These five hotels in River North, Chicago pair strong guest scores with addresses inside the neighborhood. There's a mix of mid-range and upscale, so most budgets have a good option. Hotels with verified sustainability credentials rank first, then star rating, then guest score.
How we ranked these hotels in River North, Chicago
All five hotels are in River North proper, west of Michigan Avenue. None are in the Gold Coast or the Loop. We pulled addresses, star ratings, and guest scores, then applied a three-step ranking: sustainability credentials first, star rating second, guest review score third.
Hotels without a verified eco program still qualify if their ratings are strong enough to place in the top five. We left out The Freehand Chicago because it's a hostel.
River North hotels at a glance
| Hotel | Stars | Guest Score | Nearest CTA Station | Sustainability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown / River North | 3 | 9.0 | Grand (Red Line), 5 min | Marriott Serve 360 |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown | 3 | 8.8 | Grand (Red Line), 4 min | Hilton Travel with Purpose |
| The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago | 4 | 9.6 | Grand (Red Line), 4 min | None verified |
| The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North | 4 | 9.4 | Grand (Red Line), 5 min | None verified |
| ACME Hotel Chicago, Outset Collection by Hilton | 4 | 9.2 | Grand (Red Line), 3 min | None verified |
Quick tips for booking in River North
- Grand Avenue (Red Line) is the closest CTA L stop for most River North hotels, putting you 3 to 5 minutes on foot from Ohio Street.
- State Street and Rush Street are the two main north-south corridors in River North. Hotels on State tend to be slightly quieter than those on Michigan Avenue.
- If you need a kitchenette for a longer stay, Residence Inn and Homewood Suites both offer in-room kitchen setups.
- River North is roughly between the Chicago River to the south and Chicago Avenue to the north. Anything south of the river is the Loop, not River North.
Neighborhood context: what River North offers
River North runs from the Chicago River north to Chicago Avenue, and from Michigan Avenue west to the Chicago River's north branch. The neighborhood packs gallery districts, restaurant rows on Clark and Wells, and direct access to the Magnificent Mile one block east on Michigan Avenue. Walking times to Millennium Park run about 15 minutes south.
Most hotels on this list are within a 5-minute walk of the Grand Red Line station at 500 N State Street, which connects to the Blue Line for O'Hare with a transfer at Jackson.
The hotels
Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown / River North
410 N Dearborn St, Chicago
9.0210 reviews
Marriott Serve 360Marriott Serve 360 covers energy reduction targets, water conservation and responsible sourcing across Marriott hotels, this one included.
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Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown
40 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
8.83,559 reviews
Hilton Travel with PurposeHilton Travel with Purpose covers carbon reduction commitments, LightStay property-level tracking and waste diversion goals at this hotel.
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The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago
521 North Rush Street, Chicago
9.6481 reviews
4 min walk to Grand (Red)A 9.6 guest score, the highest on this list, at a Luxury Collection hotel on Rush Street
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The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North
505 North State Street, Chicago
9.42,288 reviews
5 min walk to Grand (Red)A 9.4 guest score at 4 stars on State Street, one of River North's main corridors
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ACME Hotel Chicago, Outset Collection by Hilton
15 East Ohio Street, Chicago
9.22,156 reviews
3 min walk to Grand (Red)A 9.2 guest score at 4 stars and the shortest walk on this list to the Grand Red Line station, 3 minutes
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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 River North hotel has the highest guest rating?＋
The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel on Rush Street, holds the top guest score at 9.6. It is on the east side of River North, a 4-minute walk from the Grand Red Line station.
Which hotels in River North have kitchenettes?＋
Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown / River North and Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown both offer in-room kitchen setups. Confirm that your specific room type includes one when you book.
What is the nearest CTA L station to River North hotels?＋
Grand station on the Red Line at 500 N State Street is the closest CTA L stop for most River North hotels. Walking times from the hotels on this list range from 3 to 5 minutes. The Red Line runs north to Howard and south to the Loop and beyond.
Are any River North hotels pet-friendly?＋
Pet policies vary by property and change often, so ask the hotel directly whether pets are allowed, and about size limits and fees, before booking.
Which River North hotels have sustainability programs?＋
Residence Inn by Marriott participates in Marriott Serve 360, which covers energy, water, and sourcing targets. Homewood Suites by Hilton participates in Hilton Travel with Purpose, which includes property-level carbon and waste tracking via the LightStay platform. The other three hotels on this list have no verified eco programs at this time.
Is River North the same as Streeterville or the Magnificent Mile?＋
No. River North runs from the Chicago River in the south to Chicago Avenue in the north, and from Michigan Avenue in the east to the river's north branch in the west. Streeterville is east of Michigan Avenue. The Magnificent Mile is the stretch of Michigan Avenue itself, which forms the eastern edge of River North but is not the same neighborhood.
