What do you look for when staying in a luxury hotel suite? 24-hour butler service? A custom painted grand piano? Private security entrance to your suite? Multiple floors in the suite? Previous guest list including royalty, entertainers, and dignitaries? Here are seven of Chicago’s most luxurious hotel suites, in no particular order, offering exclusive accommodations.
7. Ritz Carlton: The Presidential Suite
Image courtesy of the Ritz Carlton
Located on the famed Magnificent Mile above Water Tower Place, the Ritz Carlton Hotel stands surrounded by the energy of the boulevard. Once inside, the serenity and grandeur of the hotel’s design welcomes you.
The Presidential Suite is an expansive 2,900 square feet of luxury. This two-story suite, complete with spiral staircase, will be your home away from home. With a baby grand piano, kitchen and dining room, two separate king bedrooms and a media room, you will be surrounded by comfort. In addition, the floor to ceiling windows will showcase the city’s skyscrapers along the Mag Mile allowing you to immerse yourself in the sweeping views of the city and Lake Michigan.
Image courtesy of the Ritz Carlton
Room design is that of sophistication with crisp lines, elegance and comfort throughout the space. The Club Lounge offers additional services and exclusivity.
For those in town on business, the hotel offers the largest luxury ballroom in Chicago.  Families are welcome with specific amenities like the Ritz Kids programming designed to entertain the hotel’s youngest guests with their candy cart, kids’ dining experiences and bathrobes just for their smallest guests. Â
6. The Langham: Infinity Suite
Image courtesy of The Langham
Along the Chicago riverfront is a Mies van der Rohe-designed skyscraper that is home to The Langham. Close to the Magnificent Mile and business district, this hotel reflects high-end design and glamour upon entrance. Located on the 12th floor, the Infinity Suite is 2,700 square feet of luxury and elegance. An opulent retreat that offers a living room complete with a custom painted grand piano and fireplace, dining room for eight, butler’s pantry, fully stocked private bar, master bedroom with four-poster bed, private dressing room and vanity, spacious foyer entrance, White Statuario marble en-suite bathrooms and Signature Blissful Beds.
Image courtesy of The Langham
From a design perspective, warm colors with rich textiles, dark woods, and floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows offer expansive views of the city and the Chicago River. Sophistication continues with the amenities offered by The Langham Club including 24-hour butler service.
5. Four Seasons: Premier Lake View Executive Suite
Image courtesy of Four Seasons Chicago
For the guest who relishes the beauty of skylines, the Four Seasons Premier Lake View Executive Suite is just for you. Forty-three floors above famed Michigan Avenue, this 575 square feet corner suite offers views of both the Magnificent Mile and Lake Michigan. As your gaze extends out, you will see the many famous landmarks Chicago is known for including the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), John Hancock Center, Aon Center, the historic Water Tower and the Palmolive Building (formerly the Playboy Building).
Your suite is designed with thoughtful touches to accommodate business or personal travel needs. French doors or frosted glass divide the living room and bedroom for privacy. Large picturesque windows bring the views to you.  Stunning floral arrangements in the lobby represent an artistic touch to the hotel’s elegance. Modern art is found throughout the hotel.
Image courtesy of Christian Horan
Located above the upscale stores of 900 N Michigan Avenue with a private entrance from the hotel to the shops, the Four Seasons offers warmth, comfort and extraordinary service from the 7th floor lobby to your suite on the 43rd floor. Culinary excellence is provided by Allium Restaurant Executive Chef, Sean Murray.
Families are welcomed with amenities just for your little ones including a playroom. In addition, the Four Seasons has created a Sammy the Skyscraper program where children receive their own “passport” and are invited to explore the hotel, collecting stamps from hotel staff and receiving ice cream for completing their passport.
4. Chicago Athletic Association Hotel: Founders’ Suites
Image courtesy of Thomas Hart Shelby/Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
If sports, history, and design capture your attention, then the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is where you will want to be.  Founding members of the Chicago Athletic Association are famous names in Chicago – Marshall Fields, Cyrus McCormick and William Wrigley – who helped to establish it as a private men’s club over 100 years ago. Located on Michigan Avenue in the city’s business district, views of the Chicago Art Museum, the “Bean” and Millennium Park, home to many musical and culinary events, are right outside the front door.  In addition, Cindy’s, a vibrant rooftop restaurant, offers stunning views of Lake Michigan and Millennium Park.
Image courtesy of Thomas Hart Shelby/Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
With suites showcasing detailed woodwork and ceilings, elaborate gas-lit fireplace design, original stained glass windows, French doors over Michigan Avenue, Carrera marble and a suite with an iron clawfoot tub, the hotel’s history becomes apparent. In 2015, designers Roman & Williams kept in mind the building’s Venetian Gothic Clubhouse look as they rehabbed the exclusive men-only private athletic club.  Additional details include bathrobes that are terry cloth lined in the style of boxers’ robes. Some rooms have pommel horses as benches at the end of the beds with side tables detailed with leather grips to replicate the look of tennis rackets. The sporting theme is well represented in these suites.
3. Waldorf Astoria: Presidential Suite
Image courtesy of Waldorf Astoria
The Presidential Suite found at the Waldorf Astoria is best described as a sophisticated apartment located on the hotel’s 26th floor. With 2,130 square feet, this expansive space has three entrances and two private terraces with panoramic views of the distinguished Gold Coast neighborhood. Complete with two bathrooms with soaking tubs and dual vanities with inset LCD TVs, a powder room, a separate living room with a one-touch fireplace, dining table, fully equipped kitchen and butler pantry, two spacious bedrooms and a media room with TVs, game consoles and a Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system.
The two guest rooms are Simeone Deary designed with imported Rivolta Carmignani Italian linens, premium Vi-Spring king beds, and furnished terraces. The look of the master bedroom and media room feature drama, details and high design. Luxury doesn’t stop inside the suite. Should transportation be needed within a two-mile radius of the hotel, a private Mercedes-Benz is available for drop off service.
Image courtesy of Waldorf Astoria
Whether traveling on business or with family, the suite is perfectly designed to accommodate individual needs. Business meetings can be held in the expansive living room allowing for privacy. The media room is also set up for telephone conferencing.
For families, an interactive video library, surround sound and gaming system will entertain the children while meals are prepared in the fully equipped kitchen and eaten at the dining table in the suite.
2. The Peninsula: The Lake Suite
Image courtesy of The Peninsula Hotel
Rich, elegant and timeless furnishings define The Lake Suite at The Peninsula Hotel. Lake Michigan’s cool blue waters set the tone for the modern look of this gorgeous 2,561 square feet suite complete with two bedrooms, 2.5 marble bathrooms, 2 dressing rooms, a dining room for 6 and large reception room. With picturesque windows facing North, South, and East, guests will be immersed in the beauty of Chicago’s skyline and landscape.
The Lake Suite also has a home theater in the living room with kitchenette adjacent to the dining room for entertaining. The suite easily accommodates business meetings, small parties or family travels. The Peninsula offers such services as 24-hour attendants, converting the office into a nursery or gym as well as welcoming guests for long-term stays.
Image courtesy of The Peninsula Hotel
If privacy or security is of concern, The Lake Suite can be blocked from the rest of the hotel to ensure a guest’s comfort.
1. The Drake: The Princess Diana Suite (formerly the Presidential Suite)
Image courtesy of The Drake Hotel
A Chicago tradition since 1920, the Drake Hotel has welcomed movie stars, royalty and dignitaries to the Presidential suite including the Italian President, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, the Prime Minister of Australia, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands as well as entertainers Bing Crosby, Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio and Walt Disney. Now known as the Princess Diana Suite following her three-day visit in 1996, the ambiance is of rich drapery, velvet upholstery and framed photos of the Princess adorning the suite. With 1,500 square feet and six rooms, it is designed in a formal elegant English style featuring crystal chandeliers, mirrored panels in the hallway, panoramic views from multiple rooms, a vanity changing room, a writing room and a private bar.
Image courtesy of The Drake Hotel
Situated on the north end of the Magnificent Mile overlooking Lake Michigan, your views whether from your room or the ballrooms are spectacular. Two ballrooms accommodating up to 900 guests are available for business or personal gatherings. With the hotel’s location in the prestigious Gold Coast neighborhood, exclusive shopping opportunities are just out the front door on Oak Street and Michigan Avenue.
Written by DLX contributor, Julie Gordon of Inspiring Kitchen. Follow Inspiring Kitchen to learn about trends in luxury culinary travel, kitchen design and housewares as well as favorite finds in the food and cooking world.