With prime real estate tucked across from Millennium Park, the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel is just minutes from Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile. Noted architects Studio Gang Architects designed the unique exterior, which houses modern suites with panoramic views and lots of room. The first Radisson Blu in the U.S., the Aqua Hotel costs a pretty penny, but it delivers with all of its perks. Surrounded by the biggest Windy City attractions and Financial District businesses, the Aqua offers a jaw-dropping rooftop pool, spa services, and free WiFi to boot.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel –Best for…
Business travelers
If you’re traveling for work, nothing beats
the luxury of the Blu Aqua (especially if your company is picking up the tab).
The hotel is home to more than 28,000 square feet of event space with striking
views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. If you’re hosting any type of
meeting or event, there are 13 flexible rooms that can be set up for whatever
your group looks like. Plus, there are built-in screen and an array of projectors
and A/V support.
Spacious suites means there is plenty of room for working in your hotel. Plus
there’s free WiFi and a comfortable desk area. For corporate travel, the hotel
offers business class rooms that come with access to an exclusive Business
Class Lounge. There are also extras like an in-room espresso machines, and you
can request a room with a bathtub.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Amenities
The spacious hotel boasts 334 contemporarily outfitted rooms, complete with clean lines, pops of color and sleek furnishings. Every room comes with a view of Lakeshore East Park, Lake Michigan, Millennium Park or the Windy City skyline. There’s also free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, coffee and tea appliances, and lush bedding. For a small “Urban Fee,” guests can access the health club—which boasts a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools (unheard of in downtown Chi-town), a steam and sauna room, game room, and outdoor track. That also comes with free local and long distance calls, coffee in the lobby from 5 to 6 a.m., a nightly shoe shine, and a 24-hour business center.
Upgraded room options come with extra perks, like the aforementioned Business Class, which offers access to the exclusive Business Class Lounge. Ambassador Suites offer stunning park views, 24-inch LCD televisions and an in-room espresso machine. Ambassador and Presidential Suites also gain access to the Business Class lounge, which serves breakfast and evening beverage service and has magazines and newspapers on hand. The Royal Suite is a luxe as it sounds, complete with a spacious living area and large dining area. There are also an array of accessible room options.
All guests can take advantage of the fireside lobby, which offers modern tea each weekend afternoon and craft cocktails every evening. There are also live music and poetry nights. Guests can also enjoy a grab and go takeaway breakfast in the lobby for busy mornings. Filini is the hotel’s on-site restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week and weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Location
The Radisson Blu is situated on one of the most precious corners in Chicago, with Lake Shore East Park to the east and Millennium Park to the south. The hotel also offers access to the Financial District and North Michigan Avenue shopping nearby. For tourists, it’s easy to walk to Navy Pier and the Art Institute before soaking up downtown nightlife.
Nearby hotels include the Swissotel, Hyatt Regency Chicago, and Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park. All of these parkside accommodations are pricey, but the Radisson is pretty much at the top of the spectrum.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel –The verdict
If you have the budget to spend on a stay at this hotel (or your company is picking up the bill), it’s worth it. The rooftop pool alone justifies the price, and then you add the business center, on-site restaurant, pet-friendly rooms, and ultra-convenient location. Plus, unlike other four-star hotels that pile on the upcharges, there’s free WiFi and a complimentary to-go breakfast. And, if you’re environmentally conscious, you’ll love that the Radisson Blu is the only hotel in Chicago to earn Platinum in the TripAdvisor Green Leaders program.