The Peninsula Chicago Review: Is It Worth It? Prices, Rooms and Tips

The short version: one of Chicago’s best hotels, in my view, with 2 Michelin Keys. Grand, classic and excellently run, in a great location, with an excellent spa. It’s at its best at Christmas, and I keep coming back.

I’ve stayed at The Peninsula Chicago several times, most recently in 2019, and when I lived in Chicago I went often as a local, for meals and the spa. None of it was sponsored.

Pros

• Grand and classic, and magical at Christmas
• Excellent, highly trained service
• A central location on the Magnificent Mile
• An excellent spa and a beautiful pool
• 2 Michelin Keys (only the Bürgenstock Resort, with three, ranks higher among the hotels I’ve reviewed)

Cons

• Only two main restaurants, and Shanghai Terrace is often fully booked
• No breakfast buffet
• Expensive outside of the offer periods

Getting there

You usually arrive one of two ways. One is Lake Shore Drive, with the Chicago skyline ahead of you, Lincoln Park on the right and Lake Michigan on the left. The other is up Michigan Avenue from the south, a beautiful corridor of skyscrapers, malls and high-end retail, crossing the Chicago River on the way. Either way, it sets the stage.

The Peninsula is about 45 minutes to an hour from O’Hare, and 30 to 45 minutes from Midway.

Walking in, especially at Christmas, it feels like a special place. Everything is lit up, and it has a grand feel, almost like a high-end New York hotel.

There’s a small lobby at street level, and then you take the elevator up a level to the real one. Up there, a long hallway, lit with Christmas lights during the holidays, leads to the check-in counter on the left. I like that it’s tucked so far from the road. It gives the hotel a more private, exclusive feel, and in a Chicago winter it means you never really feel the cold.

The room: 8 out of 10

The room is clearly very well made, with that classic Peninsula look you’d recognize from The Peninsula Hong Kong. It feels luxurious and very comfortable, and the bed is comfy.

In my room, a walk-in closet area was to the left as you came in, with the bathroom past it. Straight ahead was the bedroom, overlooking the Magnificent Mile.

Around the holidays, there’s nothing better than coming back to that room at the end of the day. The bed feels almost sumptuous, and you look out over the Mag Mile and its Christmas lights. It’s a great end to the day.

Still, in my opinion, the room isn’t the strongest part of the hotel. That’s the setting, the service and the spa.

The food: 7 out of 10

The food is good, but there are really only two main restaurants: The Lobby and Shanghai Terrace. Compared with other luxury hotels I’ve stayed at, the food is somewhere in the middle: good, but not the best. There’s also Z Bar, the rooftop bar and lounge, and Pierrot Gourmet, a European café, but those aren’t full restaurants. In the warmer months, you can also eat outside on the terrace.

So the choice inside the hotel is limited, and because the restaurants are good, plenty of Chicagoans go too, which means they can be packed.

The Lobby

The Lobby is to the right of the check-in hallway: a grand room with high ceilings and tall windows overlooking the city. Above it is a little balcony where they sometimes play live music during breakfast and brunch.

The food is great, and breakfast is usually quite good. One thing to note: there’s no buffet. The Lobby serves dinner too, and Shanghai Terrace sometimes spills over into it.

When I lived in Chicago, I went all the time, sometimes even by myself, just for the setting and the atmosphere.

Shanghai Terrace

I really like Shanghai Terrace. It’s a little pricey, and some of my Chinese friends say it’s not super good, but I like it. It’s a great restaurant for a romantic date night, or even for local businesspeople hosting visitors. The catch is that it’s often fully booked, so always make a reservation.

They also hold special events. In 2026, for example, there was a Mid-Autumn Festival at Shanghai Terrace from September 17 to 27, and Oktoberfest at Pierrot Gourmet from September 23 to October 4.

The setting: 9 out of 10

The setting is what makes The Peninsula. The grandness, and the holiday feel in winter, make it a classic, high-end American experience. If you’re visiting from abroad and want that, I strongly recommend it. You’ll feel like you’re in an American Christmas movie.

The hotel is impeccably decorated. The sitting area by the window near the elevators on the guest floors is a good example of its attention to detail. The hallways sometimes showcase unique, boutique designers, which shows how refined the hotel is. And at Christmas, they decorate everything, even the pool.

There’s even the Sky Rink, a skating rink on the fourth-floor terrace overlooking the Magnificent Mile. When I last visited, in 2023, it was open from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8.

The location is excellent too. It’s very central, on what I think is the best part of Michigan Avenue and of downtown. It’s in the Gold Coast, close to high-end stores and malls like Saks Fifth Avenue, and it’s fairly safe, with police usually around.

That vintage car out front is the Peninsula car. Peninsulas around the world have them, the most famous being the green Rolls-Royces at The Peninsula Hong Kong.

Lake Michigan is close by. You can walk down Michigan Avenue to the Chicago Riverfront, where I recommend the river tour, and the Willis Tower (the old Sears Tower) is a short ride away. The Gold Coast around it has excellent high-end designer shops, and there are many great restaurants nearby, too. I love Le Colonial, a Vietnamese restaurant with excellent food.

The area isn’t really too busy for being on Michigan Avenue. The one thing I’d add is that many of my favorite Chicago restaurants are in the West Loop, not the Gold Coast.

The pool and gym

The pool is a 25-meter lap pool, and it’s beautiful, especially at night. It’s a very relaxing spot, and it’s never very crowded. There’s also a jacuzzi, though if you’re not a hotel guest, you can only use it if you book two hours or more at the spa.

The gym is fairly standard for a luxury hotel: a good selection of machines, very clean and well kept. My last stay was in 2019, so they may have upgraded the machines since.

The spa

The massages are excellent, and probably one of the highlights of staying here. I’d get the Peninsula Signature Massage.

When I lived in Chicago, I went many times as a local, and I became good friends with one of the therapists. We’ve been friends for years now. She’s incredibly skilled (she even does massages at the White House) and very kind, and she’s still at The Peninsula Chicago. I won’t give her name, for privacy.

Service: 8.5 out of 10

Service is excellent. Many of the staff rotate in from Peninsula hotels in other countries as part of a Peninsula program, so you get almost global service. One of my servers had come from The Peninsula Hong Kong. You can tell it’s highly skilled, highly trained service. Honestly, I never really had anything to complain about. The only minor thing is that the restaurants are sometimes booked. (See also my reviews of The Peninsula Bangkok and The Peninsula Manila.)

What it cost

All prices here are for one person: the room, plus one person’s share of the food and a massage.

On one of my stays, from August 13 to 15, 2019, two nights came to US$1,355.49 for the room, including tax, plus $610* for food and one massage. That’s roughly US$1,965 in total, or $985 a night all in, for one person.

These are 2019 room prices. A quick check for a mid-October 2026 night showed standard rooms at roughly $570 to $800 a night before taxes. Prices vary a lot by season, so watch for offers, like up to 25% off for stays from December to March when you book directly.

*I’m estimating food and one massage at today’s prices. $125 a day for breakfast at The Lobby and dinner at Shanghai Terrace, with tax and tip, and $300 for a 60-minute Peninsula Signature Massage, plus a 20% tip.

Value: 7.5 out of 10

I actually think it’s a pretty good value. It is expensive, but there are times when the rooms can be very affordable, and if you can find one of those, definitely go. For example, they sometimes offer up to 25% off for stays between December and March if you book directly on their website. For a special occasion, especially in winter, it’s worth it.

Vs. other Chicago hotels

• The Ritz-Carlton Chicago: a similar price, maybe a little cheaper, but not as good. It’s older, and it feels a little more dated and ornate.
• The Waldorf Astoria Chicago: nearby and also a great option. It’s in a quieter area, though, so the location isn’t as good if you’re visiting as a tourist, and it doesn’t have the same holiday magic.
• The St. Regis Chicago: brand new and more modern. Pick it if you want even quieter.
• The JW Marriott Chicago: the one I’d pick for business. It’s in a quieter area and feels a little more serious. You don’t necessarily need a hotel as fancy as The Peninsula for a work trip.

Don’t get me wrong: The Peninsula is quiet inside, and it’s quite soundproof. With the lobby up a level and the check-in tucked away, it feels removed from the city.

Who it’s for

• Families: it’s close to a lot of tourist spots, so you really see the heart of Chicago, and the holidays are a nice time for kids.
• Couples: it can feel a bit romantic, because it’s such a special-looking place, and there are lots of special events, like the Sky Rink, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Oktoberfest.
• Solo travelers: there’s a lot to do nearby.
• Visitors from abroad: I strongly recommend it for the classic American experience. Honestly, it’s a great experience for Americans too.
• Even locals: the spa is one of the best I’ve ever visited, with the most skilled therapist I’ve ever had. The food is pretty good, and the scene is great.

The one group I’d send elsewhere is business travelers. See the JW Marriott above.

Tips if you go

• Come at Christmas if you can. The hotel is at its best.
• Book directly on The Peninsula’s website and watch for offers, like up to 25% off for stays from December to March.
• Always reserve at Shanghai Terrace. It’s often fully booked.
• Don’t expect a breakfast buffet at The Lobby. It’s à la carte.
• Book the Peninsula Signature Massage.
• Try the Sky Rink on the fourth-floor terrace. Check the hours first.
• Look out for special events, like the Mid-Autumn Festival at Shanghai Terrace or Oktoberfest at Pierrot Gourmet.
• If you rent a car, drive Lake Shore Drive along Lake Michigan.
• Walk to the Chicago Riverfront and do the river tour.
• Try Le Colonial nearby for Vietnamese food.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Yes, I’d go back, especially in winter around the holidays. The Peninsula is grand, classic and excellently run, in a great location, with an excellent spa. It’s expensive, but if you catch one of the more affordable times, it’s worth it, and if you’re visiting from abroad, I strongly recommend it.

FAQ

Is The Peninsula Chicago worth it?

I think so. It is expensive, but there are times when the rooms can be very affordable, like up to 25% off for stays from December to March when you book directly. For a special occasion, especially in winter, it’s worth it.

How far is The Peninsula Chicago from the airport?

About 45 minutes to an hour from O’Hare, and 30 to 45 minutes from Midway.

Does The Peninsula Chicago have a breakfast buffet?

No. Breakfast at The Lobby is à la carte, but it’s usually quite good.

Is The Peninsula Chicago good at Christmas?

Yes. That’s when it’s at its best: the whole hotel is lit up, and it feels like an American Christmas movie.

Is the location good?

Yes. It’s on the best part of Michigan Avenue, in the Gold Coast, close to shopping, the lake and the river, and the area isn’t really too busy.

Would you stay again?

Yes, especially around the holidays.