The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the most well-established and largest art museums in the entire world. Located right in the heart of the city, it draws in approximately 1.5 million people each year and has collections that span centuries.
If visiting this Chicago attraction is a top priority for you, then you might want to stay close to the museum for easy access, and so you don’t have to worry about driving and parking. Fortunately, there are quite a few hotels near the Art Institute of Chicago to help you plan an artistically inspired getaway to the Windy City.
The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel
A top Chicago hotel with some of the most beautiful city views, The Gwen is a lovely place to stay when you want to spend time at the Art Institute of Chicago. This hotel exudes vintage glamour vibes and 1930s-style elegance. At The Gwen, you can experience a champagne-infused tea party and relax on the year-round terrace. Join in the fun for happy hour at The Gwen, and bring your pet (weighing up to 40 pounds) along for your stay. In addition to the rooms and suites, there are also glamping experiences at The Gwen, where you can sleep under the stars in a luxurious tent with lavish furnishings.
Virgin Hotels Chicago
Trendy and full of energy, Virgin Hotels Chicago is near the Art Institute and one of the top hotels in the Theater District. The hotel has rooms and suites that are split by sliding privacy doors to create living and sleeping spaces. There are dog-friendly rooms that come with dog beds. This Virgin Hotel has a Euro-style coffee bar, a rooftop area for dining and drinking, a scratch-made Italian restaurant, and in-room dining. But one of the main reasons travelers stay here is for the live events. You’ll often find house music DJs playing so you can dance and party the night away during your stay.
Freehand Chicago
Freehand Chicago is a laid-back River North Hotel that makes a good home base for visiting the Art Institute. It is in a classic 1927 building and has an award-winning cocktail bar. The hotel also offers a café, fitness center, affordable parking, room service, and an all-day food and drink menu. You’ll love checking out the bar here to try cocktails with infusions, elixirs, and ingredients from all over the world. King, queen, penthouse, and quad rooms are available to book at the Freehand Chicago. Check out the events calendar on the hotel website to learn about upcoming happenings, such as DJs, bands, and burlesque shows.
Hotel Julian
With renowned architecture and modern amenities, the Hotel Julian puts you close to the Art Institute of Chicago. This hotel is in a great location and offers Wi-Fi, valet parking, a fitness center, and guest laundry. The About Last Knife Restaurant is a gastropub-style restaurant onsite. There are 218 guest rooms at the Hotel Julian, all with smart TVs and 300-count Frette linens.
LondonHouse Chicago
LondonHouse Chicago is a highly-rated hotel in Chicago that is near the Art Institute. It is near the Magnificent Mile and a luxurious place to stay downtown. This hotel has 452 rooms and is located in a historic building. It has a mix of traditional and modern decor, with all the comforts you would expect from luxury accommodations, and is home to one of the best spas in a resort in the state. LondonHouse Chicago has the city’s only tri-level rooftop and bridges lobby bar. During your stay, you can listen to live music at the hotel while enjoying creative American cuisine and craft cocktails. There are package deals that you can book here that include breakfast, spa credit, and bridal services.
Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
At Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, you will be close to the Art Institute and enjoy views of Lake Michigan. It has been an iconic hotel in the city since 1893 and has hosted famous people from all over the world. The hotel is ornately decorated with marble, chandeliers, and arches. It is also a modern hotel with refrigerators in the rooms, free Wi-Fi, room service, and TV channels. At the hotel, you will have a 24-hour fitness center and an onsite barbershop. Same-day dry-cleaning service and shoeshine services are available. Overnight self-parking is offered for $54. There is the signature restaurant Rafael’s for dining, while the hotel also has a casual breakfast spot and lounge with flat-screen TVs to watch sports.
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is a sophisticated urban resort that celebrates the grandeur of the 1920s. This hotel is near the Art Institute and has been a local legend since 1929. The hotel offers special romance packages if you are traveling with someone special and is one of the best Downtown Chicago hotels with an indoor pool in the form of a junior Olympic size swimming pool. Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse is onsite at the hotel to enjoy an epic meal, and in-room dining is also an option. The hotel rooms have flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, bottled water, premium bath amenities, and plush bathrobes. Don’t miss out on this pet-friendly hotel’s three-level fitness facility either.
Sentral Michigan Avenue
Sentral Michigan Avenue is near the Art Institute and offers a more home-like vibe than a traditional hotel. It is in the heart of Chicago and gives you a fully equipped kitchen, an indoor infinity pool, and an outdoor hydrotherapy spa. It’s an ideal space for extended stays in the city and has an onsite gym and a four-story indoor garden with Lake Michigan views. You’ll love feeling like you have your very own apartment in the city and having access to fun perks like the yoga studio, fire pit, game room, and complimentary coffee station.
theWit Chicago
You’ll also enjoy staying at theWit Chicago when you want to visit the Art Institute. This vibrant Chicago hotel near the Navy Pier is modern and stylish, with high-tech features and spectacular views. There is a restaurant onsite serving pizzas, hand-rolled sushi, a premier rooftop lounge, and a casual tavern. This Hilton-brand boutique hotel offers in-room dining, bed and breakfast packages, full kitchenettes in the suites, and a warm chocolate chip cookie upon arrival. In total, there are 310 rooms with 36 suites at theWit.
Staypineapple Chicago
Another hotel that will put you near the Art Institute is Staypineapple Chicago, a pet-friendly Chicago hotel in the Loop. It is an award-winning hotel in a National Historic Landmark building that offers a fitness center, beach cruiser bikes, and daily afternoon delights that include pineapple treats and coffee. You’ll enjoy a welcome drink of house wine, beer, or a non-alcoholic beverage when you arrive and have access to unlimited bottled water during your stay. The rooms are equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, TVs, and mini-fridges. Atwood is the restaurant onsite that serves seasonal American fare and handcrafted cocktails.
Silversmith Hotel
The Silversmith Hotel is a boutique hotel along Jewelers’ Row in Chicago. The Art Institute is just 0.2 miles from this hotel, which is less than a five-minute walk away. It is a luxurious Chicago hotel with a lounge and restaurant to complement the spacious guest rooms. In the Chicago Loop and near the Art Institute, the Silversmith Hotel has 144 guest rooms with 12-foot ceilings. The rooms have Wi-Fi, plush bedding, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, safes, and large walk-in showers. Parking is available for $55 per night at a nearby parking garage. The onsite restaurant and lounge, Adamus, serves contemporary American cuisine with a seasonal menu, happy hour, and room service.
Level River North
Consider booking accommodations at Level River North for a mix between a boutique hotel and a luxury apartment. This hotel is close to the Art Institute and takes reservations for just a night or extended stays. The sophisticated venue will allow you to experience Chicago in a personal and unique way when you stay in a studio or one- or two-bedroom suite with a kitchen. Suites also have spacious living areas and in-suite laundry, plus private outdoor balconies. When you stay here, you’ll have access to the rooftop pool with cabanas, a fitness center, a dog run, a co-working space, and a bocce court.
The Ivy Hotel
Also near the Art Institute is The Ivy Hotel, a sleek and trendy boutique Chicago hotel to stay for modern luxury. This hotel is in a residential atmosphere and is a wonderful choice for long-term stays. There are layouts larger than 675 square feet, and many amenities are offered. The Divine Restaurant has an intimate dining setting, while the Sky Terrace serves cocktails and light bites. In total, the Ivy Hotel has 63 guest rooms and suites. There is free Wi-Fi here, self-parking for $49 per night, and in-room dining service.
Pendry Chicago
Located in a historic 1929 Art Deco building, the Pendry Chicago is a luxury hotel near the Art Institute. It is an inspiring hotel with 364 redesigned guest rooms, suites, and signature cocktail and culinary concepts. There is a Parisian-style restaurant serving French cuisine here and an elegant bar for classic cocktails and small bites. The hotel also has a rooftop space with seating and a pop-up bar that is open between May and October. To stay in shape, head to the 24-hour fitness center for a workout.
Palmer House
For your art-inspired trip to Chicago, consider booking a room at the historic and timeless Palmer House. This Hilton hotel in Chicago has been welcoming guests for over 150 years and is just two blocks from the Art Institute. It has a famous lobby bar, fitness center, renovated pool, and spa. The hotel has 1,641 rooms and is home to the Lockwood Restaurant and Bar for food and drinks. The spa is on the fifth floor and offers various treatments and salon services. The Palmer House is also a popular venue for events.
