Chicago’s cocktail scene has always been a heavyweight, but this year it officially landed on top.
Travelle Lounge at The Langham, Chicago, just earned the No. 1 spot on USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards list for America's best hotel bars, beating out a lineup of legendary lounges across the country. For anyone who’s sipped a martini while gazing out over the Chicago River inside this serene space, the top slot isn't a surprise.
RECOMMENDED: This Chicago bar was just named the #1 bar in the world
Travelle Lounge strikes the balance between stylish and soulful. Its clean mid-century lines, glowing marble accents and leather-upholstered seating exude polish while still feeling inviting. There’s a 30-foot digital art wall pulsing with color and movement, and wide windows that frame the river and city skyline in cinematic proportion. The cocktails lean seasonal, and the food menu goes beyond bar snacks with charcuterie, oysters and artful small plates. Add in the occasional hum of live music and you’ve got the kind of lounge that makes you want to linger well past last call.
This win feels especially sweet because the competition was formidable. The carousel at New Orleans’ Hotel Monteleone spun its way into the top 10, alongside Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel, where its Grand Atrium has hosted presidents and rock icons under chandeliers and wrought iron panels. Los Angeles brought Hollywood glam with the Lounge at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, where wagyu yakitori and Japanese-inspired cocktails are paired with an outdoor terrace bathed in California sun.
That Travelle edged past them all is a testament to Chicago’s ability to do luxury without arrogance. The Langham has always been known for its impeccable service and design pedigree, and Travelle translates that into a bar experience that feels both timeless and distinctly modern. When your next evening needs both comfort and sophistication, this is your destination. Think warm lighting, a perfectly poured drink, a melody drifting through the air, and a view that quietly says you’re exactly where you belong. When a lounge can make you feel at once transported and completely at home, that’s when it earns not just awards but a loyal following. Chicagoans already knew Travelle was special. Now the rest of the country does too.