Few Chicago neighborhoods pack as much into a walkable area as Gold Coast, where Oak Street boutiques, Astor Street mansions, and Oak Street Beach are all within a few blocks of each other.
Most of these picks are inside Gold Coast, and two are a few blocks outside it. None has a sustainability certification we could confirm, so we ranked them by star rating, then guest review score. All but one scored 8.0 or higher from guests. The exception is the Ambassador, at 7.3.
How we ranked these hotels
We used the City of Chicago's neighborhood map. It puts Gold Coast roughly between Oak Street and North Avenue, from the lake west to Clark Street, and maps the blocks around Rush and Division as a small neighborhood of their own.
Thompson Chicago, Claridge House and the Ambassador are inside Gold Coast. Viceroy Chicago, on State Street, is in Rush & Division, and The Whitehall, on Delaware Place just south of Oak Street, is in Streeterville.
None of the five has a sustainability certification we could confirm, so the ranking is by star rating, then guest review score.
We also made sure at least one mid-range hotel made the cut, so there's a pick here if you're not paying five-star rates.
Gold Coast hotels at a glance
| Hotel | Stars | Guest score | Walk to Oak Street Beach | Nearest CTA station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viceroy Chicago | 5 | 9.4 | 0.48 mi (10 min) | Clark/Division (Red Line) |
| Thompson Chicago, by Hyatt | 4 | 9.2 | 0.41 mi (8 min) | Clark/Division (Red Line) |
| Claridge House Chicago, Tapestry Collection by Hilton | 4 | 8.6 | 0.52 mi (10 min) | Clark/Division (Red Line) |
| Ambassador Chicago, part of JdV by Hyatt | 4 | 7.3 | 0.45 mi (9 min) | Clark/Division (Red Line) |
| The Whitehall Hotel, BW Premier Collection | 3 | 8.0 | 0.38 mi (8 min) | Chicago Ave (Red Line) |
Getting around Gold Coast
- The CTA Red Line stops at Clark/Division (serving the northern part of Gold Coast) and Chicago Avenue (serving the southern end near the Magnificent Mile). Every hotel on this list is a 3-7 minute walk from one of them.
- Oak Street Beach is free, and lifeguards are on duty during the beach season, which runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Parking in Gold Coast is expensive. Valet at these hotels is expensive, so check the nightly rate and budget for it if you're driving.
Mid-range vs. upscale in Gold Coast
Viceroy Chicago is the one five-star hotel on this list. Thompson, the Claridge House and the Ambassador are four-star, and The Whitehall, a three-star, gives budget-conscious travelers a foothold next to the neighborhood without dropping to a hostel or motel.
For travelers focused on Oak Street shopping or Astor Street architecture, the Claridge House at 1244 N Dearborn Parkway and the Ambassador on State Parkway put you a short walk from both. The Whitehall is the closest to the Magnificent Mile, on Delaware Place just off Michigan Avenue.
The hotels
Viceroy Chicago
1118 North State Street, Chicago
9.41,581 reviews
5 min walk to Clark/Division (Red Line)Guests score it 9.4, and it's at 1118 North State Street.
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Thompson Chicago, by Hyatt
21 East Bellevue Place, Chicago
9.2905 reviews
Covered by Hyatt's World of Care, which targets a 27.5% cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. We couldn't confirm a certification for this hotel.7 min walk to Clark/Division (Red Line)
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Claridge House Chicago, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
1244 N Dearborn Parkway, Chicago
8.6321 reviews
Hilton's LightStay program tracks energy, water, and waste performance at participating propertiesThe Claridge House takes part as a Tapestry Collection hotel. We couldn't confirm an independent certification here.
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Ambassador Chicago, part of JdV by Hyatt
1301 North State Parkway, Chicago
7.3302 reviews
Part of Hyatt's JdV brand and covered by Hyatt's World of Care program. We couldn't confirm a certification for the Chicago hotel itself.6 min walk to Clark/Division (Red Line)
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The Whitehall Hotel, BW Premier Collection
105 E Delaware Pl, Chicago
8.02,157 reviews
Best Western sets energy and water reduction targets across its Premier Collection. We couldn't confirm an independent certification for The Whitehall.6 min walk to Chicago Ave (Red Line)
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Things to do in Chicago, by neighborhood
Where to start in each neighborhood, and what’s on there this weekend.
Frequently asked questions
Which Gold Coast Chicago hotel has the highest guest rating?＋
Viceroy Chicago at 1118 North State Street has the highest guest score on this list, 9.4. Thompson Chicago is close behind at 9.2.
What CTA stations serve Gold Coast hotels?＋
Two CTA Red Line stations cover Gold Coast. Clark/Division serves the northern part of the neighborhood and is a 3-7 minute walk from the Claridge House, the Ambassador, Viceroy and Thompson. Chicago Avenue serves the southern end near Delaware Place and is a 6-minute walk from The Whitehall.
Are there mid-range hotels in Gold Coast Chicago?＋
Yes. The Whitehall Hotel at 105 E Delaware Place is a three-star property in the BW Premier Collection and offers mid-range pricing in an area dominated by four and five-star options. It's just south of Gold Coast, in Streeterville. The Claridge House on Dearborn Parkway is a four-star option inside Gold Coast that typically prices below five-star hotels.
How far is Gold Coast from the Magnificent Mile?＋
Gold Coast's southern boundary is at Oak Street, which connects directly to the northern end of the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue. The Whitehall, on Delaware Place, is just off Michigan Avenue, and the hotels inside Gold Coast are a few blocks north.
Do Gold Coast hotels have pools?＋
Viceroy Chicago has a rooftop pool, open in season. It's the only hotel on this list with a pool we could confirm.
Is parking available at Gold Coast hotels?＋
Most hotels on this list offer valet parking, but Gold Coast is one of Chicago's more expensive neighborhoods for overnight parking. If you're driving, check the rate with the hotel before you arrive. It can add a lot to the bill.
