Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Waldorf Astoria Chicago redefines elegance as a Five-Diamond sanctuary in the heart of downtown. Arrive through a serene, private French-inspired courtyard that offers a timeless welcome to your refined retreat. Mere steps from the Magnificent Mile, Oak Street’s luxury boutiques, the shimmering lakefront, and the city’s premier attractions, the hotel presents an unparalleled address for discerning travelers. Relish captivating city views from your private suite terrace or bask in the warmth of your in-suite fireplace. Restore your senses at the award-winning spa, savor elevated American cuisine at Brass Tack, or slip into the exclusive ambiance of Bernard's—our sophisticated speakeasy. From lavish accommodations to impeccably curated celebrations and corporate gatherings, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago sets the standard for indulgence and distinction.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Waldorf Astoria Chicago has garnered acclaim for its attentive service, despite occasional slow response times. Guests frequently laud the luxurious amenities, such as the acclaimed spa and personalized services, though some suggest there's room for enhancement. The hotel's spacious rooms with plush beds and opulent bathrooms are well-received, though a few guests have encountered delays in room service and check-in.
While opinions on value vary, with some questioning the price point, the central location is universally celebrated for its convenience. The hotel's elegant atmosphere and consistent cleanliness also receive high marks from visitors.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Elegant
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Opulent
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Luxurious room decorated simply (no wild art or "killer colors") with a gas fireplace that quickly warmed up the entire space. Big bathroom complete with soaking tub. Very quiet room. The housekeeping staff was superb! They tidied up my charging cables, left a bookmark in my book next to the sticky note I had been using, and added a number of small, thoughtful touches. Cleaning was impeccable.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â We enjoyed the onsite restaurant + in-room dining for a few meals -- so much better than having...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Owner at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded 1 week ago
Dear MargaretL652, Thank you so much for noticing our detailed housekeeping service - this team rarely gets the credit they so deserve. We truly appreciate your sharing your insights to allow other travelers such details as well as affording our team true knowledge of the guest experience. We hope to be able to welcome you back at your next opportunity and to keep ensuring such a remarkable time in Chicago!
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Our recent stay at the Waldorf Astoria exceeded our expectations. The room was spacious and made us feel right at home. The location in the Gold Coast is walkable to so many dining and entertainment options, but the availability of the house car (within 1 mile of the hotel) was a definite bonus when we didn’t feel like walking. The most impressive part of our stay was the service of all the staff at the hotel. Doormen, front desk, concierge, restaurant staff - you name it, they were all top notch. A special shout out to the housekeeping staff, who blew us away with their ability to tidy the room. Don’t miss the coffee from the peacock lounge, and if you’re thinking about ordering fries at midnight through in-room dining, definitely do it. Thanks for the great stay!
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Guest Services / Front Office at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Oct 24, 2023
Dear sarahpE3313KB, What a fantastic review of our property - thank you for sharing with other travelers here! We appreciate all the insights here and sincerely thank you for noticing the hard work of our team that constantly & tirelessly goes above and beyond on behalf of the whole staff here. We look forward to any opportunity to welcome you back!
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Recently traveled to Chicago for a weekend getaway. Was originally going to stay at The Drake, but came across a number of concerning reviews and thought "I've never had a problem with a Waldorf". So I canceled my reservation and rebooked with The Waldorf Astoria. Honestly, in the hundreds of hotels I've stayed in, this one is by far my favorite! It's an AMAZING hotel in a GREAT location! Close to lots of great shopping and food. About a 15 min walk to Millennium Park and so many other great attractions. Just up the road from the Dreyhaus Museum, which is worth the stop. The Hotel it's self was very clean, modern, and beautiful! The real differentiater was the staff. Everyone I encountered was very nice, extremely helpful, and went way above and beyond. The housekeeping staff would check in several times per day. The bar and the speak easy were open late and served amazing drinks. One of the best scotch collections I've encountered! The restaurants, although a bit pricy, were excellent! Hotel provides guests with access to the house car which will drive you or from any location within 1 - 1.5 mile radius for free. 24hr room service. The fastest elevators I've ever been on for a hotel! Next time I'm in Chicago, I wouldn't consider any other hotel!
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Owner at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Jul 5, 2024
Dear M9537HLsamuels, On behalf of the team, thank you sincerely for this glowing review. You have truly captured an experience at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago and we are honored to have hosted such a remarkable stay. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us, and other travelers here. It was truly a pleasure. We look forward to welcoming you back and we shall be sharing these comments with the entire staff!
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This hotel has the potential and really is wonderful in many ways but also needs improvement.
When we checked in we didn’t think it was an important issue to point out to the front desk that we purchased the movie upgrade. As it got later in the evening, I called front desk to ask what we needed to do to receive our upgrade, the lady explained and mentioned for us to call back when we’re ready. Later, when we returned we called and the guy my husband spoke with stated that there was no communication about our package and it may not be possible to receive it because it’s late. After waiting about 45 minutes, we called again (3rd time) and the guy we spoke with apologized and said he was very sorry. The popcorn and candy did make its way up, just not sure it was worth all the calls and waiting time.
The maintenance guy who was working the spa that night felt it was necessary to yell at my children and tell them to make sure their feet are all dry before heading to the “pool restroom “ because he didn’t want to wipe up the water. We did ask for slippers for the spa and pool area and was told by the same guy who was condescending to my husband about slippers saying to our face, the slippers are in every room. Unfortunately they were not in our room upon check in. After this a bit later he rudely told my husband the spa is closing early for NYE and we need to hurry out. We had ample time before the spa closed but clearly his personal life couldn’t wait. Having worked in the service industry myself this was frustrating being rushed and talked to like that.
Once we returned to our room the bath tub drain wouldn’t open properly for the water to drain and this was a bummer because my kids wanted to take baths. I had to improvise and try and hold it open but it didn’t work great.
The drawer in the desk in our room fell on my husbands foot as we searched for a pen to write down our breakfast. The suite we rented came with a pull out bed but we had no fitted sheets stocked. No slippers, pen or sheets.
When we called the assistant/ food service we felt like a bother. This hotel really is a gem of a location and I don’t want to discredit every employee but for the price it needs work.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Guest Services / Front Office at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Feb 1, 2023
Dear danslove915, Thank you for your candid feedback. We do appreciate all opportunities to raise every expectation but I regret that there was room to improve on this particular stay. We take this to heart and will be addressing these concerns amongst our teams. It is clear the opportunities mentioned are obviously not to our standard. Should we be an option in the future, I would sincerely appreciate an opportunity to welcome you back and oversee a very different experience altogether. I remain at your service. (judson.corrie@waldorfastoria.com)
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Excellent stay with particularly outstanding service. Hotel is located in the heart of very high end shopping area. We walked most everywhere we wanted to go. Contacted by concierge before arrival who was very helpful with recommendations. Our room was ready early and as diamond members we received complimentary upgrade. Room was spacious with a balcony and nicely designed bathroom layout. Found mattress to be a bit hard but pillows were luxurious. valet parking was very efficient and with a courtyard entry it was stress free. Loved our stay!
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Owner at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Nov 11, 2024
Dear IndianaTravelmom, This is such an amazing review - thank you for sharing here about your experience with our kind of luxury hospitality! You describe our property, our team and our neighborhood so well! We constantly strive to ensure the guest experience is highly detailed and our innate hospitality shines through. It's not just another stay for us - and it shouldn't be for you! Thank you and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
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Great downtown location, centrally located and within easy walking distance to anything you would want or need. It is in the heart of the shopping district with lots of high-end shops and restaurants. The staff was attentive and the hotel was very clean and well maintained. The showers are excellent. The water has a distinct chlorine smell but bottled water for drinking took care of that. The rooms are spacious and well appointed.
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Date of stay: August 2024
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Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Owner at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Aug 29, 2024
Dear owenh404, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience here. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your visit and that we were able to have such an impact on your visit to Chicago! If we have the distinct honor for your return, please do not hesitate to let me know and I'd be happy to ensure another exceptional stay with us here.
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The WA Chicago was a great choice for a quick retreat for the wife and me. Diamond status room upgrade and use of spa amenities was great. Excellent staff and appreciate the turn down service. Brass Tack breakfast was great, would recommend just going to restaurant than ordering to room to save some $. Great drink options at the bar.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Owner at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded 1 week ago
Thank you for joining us on your couple's retreat! We hope to host you again soon.
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My Husband and I had a staycation here and to celebrate our anniversary. Location is in a great area of downtown shops and restaurants. Entry is closed off and private feel which makes you feel like you are not downtown.
Prior to stay I had communication with concierge to have champagne and dessert set up in the room at our arrival. When getting to room there was nothing there. At a resort of this level this is usually automatic and done with a notecard and beautiful setup. I followed up at the desk with promise to have something sent right away and nothing was done. It wasn't until my 3rd request in person the following morning that something was provided with our in room breakfast service. This was disappointing.
Room was nice corner room with fireplace (which we didn't need in June - but I tested it and it worked) and balcony that had a view out to the lake which was beautiful. Room was also very quiet. Most quietest stay I have had downtown in the city; not sure if this is due to location of the hotel but also due to how high the floor was we were in.
Some of the switches in the room were non-functional. Appears the room was renovated but some functionality was missed. Also the room phone did not work... So I had to call via my cell phone to get service to the room.
Cocktails at the bar prior to dinner reservations elsewhere were good. We also did post dinner drinks at the bar on site which were good as well.
All in all it was a good stay, but for the cost and with the Waldorf name I guess there is some expectation for elevated performance of the staff on attentiveness to details that seemed to be lacking, hence is why I rated this short of a full 5star review.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Owner at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Oct 10, 2024
Dear CatchinFlights0011, Thank you for this insightful feedback and we are so glad to have hosted your time in Chicago. While some of the issues noted are of great concern, I am thankful that you have brought this to our attention so that we might remedy immediately and on behalf of the hotel, I do apologize for those shortcomings from our typical standard. If I may, I would love to know further details to further investigate this - at your convenience, please allow me the reservation name/room number or any other details to identify your stay and I would certainly like to correct this with you. I may be reached at judson.corrie@waldorfastoria.com and do hope to hear from you. Again, thank you for taking the time to address this and I am happy to remain at your service throughout.
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I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago with my adult daughter for five days. What an incredible property! We have stayed at several other Waldorf properties (Grand Wailea, Monarch Beach, Park City), and the Chicago Waldorf stands out from other Waldorf hotels in all ways. It is a smaller property than the Maui and California hotels, and that is reflected in the dedication of the entire hotel staff to the comfort of their guests.
First, the staff is extremely warm and welcoming. The pre-arrival communication from the concierge was very helpful with advice on local travel and room type. Once we arrived, the front desk staff knew exactly who we were, greeted us by name, and helped us with everything from Lyft reservations to restaurant to local stores and landmarks. The hotel feels quite safe, and the outer courtyard was charming and made it easy for taxis/Lyfts to pull up off the street.
Second, the restaurant had everything we needed, and accommodated our dietary needs. (I am celiac, and was able to eat a large variety of items from the menu.) They have an excellent chef. Over the five days, we sampled breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the menu was consistently delicious and not over-seasoned. The $50/day credit was very helpful ($25/person).
Third, the spa and athletic club is gorgeous. It is fully equipped with a lovely pool (great for swimming laps), sauna, whirlpool and sauna. It was very clean, and neither the pool nor the whirlpool were over-chlorinated. As a daily swimmer, that was great! It was very relaxing to come in from the bitter Chicago cold, and enjoy the pristine and elegant spa. Although we did not take any treatments, they had a nice range of offerings.
We stayed in a junior suite, which was very roomy at 650 square feet, with a beautiful bathroom. My only issue was that the sofa bed was not very comfortable, but we traded off who slept on the sofa just as a sofa, not pulled out as a sofa bed, and then it was fine. Housekeeping was great, and we were able to use an extra refrigerator at no charge. Perhaps the Waldorf would consider having some junior suites with two queen beds? The room was very quiet and peaceful
I would highly recommend this property. If you need to be in downtown Chicago, this is a perfect hotel to stay in. We enjoyed it very much, and we’ll be back!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â Higher floor are quieter
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Todd Temperly, General Manager at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Apr 27, 2022
Dear Pueblochick, Thank you so much for your kind feedback. We are indeed pleased that you and your daughter enjoyed your stay and were able to enjoy many of our amenities. Our staff shall also be glad to hear of your high praise. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
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Second time staying at the hotel. The hotel is lovely but the brand lack in service. A few days before arriving the concierge’s emailed me about my stay. I provided all my details stating I’m here to celebrate my birthday and wanted to make it special. They offered to upsell me on this Veuve collaboration the hotel restaurant was doing, which I had purchased prior to booking my stay. Flight into Chicago was delayed but when I arrived, the room I had originally picked online when I checked in, was no longer available and they tired to give a lower floor. The concierge’s never even mentioned about my birthday to the front desk. They the team never mentioned the pool was closed for maintenance, I only found out when I went to the spa. A miss of the team on providing information to valued hotel guest. Second through my entire stay, the team never did anything to make my birthday memorable. I usually stay at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas and the GM personally comes to wish me a happy birthday. The service quality one would expect from the Waldorf Astoria brand is missing at this location.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â Call the hotel to see if any maintenance is happening and email the entire team. Or just stay the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Judson Corrie, Owner at Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Responded Jul 22, 2024
Dear Explorer65554912615, We do appreciate any/all feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this so that we might have the opportunity to investigate further and remedy. It is disheartening to hear that this was your impression of an experience we have great expectations for and especially given such an occasion that we are honored to host. We make every effort to celebrate and don't take your reasons to visit for granted. I have reached out further to you directly and do hope we can connect at your next convenience. Thank you for sharing these insights with us.
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Take the train and walk a few blocks. It will save you a lot of money by doing so. From the airport to the hotel, it did cost me $85 one time. Train is efficient most of the time
There are more places to choose from in the Chicago area.
PRICE RANGE
₱25,832 - ₱36,454 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Elysian Hotel Chicago
LOCATION
United StatesIllinoisChicagoCentral / Near North Side
NUMBER OF ROOMS
214
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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