Editorial score of 9.2 of 10, the composite average of the three factors above (Rooms, Service, Location). Method at our methodology page. Affiliate disclosure: booking links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you, and never change our verdict.
Why book The Ritz-Carlton Chicago?
Book the Ritz-Carlton Chicago when you want a Magnificent Mile landmark with big-hotel service and, after its recent overhaul, genuinely current interiors. The hotel occupies floors 12 through 31 of Water Tower Place, and its defining trick is the 12th-floor sky lobby: a dedicated elevator lifts you from the Pearson Street entrance straight into a bright lobby with views of the historic Water Tower, Lake Michigan and the Gold Coast, so the sense of arrival is immediate rather than at street level.
What sets the current version apart is the roughly $100 million renovation led by the San Francisco firm BAMO, which refreshed all 434 rooms and the public spaces and brought in the Torali dining concept. It moved the hotel from a somewhat dated grande dame to a comfortably modern one while keeping the scale and service depth that a 434-room five-star can offer, which is why it earns strong Service and Location scores. It sits fifth on our Chicago list, a genuine full-service landmark rather than a boutique.
What are the rooms like, and which should you request?
The 434 rooms are among the more generously sized on the Magnificent Mile, and the BAMO renovation gave them a warm, contemporary finish with navy and neutral tones, a built-in bar and updated bathrooms. Lake-facing rooms on the upper floors deliver direct Lake Michigan views that are hard to match in the city, and they are the ones worth requesting for a special stay. The building runs from floor 12 up to 31, so the higher you go the better the outlook, and the difference between a city-facing and a lake-facing room is real rather than marginal.
Because this is a large operation rather than a boutique, the trade-off is a busier, more corporate feel at peak times in exchange for the range of services and the reliability of the Ritz-Carlton standard. For an anniversary or a milestone weekend, book a high lake-view category and let the concierge arrange the occasion touches, which the team handles smoothly. Check which view you are reserving carefully, because the lake outlook is the reason to stay and the lower, city-facing rooms miss it.
Request a high floor on the lake side for the direct Lake Michigan view, and book Torali in advance for the celebration dinner, especially on weekends. In the warmer months, ask whether the seasonal Rooftop at Torali is open for a pre-dinner drink with a view over the Mile.
What is Torali, and is it worth it?
Torali is the hotel's signature restaurant and the headline of the renovation, a modern Italian steakhouse on the 12th floor with a copper-clad Torali Bar alongside it, led by executive chef Guenther Moreno with a menu built on seasonal Midwest ingredients. It replaced the former Deca Restaurant during the refurbishment, so if you have read about Deca, Torali is what you will actually find on arrival. The setting is a real asset: frosted glass walls give the room an open, airy feel while framing the city outside, and in the warmer months the seasonal Rooftop at Torali opens for drinks with a view. For an anniversary or a client dinner, a Torali reservation is the highest-value booking on the property.
What are the other amenities?
The hotel keeps the depth you expect at this scale. There is a comprehensive fitness centre, spa treatment facilities and one of the more genuinely used indoor hotel pools in the city, so you can swim, train and be treated without leaving the building. It is a full-service hotel rather than a boutique, and the range of on-site services is part of what the rate buys, alongside the polished occasion service the Ritz-Carlton name is built on. The combination makes it a dependable base for a longer stay as much as a celebration weekend.
Signature amenities
Atop Water Tower Place on the Magnificent Mile
Gold Coast / Magnificent Mile · dedicated entrance and elevator to the 12th-floor lobby
What's nearby
- Water Tower Place
In the building1 min walk - Historic Water Tower
Chicago landmark2 min walk - Magnificent Mile
Michigan Ave shopping2 min walk - Museum of Contemporary Art
Streeterville4 min walk - Oak Street Beach
Lakefront9 min walk
The landmark, the rooms, Torali
Landmark
Lake-view room
Torali
Sky lobbyHow does The Ritz-Carlton compare in Chicago?
The Ritz-Carlton wins on scale, service depth and its renewed interiors, and gives ground to the city's view leaders and its most intimate landmarks. The Langham Chicago is the design-and-view leader, with the finest interior river-bend views in the city. Four Seasons Chicago is the reliable Magnificent Mile classic with a vaulted pool and lake outlook. The Waldorf Astoria Chicago is the more intimate, romantic Gold Coast landmark with larger rooms and a quieter feel. The Ritz-Carlton's own quirk is that it sits above Water Tower Place with a dedicated elevator rather than a grand street-level lobby.
| Hotel | Style | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ritz-Carlton Chicago | Renovated Mag Mile grande dame | Full-service stays, Torali, lake views | Sits above a retail centre; big-hotel scale |
| The Langham Chicago | Riverside tower, upper-floor views | The best interior views in the city | Busier River North address |
| Four Seasons Hotel Chicago | Classic Mag Mile five-star | Reliable service and lake outlook | Shopping-complex arrival |
| Waldorf Astoria Chicago | Romantic Gold Coast tower | Intimate, large, romantic rooms | Gold Coast rather than lake views |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ritz-Carlton Chicago still a Four Seasons hotel?
No. The hotel opened in 1975 and was operated by Four Seasons for decades, but that management relationship ended in 2020, and the property is now run by Ritz-Carlton under Marriott. It keeps the Ritz-Carlton name and address atop Water Tower Place, and it participates in Marriott Bonvoy.
What is the restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago?
The signature restaurant is Torali, a modern Italian steakhouse on the 12th floor with a copper-clad Torali Bar, led by executive chef Guenther Moreno with a Midwest-seasonal menu. In the warmer months the seasonal Rooftop at Torali opens as well. This replaced the former Deca Restaurant during the hotel's renovation.
Did the Ritz-Carlton Chicago renovate?
Yes. The hotel completed a roughly $100 million renovation led by the San Francisco design firm BAMO, which refreshed all 434 guest rooms and the public spaces and introduced Torali. The result is a comprehensively updated interior while keeping the 12th-floor sky-lobby layout the hotel is known for.
Where is the Ritz-Carlton Chicago located?
It occupies floors 12 through 31 of Water Tower Place on the Magnificent Mile, in the Gold Coast area, with a dedicated entrance and elevator from 160 East Pearson Street. The lobby is on the 12th floor, so the Water Tower, lake and city views begin the moment you arrive.
Is the Ritz-Carlton Chicago good for an anniversary?
Yes. Lake-view rooms on the upper floors, a private dinner at Torali and the hotel's polished occasion service make it a strong anniversary choice on the Magnificent Mile. Request a high floor on the lake side, and book Torali in advance for the celebration dinner.
Other luxury stays in Chicago
#1 · River NorthThe Langham Chicago
#2 · Mag MileFour Seasons Hotel Chicago
#3 · Gold Coast