Where to Stay in Chicago: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the United States, especially during summer when the weather and vibe of the city can’t be beaten. The city just comes alive when the weather is nice as people, shaking off the bitterly cold winters, release all their pent-up energy!

Chicago is famous for many things: its historic architecture, the top-notch dining scene, Millennium Park, art museums, and, of course, the Cubs. You’ll be able to fill as much time as you have here with a variety of activities.

But, while the city has tons of things to see and do (and plenty of cool hostels), one of the biggest questions you’ll have as you plan your trip is what area to stay in?

To help you answer that question, here is my breakdown of the best neighborhoods in the city:

 
 

Where to Stay in Chicago for First-Time Visitors: The Loop

The Loop is the center of Chicago. It’s home to many of the city’s best attractions, including Millennium Park and the Chicago Institute of Art. The high-rise buildings give the area a very urban feel, and you can walk everywhere in the Loop too. You’ll find tons of hotels here. If you want to be in the center of the city and close to everything, stay here.

Best Places to Stay in the Loop:

BUDGET: HI Chicago Hostel — Located in the southern part of the Loop, this hostel has both male and female dorms as well as private rooms. The dorms are clean and spacious and have lockers for your things. The beds are comfy too. I think it’s the best hostel in the city.

MIDRANGE: Staypineapple — This fun, quirky, and friendly hotel has rooms with extra-fluffy duvets, oversized pillows, soft robes, and huge towels — everything you want in a hotel for a cozy stay. Rooms also have coffee, tea, flatscreen TVs, and unlimited bottled water. Admittedly, the rooms are a bit small but that’s the trade-off for such a great location. There’s also a fitness center and bike rentals available, and you even get a welcome drink upon arrival (there’s a bar/restaurant on-site). The hotel is pet-friendly too.

LUXURY: The Midland Hotel — Formerly a W Hotel and housed in a charming Beaux Arts building, the Midland is a sleek four-star property. The spacious rooms are simple but stylish and boast a lot of natural light. Rooms include king or queen-sized beds, USB ports, huge TVs, plush robes, and complimentary bottled water. The bathrooms are also spacious and well-lit and the showers have excellent water pressure. There’s a bar and restaurant on-site too.
 

Where to Stay for Art and Architecture Lovers: River North

River North has the highest concentration of galleries in the city. Don’t miss the House of Blues if you’re a design and architecture fan. The interior was modeled after the Estates Theater in Prague, where Mozart conducted the premiere showing of his opera “Don Giovanni.” Other noteworthy stops include the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the Chicago Children’s Museum, and the Addington Gallery. It’s an awesome area to stay in if you like art and museums and want a more relaxed place to stay.

Best Places to Stay in River North:

BUDGET: Found Hotel — There are not a lot of budget-friendly accommodation options in North River but The Found Hotel is one of the most affordable. Rooms have the usual amenities (such as free Wi-Fi and a flatscreen TV) and there is also a desk and a wardrobe. Ask for a room with a city view.

MIDRANGE: 21c Museum Hotel — If you’re in River North to look at art, 21c is the ideal hotel. This hip property is crammed with art and the rooms are stylish, sleek, comfortable, and filled with lots of natural light. The bathrooms are big too, with upscale bath products and plush robes. The in-house eatery, Lure Fishbar, has one of the best burgers around.

LUXURY: Westin Chicago River North — Upscale and cozy at the same time, the Westin is a four-star hotel set right along the Chicago River. The rooms are bright and spacious, and some even have river and/or skyline views. All rooms feature a tea/coffee maker, desk, and a flatscreen TV and there are even rooms that have Peloton machines (though there’s also a fitness center on-site). I’ve stayed at a lot of Westins and this is one of the nicer ones!
 

Where to Stay in Chicago for Families: Lincoln Park

Boasting a plethora of parks, this northern family-friendly neighborhood is one of the city’s more affluent areas. It’s home to the Chicago History Museum and the Lincoln Park Zoo, North Avenue Beach, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The lush and landscaped Lincoln Park itself is also worth exploring, perfect for strolls and picnics alike.

Best Places to Stay in Lincoln Park:

BUDGET: Getaway Hostel — This modern, friendly hostel offers four- and twelve-bed dorm rooms, as well as a range of private two- and four-person private rooms, some with en suite bathrooms and some with shared bathrooms. It’s clean, comfortable, and social though the dorms are a bit basic (no curtains on the bed and the soundproofing isn’t great). But the bathrooms are clean and the showers have good water pressure so that’s a big plus for me!

MIDRANGE: Hotel Versey — Located in Lakeview, just across the border from Lincoln Park, this three-star hotel has a fun and funky décor, with murals and art in the hallways, lobby, and rooms. It also has free Wi-Fi, large flatscreen TVs, phone docking stations, and friendly staff. Guests also get free access to the gym next door (which I think is a great perk!).

LUXURY: Hotel Lincoln — Set a few steps from the lakefront and the shoreline park, this boutique hotel boasts rooms with ultra-comfy beds, homey furnishings, and walls that feature the work of local artists. There’s also a really great rooftop bar where you can relax and take in the view after a day of exploring.
 

Where to Stay to Feel Like a Local: Lakeview

Lakeview is a large, sprawling district that is north of downtown, quite far from the center of Chicago. On the plus side, you’re in an extremely local neighborhood, one bursting with great restaurants, chill bars, and vintage shops. The sub-neighborhood Wrigleyville is also located here. This is where Wrigley Field is, home to the Chicago Cubs, and one of the best baseball stadiums on the planet in terms of ambiance.

Best Places to Stay in Lakeview:

BUDGET: Wrigley Hostel — Located a few steps away from Wrigley Park, this hostel is a great place for those planning to go to a baseball game. The property offers everything from 10-bed dorm rooms to private two-person rooms and everything in between. There is a convivial barbecue deck and breakfast is always complimentary. They also host other free activities too, such as free walking tours and outings to local jazz clubs.

MIDRANGE: City Suites — The 45 colorful and cheery rooms at this three-star property are bedecked with tasteful Art Deco stylings. There is also a desk, in case you’re working, a ceiling fan, and a fully stocked minibar. There’s free tea and coffee in the lobby and guests also get access to the nearby gym. It’s just a 15-minute walk to Wrigley Field too.

LUXURY: Majestic Hotel — Hugging up against the lakeshore and park, this unique boutique property was built in the 1920s. The sizable rooms have all the usual perks and amenities plus a fully stocked minibar. Complimentary tea and coffee are available all day and there’s even a relaxing wood-burning fireplace in the lobby where you can chill out and socialize.
 

Where to Stay for History Buffs: Hyde Park

Home to the University of Chicago, leafy Hyde Park hugs up against the lake south of downtown. This pricey neighborhood is rich in history. Here you can gawk at a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house (Wright designed the Guggenheim in NYC), spend some time outdoors at the Midway Plaisance which was designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead (who gave us Central Park in New York), and see the homes of Louis Armstrong, Mohammed Ali, and Ida B. Wells.

Best Places to Stay in Hyde Park:

BUDGET: Hyatt Place – Boasting an indoor pool, fitness center, and a cafe on-site, this three-star hotel includes a complimentary continental breakfast and each room is fitted with a pull-out sofa bed and large flatscreen TV. The rooms have a simple design but are spacious, and the bathrooms are good-sized too.

MIDRANGE: The Study Place – Located at the University of Chicago, this four-star property offers spacious modern rooms with AC, free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, desk, and super comfy beds. The rooms are bright and airy and everything is simple but stylish and comfortable. There’s both a restaurant and a bar on-site, as well as a fitness center in case you want to work out.

LUXURY: Sophy Hyde Park — This four-star hotel offers large, modern, and colorful rooms. A boutique hotel, all rooms have hardwood floors, love seats, ottomans, charging stations, blackout drapes, and 55-inch flatscreen TVs. I especially love that the marble-tiled bathrooms all have large walk-in showers (with great pressure) and luxury bath products. There’s also a cozy library where you can relax with a book, a restaurant that serves both breakfast and dinner, and a cool cocktail lounge complete with an outdoor firepit.
 

Where to Stay for Foodies: Pilsen and Chinatown

Part of Chicago’s Lower West Side, Pilsen got its name from Czech immigrants who named it after the famous beer-brewing Bohemian town of Plzen. Today, this vibrant neighborhood is largely Hispanic. Sitting next to incredible Mexican restaurants are art galleries and funky boutiques. The adjacent Chinatown has an entirely different vibe, boasting amazing Asian eateries. Spend a few days in Pilsen and Chinatown and you’ll have a huge portion of the planet’s food cultures to indulge in.

Best Places to Stay in Pilsen and Chinatown:

BUDGET: Chinatown Hotel — Basic and affordable (but not generic), Chinatown Hotel is smack in the middle of Chinatown and offers clean and comfortable accommodation without breaking the bank.

MIDRANGE: Chicago South Loop Hotel — For a midrange property, you need to hop just outside Chinatown. It’s an upscale three-star hotel, however, with a fitness center and spa as well as free parking and spacious rooms with extra comfortable queen-sized beds.

LUXURY: Springhill Suites Chinatown — This all-suites Marriott hotel in Chinatown is the most comfortable option around. In-room coffee and tea plus a fitness center and a complimentary breakfast are nice perks at this property.

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Chicago is a spread-out city so spending some time to figure out where to base yourself is important. I personally love to stay near the Loop or River North. But, whatever you choose, thanks to great public transportation, you won’t be far from anywhere.