Chicago 2018: Where to Stay

April 28, 2019

Paul Kay


During out September 2018 Chicago trip, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Upper Wacker Drive. Here’s my review.

And check out my history of Illinois and Chicago for some more fun facts and insight.

We hope this helps inform your next Chicago trip!

Entrance, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Illinois

Hyatt Regency Chicago is the largest hotel within the Hyatt group. It also is the largest hotel in Chicago with 2,032 rooms, including 123 suites. Hyatt upgraded our room to an Executive King in the west tower that offered a great view north along Michigan Avenue. We could see the Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building, the Chicago River and the rest of the Magnificent Mile.

Exterior, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Illinois

We arrived during the second week of a labor strike. The strike involved quite a few Chicago hotels, so this wasn’t a Hyatt specific problem. Madeline and I were impressed with the level of service from the staff working during the strike. We met quite a few of them, and they were working seven-day weeks to cover extra shifts and areas they were not accustomed to.

Escalator to reception, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Illinois

With large conference center capability, the Hyatt Regency attracts a lot of conference attendees. We like it because it has a great view of the city and is walking distance to the Loop and the Magnificent Mile. We took cabs when we want to go farther afield, like Greek Town or the North or South Side neighborhoods.

Guest room, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Illinois

Taxis compete with Uber and Lyft but have upgraded a lot over the years. There are apps to hail taxis, and you can pay for most with a credit card. We found we could easily find taxis all over the city and used them frequently instead of long walks or if we were tired at the end of the day.

River view from Hyatt Regency Chicago, Illinois

We walked all over the Loop and around every corner there was a new thing to see. The Hyatt Regency was our home base, so we planned our routes based on what we wanted to see. The new Chicago Riverwalk is just across the street from the hotel and we easily walked along the Chicago River. We saw people stopping for a beer, wine or Chicago-styled food and watching the water traffic go past.

We ate frequently at the hotel both at the American Craft Kitchen & Bar and Stetsons Modern Steak + Sushi. The food was consistently good. The staff at these restaurants were very pleasant and professional and the food quality was excellent.

This is a very nice hotel, and we will be back.


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