22-04-2025
This hotel is a true urban retreat with an award-winning spa, a gorgeous pool, and views of an iconic city
The Langham, Chicago, rose above the Chicago River, its windows glimmering in the sunlight. 'Wow,' mouthed my cousin. Before I could respond, a bellman welcomed us, offering to assist with our luggage. We were there for a mini-vacation, and judging by the lobby, we'd picked the right hotel.
The hotel occupies thirteen floors of a skyscraper featuring aluminum and bronze-tinted glass, designed by the famed architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. The lobby is situated on the second floor, and hand-blown glass pebbles dangle elegantly from above, evoking the appearance of colorful constellations. Elsewhere, a beaded frieze plunges from the soaring ceiling, forming a shimmering metallic wall. In all, there are over 140 artworks gracing The Langham, Chicago, transforming something as simple as checking in or walking the halls into a remarkable experience.
The first Langham Hotel opened in London in 1865, and since then, the brand has been synonymous with luxury. The Langham, Chicago, opened in 2013, introducing refined English traditions, such as afternoon tea, to a uniquely Chicago property.
At 1,230 square feet, our one-bedroom Lakeview Suite was the size of a small condo. A doorway off the entry led to a powder room, a thoughtful touch if you're entertaining guests or traveling with another party. In the living room, the corner location allowed floor-to-ceiling windows to showcase views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. At night, the city glitters like stars, and the automatic drapes close with the touch of a button.
Furnishings in the Lakeview Suite are low profile and inspired by a mid-century modern aesthetic. The decor is minimal yet elegant, allowing the views to take center stage. Hardwood floors gave the space a clean, fresh look.
The bedroom featured a king-sized bed and a spacious closet with ample storage space, including cupboards and shelves. A Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe-inspired lounger by the window provides a sophisticated place to read.
The marble bathroom was truly a work of art with a large soaking tub, a separate walk-in shower, and thoughtful touches like DIPYTQUE bath amenities, heated mirrors, and towel warmers.
Even if you don't book a suite, standard accommodations provide more than enough space to spread out, with deluxe rooms offering a generous 516 square feet.
Travelle's breakfast and lunch menu serves American cuisine prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Recommended breakfast dishes include an avocado and heirloom toast with seeded sourdough, poached eggs, and radishes. Lunch options range from smash burgers to wild onion pesto pasta. Saturday and Sunday brunch is a treat, featuring options like chicken and waffles or panzanella with burrata.
Dinner is served with a view of the river in the Travelle Lounge. The furnishings incorporate leather and supple textiles, while the walls are adorned with dramatic mirrored tiles that reflect the city lights. It's an alluring space, and we ordered a second round of drinks to bask in it a little longer.
Like the hotel itself, the Travelle Lounge cocktail list is inspired by art, frequently incorporating fresh herbs, flowers, or theatrical elements, such as foam bubbles. The menu at features light snacks, such as truffle fries or oysters on the half shell, as well as larger plates, like steak and pan-seared halibut.
Afternoon tea is served at Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday. It's everything you'd want in a hotel tracing its roots back to England, with petite scones, cakes, and dainty sandwiches served on a tiered platter with pots of Langham's proprietary teas.
The hotel's highest floor is home to The Langham Club Lounge, with robust complimentary offerings available to guests in club rooms or who pay a $160 per person fee. Like our suite, the lounge was situated on a corner, affording incredible views of the river and lake. The space is elegant and warm, with warm gas fireplaces and comfortable sofas and chairs.
The Langham Club Lounge offerings include a daily breakfast, light snacks, an afternoon tea spread, and evening cocktails and canapes. During our visit, the chefs got playful in the evening, adding iconic dishes like Chicago-style hot dogs and deep dish pizza to the buffet. The service was excellent, and we observed most guests being greeted by name after their first visit.
The treatments and therapies at the Forbes Four-Star rated Chuan Spa are rooted in Chinese rituals and medicine, guided by the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Guests are handed a questionnaire to determine which element will be most beneficial to include in the products used in their session. The spa menu recognizes that no two bodies are alike, offering treatments tailored to expectant mothers, customized back massages, a diverse range of facials, and even acupuncture.
Don't rush out of the facilities after your session. The Chuan Spa facilities are worthy of an entire afternoon, and they're open to hotel guests, even if they don't book a treatment. We moved between a fresh herbal sauna, a Himalayan sauna, and an oriental steam room before rinsing off in a cold aromatherapy shower and relaxing on a stone lounger.
Adjacent to the spa, the fitness studio is sleek and modern, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and a roster of wellness programs, including yoga classes, Pilates, and sound meditation. At the end of the hall, an indoor pool sparkles underneath a sky of twinkling blue lights. At the far end, a steaming hydrotherapy tub is ready to soothe aching muscles.
How to get the most bang for your buck
The hotel's loyalty program is Brilliant by Langham. It's free to join. Benefits include special rates for Brilliant members and dining discounts. As you earn points and move up the ladder, benefits include room upgrade vouchers, invitations to special events, early check-in, and late check-out.
