The Drake Hotel

Chicago, USA

Virgin rating

Deluxe Room
Palm Court
Deluxe Room
Palm Court

The hotel

The Drake Hotel is in the finest location in Chicago, situated at the very tip of the Magnificent Mile Neighbourhood, and located right in front of Oak Street Beach overlooking Lake Michigan. It hasn’t lost any of the glitz or traditions which drew in Chicago’s glitterati for its grand opening on New Year’s Eve in 1920, and in the decades which followed. It still hosts High Tea, with its delicate petit fours and fragrant teas now served in the appropriately decadent Palm Court. You can still dine (and drink) at Coq d’Or, the city’s second venue to get that all-important liquor license after Prohibition ended in 1933. A milestone on The Magnificent Mile, with direct access Lake Michigan’s Oak Street Beach, be prepared for drama, history and luxury.

Amenities

  • Bar
  • Room Service
  • Valet parking
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Close to City Centre
  • Restaurant

Where is it

In a central spot at the end of The Magnificent Mile, and with direct access to Oak Street Beach on Lake Michigan, this hotel is a block from John Hancock Center, famous for its 360 CHICAGO and TILT! attractions. It’s also just a few blocks from the Museum of Contemporary Art and two of the city’s most historic landmarks: The Old Water Tower and Chicago Avenue Pumping Station. Transfer time from O'Hare International Airport: 1 hour.

Hotel information

609 rooms and suites. All with individual climate control, flatscreen HDTV with premium movie channels, WiFi access*, fridge*, marble bathroom, safe and luxury terry bathrobes. Deluxe Rooms have 1 king-size bed or 2 oversized twin beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Deluxe Lake View Rooms overlook Lake Michigan with 1 king-size bed or 2 oversized win beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Coq d’Or (piano lounge with cocktails and whiskey bar, open for lunch, dinner and late nights). Café on Oak (open for breakfast). Palm Court (open for afternoon tea and cocktails, with entertainment including live harpists and Salsa dancing). Lavazza Espression (hot drinks, sandwiches and snacks). Room service*. Fitness centre (on-site centre, and access to neighbouring full-service fitness centre*). Arcade shopping. Les Clefs d’Or Concierge. Self parking $49 plua tax, per day and valet parking $70 pus tax, per day (payable locally, subject to change).

*Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (2706)
  • Very good (1371)
  • Average (613)
  • Poor (352)
  • Terrible (211)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating A former gem ofa hotel has now fallen.

Sep 9, 2024 Magical430 Iron River, Michigan

Oh how the mighty crown jewel hotel has fallen. I have stayed at the Drake many times but this last stay will be my last. Torn carpets, drapes that dont close, beatup furniture, and fluctuating room temps. Definitely in need of some overhauling/upkeep. One of the worst things is that there used to be helpful concierges at the concierge desk. Now… Read more
Oh how the mighty crown jewel hotel has fallen. I have stayed at the Drake many times but this last stay will be my last. Torn carpets, drapes that dont close, beatup furniture, and fluctuating room temps. Definitely in need of some overhauling/upkeep. One of the worst things is that there used to be helpful concierges at the concierge desk. Now they have concierge that wants to upsell Hilton vacation packages. And I do mean UPSELL. The guy is relentless and obnoxious. And they no longer have the concierge level package on the top floor. It's not the same since Hilton took over and has definitely lost its former elegance. Sad. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Very Nice Hotel, Great Rooms, And The Best Doorman in the CIty

Sep 8, 2024 Blake R

Very nice hotel, upscale, feels like going back in time. Best Doormen in the city! Crazy prices of parking but Bell staff makes it easy. Location could be a little bit better but it's right off the Miracle Mile. Very clean and very nice employees.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Living Up to Its Storied Reputation

Sep 3, 2024 Europeatheart Warrenton. Virginia

Exceptional service, outstanding location. The best hotel for a « Three Perfect Days in Chicago » vacation. We stayed for our anniversary and everyone including the hotel florist and the valets knew and wished us well. The hotel staff were kind enough to upgrade our room and assure we enjoyed a great view. They did everything to make our… Read more
Exceptional service, outstanding location. The best hotel for a « Three Perfect Days in Chicago » vacation. We stayed for our anniversary and everyone including the hotel florist and the valets knew and wished us well. The hotel staff were kind enough to upgrade our room and assure we enjoyed a great view. They did everything to make our anniversary a memorable event. We were content to enjoy the lake view from three of the rooms’ five windows, which was the perfect spot to enjoy meals in the room. Oak Street Beach, great restaurants, and shopping are all a quick walk away. Museums and other top tourist activities were just a short cab ride away. We also enjoyed meals at the in-hotel restaurants. We look forward to our next stay at the Drake. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating The nastiest hotel I have ever stayed in!

Sep 2, 2024 sloanea655 New York City, New York

Straight up nasty hotel. This hotel was offensively dirty and disgusting. The rooms have not been updated in decades. The bathrooms are particularly dated with tiny showers, faucets that drip, cracked tiles, and mold. The beds claim to be queen size, but are actually full size. The rooms are dark and reek of cigarette smoke. This hotel is running… Read more
Straight up nasty hotel. This hotel was offensively dirty and disgusting. The rooms have not been updated in decades. The bathrooms are particularly dated with tiny showers, faucets that drip, cracked tiles, and mold. The beds claim to be queen size, but are actually full size. The rooms are dark and reek of cigarette smoke. This hotel is running on fumes, obsessed with its historic past so deeply that it refuses to behave like a hotel in 2024. The service is abysmal. The housekeeping missed our room several times during the stay, and the front desk cannot be bothered to help. I wish I had stayed at a Holiday Inn… at least there you get a refrigerator for free in your room (The Drake charges $30 a night!). Stay far away from this dilapidated, poorly managed property. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Classy

Aug 25, 2024 _Travel123er- Marquette, Michigan

This was our first stay at The Drake. I loved it. It is older, but in my opinion, total class. The location is great, Michigan Ave, Oak St. Beach right there. I loved the shops on the lower level. Cafe on Oak was a fun breakfast spot, and Coq D'Or was great for a drink. I am planning to bring our granddaugher to Palm Court for high tea when she… Read more
This was our first stay at The Drake. I loved it. It is older, but in my opinion, total class. The location is great, Michigan Ave, Oak St. Beach right there. I loved the shops on the lower level. Cafe on Oak was a fun breakfast spot, and Coq D'Or was great for a drink. I am planning to bring our granddaugher to Palm Court for high tea when she is a little over. Leslie at reception made our stay better. Will return for sure. Read less