Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

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

Review Highlights

Pros:
Central location and stunning river views
Friendly, helpful staff (valet, bellmen, front desk often praised)
Clean, spacious and comfortable rooms with good beds
Early check-in and package handling appreciated
Cons:
Parking is complicated/expensive and booking app issues
Perceived poor value in some areas (high restaurant/breakfast prices, price drops after booking)
Occasional room issues (shower problems, cold nights, room size mismatch vs. advertised)
Missing or unexpected amenities (no minibar, no room service in some cases) and some housekeeping timing complaints

Categories

Cleanliness
9.9
Multiple reviews explicitly call the hotel and rooms 'clean' and note tidy rooms and housekeeping (clean rooms, early check-in and packages received without issue).
Service
9.9
Staff repeatedly described as friendly, helpful, and kind (helpful valet, bellmen praised); isolated service problems (parking app confusion, missing vouchers, occasional housekeeping timing) but overall strong service sentiment.
Location
10
Overwhelming praise for central location and river views — described as 'very central', 'amazing location', 'perfect for city exploring' and 'room view of the river was stunning'.
Room Quality
9.9
Many guests praise spacious, comfortable rooms and beds, quiet rooms and large bathrooms; isolated negatives include an incorrectly sized corner room for one guest and a non-functional shower in another room.
Amenities
8.5
Valet and parking available but guests reported parking booking complexity and high cost; some expected amenities missing (no minibar, no room service for some) — generally adequate but with gaps noted.
Value for Money
8.5
Mixed sentiment: guests found the location and rooms excellent but several mentioned high prices, breakfast not included and perceived price drops after booking; some felt loyalty perks (vouchers) were not honoured.
Food and Beverage
8.5
Limited mentions: breakfast not included and restaurant prices described as high; promised drink vouchers not always delivered — no strong positive F&B sentiment in reviews.
Overall Experience
10
Majority of reviews describe a 'fabulous' experience, intent to return, excellent stays for events and sightseeing — overall sentiment is highly positive despite some isolated issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-07-03 08:07

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations with Stunning Views
Experience the newly renovated Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown at the Riverwalk, just steps away from the vibrant Magnificent Mile. Enjoy breathtaking views of the city or the Chicago River from your room, equipped with modern amenities like a 48-inch flat-screen TV and a coffee maker.

Delicious Dining Options
Indulge in Midwestern-inspired dishes at the modern American tavern, Hoyt's, while taking in the scenic views of the Chicago River. Start your day with a delicious breakfast, grab a leisurely lunch, or enjoy a hearty dinner - all without leaving the hotel.

Convenient Location and Amenities
With a 24-hour fitness centre, on-site dining, and WiFi access, Royal Sonesta Chicago ensures a comfortable stay. Plus, take advantage of the business centre, ballroom, and meeting spaces available for your convenience.

Ready to elevate your Chicago experience? Book your stay at Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown at the Riverwalk today!

Important information:

When booking more than 3 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply and will be communicated by the property.

The Pet Fee is a Non-Refundable $100 per stay fee. A maximum of two dogs per room are permitted.

Please note that breakfast-inclusive rates are for 2-people maximum and do not include tax and tip.

Please note, our garage height measurements are 6‘3“. If your car has cargo storage on top of the hood it cannot exceed 6’3”. Motorcycles are not permitted in the garage. Our valet provider is also unable to provide parking for the following models of cars due to insurance coverage: Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Durango, Dodge Ram and Jeep SRT. Self-parking is available at 60 E. Lake or 111 E. Wacker.

$32 Destination fee per night. Nonrefundable. Authorized at the time of check-in.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

Property Video

Guest Reviews

9.4
Based on 2584 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.9
Service: 9.9
Location: 10
Room Quality: 9.9
Amenities: 8.5
Value for Money: 8.5
Food and Beverage: 8.5
Overall Experience: 10
L
lucasjC1382KG • Couples
10
Wonderful stay with breathtaking river views
Pros:

We had a wonderful experience at The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown while visiting for the Serna wedding. Our room overlooking the river had a most unique view that took our breath away every morning. The entire staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, but Arturo truly made our 5-night stay unforgettable. He was always around with a warm smile, ready to help, and even remembered all of our names from day one. That kind of personal touch really stands out and made our family trip so special. Thank you to everyone at the hotel, especially Arturo, for making our visit so memorable and comforatble!

2026-08-29 • via Tripadvisor
T
Terrance • couple • us
10
2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
M
Meister • extended_group • us
9
2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
A
Akilah • couple • us
10
2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
A
Amelia • couple • us
10
Perfect!
Pros:

I loved the location and the staff! Staff was super friendly and informative! Location was perfect for all the places we wanted to go! We walked mostly because everything was so close.

Cons:

Can’t think of anything

2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
T
Tanisha • couple • us
10
2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
Z
zepeda • couple • mx
10
2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
S
Sheryl • couple • us
9
Our stay was the very best we have ever had!
Pros:

The Kindness started with Lucus who met us in valet! He is so kind, accommodating and wonderful! The lady that checked us in was also extremely accommodating! Everything was Excellent!!!

Cons:

I didn't like that I had to leave The Wonderful Royal Sonesta and come home!!!

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
J
Jasmine • couple • us
9
2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
Y
Y2986GIlaurier • Family
10
Serna Wedding
Pros:

Overall our stay was very good. Our river view room was amazing, the staff is very friendly and helpful. Our stay was made even more enjoyable by Arturo! He was so friendly and helpful. He remembered our names and seemed like he was always there during our 5 night stay! Thank you Royal Sonesta!

2026-08-24 • via Tripadvisor
M
mistysP4893LU • Couples
10
Anniversary trip
Pros:

The royal sonesta downtown Chicago was an amazing stay! Right on the river, clean and updated. Staff is super friendly. The restaurant Hoyt’s is all super yummy. The hummus and olives is amazing. The bartenders David and Paul are super attentive, friendly and make great drinks! 10/10 for us

2026-08-24 • via Tripadvisor
A
Arun • family_with_children • bh
7
Pros:

Excellent Location,

Cons:

had to pay extra for early checking in

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
D
Derek • extended_group • ca
6
2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
R
Resat • family_with_children • tr
9
2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
C
clairemsmith • Couples • Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England
8
Billing Issues
Pros:

We had a fantastic stay overall, particularly after being upgraded to a lovely room with a fantastic view. The room was comfortable, well presented and made the experience feel genuinely special. The location is fantastic.

Unfortunately, the stay was let down by a billing issue. Numerous charges were applied to the credit card provided solely as a holding deposit, and I had to contact the hotel repeatedly to have them investigated and rectified. This was frustrating and took away from what would otherwise have been an excellent experience.

The hotel itself was wonderful, and the upgrade was much appreciated. However, the handling of the additional charges was disappointing and created unnecessary inconvenience. I hope the hotel reviews its payment and billing procedures to ensure that other guests do not have to chase repeatedly to resolve similar issues.

2026-08-23 • via Tripadvisor
V
Virginia • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
R
Rouzbeh • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
J
Jose Luis • family_with_children • mx
10
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
A
Antbrenlex • Couples
10
The Woodlands
Pros:

Location is great the views from room is great the restaurant has great food especially the breakfast and I loved the grits

2026-08-21 • via Tripadvisor
2
249lexusl • Business
10
Amazing staff.
Pros:

I went on a business trip with a coworker, there were a few issues at check in because we had prepaid with the business card. Kiara stepped up and handled it immediately!!!! She kept us updated throughout the process and made it such a smooth experience in a difficult time! Terrance at the front desk was amazing! Any issues I had or things I needed sent to my room he was on it! Such a professional. Quinten at the front door OMG! He was there every night just like he said he would be his energy and the greeting that you receive immediately after stepping out of your vehicle was on of a kind. Thank you so much to this staff for making my trip amazing and enjoyable ❤️ we need more people like this in the services business.

2026-08-21 • via Tripadvisor