I spent the better part of my 20s and 30s living in Chicago, with a 3-year sabbatical in Seattle, so it’s safe to say I know my Chicago neighborhoods pretty well. I moved away in 2017, but my family is still in the area, so I visit Chicago at least twice a year and always try to stay in a different Chicago hotel each time. Having worked for Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, I have taken full advantage of employee discounts to stay at some of the best hotels in Chicago.

With nearly 100,000 hotel rooms in Chicago, deciding where to stay in Chicago is a daunting task. First time visitors to Chicago tend to stick to the city center, which is great (I do the same thing when traveling), but sometimes you want a more local flavor of a town, and staying in other neighborhoods is the best way to get a true feel for a city. Keep reading to find the best areas to stay in Chicago.

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Best Places to Stay in Chicago for Visitors

• Chicago Loop – best area in Chicago for business travelers
• River North – best Chicago neighborhood for nightlife
• Gold Coast – best luxury hotels in Chicago
• West Loop – best Chicago neighborhood for foodies
• Lincoln Park – best area in Chicago for families
• Wrigleyville – best neighborhood for Chicago sports fans
• South Loop – best area for easy access to Chicago museums

Chicago Loop – Best Chicago Neighborhood for Business Travelers

It’s called “The Loop” because the CTA, or Chicago’s public transportation system, makes a loop around the downtown area. I consider it to be anything south of the River and north of Roosevelt, from the West Branch of the River to the Lake. This is largely the Central Business District of Chicago, and as such, can be a bit quieter in the evenings and weekends. However, the eastern part of the Loop is also Chicago’s theater district, so there is a bit of nightlife and a few hotels near the Chicago Theater that are worth exploring. Hotel prices in the Chicago Loop can vary greatly based on conventions and events. If you’re traveling on a budget, it’s possible to snag some great weekend deals, as most Chicago Loop hotels cater to business travelers.

Browse Chicago Loop Hotels

Some of the main attractions in the Chicago Loop include Willis Tower (which most locals still call Sears Tower), Buckingham Fountain, Daley Plaza, Christkindl Market, Millennium Park, Grant Park, State Street shopping, and the Art Institute of Chicago, along with some of the best architecture in Chicago. If you are arriving in Chicago by train, Union Station and Ogilvy Station are both in the loop, and Ogilvy has the French Market with some of the best donuts in Chicago.  During the week, some of the best Chicago food trucks can be found near Willis Tower. This is definitely one of the best places to stay in Chicago!

Personal pick for Chicago Loop hotel: Palmer House Hilton – a great hotel within walking distance of Millennial Park, State Street shopping, train stations, and more! My closet was as big as a small bedroom, and the bathroom was really huge as well. This Swissotel Chicago review is also pretty compelling!

River North – Best Chicago Neighborhood for Nightlife

River North is the entertainment district of Chicago, and in my opinion, is the best area to stay in Chicago for first-time visitors. As the name implies, this is the area north of the river, and also East of the West Branch of the Chicago River. River North has the highest concentration of Chicago hotels, and that’s because there’s so much to do in River North. It includes Michigan Avenue, with world-class shopping, plus some of the best nightclubs and restaurants in Chicago. It’s fairly compact and walkable, so you can choose your hotel based on price (and reviews!) more than location. River North is very safe. However, with so many nightclubs and famous live music venues, there are often “after-hours” issues, usually involving drunk bar patrons. During the day, there’s not much to worry about in regard to safety in River North.

Browse Chicago River North Hotels

There’s a little bit of everything in River North, and the location between the Loop and the Gold Coast means everything is accessible from River North. Shopping and dining are the highlights. If you haven’t been to Eataly, it’s a must-see once you’ve had your fill of deep dish pizza. Besides shopping along Michigan Avenue and the Chicago Water Tower Shopping Center, there are galleries and boutiques tucked into side streets. The best way to see River North is from a Chicago River Cruise.

Personal Picks for Chicago River North Hotel: All three of these options are within easy walking distance of the Riverwalk and Magnificent Mile.

• Royal Sonesta River North Chicago – I had an amazing two-room suite here when it was a Kimpton and loved staying in the heart of River North with tons of restaurants and shopping at my doorstep.
• For Marriott travelers, the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk is a convention hotel in a great location. Rooms are small and a bit dated, but these are often some of the best prices for Chicago Riverwalk hotels.
• I also love the location of the Renaissance Downtown Chicago Hotel. (technically, it’s on the South shore of the river)

Gold Coast – Best Chicago Neighborhood for Luxury Travelers

Just north of River North, Chicago’s Gold Coast is the ritzy neighborhood where locals mingle with luxury travelers over lunch at Barney’s. Chicago’s Gold Coast includes the area just north of River North and south of Lincoln Park. Roughly speaking, the borders of the Gold Coast are North Avenue to the North, Lake Shore Drive and North Avenue Beach to the East, Clark Street to the West, and Oak Street to the South. Just steps from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, some of the best upscale shopping, and dining are found on Chicago’s Gold Coast. High-rise condo buildings are mixed with designer boutiques, trendy bars, and fine dining. The restaurants and bars of the Gold Coast are clustered in an area known as the “Viagra Triangle” if that gives you an idea of the clientele!

On my most recent trip to Chicago, I had a gorgeous corner room at the Park Hyatt Chicago. I was super sad that I only had one night at this luxury hotel in the Gold Coast. Great location!

Some of the best attractions on the Gold Coast (besides amazing food and shopping) include Oak Street Beach and the John Hancock Tower, which has an observation deck and restaurant on the 95th floor. Staying in the Gold Coast allows the same access to the best of River North, just a bit quieter and more upscale.

West Loop – Best Chicago Neighborhood for Foodies

One of Chicago’s often overlooked neighborhoods is the West Loop. There’s even a Nobu Hotel in the West Loop! When Oprah built her studio here in the 1980s, it was not a great neighborhood at all. Now, Chicago’s West Loop is booming, and some of the best restaurants in Chicago can be found along Randolph Street. Like many urban areas, Chicago is experiencing a population shift from the suburbs, and more companies are moving their headquarters back into the city to attract younger workers with easy access to public transportation. In fact, Oprah’s studio was torn down in 2017 to make way for McDonald’s World Headquarters. If you decide to stay in the West Loop, stay as far east as possible; this is where most hotels are, and you don’t want to go too far west or there’s not much going on, other than the United Center. Don’t miss a night out in Greektown for some amazing Greek food in Chicago!

Browse Chicago West Loop Hotels

Lincoln Park – Best Chicago Neighborhood for Families

When I was a youngin’ in Chicago, the Lincoln Park neighborhood was THE place to be. Today, my favorite dive bars have been replaced by Pilates studios and juice bars, making it the best place to stay in Chicago with kids. Just north of the Gold Coast, and centered on the park of the same name, Lincoln Park is still a trendy residential neighborhood with leafy streets lined with a few mansions and a lot of brownstones. Staying in Lincoln Park will give you a much more local feel and is my recommendation for travelers wanting to avoid the touristy parts of Chicago. For families, the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago History Museum are wonderful places to spend an afternoon, and some of the best summer festivals in Chicago take place in Lincoln Park and adjacent Old Town.

Wrigleyville – Best Chicago Neighborhood for Sports Fans

As you might guess, Wrigleyville is the neighborhood immediately surrounding Wrigley Field. This is also part of Lakeview, which is a huge Chicago neighborhood that also encompasses Boys Town. This is the first place I lived in Chicago, and back in the ’90s, there were no hotels in the area. Out-of-town guests had to crash on my couch or stay quite a ways away from my apartment. Today, Wrigleyville has been totally renovated, including Wrigley Field itself. Last fall, I had the opportunity to stay at Hotel Zachary, the brand-new Marriott Bonvoy property right across the street from Wrigley Field. It’s an awesome hotel and it’s so fun to stay in this part of town. If you can snag a room here during Cubs season, do it! Elsewhere in the neighborhood, you’ll find tons of sports bars, casual restaurants, and a few fun shops. If you are not a sports fan, check the Cubs calendar before you decide to stay in Wrigleyville; the crowds can be annoying if you aren’t part of them.

Personal Pick for Wrigleyville Chicago hotel: Hotel Zachary Chicago, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is an amazing place to stay for Cubs fans.

South Loop – Best Chicago Neighborhood for Museums

Just south of the Loop is another Chicago neighborhood that has been totally overhauled in recent years. As high-rise apartments pop up south of Roosevelt, more restaurants and other attractions move into the South Loop. The Lakefront Museum campus is home to some of Chicago’s best museums. From the South Loop, you can walk to the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium. The Museum of Science and Industry is not far, either. I think this may be the second-best place to stay in Chicago with kids, as there is a ton of green space around Grant Park, perfect for letting kids run around and play.

Safe Places to Stay in Chicago

Chicago has a reputation for crime that is not particularly favorable, and the statistics fluctuate significantly from season to season and year to year. Many people worry about visiting Chicago due to its highly publicized crime rates. The truth is that Chicago crime is largely concentrated in dangerous neighborhoods where tourists rarely venture, and they are not generally random crimes against travelers. The areas I’ve listed here are some of the safest places to stay in Chicago. As with any big city, you must take the usual precautions as you would anywhere. Keep your wits about you, don’t be stumbling around alone and drunk at 2 am, and don’t flash expensive jewelry or wads of cash around. If you see trouble brewing, cross the street and don’t engage with anyone. The Chicago neighborhoods to avoid are generally on the South and West sides, and those areas offer few hotels. I do recommend visiting Chicago’s Chinatown and the historic Pullman District, but I don’t recommend staying in those neighborhoods.

Some other safe places to stay in Chicago include these neighborhoods:

• Streeterville – between River North and Lake Michigan – is the area closest to Navy Pier and is slightly more residential, but super close to everything downtown. Also, a great place to stay in Chicago if you are here for medical reasons; the Northwest Memorial Hospital campus is here.
• Bucktown – Along with adjacent Wicker Park, these formerly “up and coming” now heavily gentrified neighborhoods, have tons of bars and restaurants, making them popular with younger travelers.
• McCormick Place is Chicago’s major convention center, located between Chinatown and the Lake, south of the city. I wouldn’t stay here unless you’re visiting for a convention. Even then, if you plan to do anything other than work, stay in the Loop and get a cab to the convention center.
• O’Hare and Rosemont are near the airport. Rosemont has become a destination on its own, with a whole entertainment district and of course, tons of hotels. I recently spent a week at the Westin O’Hare and it was lovely. It didn’t hurt that the front desk manager was a friend of mine and gave me a sweet suite upgrade!

Getting Around Chicago

My #1 tip for anyone visiting Chicago? Ditch the car! Having a car in Chicago is a huge pain in the butt, and you can easily pay more than $70 per night for parking at some downtown hotels. Park and Stay Chicago hotels are only near the airports, and you really don’t want to stay there if you’re coming to see Chicago. There is absolutely no need to have a car in Chicago as you can rely on any of the following methods to get around:

• CTA – between trains and buses, you can get almost anywhere in Chicago very cheaply. Unlike some cities that charge by distance traveled, once you are in the system, you can ride forever. CTA passes are available for 1 day ($5), 3 days ($15), and 7 days ($20). You can also buy a card that can be reloaded online as needed.
• Uber – when I lived downtown, I used Uber a ton, and Uber Pool was often just as cheap as taking public transportation. If you’re a solo traveler in Chicago and aren’t in a rush, check out Uber Pool!
• Taxis – when you want to get somewhere fast, the cabs in Chicago are your best bet. Chicago taxi drivers know the ins and outs and the fastest way to get around. I found most Uber drivers were from the suburbs and rely heavily on GPS, while taxis just need an address and they’ll get you there.
• Metra – if you are visiting the suburbs during your Chicago vacation, you’ll most likely be using the Metra system. Depending on the train, you will leave from Union Station or Ogilvy Station. Make sure you buy your ticket at the station, or you’ll pay a “convenience fee” of about $5.