Chicago's dining scene has never cared about hierarchy — a corner hot dog stand, a deep-dish pizzeria, and an 18-course tasting menu can all sit on the same must-eat list. This June 15, the James Beard Awards are choosing this city to hand out its trophies, effectively turning the food world's spotlight on Chicago. But for anyone who's actually here to eat, the real question isn't the awards themselves — it's where to stay so you're not stuck in traffic chasing reservations.
Bon Appétit's editors have a straightforward answer — the hotel isn't the destination, it's the starting point for your restaurant route.
West Loop to West Town: The Hoxton's Rooftop Pool, Publishing House's Three Lives
The West Loop was once an industrial zone packed with meatpacking plants; today, "Restaurant Row" on Randolph Street is lined with gastropubs housed in converted warehouses. The Hoxton Chicago sits within walking distance of this strip, its lobby's communal long tables perpetually filled with travelers working and socializing side by side, plus a rooftop pool that's a rarity in this part of town. The hotel's three dining spaces each have their own role: chef Stephanie Izard's Peruvian-inspired rooftop restaurant Cabra serves ceviche and goat empanadas, the Mediterranean-style Cira anchors the lobby, and the basement's Lazy Bird is the late-night spot for live music and cocktails. Rooms come in four tiers — Snug, Cosy, Cosy Up, and Roomy — topping out at just 300 square feet, but leather headboards, brass fixtures, and vintage speakers keep the space from feeling cramped.
Further west, The Publishing House Bed & Breakfast is a building that's lived three lives — a Walter Rudolph casket factory from the 1930s to the '50s, a holography museum from 1976 to 2009, and finally renovated in 2016 into the 11-room, three-story B&B it is today. The original wood paneling and maple floors remain intact, the third-floor common living room features a grand piano and a double-sided fireplace, and there's even a wine bar, Press Room, in the basement. With so few rooms, this is a great pick for buying out the whole place for a wedding or a friends' getaway.
Staying in this area, breakfast could mean chai and spicy cheese toast at Swadesi, dinner might be chili-oil clay pot pork belly rice at Maxwells Trading or grilled clams and squid ink risotto at Rose Mary, and you can close out the night with a whiskey highball at the Japanese-style bar Kumiko. Head a bit further north and Kasama's longganisa breakfast sandwich, James Beard-winning brunch spot Lula Café, and 2024's Best New Restaurant winner Akahoshi Ramen are all within walking distance.
The Loop and Riverfront: Chicago Athletic Association's Century-Old Basketball Court, Pendry's Art Deco Tower
The Loop and River North form Chicago's business and tourism core, with the Blue Line running straight to the airport and Millennium Park and "The Bean" just a walk away. The Chicago Athletic Association, a Venetian Gothic building, was once an actual athletic club, and its historic basketball court has been preserved intact as a public space. On the roof, Cindy's Rooftop wraps a glass atrium around a terrace that's open year-round, facing directly onto Millennium Park; the ground-floor Drawing Room feels like your own living room. The hotel's newest addition, Midosuji, is an 8-seat, two-seatings-a-night omakase counter, joining The Ives — an American steakhouse from the same team as Boka Restaurant Group — as the latest must-visits.
Pendry Chicago, meanwhile, occupies the entirety of the 1929 Art Deco landmark Carbide & Carbon Building, its dark stone facade trimmed in gold. After a 2021 renovation, the service level is fully dialed in — luggage gets whisked away curbside, and a welcome drink is handed over before you even reach the check-in desk. Rooms feature white marble bathrooms paired with mid-century furniture, and the hotel houses three dining spaces: a steak-frites bistro, a rooftop bar, and a lobby bar that feels like a living room, plus Château Carbide for live music and cocktails at night. Nearby, Gus' Sip & Dip took home 2025's Best New Bar award for its signature wagyu sandwich, and Doma's Croatian breakfast sandwich and hash browns are worth the special trip too.
North of the Gold Coast: The Peninsula's Flexible Checkout, Park Hyatt's Seventh-Floor Terrace
Stretching from Lakeview and Lincoln Park down to the Gold Coast, this stretch lets you have both a Lake Michigan waterfront stroll and a great meal without missing either. Park Hyatt Chicago completed a renovation in 2022, updating its 182 rooms — and the hotel's own restaurant, NoMI Kitchen, is worth carving out time for breakfast or lunch, while the seventh-floor NoMI Garden terrace is a prime spot for sushi.
The Peninsula Chicago sits right beside the Magnificent Mile, and even its smallest room comes with a sofa and dining table, at nearly double the square footage of the other hotels on this list. What really justifies the splurge is the service detail — check-in as early as 6 a.m. and checkout as late as 10 p.m., a rarity in the hotel industry. For a drink, head to Z Bar for the gin-based signature cocktail "Z," with views overlooking the Magnificent Mile.
Thompson Chicago is tucked into a side street off the Magnificent Mile, just a block from Oak Street's shopping district, with a clean, no-frills aesthetic. Rooms come stocked with D.S. & Durga toiletries and plush robes, and if your room is high enough, you'll catch a view of Lake Michigan.
Exact rates for each hotel weren't provided in the source material — check Booking.com or Expedia for real-time availability and pricing before you book.
