Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / United States / Chicago / The Peninsula Chicago
The Peninsula Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States · Peninsula · Grand Luxury
Elkus/Manfredi shaped The Peninsula Chicago (2001) as a Magnificent Mile echo of the Hong Kong flagship: arm-like wings, a two-story sky lobby, and Chinese marble lions shipped from Hong Kong at the Superior Street door. It is the only Chicago hotel to hold Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond every year since opening. A 25-metre pool on the top floors faces Lake Michigan, and the mezzanine Sky Rink is the city's only hotel ice rink.
- 339 rooms
- Opened 2001
- Neighborhood: The Loop
- Rooms from 530 sq ft (49 m²)
- Architect: Elkus/Manfredi Architects
- Interiors: Bill Rooney Studio
About The Peninsula Chicago
- Architecture deliberately echoes the Hong Kong Peninsula's winged throne plan and corduroy concrete façade patterns.
- The 25-metre indoor pool has floor-to-ceiling windows toward Lake Michigan on the top fitness floors.
- Sky Rink on the mezzanine is Chicago's only hotel ice-skating rink, beside the 1869 Water Tower that survived the Great Fire.
- Entry-level rooms start at 530 sq ft (49 m²).
History
The Peninsula Chicago opened its doors in 2001 on Chicago's iconic Magnificent Mile, as the third U.S. outpost of the storied Hong Kong-based Peninsula Hotels group, blending Eastern hospitality traditions with Midwestern warmth. Designed by Boston's Elkus/Manfredi Architects in a style echoing the flagship property's timeless elegance, the 39-story tower rises above a retail podium, featuring a dramatic two-story sky lobby guarded by Chinese marble lions. Notable for its consistent excellence, the property has earned Forbes Five-Star status annually since inception and hosted celebrities drawn to its discreet luxury; recent renovations refreshed guest rooms under Bill Rooney Studio while preserving the sophisticated residential feel that distinguishes it as the brand's urbane flagship in America's heartland. [Wikipedia], [Hospitality Interiors]
The setting
The Peninsula Chicago commands the corner of East Superior Street and North Michigan Avenue, its wings set back from the avenue to allow light into adjacent Water Tower Park beside the 1869 Chicago Water Tower — one of few structures to survive the Great Fire of 1871. Completed in 2001, the hotel occupies one of the Magnificent Mile's most coveted intersections, with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago a six-minute walk north and the Chicago Riverwalk fifteen minutes on foot. A dense concentration of international luxury boutiques lines the immediate blocks, and a cluster of landmark five-star addresses nearby confirms this as Chicago's most prestigious luxury corridor. 4-minute walk to Chicago Ave.
Restaurants and bars
- Shanghai Terrace — Restaurant · Cantonese · Chef Elmo Han
- Pierrot Gourmet — Restaurant · Chef Jerick Vargas
- The Lobby — Café
- Z Bar — Bar
Experiences
- Peninsula Spa & Wellness Center — 15,000 sq ft spa and fitness centre on the 19th and 20th floors with a 25-metre indoor pool, steam rooms and city views.
- The Peninsula Academy — Workshops, private tours and programmes exploring the traditions and culture of Chicago, covering its history, gastronomy and lifestyle.
- Dining at Z Bar — Rooftop-style bar high above Michigan Avenue with city views, globally inspired cocktails and boldly flavored food.
- The Lobby dining and Afternoon Tea — Lobby with 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and regular live music, serving contemporary American cuisine and weekend Afternoon Tea.
- Guided Cultural Tours — Tours of historic Chicago neighbourhoods with local specialty tasting and shopping, offered in several languages.
- Bespoke excursions and tours — Bespoke excursions to the highlights and hidden gems of Chicago, arranged for event and meeting guests.
Amenities
- 25m indoor pool with Lake Michigan views (top floors)
- Peninsula Spa & Fitness Centre (19th-20th floors)
- Sky Rink ice skating rink (mezzanine)
- Rooftop Z Bar
- Airport limousine service
- Peninsula Academy kids program
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- AAA Five Diamond (2026)
- Andrew Harper Members Choice (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- La Liste World's Best Hotels (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
Open The Peninsula Chicago in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Peninsula hotels
- The Peninsula Beverly Hills — Beverly Hills, United States · Grand Luxury
- The Peninsula New York — New York City, United States · Grand Luxury
- The Peninsula Istanbul — Istanbul, Turkey · Apex Luxury
- The Peninsula London — London, United Kingdom · Apex Luxury
- The Peninsula Paris — Paris, France · Apex Luxury
- The Peninsula Tokyo — Tokyo, Japan · Apex Luxury
More hotels in Chicago
- Four Seasons Hotel Chicago — Four Seasons · Grand Luxury
- Park Hyatt Chicago — Park Hyatt · Grand Luxury
- The Langham, Chicago — Langham · Grand Luxury
- Waldorf Astoria Chicago — Waldorf Astoria · Grand Luxury
- Nobu Hotel Chicago — Nobu · High Luxury
- Pendry Chicago — Pendry · High Luxury
Peninsula in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.