Author Ilona Kauremszky showing her hall decor on location in Loews Chicago
If you’re planning a culture-packed jaunt through Chicago, pencil in a night (or three) at Loews Chicago Hotel. The urban hotel is an artsy-chic crash pad where the Mag Mile meets modern luxury.
Whether you’re gallery hopping through the Art Institute of Chicago, tracing the avant-garde at the Museum of Contemporary Art, or diving into a whirlwind of Chicago’s iconic architecture, Loews delivers a fabulous home base for bona fide arts lovers like yours truly.
With its prime address, sustainable design, and warm midwestern hospitality, this 400-room stunner easily becomes ‘the’ place to rest your feet.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Before Loews Chicago arrived on the scene, this site in the vibrant Streeterville neighborhood was considered pretty much open space, according to one hotel spokesperson quoted in The Chicago Tribune.
Today, it’s all polished steel and glass thanks to Chicago-based architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz, which envisioned a sleek 52-story tower with an eye for both grandeur and green living. That idea percolated back in 2007.
Let’s fast-forward to 2015, when the actual build was completed, and of course, fast-forward another 10 years later to 2025.
Just steps from Navy Pier and the Chicago Riverwalk, the urban hotel nestles you within walking distance of the Museum of Contemporary Art, a longer jaunt to the Art Institute of Chicago, and yes, even the former Hancock Observatory (now 360 CHICAGO). You’ll wander through breezy green spaces, ivy-draped university grounds, and public art displays that show off the Windy City’s gutsiness.
The entire Streeterville neighborhood practically proclaims culture, and if you’re a walker like me, you’ll love how Loews sits at the intersection of everything good.
Btw, you’ll find Loews Chicago along the Chicago River, two blocks east of North Michigan Avenue (yes, that’s Mag Mile 🙂 ).
SUITE Highlights
I tap my key into Suite 903 and swing open the door to one of the coolest crash pads this side of the Magnificent Mile. Think soft grays and calming blues punctuated with bold art prints and modern lighting that says, “We see you, style seeker.”
Set down your items on the sleek counter by the door and enter your temporary abode.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch across the suite’s living space and bedroom, giving some suites front-row views of Navy Pier and Lake Michigan. My view was of the hotel’s glampy greenspace on the third-floor terrace and main entrance.
In this king suite, the bed is plush, the linens are cloud-soft, and the mid-century furnishings strike that sweet spot between retro-cool and utterly livable. There’s a desk nook capable of Zoom meetings and a comfy modern wingback accent chair that was calling me to curl up with a good book.
The spa-style bathroom is complete with rainshower, a lit mirror to capture the best of you, and designer bath products that leave you smelling herbal fresh. Dark woods against white interiors are divine.
I appreciate hotels that include an in-room complimentary fridge. Mine had a fabulous note, professing how Loews wants to ensure my stay feels like home. You could, if interested, text or visit the front desk to place a request for a fully stocked fridge (one-time convenience fee applies).
Blackout curtains guarantee good sleep, too.
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HOTEL PERKS
Let’s talk concierge excellence. When I (admittedly) got turned around en route to the Griffin Museum of Science and Technology one morning (it was a big recommendation by the concierge), the same Loews concierge gal came to the rescue! She didn’t just hand me a map—she offered to personally guide me back if I ever needed to find it, or one of the deep-dish pizza parlors I had inquired about. Just text or call her. That’s Chicago warmth with five-star finesse.
The fitness center is another winner: expansive, sparkling clean, and stocked with Peloton bikes and free weights. When you hit the pool room, you’ll see a 75-foot indoor lap pool that has its own separate entrance on the third floor. To boot, the fitness center is a 24/7 facility that stocks cold water bottles at the ready.
Coffee connoisseurs and grab-and-goers will love For Five Coffee Roasters, tucked off the lobby. The mod, minimalist design—think dark walls, funky ceiling light fixtures dangling atop the coffee counter with retro wallpaper—you get the feeling you’re at the crossroads of Route 66 and a Mies van der Rohe meet-up.
Their cold brew gets a standing ovation, and don’t get me started on the flaky croissants. There’s a convenient grab-and-go section that’s well stocked. For those of us (me) who look forward to afternoon pick-me-ups, you can score a large coffee and a pastry combo for $5.
The friendly staff shows their cup of java happiness via a handwritten message on a blackboard. The day I was there, it was: “Pick your favorite cup of sunshine.”
And speaking of cool: the complimentary chocolate chip cookies heaped on a tray near the hydration station are pure joy. Soft, gooey, and restocked often enough that yes, I went back for seconds (and maybe thirds).
The lobby lounge is anchored by a series of long, electric fireplaces that blaze 24/7. It turns into an artsy magnet come evening, where creatives and conference-goers alike sink into tastefully appointed chairs with cocktails in hand. It’s got that certain spunk—a buzz of style and comfort that makes you want to linger.
FOOD AND DRINK SCENE – MORNING AND AFTERNOON
Start your day at ETA Restaurant + Bar, the hotel’s cozy-chic breakfast nook where local, organic, and sustainably sourced ingredients earn top billing. The vibe is vintage Americana, with warm wood tones and leather banquettes that make lingering over a second cup of coffee feel mandatory.
I dove fork-first into the Protein Shakshouka—a glorious mashup of sunny-side-up eggs, tofu, tomatoes, parmesan, chickpeas, avocado, red onion, and kale, all anchored with thick-cut grilled multi-grain bread. It’s hearty, healthy, and exactly the kind of breakfast that fuels a full day of gallery hopping.
Got a sweet tooth? The Tiramisu Pancakes look decadent, stacked high and drenched in mascarpone crème, Kahlua coffee syrup, espresso chocolate sauce, and topped with vanilla whipped cream and ladyfingers.
Dessert for breakfast? Yes, please.
The best part? Free coffee refills. A rarity these days, and such a welcome treat. I’ve yet to encounter a bad cup of coffee anywhere in Chicago, and ETA just reinforces that city-wide caffeine cred.
But when the morning art jaunt turns into a lazy-luxe afternoon, slide into the Lobby Lounge, where the city’s creative pulse continues to thrum beneath golden light fixtures and your choice of seating styles (swivel chairs, sky-high bar chairs, back-leaning banquettes).
The long, low-slung couches invite laptop warriors and leisure loungers alike, while business types in pressed shirts mix with gallery goers.
I settled in and went full midwestern, the old-fashioned meat and potatoes route, but with a Loews style. You have to order the Loews classic steak frites. Perfectly seared, smothered in a creamy sauce au poivre, it arrived next to a mini copper pot of crispy fries with a garden salad that had me wondering why I ever gave up carbs. Add a glass of bold Napa cabernet from the impressively curated wine list, or better yet, pair it with a local Chicago craft beer (Half Acre’s Bodhi Double IPA or Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, anyone?) and you’ve got the ultimate midday indulgence.
Not up for booze? A tall glass of sparkling water with a sliver of lemon feels just right—refreshing, elegant, and perfect for planning your next adventure down Mag Mile.
With the buzz of conversation around me and the fireplace flickering at my side, it’s the kind of place where time slows down, and suddenly, your afternoon itinerary, well, it can wait!
FINAL IMPRESSIONS
From its eco-conscious design and unbeatable location to the nods to artistry both inside and out, Loews Chicago wraps you in a world where creativity, comfort, and cosmopolitan cool all blend seamlessly.
Whether you’re museum-hopping, conference-going, or simply strolling the Riverwalk with a sketchbook in hand, this posh pad makes every artsy detour feel intentional.
After all, it’s not just where you stay—it’s how you experience Chicago.
And if you’re like me, already plotting your next visit before you’ve even left, then yes, this Loews has done its job.
For the latest hotel rates, check Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, or visit the website of Loews Chicago.
Photo credits: Ilona Kauremszky
Hotel-Scoop Columnist Ilona Kauremszky stayed as a guest of Loews Chicago Hotel.
