Where to stay · Chicago, United States
Where to stay in Chicago
6 areas worth booking in Chicago, sorted by the budget each one actually suits — what the neighborhood feels like, and what a night there costs.
Budget — best areas
≈ $50 / nightThe northwest neighbourhoods on the Blue Line: dive bars, cocktail dens, record shops and cheaper stays.
Brownstone streets by the park and the zoo, with Wrigley Field and its bars a few stops north on the Red Line.
Mid-range — best areas
≈ $150 / nightThe downtown inside the elevated tracks: Millennium Park, the Art Institute, theatres and the river. Busy by day, quieter at night, and every L line meets here.
North of the river, the densest cluster of hotels, steakhouses and nightlife, a short walk from the Magnificent Mile.
Old meatpacking warehouses turned into the city's best restaurant strip, with design hotels and rooftop bars.
Luxury — best areas
≈ $450 / nightThe lakeside blocks around the Magnificent Mile, with the grand hotels, mansions on Astor Street and Oak Street Beach.
Now pick the hotel
Once you've settled on an area, the Chicago guide carries our checked shortlist for each tier — what it costs, why it's on the list, and where to book it.