The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North

Hotels
•
Sonesta Hotels
8.7 (2096 reviews)
505 North State Street , Chicago , US
+1 312-755-9703

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent, central location
Friendly and helpful staff
Clean and well maintained
Comfortable rooms with good views
Good breakfast and morning coffee
Pool and maintained facilities
Cons:
Overpriced / poor value for money
Limited or missing in-room amenities (no tea/coffee/kettle/robes)
Inconsistent housekeeping / missed room service
Restaurant/bar limited or closed at times
Street noise (sirens) and occasional in-room noise (pipes)

Categories

Cleanliness
8.9
Generally reported as clean and well maintained (multiple mentions), though several guests cited inconsistent housekeeping and occasional missed room service.
Service
9.6
Staff repeatedly praised as friendly and helpful (door staff, front office); a minority of guests reported impersonal or less helpful reception interactions.
Location
10
Consistently praised as an excellent, central location with easy access to attractions and transit; numerous mentions of convenience and great views.
Room Quality
8.7
Rooms described as comfortable with good views (deluxe rooms positive), but some guests reported dated rooms, noisy pipes, or missing in-room amenities.
Amenities
7.2
Pool and some facilities noted positively, but multiple complaints about lack of in-room tea/coffee, kettles/mugs, robes/slippers, limited restaurant options and restricted bar service.
Value for Money
6.8
Several guests called the stay overpriced or poor value, citing unexpected security deposit charges and a perceived mismatch between price and service.
Food and Beverage
8.7
Breakfast and morning coffee were praised by guests, but restaurant offerings were described as limited and the bar was noted closed on some days.
Overall Experience
9.7
Majority of reviews are positive with many guests saying they'd stay again (friendly staff, great location), though a minority experienced disappointing service, deposit issues or inconsistent housekeeping.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-11-05 14:23

Property Description

Chicago's Finest Boutique Hotel in River North

Historical Inspiration: Immerse yourself in the elegance of the Chicago World’s Fair with our intricately designed rooms and chic décor. Enjoy entertainment on the 37-inch flat-screen TV or pamper yourself in the large designer bathrooms with plush bathrobes.

Wellness and Dining: Take a dip in the indoor pool, soak up the sun on the sundeck, or stay active in the 24-hour fitness center. Indulge in complimentary morning coffee and tea before savoring regional cuisine at CBR. Don't miss the delectable brunch menu on weekends.

Prime Location: Just steps from the CTA Red Line, our eco-friendly hotel is a stone's throw away from Navy Pier and Millennium Park. With both airports within easy reach, your journey to luxury begins as soon as you land.

Book now to experience the epitome of Chicago luxury at The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North.

Important information:

Please note: The property's cancelation policy includes any applicable taxes.

The hotel considers 10 or more rooms a group. The hotel reserves the right to cancel 10 or more rooms booked online. Please contact the hotel directly if you are booking 10 or more rooms.


A $32 Tax-Inclusive Resort Fee Includes:
- Coffee and tea in the lobby each morning.
- WiFi
- Two bottles of water.
- Access to the fitness center including a Peloton bike.
- Access to the Fresco Terrace (seasonal).
- Use of our indoor pool.
- Use of our bicycles to explore the city (seasonal).
- Seasonal water refresh station in the lobby
- $10 credit for use towards the on-site restaurant CBR.


The Pet Fee is a Non-Refundable $75 per stay fee. A maximum of two dogs per room are permitted.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: ORD

Location

Guest Reviews

8.7
Based on 2096 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.9
Service: 9.6
Location: 10
Room Quality: 8.7
Amenities: 7.2
Value for Money: 6.8
Food and Beverage: 8.7
Overall Experience: 9.7
R
Rebecca • couple • us
10
2026-10-31 • via Nuitee
H
Hans-Joachim • solo_traveller • de
9
2026-10-30 • via Nuitee
A
atenriquez • family_with_children • ar
10
Precioso hotel
Pros:

Hermoso hotel super comoda la habitacion deluxe.

2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
L
Lori • couple • us
10
Would stay here again!
Pros:

Lovely stay! The location was great! The staff were so friendly! Big shout out to the door man who helped us navigate the trains. I would stay here again.

2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
M
Maria Paz • couple • ar
8
Excelente ubicación, excelente atención. Lo recomiendo
Pros:

Lo mejor la amabilidad del personal, pileta, muy limpio y bien mantenido

Cons:

El ruido de sirenas DE TODO TIPO en la calle

2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
D
Diana • couple • us
10
2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
Q
Quantasia • couple • us
10
Excellent.
Pros:

Loved everything about this stay!! Staff super friendly and helpful. Room was nice and clean , I visited to celebrate my birthday, and will be back to stay at this exact location

2026-10-28 • via Nuitee
V
Vanessa • extended_group • gb
9
Great hotel in fab location
Pros:

Breakfast was awesome, facilities great. Amazing view from the room, we loved it!

Cons:

nothing, we would go back

2026-10-27 • via Nuitee
B
Blackburn • couple • us
8
Cheaper than most and good location. Amenities are not as nice as offer hotels
Pros:

Location is close to a lot of things to do

Cons:

Restaurant is limited in its offering and there is no coffee in the rooms

2026-10-26 • via Nuitee
M
marlon • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
C
Claire Reid89 • family_with_children • ie
4
Not worth the money
Pros:

Central for dinner but not as near to start line for marathon as expected, still needed underground.

Cons:

Prior to arriving, I specifically asked whether all charges were included in the final price quoted, as you can see in my earlier messages. At no point was I informed that an additional $500 would be required as a security deposit. This was frustrating, as I had not budgeted for such a significant additional expense during my trip. Not everyone has an extra $500 readily available while travelling, and I feel this should have been clearly communicated in advance, especially as I had specifically asked about additional charges.

In addition, the overall service at the hotel was disappointing. The reception staff were not as helpful or welcoming as expected, and some interactions felt impersonal, which added to the overall disappointment of our stay. Housekeeping was also inconsistent throughout our five-night stay. On the few occasions housekeeping did attend, it was late in the afternoon, often when we had already returned to our room.

Given the amount we paid for our stay, I expected a higher standard of service.


Overall, this was a disappointing experience, and I feel these issues should be acknowledged and addressed appropriately.

2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
Y
Yen-Hsiu • family_with_children • tw
9
2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
J
Jonathan • couple • gb
6
2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
M
Maria Teresa • family_with_children • pt
7
2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
M
Marc • family_with_children • gb
3
Very poor value for money - avoid
Pros:

Location was very good and staff were polite & professional.

Cons:

Overpriced and poor value for money. Only one bar in the hotel which was closed on 2 of the 3 days we stayed.

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
S
Simon • couple • gb
9
Clean, efficient, friendly, good location
Pros:

Clean, efficient and friendly staff

Cons:

Corners of bed were hazard

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • family_with_children • gb
5
Massively overpriced for quality of stay. would stick with a recognised brand in future.
Pros:

Good location, plenty on doorstep, easy to find.

Cons:

Zero amenities in room. No tea/coffee/robes/slippers. Had to ask for a kettle but they didnt have any mugs or cups to drink from. Room was regularly not serviced by housekeeping. Noisy water pipes during the night. Hot drinks in lobby were removed at 10am.

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
G
Gillian • couple • gb
8
2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
R
Rabab • family_with_children • us
10
Great stay in Chicago on Marathon weekend
Pros:

The front office staff was so helpful. The location was perfect. The hotel was clean and the coffee in the morning was good.

Cons:

nothing

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
J
Joao • solo_traveller • pt
3
terrible
Pros:

not much

Cons:

my confirmed reservation served nothing.
upon arrival I had no room available

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee