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
B
Brenda • solo_traveller • us
10
Birthday celebration
Pros:

The view was amazing and in a great location and they gave us free drinks for my boyfriend's birthday

Cons:

The fact that at check out it was only 1 elevator working which made elevator crowded.

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
S
Sheryl • solo_traveller • us
10
Fabulous Stay at The Royal Sonesta!
Pros:

The Royal Sonesta was Fabulous!!! All the staff was excellent!!! The view was magnificent, simply stunning!

Cons:

I had to leave!

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
E
Eduardo • extended_group • us
1
Malo
Pros:

Muy mal servicio

Cons:

No me gustó nada

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
A
Ashlee • extended_group • us
5
Pros:

location

Cons:

my room

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
N
Nancy Denise • couple • us
4
expected more from the Royal Sonesta for what we paid.
Pros:

Location.

Cons:

But service fell short for the price. Front desk wasn’t friendly, robes shown in photos weren’t provided, and the AC wouldn’t go below 65°F. Our "city view" was blocked by the building next door and the dress and tv blocked the main window.

We had a toilet issue that took 4 hours and an in-person visit to get fixed. The maintenance person who came was great and resolved it quickly.

There are cheaper hotels nearby with similar views and free breakfast. We expected more from the Royal Sonesta for what we paid.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
K
Khaled • couple • ae
10
Great location, great rooms, and great people
Pros:

Great reception team, very cooperative and understanding. I loved how they deal with customers. The rooms were spacious and clean.

Cons:

The bathroom door was bit sticky might require some adjustment

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
P
Philippa • couple • bs
9
Great!!
Pros:

Locations and the staff except the lady who work the late shift at 2am when I was checking out. She brushed us off .

Cons:

The location and the other staffs everyone was friendly and nice

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
J
John • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

Location is perfect.

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
P
paul • couple • au
8
Great location
Pros:

Location was great. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

Cons:

Wi fi was very poor kept going in and out. More off than on!

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
C
Chelsea • couple • us
8
2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • couple • us
8
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
J
Jessica • couple • us
10
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
A
Anna • couple • gb
8
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
C
Chri • solo_traveller • at
9
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
C
Chang Sik • solo_traveller • kr
5
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
Z
Zulaica • solo_traveller • ar
9
Pros:

La ubicacion excelente.el diseño

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
A
Abel Rodrigo • couple • us
10
2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
K
Kamal Mahesh • family_with_children • gb
10
2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
E
Eugen • solo_traveller • ro
9
Pros:

Miez

2026-09-05 • via Nuitee