It’s easy to miss this hotel next door to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. From the outside, it looks like just another old bank building. But take the elevator to the 21st floor and you’ll feel the office building vibes give way to a swanky hotel hidden among the clouds.
The LaSalle Hotel is the kind of place that’s popular with bankers and business travelers during the week, but it’s also a great option for sightseeing, a long weekend of fun, or an event at Soldier Field.
The Autograph Collection hotel is located a couple of blocks from Willis Tower, an icon of Chicago that was once the tallest building in the world. It’s also near the city’s theaters and about five blocks from Michigan Avenue— just far enough away from the Chicago’s best known street to feel like a peaceful oasis in the heart of the Windy City.
Vibe
This five-star hotel is sleek, sexy, and sophisticated. Service is a priority, and it shows.
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Rooms
At an average of 400 square feet, the rooms here are spacious and larger than many studio apartments in Chicago or New York. My corner suite had a separate living area and bedroom, and the kind of bathroom I dream about having at home—spacious with a separate soaking tub and shower, lots of counterspace, and gorgeous marble everywhere.
I love the plush bedding, gray, navy, and gold color scheme, and the glamorous light fixtures, but I do hope they’ll upgrade their hair dryers to match the vibe.
Location
The LaSalle Hotel is located in an area of Chicago known as the Loop. This is the city’s main business district and where you’ll find Willis Tower (formerly and forever known to Chicagoans as Sears Tower). It’s a few blocks from the Blue Line train to Chicago O’Hare and next door to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. It’s also across from the Rookery, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s best-known commercial real estate projects. Wright designed the majestic staircase that’s become an icon of this historic building.
As a vegetarian, the hotel restaurant, Grill on 21st—a top-notch steakhouse, isn’t designed for me. But I did enjoy my salad, pasta, and sparkling rosé, and the greek yogurt bowl of goodness I had for breakfast.
The Chicago Board of Trade is about a block away, and the Ceres Cafe in the building’s lobby is a great option for lunch or happy hour. You’ll also find Chicago’s iconic Italian beef sandwiches and deep dish pizza within a few blocks as well as Alexander Calder’s famous sculpture Flamingo, which you may recognize from the 1986 movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
The streets around the hotel are especially popular with photographers and content creators on sunny weekend mornings.
*You can support this site by booking through our partner links. I earn commissions when you purchase, but my editorial reviews are independent.
Food & Drink
The hotel bar may be the most underrated in the city. The bartenders know their cocktails, have opinions on their wine list, and seem like they’ve been working in fine dining for years. The people-watching is some of the best I’ve found at a hotel bar, and the live music is so good it feels like it should be a ticketed event.
Amenities
There’s a bellman and valet on the ground floor. The front desk and concierge are on the 21st floor, where there’s also a gym, bar, restaurant, and a lounge with a fireplace. The gym is stocked with Technogym equipment. There’s live music in the lobby on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s no spa, but there is one around the corner at the JW Marriott that is available to guests of the Lasalle Hotel.
The hotel is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection of hotels, and stays earn Marriott Bonvoy points.
The Bottom Line
The LaSalle Hotel is an elegant hotel as perfect for a glamorous girls’ getaway as it is for a summer festival weekend or business trip. The rooms are spacious and clean. There’s ample closet space, and the vibe is upscale and elegant. The hotel is near the start of Route 66 and the Art Institute of Chicago, but far enough off of Michigan Avenue to feel like a serene, peaceful urban oasis—even on the busiest summer weekends.
*You can support this site by booking through our partner links. I earn commissions when you purchase, but my editorial reviews are independent.
Meena Thiruvengadam is a co-author of Lonely Planet Chicago.
