Chicago downtown hotel
Hilton Chicago
720 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
When visiting Chicago, choosing a hotel in a good location makes a huge difference in your trip. During my stay in Chicago, I stayed at Hilton Chicago, a historic 4-star hotel located right on Michigan Avenue. This hotel is well known for its size, history, and convenient location near major attractions. After staying here, I understood why it’s considered one of Chicago’s landmark hotels.
Hilton Chicago was originally built in 1927 and used to be the largest hotel in the world. It was first called the Stevens Hotel, and later renamed Hilton Chicago after Conrad Hilton purchased it in 1945. Back then, the hotel even had a theater, bowling alley, and pharmacy inside, earning the nickname “City Within a City.”
The hotel has hosted several U.S. presidents and remains one of the most iconic hotels in Chicago today. It is also famous for hosting large conferences and conventions, and the event space here is one of the largest among Chicago hotels.
Located on Michigan Avenue, the hotel sits right across from Grant Park and Lake Michigan, offering great views and easy access to museums and major tourist attractions.
Since many attractions are within walking distance, it’s a very convenient hotel for travelers. With over 1,500 rooms, this is a very large hotel and the lobby area is always quite busy.
Hotel prices vary significantly depending on the season. During the low season (January–March and November), rooms can be found for around $150–$250 per night. In spring and fall, prices usually range from $250–$400, and in summer peak season, prices can go up to $400–$600. During major conferences or events, prices can rise even higher.
Room Condition
The room layout was interesting. As soon as you enter, the beds are in the main area, and the room had two king-size
beds and two bathrooms.
Near the inner bathroom, there was a closet and a work desk. Because there are two beds and two bathrooms, I thought this room layout would be especially convenient for families.
The bathroom near the entrance had a heater, which was very useful during the cold Chicago winter. Chicago wind can be extremely cold, so having a warm bathroom made a big difference.
The desk was fairly spacious, and there was a refrigerator underneath it. There was also another refrigerator near the entrance, so the room actually had two mini fridges.
Next to the desk was a closet with hangers, an iron, ironing board, and a luggage rack.
The mattress and pillows were comfortable, but the blanket felt a bit thin, probably because the Chicago weather was so cold.
The inner bathroom had a large sink area and a bathtub. Amenities included shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and there were mounted hand wash and body lotion by the sink.
The bathroom near the entrance had a window, which is quite rare for hotel bathrooms. It allowed natural light in during the day, which made the space feel brighter. This bathroom also had a bathtub and a heater switch that warmed up the room quickly.
Lounge
The lounge was located on the 5th floor. There were multiple lounge areas, and some required key card access depending on your room type.
Inside the lounge, there was a coffee machine, tea, snacks, soda, and water available. There was also a microwave, so you could heat up simple meals.
There were plenty of tables, making it a good place to work on a laptop or have a quick meal.
Gym & Swimming pool
The gym was open from 5 AM to 10 PM on weekdays and from 6 AM to 10 PM on weekends.
Right next to the gym, there was a lap pool that looked perfect for swimming workouts rather than just leisure swimming.
There were lounge beds and tables for relaxing, and a jacuzzi-like area as well.
The most impressive part of this hotel was the gym. It even had an indoor running track, which is very rare for a hotel gym.
The gym was huge, with a large number of machines, so you rarely had to wait to use equipment.
There were multiple stair mills and neatly organized gym balls, and overall the facility felt more like a professional training center than a typical hotel gym.
One downside was the overall lighting in the room, which felt a bit dark at night. Also I skipped breakfast because I had heard it wasn’t very good. However, if you avoid peak season, this hotel offers good value for the price.
Overall, Hilton Chicago is a well-balanced hotel with a great location, large facilities, and a historic atmosphere. Being right next to Grant Park and Lake Michigan makes it perfect for walks and sightseeing. If you’re looking for a hotel in downtown Chicago with a convenient location, Hilton Chicago is a solid choice.