated though temporarily closed during my stay. Service is professional if not deeply personal, which is to be expected in a hotel this size, but staff are responsive and accommodating. With Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and the Chicago Riverwalk just steps away, the Palmer House is as much about its prime location as it is about proper old-fashioned glamour. 

Time Out tip: Yes, downtown Chicago is right outside, but I’d seriously recommend staying at one of the hotel bars for an evening—this place is a landmark in its own right, after all. 

Address: 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60603
Price: Standard Rooms start from $190 per night
Closest transport: Monroe station is a few minutes’ walk away, with connections on the red and blue ‘L’ trains.

Perched in the heart of Chicago’s Loop, theWit Chicago is impossible to miss with its bold neon-yellow zigzag streaking up the façade. Opened in 2009 and freshly renovated in 2023, this 27-floor tower strikes a balance between business-friendly polish and party-ready energy. Inside, the vibe is both sleek and playful—angels-wing chandeliers hang above the lobby, while witty art installations nod to sharp minds from Emily Dickinson to Jackie Chan. With 310 rooms, including 36 suites, the accommodations feel like part hotel, part art museum, blending neutral furnishings with pops of cherry red and canary yellow. 

Dining and nightlife play a starring role here. ROOF, the hotel’s 27th-floor lounge with a retractable roof, transforms from a sunny daytime greenhouse to a glittering late-night hotspot, serving everything from wood-fired pizzas to bao buns stuffed with bulgogi beef. Expect creative cocktails—like a margarita-inspired Jalisco or even caviar-topped Pringles for the adventurous—alongside DJ sets, bottle service, and a swirl of bachelorette parties after dark. For something more grounded, State and Lake Chicago Tavern offers hearty meals in a plaid-accented, hunting-lodge-inspired space, with standouts like pressed croissants stuffed with cream and cherries. 

But wellness and relaxation haven’t been overlooked. Spa@theWit offers massages, facials, and nail services in a sultry, low-lit setting, complete with a post-treatment Whisper Lounge stocked with teas, truffles, and beachy chaises. The 24-hour fitness center includes Peloton bikes, treadmills, and free weights, while the business center and thoughtful digital perks—from QR code tipping to Echo Dot devices—add modern convenience. Service is warm and approachable, if brisk, and the hotel’s prime location makes exploring effortless: Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and shopping at Block 37 are all nearby.

Time Out tip: ROOF is brilliant fun, but if you’re a slight sleeper, request a room on a lower floor or remember your earplugs. I stayed on the 24th and could hear the music faintly when I got into bed. 

Address: 201 N. State St. Chicago, IL 6060
Price per night: Standard rooms from $239, premium rooms and suites from $339
Closest transport: The State/Lake L station (Pink, Green, Brown, Orange, Purple Lines) and Red Line subway is right outside the hotel

Downtown Chicago might seem like an odd place to go for rest and relaxation, but that’s exactly what you’ll find in the Park Hyatt’s NoMI Spa. House specialties include the Hydrafacial, which promises medical-grade results minus the downtime, and a customised massage service that the staff can adjust to meet your personal needs. You’ll also find all the classics, including mani-pedis, waxing and full body treatments, so you can step out feeling polished and ready to take on the city.

Wellness goes beyond the spa, with 24-hour access to the 7th-floor fitness centre connected to the spa. Hit the state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment or upgrade to the private Wellbeing Suite, where you can ride a Peloton bike before recovering with a chef-crafted super juice. Prefer water workouts? The 25-yard indoor lap pool is a sleek spot for a swim. 

But the hotel’s 146 guest rooms and 36 suites are designed with wellness in mind, too. The Bryte Sleep Suites track your sleep data and use Somnify—a multi-sensory relaxation experience that combines sleep-inducing sounds with gentle movements—to help you drift into a deep sleep. Or book the Mindfulness Suite, which comes with an open-air private terrace, a deep soaking tub and yoga equipment for morning downward dogs. 

Dining at the Park Hyatt is just as impressive. At NoMI Kitchen, marvel at the sweeping views of Water Tower and Lake Michigan from floor-to-ceiling windows while dining on Midwestern classics with a modern twist. For a showstopper, order the seafood tower which is packed with delicacies including Maine lobster, king crab, jumbo shrimp and, of course, oysters.  In the summer, the NoMI Garden lures guests outdoors with its open-air rooftop terrace with its 30-foot ivory granite bar and panoramic skyline views.

Time Out tip: Get cultural without leaving the building, as the Park Hyatt has an estimated $23 million worth of artwork on show. Ooh la la.

Address: 800 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Price: Starting from approximately $362 per night
Closest transport: Chicago station on the Red Line

No detail is spared at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago—right down to a roving martini cart that will stop by your room or suite for an in-house cocktail hour. It’s the perfect prelude before heading to the hotel’s Adorn Bar and Restaurant, where Thursday through Sunday brings live sets from resident musicians. Expect everything from sultry South American guitar to Chicago jazz veterans keeping the city’s signature sound alive.

When you’ve hung up your dancing shoes, you’ll be glad to retire to one of the hotel’s 345 elegant accommodations with sweeping views of either the skyline or Lake Michigan. The range runs from stylish, well-appointed rooms to the Luxury Residence. The latter comes with a kitchen, marble bathroom, separate powder room and even complimentary shoe shine service. Book lovers may want to request the Author Suite, which houses the hotel’s private literary collection with personalised editions from the likes of Stephen King, Oliver Stone and Anne Rice.

Location is another huge draw at the Four Seasons. Just off the Magnificent Mile, the hotel is a great place to stay if you’re into retail therapy—there’s a  Bloomingdale's quite literally downstairs. But after a long day of shopping—or working, or sightseeing, delete as appropriate—it’s also nice to relax in a slightly more traditional sense. That’s where the hotel’s unique spa treatments come into play, such as the Black Diamond Facial, which uses real fine diamond particles. How very de rigueur. 

Afterwards, the 50-foot indoor pool is ideal for a leisurely swim or an afternoon spent lounging. For more intense activity, all guests have complimentary access to the fitness centre. It’s even open 24 hours in case you suddenly have the urge to weight lift at 3am.

Time Out tip: Night spa anyone? This evening treatment package is especially aimed at couples.

Address: 120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
Price: Starting from approximately $652 per night
Closest transport: Chicago station on the Red Line

The Peninsula is as prime as it gets—perched right on Michigan Avenue and packed with world-class luxuries. The gilded lobby ceiling alone makes an impression, especially when paired with afternoon tea service buzzing beneath it. Just beyond, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the al fresco terrace at Shanghai Terrace, where dim sum and Asian-inspired plates are served in a chic, smart-casual setting. 

Food and drink are a serious affair here. Head upstairs to Z Bar, the Peninsula’s rooftop hotspot for inventive cocktails and global bites, from a zingy tuna tartare to hearty seasonal sliders, with skyline views. Or, channel your inner Parisian at Pierrot Gourmet, a European-style cafe where the sidewalk seating, buttery pastries, delectable brunches and excellent coffee create pure bistrot magic.

The 339 rooms are the epitome of understated elegance—chic lines, cosy textures and tech-savvy touches like bedside tables that control lighting, music and temperature. Book an executive suite for views of Michigan Avenue, Rush Street, or Chicago Avenue. Or, splash out on the absolutely huge Water Tower Suite with a home theatre, pantry and reception area that will fit ten comfortably. Even better? The hotel’s Peninsula Time perk lets you check in and out with flexibility (with prior arrangement and no extra cost).

The wellness side of things is equally impressive. Stake out a lounger on the Sun Terrace, an outdoor oasis with views over Chicago, swim laps in the half-Olympic-sized indoor pool or surrender to the sprawling spa, which blends Asian and Ayurvedic philosophies. The Half Day Destress package, including a signature massage and a healthy glow facial, might be the best way to kick off your Chicago escape.

Time Out tip: The hotel is ideal if you have a furry companion, offering special welcome amenities, pet walking services and a dog and cat room service.

Address: 108 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611
Price: Starting from approximately $404 per night
Closest transport: Chicago station on the Red Line

The Waldorf Astoria brings a touch of Parisian grandeur to the Gold Coast. From the moment you enter the courtyard and take in the elegant facade, you could swear you’ve been transported to Montmartre. Steps inside and the marble-clad lobby, with its soaring ceilings, feels more like a museum than a hotel check-in. 

For the full dose of European opulence, book one of the rooms with a fireplace and settle with a full three-course meal courtesy of the 24-hour room service. A glass of red is optional but advised. Guest rooms lean into soft greys with accents of royal purple, with plush furnishings and 460-thread-count sheets made for sinking into. If you really want to go all out, the presidential suite offers three king bedrooms—each with private terraces—plus three spa-like bedrooms, two living rooms and even a private fitness studio.

The Parisian influence carries over to Brass Tack, the in-house restaurant where American flavours are given a French spin. Expect dishes like snails, six-spice lobster risotto and roast chicken with a strawberry red wine sauce. Finish your evening with a nightcap at Bernard’s, the speakeasy-style cocktail lounge. Wrapped in rich wood panelling and accented with deep green, it’s an intimate spot fit for a King. To that end, there’s even a Prince of Wales cocktail with champagne and scotch.  

To complete the fantasy, book a treatment at the renowned Waldorf Astoria spa. Signature treatments include a jet-lag-busting body treatment, including exfoliation, a CBD body wrap and a warm oil scalp treatment and a 60-minute crystal meditation to calm your nervous system. Meanwhile, the skin atelier offers diamond glow facials, which use a diamond tip wand to deliver a next-level resurfacing treatment. 

Time Out tip: Book a tarot reading at the Waldorf’s spa, from $111 for 45 minutes.

Address: 11 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611
Price: Starting from approximately $547 per night (for Hilton members)
Closest transport: Chicago station on the Red Line

Eurostars Magnificent Mile feels like a love letter to Chicago’s urban edge. Its 216 rooms lean into industrial-chic design—exposed concrete ceilings, reclaimed wooden floors and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the city in cinematic scale. Some suites even come with private balconies and personal wine reserves, should you want to toast the skyline without leaving your room.

Located in River North, one of Chicago’s most stylish cultural districts, the hotel is perfectly placed for exploring. The world-famous shops of Michigan Avenue are just around the corner, while the Museum of Contemporary Art is an easy stroll away. That said, you’d be forgiven for hiding out inside, because the hotel’s spa is as much of a draw as its location. 

Start with a detox in the Himalayan salt-walled saunas, said to boost both mood and immunity. Then step into the spa’s chromotherapy showers, which use shifting colour to ease you into a deeper state of relaxation. 

Treatments, meanwhile, range from high-tech to ancient rituals. Try the Hanakasumi body ritual: inspired by Japanese traditions, it combines a warmed cherry blossom and rice powder exfoliating cream with a foot or scalp massage followed by an indulgent shea butter application. Or, for a modern reset, book a Hydrafacial—an intensive skin treatment involving lymphatic drainage, extractions and a potent serum infusion. 

Food-wise, book breakfast, lunch or dinner at Eurostars Magnificent Mile’s only eaterie, the River North Bistro. Specialising in American cuisine, you can expect burgers, cheesecakes and steak sandwiches on the menu. It would be rude not to wash down your meal with a classic cocktail with a twist (the Smoky Negroni is calling to us) or a glass of American wine.

Time Out tip: In the summer, watch a volleyball tournament at the nearby Oak Street Beach. 

Address: 660 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
Price: Starting from approximately $81 per night (for Star Traveler members), or $307
Closest transport: Grand station on the Red Line

Steeped in history, LondonHouse Chicago is one of the city’s ‘Big Four’ skyscrapers bordering the former Michigan Avenue Bridge. Today, the landmark has been reimagined as a 452-room luxury hotel, offering a blend of classic architecture and contemporary indulgence. 

For proper pampering, book into the LH Spa. Treatments range from the Body Melt Therapy, an intensive massage paired with hot towel compresses, to the Four-Hand Massage, where two therapists work in sync to dissolve every last knot. There are also facials, manicures and pedicures when you’d rather recline than reboot.

Once you’re refreshed, the hotel’s crown jewel awaits: LH Rooftop, Chicago’s only three-level rooftop bar. Sip on cocktails or graze on light bites while taking in panoramic views. At the very top sits the Cupola, a striking stone dome that wouldn’t feel out of place in Rome. For those planning a proposal, anniversary toast or other grand gesture, it can be booked privately for unforgettable moments. 

Other dining options include the Land & Lake Kitchen, which was created in the spirit of ‘mom and pop’ restaurants that dotted the Midwestern landscape from Iowa to Michigan throughout the 20th century. The menu—billed as good, honest mid-century Midwestern cooking—features all-day breakfasts, including steak and eggs, as well as an array of burgers and pastas.

Satiated with comfort food, it’s time to head to your room, of which there are many options at LondonHouse. Fitness fanatics should book the King Hydrow Wellness Room with Therabody outfitted with a Hydrow Rower, resistance bands, yoga mat, Therabody Theragun Elite and Wave Roller—so you can squeeze in a sweat session without leaving your room. There are also hearing accessible rooms, which are complete with visual alarms and notification devices for the doorbell or door knock and incoming telephone calls. 

Time Out tip: Make the most of the lakefront views by dining out at one of the best Navy Pier restaurants. 

Address: 85 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601
Price: Starting from approximately $162 per night (for Hilton members)
Closest transport: State/Lake station on Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line and Purple Line

At the St Regis, five-star service is a given—the only challenge is deciding where to begin. The spa is a good place to start: you can literally flow during the Gold Life Facial, which uses gold’s natural anti-inflammatory properties to restore the skin’s barrier. For something more meditative, book a Sound Bath and Guided Meditation to quiet the mind, or opt for the Stress Relief Massage to leave feeling feather-light. There are even Pilates and Yoga sessions if you’d rather stretch than snooze. Whatever you choose, you’ll emerge feeling brand new. 

The sense of luxury continues throughout the 159 guest rooms and suites. For a taste of top-tier indulgence, the two-bedroom Presidential Suite boasts a marble bathroom overlooking Navy Pier—complete with an infinity soaking tub. There’s also a personal fitness studio, private kitchen and an expansive living space with dining area, perfect if you’re hosting (or simply pretending you live there).

Dining at the St Regis is just as memorable. Tre Dita, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, is helmed by award-winning chef Evan Funke. Expect handmade Tuscan pastas and wood-fired specialities like the show-stopping Bistecca all Fiorentina. Meanwhile, Miru, the Japanese restaurant perched across two outdoor terraces, is led by chef Hisanobu Osaka and offers artful sushi, elegant small plates and unbeatable city views. 

And if you’re here for a big celebration, the Astor Ballroom is where the hotel really shows off. With soaring ceilings, a private entrance and a 4,712-square-foot room infinitely customisable to bring your dazzling visions to life, it’s a space designed to impress. We didn’t lie when we said the St Regis deserves every one of its five stars.

Time Out tip: Order The 1871, a reimagined Bloody Mary cocktail. The OG was first created at the hotel’s New York location in 1934, so they know what they’re doing. 

Address: 401 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601
Price: Starting from approximately $513 per night
Closest transport: State/Lake station on Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line and Purple Line.