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Need a luxury hotel getaway? This beautiful hotel is just the place. The Langham, Chicago is part of the collection of Langham properties located in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Pacific. The first of this property’s hotels, The Langham, London, opened June 10, 1865. It is considered to be London’s first “Grand Hotel.” The Langham, Chicago joined the hotel group in 2013. This award-winning hotel is a 2022 Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award Winner and sets the bar for luxury.

Setting

Chicago is the third largest city in the U.S., located along the shores of Lake Michigan. It is known for its striking architecture and vast skyscrapers, its museums, and the Art Institute of Chicago. We visited on a cold and snowy day, but still the setting is magnificent. The Langham is conveniently located on the Chicago Riverfront, steps from the Magnificent Mile, and Lake Michigan. Of interest is its location next to Marina Towers. Also foundly known as the corn cob towers because of their unique round design.

Our Perspective

The Langham provides the perfect luxury hotel getaway in Chicago. A double room with access to the Club Lounge was $608/night. I used 45,000 American Express points to help cover the cost. This left me with a $274 charge to my credit card. American Express applied my annual $200 Fine Resorts & Hotels benefit credit and I was left paying $74 for the one-night stay. As a Platinum card holder, I also received $120 credit for breakfast, a $100 property credit, and a 4 pm checkout. Not too shabby of a deal!

Property

The property is 12 floors, with 268 guest rooms and 48 suites. The hotel is housed in a Midcentury Modern building considered to be a Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed riverfront landmark. The lobby of this hotel is located on the second floor. The minute you step off the elevator you will know you have entered a vastly different realm. The floor to ceiling windows, tall ceiling, and mirrored accents provide a lot of natural light, making the lobby feel warm and elegant.

Rooms

I invited a close friend who lives in Illinois to join me for this mini vacation. We were offered the opportunity for a free upgrade to a junior suite with a king bed, but we declined and kept the double room. The décor was soft white and shades of brown, which surrounded us with an environment we could relax in and be comfortable. The room was spacious with ten-foot windows looking out at downtown Chicago – again, lots of natural light – and two armchairs separated by a round table. Unfortunately, it was too cold outside to enjoy sitting by the windows for very long but even though we were in a very busy city, we heard no noise from outside. The room was perfect for our luxury hotel getaway!

I loved that the room was equipped with a Nespresso© machine and multiple drawers of snacks and wine (for a charge). There was a separate dressing area with two large closets and drawer space across from the bath area, which included a soaking tub and rain shower. Add to that the two spa bathrobes we were provided and it was heaven.

Food/Drink

The property offers one main restaurant, Travelle, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. We were only able to enjoy breakfast, which was fresh with the eggs cooked to perfection. I opted for the Two Farm Fresh Eggs Your Way while my friend selected the Wabash, which included a choice of any breakfast entrée, grand pastry basket, choice of potatoes or fruit, and selection of juice and coffee or tea. There was so much food we needed a larger table! The Travelle Bar is located next to the restaurant and occupies one corner, just off the lobby. We walked through and checked the bar out but did not indulge. The night view of downtown Chicago was amazing.

Alice in Wonderland Afternoon Tea

We spent a couple of hours enjoying afternoon tea in the Pavilion, also located adjacent to the lobby. It had the same décor as the lobby with floor to ceiling windows and glass accents. The space was soft with sofas, tables, and other comfortable seating. A fireplace added a splash of warm ambience to the cold snowy weather we could see going on outside.

We enjoyed an Alice in Wonderland theme tea, starting with a “Drink Me Potion” (a delectable drink in a tiny stoppered vessel covered with sugar crystals. You could eat everything but the glass! This was followed by a glass of champagne, a hot pot of tea, and so many beautifully crafted delicious savory and sweet treats. We were stuffed and could not finish them all. There was soft, live harp music playing in the background which only added to an already pleasurable experience. The hotel offers Afternoon Tea on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 6 pm. We noticed a few young children present, but there were also several tables of young women celebrating birthdays and bridal luncheons.

Finally, this section would not be complete without mentioning the Club Lounge on Floor 12C. Yes, you must pay extra to access this area, but it is worth it. This is not your typical hotel lounge. This lounge offers all day unlimited champagne and mixers and a variety of snacks and sweets. Daily breakfast, small sandwiches in the afternoon, a selection of cheeses and meats, with hot food in the evening. You also have access to wines and a variety of alcohol to make an assortment of cocktails. And did I mention the views from the Lounge? Gorgeous.

Service

Not surprisingly, service at The Langham, Chicago was impeccable. From the time Schanel checked us in at the front desk and walked us to the elevator until we left the hotel the next day, every staff person we encountered was pleasant and courteous. Even before we checked in, I was able to text directly with the hotel and received responses within a few minutes.

Who should stay here? The Langham offers a spectacular luxury hotel getaway in Chicago. It is not inexpensive, but if you can afford it or have credit card points you can use, you will not be disappointed.

Who should not stay here? In addition to the expense, you may not want to stay here if you want to have direct views of Lake Michigan.