Editorial score of 8.8 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 Virgin Hotels Chicago?
Book Virgin Hotels Chicago when you want a central Loop base with real character at a mid-range rate. The hotel is the first-ever Virgin Hotels flagship, opened in January 2015 inside the Old Dearborn Bank Building, a 27-story terra-cotta tower completed in 1928, designed by Rapp and Rapp and designated a Chicago Landmark in 2003. The building was gutted and restored rather than replaced, so the exterior keeps its ornate movie-palace detailing while the interiors, by the Rockwell Group, run playful and contemporary. That pairing of a landmark shell with a modern fit-out is the single reason to pick it over a generic downtown hotel at the same price.
The pull is location and value rather than five-star polish. You are in the middle of the Loop, a few minutes from the Riverwalk, Millennium Park and the Art Institute, with the L trains and State Street shopping around the corner. Virgin's brand quirks help the case: no minibar mark-ups, no resort-style fees, and a house drink for guests each evening at the Commons Club. The honest trade-offs are that the rooms are compact by luxury standards and that lower city-facing rooms pick up elevated-train noise, so a higher floor is worth requesting. For a couples weekend, a business trip or a bachelor or bachelorette group that wants a lively, well-located base, it earns its place.
What are the best rooms to request?
Request a high floor and ask for the Wabash side to be aware of the train, because the rooms here are more about clever layout than square footage. Every one of the 250 rooms is a Chamber, Virgin's two-chamber concept: a dressing area holding the closet, vanity and a place to drop bags is separated from the sleeping area by a set of sliding doors. It is a genuinely useful idea rather than a gimmick, letting one person get ready while the other rests, and giving a mid-size room a sense of structure. Beds are comfortable, the design is warm and red-accented, and the streaming-ready televisions and free fast WiFi are handled without the usual add-on charges.
One honest caveat: this is a converted 1928 office tower, so floor plates and window placements vary and the rooms are not large. City-facing rooms on lower floors sit close enough to the elevated tracks that train noise carries during the day, and the smallest categories can feel snug for two travellers with luggage. The fix is simple: book a higher floor, which trades the noise for a better outlook and a quieter night. Treat the Chamber as a smart, well-located base rather than a spacious suite, and the value stacks up.
Take the free house drink at the Commons Club between 7 and 8 in the evening, then head out into the Loop for dinner. Ask the front desk about the current rooftop hours when you check in, since the 26th-floor bar's schedule has shifted over the years and it is worth confirming before you plan a night around it.
What is the dining and bar scene like?
The reliable heart of the hotel is the Commons Club on the second floor, Virgin's all-day bar, lounge and restaurant. It works better than most hotel bars because it was designed to draw a local crowd as well as guests, with a kitchen running through the day, a proper cocktail list and a social atmosphere in the evenings; hotel guests also get a complimentary house drink here each night, a small touch that sets the tone. Above it, on the 26th floor, there is a rooftop bar with wraparound city views. Be aware that the rooftop's operating schedule has changed over time, so if a night on the roof is central to your plan, confirm it is open for your dates rather than assuming it. Beyond the building, being in the Loop means the Riverwalk bars, the Theatre District and State Street are all within a short walk.
Does it have a spa and pool?
There is no swimming pool, which is worth knowing before you book. Wellness runs to a fitness centre for guests rather than a full spa-and-pool floor, in keeping with the hotel's mid-range, city-boutique positioning. If a pool or a spa day is central to your trip, one of the Magnificent Mile five-stars will serve you better; if you would rather trade those facilities for a landmark building, a central Loop address and a lower rate, Virgin makes the case. The brand's no-fee approach, covering WiFi and minibar pricing, keeps the final bill closer to the headline rate than at many competitors.
Signature amenities
In the middle of the Loop
The Wabash Avenue address puts you in the working heart of downtown, on the edge of the Theatre District and beside the elevated tracks that define the Loop. The Chicago Riverwalk is a few minutes north, Millennium Park and the Art Institute a short walk south, and State Street shopping and multiple L lines are around the corner, which makes the Red Line run to O'Hare quick when you leave. It is a genuinely walk-everywhere base for a first Chicago trip or a downtown business stay.
The Loop · edge of the Theatre District, by the Wabash L
What's nearby
- Theatre District
Loop theatres2 min walk - Chicago Riverwalk
Riverside bars3 min walk - Macy's on State Street
Landmark store5 min walk - Millennium Park
Cloud Gate6 min walk - Art Institute of Chicago
Michigan Avenue10 min walk
The tower, the Chambers, the Commons Club
Tower
Chamber room
Commons Club
Loop viewHow does Virgin Hotels Chicago compare with the city's other boutiques?
Against the field, Virgin Hotels Chicago is the central-Loop value pick with a landmark building and a lively lobby, and the choice comes down to what your days look like. Soho House Chicago is the West Loop members club, better for a rooftop pool and a Fulton Market scene. Kimpton Gray occupies a 1910 Beaux-Arts bank building a few blocks south in the Loop and leans historic and business-friendly. Hotel Lincoln trades downtown entirely for a quieter, park-facing Lincoln Park address. Virgin's own trade-off is compact rooms and some train noise on lower floors, offset by the location, the value and the no-fee approach.
| Hotel | Style | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Hotels Chicago | Loop landmark boutique | Central location, value, lobby bar | Compact rooms, some train noise |
| Soho House Chicago | Fulton Market members club | Rooftop pool, Cecconi's, scene | Members-only spaces; small rooms |
| Kimpton Gray Hotel | Historic Loop bank building | Character, business address | Less of a social scene |
| Hotel Lincoln | Lincoln Park boutique | Park views, quiet, families | Away from downtown core |
Frequently asked questions
What building is Virgin Hotels Chicago in?
Virgin Hotels Chicago occupies the Old Dearborn Bank Building, a 27-story terra-cotta tower completed in 1928 by Rapp and Rapp and designated a Chicago Landmark in 2003. It was gutted and restored into the first Virgin Hotels flagship, which opened in January 2015 at 203 North Wabash Avenue.
What is the cabin-within-a-room concept at Virgin Hotels Chicago?
Every one of the 250 rooms is a two-chamber Chamber suite: a dressing area with the closet and vanity is separated from the sleeping area by a set of sliding doors. The layout lets one person get ready while another rests, and adds usable structure to a mid-size room rather than extra square footage.
What are the bars and restaurants at Virgin Hotels Chicago?
The all-day hub is the Commons Club on the second floor, a bar, lounge and restaurant where hotel guests receive a complimentary house drink each evening. There is also a 26th-floor rooftop bar; its operating schedule has changed over time, so confirm it is open for your dates before you rely on it.
Where is Virgin Hotels Chicago located?
The hotel is at 203 North Wabash Avenue in the Loop, on the edge of the Theatre District. The Chicago Riverwalk is a few minutes north, Millennium Park and the Art Institute are a short walk south, and the L trains and State Street shopping are around the corner.
Is Virgin Hotels Chicago good value?
Yes. Rates typically start well below the Magnificent Mile five-stars while placing you in the middle of the Loop, and the brand skips minibar mark-ups and resort-style fees. The honest trade-offs are compact rooms and some elevated-train noise on lower city-facing floors.
Other luxury stays in Chicago
#6 · West LoopSoho House Chicago
#10 · LoopKimpton Gray Hotel
#9 · Lincoln Park