Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

A Skyline Shaped by Its Neighbors

At 98 stories, the tower that holds this hotel is one of the tallest buildings in the United States, but its real achievement is restraint, not height. Architect Adrian Smith designed three setbacks into the facade, each one calibrated to echo a neighboring landmark: the eastern step aligns with the Wrigley Building's cornice, the western one answers Marina City and River Plaza across the water. The curtain wall itself uses curved, wing-shaped stainless steel mullions that catch the light differently through the day. The hotel occupies floors 14 through 27, a relatively modest slice of a very tall building, which keeps the public spaces intimate rather than cavernous.

Why It Works

What earns this hotel its place is the way engineering ambition translates into an actual guest experience rather than staying a design footnote. Sixteen, the Michelin-rated restaurant on the hotel's namesake floor, wraps 34 floor-to-ceiling windows around the dining room, turning the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower into part of the menu. A heated indoor pool and a dedicated spa floor add a second register of calm above the river. With a 9.2 rating across more than 900 reviews, the hotel backs its architectural pedigree with the kind of consistency that keeps guests returning rather than visiting once for the view.

Why This Location

The hotel sits where the Chicago River bends past the Magnificent Mile, close enough to the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower to make them part of the view rather than a distant landmark. Michigan Avenue's shopping runs a few blocks east, and the river's architecture boat tours depart within walking distance, a fitting detail for a building this engineered. The address puts guests at the hinge between the Mile's retail energy and the quieter, river-level pace of this stretch of downtown, useful for travelers who want both within a short walk.

Fast Facts

• Price: Luxury

• Vibe: Architectural, glass and steel, river-facing

• Rooms: Deluxe rooms around 600 square feet with kitchenettes, within the hotel's floors inside the 98-story tower

• Best For: Architecture enthusiasts, travelers who want a working kitchen in their room, river views

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The three facade setbacks, each one calibrated to echo a neighboring Chicago landmark

• Dining: Sixteen for Michelin-rated seasonal cuisine with river and skyline views, the seasonal Terrace for Navy Pier fireworks nights

• Amenities: Heated indoor pool, steam room, sauna, a 24-hour fitness center with river views, a dedicated spa floor

• Attractions: The Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Chicago River and Riverwalk, the Magnificent Mile

Sixteen and a View of the Wrigley Building

Sixteen takes its name from its floor and uses the elevation well: a curved wall of 34 floor-to-ceiling windows wraps the dining room, putting the Wrigley Building's clock tower and the Tribune Tower directly in the sightline. The kitchen changes its menu with the seasons, and reservations are worth making ahead given the Michelin recognition. When the weather allows, the Terrace takes over as the better seat in the house, an outdoor restaurant that turns into one of the best vantage points in the city for the Navy Pier fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

Rooms Built With a Kitchen in Mind

Deluxe rooms run close to 600 square feet, built around floor-to-ceiling windows and, unusually for a hotel this far upscale, a real kitchen: a two-burner cooktop, microwave, espresso maker, dishwasher and mini fridge, meant for guests settling in rather than passing through. Bathrooms add double sinks and a deep soaking tub. Guests booking one of the dedicated spa floor rooms get a calmer palette and direct access to the spa itself, along with in-room touches like heated herbal pillows, built for a stay organized around recovery as much as sightseeing.