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 is the Waldorf Astoria the Gold Coast's most romantic hotel?
Waldorf Astoria Chicago earns its place because it pairs the largest, most romantic rooms in the city with Chicago's most prestigious residential quarter. The hotel occupies a limestone tower at the corner of Walton and Rush Streets in the Gold Coast, and while it reads like a 1920s Parisian grand hotel, all colonnades, spires and a cobbled motor court, it was in fact built new and opened in 2009 as The Elysian, designed by the Chicago architect Lucien Lagrange, then rebranded Waldorf Astoria in 2012. That period dress on a modern frame is the whole trick: you get the romance of an old European hotel with the plumbing, soundproofing and layouts of a contemporary one.
For a couple, the draw is space and quiet. With 214 rooms and suites across the tower, even entry categories are unusually large by US city standards, and many come with a fireplace, a terrace and a marble bathroom with a separate soaking tub. The Gold Coast setting, residential, tree-lined and a few minutes from the Oak Street luxury shops, means you are staying somewhere Chicagoans genuinely covet rather than in the tourist churn of the Magnificent Mile. It is the anniversary and honeymoon hotel for people who want something beautiful rather than merely big.
Which room should you book?
The entry Superior and Deluxe rooms are already among the roomiest in the city, so you do not need a suite to feel you have space. What is worth chasing is a higher floor and a corner exposure, where the Gold Coast rooftops and slivers of the lake open up, and, if it matters to you, a room with a working fireplace, a genuinely rare feature in a modern American hotel. Ask the concierge which side is quietest on your dates, and request the fireplace and terrace explicitly rather than assuming the category includes them, because not every room carries both.
Couples celebrating a milestone should look at the suites, which add sitting rooms, larger terraces and the full marble-bathroom treatment. The hotel's honeymoon and anniversary packages layer on flowers, champagne and spa credits with the private, discreet check-in the Waldorf brand does well. Wherever you land, the rooms trade a lake or river panorama for calm and generosity of space, which is the deal the Gold Coast offers and the reason to choose this address over a busier one on Michigan Avenue.
Ask for a higher-floor room with a fireplace and terrace, and time an early-evening drink at Bernard's, the equestrian-themed second-floor lounge, before dinner. Book the two-floor spa and heated lap pool for the afternoon you arrive, when both are quietest, and reserve Brass Tack ahead on weekends for the rose brunch.
What are the restaurants and bars like?
The main dining room is Brass Tack, an American brasserie on the third floor serving breakfast through dinner and a weekend rose brunch, with a menu that leans into comfort classics. Bernard's, on the second floor, is an intimate cocktail lounge with warm equestrian-inspired design, and the Peacock Lounge just off the lobby handles receptions and a quiet afternoon drink. It is a solid, grown-up food-and-drink line-up rather than a destination restaurant scene, so keen diners will also want to book tables elsewhere in the Gold Coast and River North, where the city's marquee kitchens sit a short walk or taxi away.
Does it have a spa and pool?
Yes, and it is one of the hotel's quiet strengths. The Waldorf Astoria Spa spreads across two floors with a heated indoor lap pool, a relaxation suite and a treatment menu built around European skincare, and the fitness centre is fully equipped. The couples treatment is among the most intimate in the city, and because the property is small and residential, the spa rarely feels crowded. For a slow celebration weekend built around treatments, a swim and a fireplace back in the room, the wellness floor does real work rather than serving as a token facility.
Signature amenities
In the heart of the Gold Coast
Gold Coast · corner of Walton and Rush Streets, a few minutes from Oak Street
What's nearby
- Oak Street luxury shops
Chanel, Hermes, Prada3 min walk - Magnificent Mile
Michigan Ave shopping4 min walk - Water Tower Place
Shops & landmark6 min walk - Newberry Library
Washington Square6 min walk - Oak Street Beach
Lakefront8 min walk
The tower, the fireplace rooms, the spa pool
Tower
Fireplace room
Lobby
Spa poolHow does the Waldorf Astoria compare with Chicago's other five-star hotels?
Against the city's other top hotels, the Waldorf competes on room size, romance and neighbourhood rather than views or a headline restaurant. The Langham Chicago is the riverfront design leader, whose upper-floor river-bend glass gives the finest interior views in the city. Four Seasons Chicago is the reliable Magnificent Mile all-rounder with a vaulted pool and lake views. The Peninsula Chicago answers with Forbes Five-Star service and a two-floor spa. The Waldorf's own trade-off is that the outlook is of handsome Gold Coast streets rather than the lake or river, and dining is good rather than a destination.
| Hotel | Style | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Astoria Chicago | Romantic Gold Coast tower | Largest, most romantic rooms; quiet | Gold Coast rather than lake or river views |
| The Langham Chicago | Riverfront design tower | The finest interior river-bend views | Business rather than residential feel |
| Four Seasons Hotel Chicago | Classic Mag Mile five-star | Lake views, vaulted pool, service | Shopping-complex arrival |
| The Peninsula Chicago | Polished Mag Mile service | Spa, skyline pool, rooftop bar | Busy Michigan Avenue; steep rates |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Waldorf Astoria Chicago in a historic building?
Not quite. The tower looks like a 1920s Parisian grand hotel, with colonnades, spires and a motor court, but it was actually built new and opened in 2009 as The Elysian, designed by Chicago architect Lucien Lagrange, and rebranded Waldorf Astoria in 2012. It is a modern building in period dress, which is part of its appeal.
How big are the rooms at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago?
They are among the largest hotel rooms in Chicago. The hotel has 214 rooms and suites across its floors, so entry categories are generously sized and many rooms feature a fireplace, a terrace and a marble bathroom, which is unusual for a US city hotel.
What are the restaurants at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago?
The main dining room is Brass Tack, an American brasserie on the third floor serving breakfast through dinner and a weekend rose brunch. Bernard's is an intimate second-floor cocktail lounge with equestrian-inspired design. Confirm current hours and any private-dining options when you book.
Where is the Waldorf Astoria Chicago and what is nearby?
It sits at 11 East Walton Street in the Gold Coast, Chicago's most prestigious residential neighbourhood. The Oak Street luxury retail row, with Chanel, Hermes, Prada and Saint Laurent, is a few minutes' walk, and the Magnificent Mile and the lakefront are both close by.
What are the drawbacks of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago?
It is a residential-quiet address rather than a lakefront or Magnificent Mile one, so the views are of the Gold Coast rather than the lake or river. Dining is good but no longer a marquee destination, and the low room count keeps rates high. For most guests the space and location are worth it.
Other luxury stays in Chicago
#1 · River NorthThe Langham Chicago
#2 · Mag MileFour Seasons Hotel Chicago
#4 · Mag Mile