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When The St. Regis Chicago opened in 2023, it faced the significant challenge of standing out in an already saturated market of luxury hotels. The building itself is a good start: The gracefully angular 101-story super-skyscraper is the tallest in the world designed by a woman. Architect Jeanne Gang has said she was inspired by stacked popcorn boxes—shapes called frustrums, for those who paid attention in geometry class.
And then there’s the location: Situated on the south bank of the Chicago River just shy of where it meets Lake Michigan, the hotel has killer views over the water from its restaurants, gym, pool, and many rooms. Add in a reputation for lavish celebrations and The St. Regis is well on its way to earning its self-proclaimed nickname, “Chicago’s Best Address.”
What are the rooms like at The St. Regis Chicago?
In a word, breathtaking. Think massive soaking tubs, sleek modern furniture, and wall-to-wall windows with draperies that sweep close with a single button press. Fixtures balance beauty with function, from the pendant lights suspended above the bed tables to the walk-in closets with luggage storage. In the sprawling two-bedroom Presidential Suite, both the beds and infinity-edge bathtub feature the tower’s best water-facing views, plus a kitchen and private fitness room that can be outfitted with the guest of honor’s choice of equipment. My room—the Caroline Astor Suite—had a freestanding circular tub, sliding pocket doors between rooms, and a nighttime view of the Navy Pier Ferris wheel cycling through its rainbow-hued light show.
What is the service like at The St. Regis Chicago?
Attuned to your every need, but not overly formal. Suite-level room bookings feature the hotel’s signature butler service, which includes garment pressing, shoeshines, unpacking and packing services, and in-room coffee or tea delivery. My butler George, clad in a tailcoat jacket and Prada spectacles, gave me a tour of my room and then reappeared in the lobby at 5 p.m. to lead the champagne sabrage. This ritual dates back to 1904, when John Jacob Astor IV opened the first St. Regis opened in New York City; it signifies the end of the workday and the start of evening celebration with coupes of sparkling wine poured from a sword-sliced bottle. Throughout my stay, I saw staff going out of their way for guests, including a server hoisting the tabletop lamp overhead to ensure the couple he was photographing had just the right lighting for their anniversary dinner snapshot.
What is the food like at The St. Regis Chicago?
On the second floor, Tuscan restaurant Tre Dita has a bopping bar and deeply dramatic dining room with gasp-worthy 40-foot-tall windows. The name means “three fingers,” the approximate thickness of the signature bistecca alla fiorentina, a $290 steak sliced for sharing. I didn’t regret starting my meal with the schiacciata, a focaccia-like Tuscan flatbread that Chef Evan Funke labored over for years before finalizing the recipe. My server called the red sauce-topped version “the lightest Chicago-style pizza you’ll ever have,” and it was practically cloud-like in fluffiness. Handmade pastas—crafted in the glass-fronted labratorio near the host stand—are stellar, from the strozzapreti with juicy shreds of oxtail to the simple linguine al limone. Upstairs on the 11th floor, Japanese restaurant Miru has a sun-filled terrace and extensive sushi menu. I stopped in for the Tokyo Breakfast: miso soup, ginger-infused rice, scallion-topped salmon, and a silky soft-poached egg nestled in salmon roe. Both restaurants are operated by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a respected local outfit.
What is the spa, pool and gym like at The St. Regis Chicago?
Located on the tenth floor in a cantilevered portion of the tower with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the St. Regis Athletic Club is no question the coolest hotel gym in Chicago. Pilates classes—which use equipment such as the reformer, tower and Wunda chair—max out at four people, which means I got plenty of attention from my instructor, Liz, to refine my form during roll-downs and teasers. At the spa, my massage appointment started with a glass of champagne and ended with a shot of kale-cucumber juice and a dark chocolate truffle. My only regret is not allotting more time to spend in the relaxation room, set with cozy loungers, faux-fur blankets, privacy curtains, and two-sided fireplace. Before checkout, I had the indoor pool to myself and bobbed on a pool noodle as sailboats inched across the lake in the distance. Rain was in the forecast during my stay, but when the weather’s nice, I’m told the staff pulls back the retractable glass wall between the pool and its south-facing terrace for an indoor-outdoor vibe.
What is the area like around The St. Regis Chicago?
The hotel’s location on the eastmost end of Wacker Drive makes it feel like a secluded destination, yet it’s quite close to Michigan Avenue shopping and river tour docks to the north and both Millennium and Maggie Daley parks to the south—all favorites of first-time visitors. Easy access to Lakeshore Drive by car or cab makes travel to the city’s north or south sides, including the Museum Campus and McCormick Place Convention Center, fairly painless. The tower also backs up to Lakeshore East, a quiet cluster of residential towers centered around a rarely-crowded park with gardens, a dog park, and walking paths.
DETAILS
Address: 401 E. Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago
Price: Starting at $650 and up
Closest transport: 10-minute walk to State/Lake L station (Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Line trains) or Lake Red Line subway; 1-hour taxi ride from O’Hare Airport and 40-minute drive from Midway Airport
Book now: via Booking.com
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