The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown

United States , Chicago - IL
CHICAGO, 71 E Wacker Dr
Show on Google | Website | Map

100 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

29 Jun 2026

Sarah

The view from our corner room was unbelievable. Day or night the skyscrapers, river, bridges scenery did not disappoint. The room was big and clean. The only downside we found was it was noisy some nights with all the cruising and honking on the busy streets below us. But that’s the price you pay to be in the heart of the city.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

29 Jun 2026

Jeffrey

I wouldn’t stay here again. I was put next to the elevator it was loud dinging all night and morning. Ironically, being right next to the elevator but it would take at least 8-10 minutes for the elevator each time when it was busier in the mornings. At one point, we had to take the service elevator because the cleaning staff felt bad for us. Additionally, at least during the summer people were either protesting in front of the Trump hotel blocking the streets with cars, fireworks, and dance parties between 12-1am. If you don’t need to sleep, it was great! Never again!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jun 2026

Christopher

All Team members were friendly and focused to help us in any way possible - starting when we pulled up to the property. Thank you for making our stay so special!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 Jun 2026

David

This hotel has a perfect location right near the river and fun things to do. An elevator was not working the entire four days we were there which really affected being able to get up and down to and from your room. One time it took almost 10 minutes to get an elevator going down while we were waiting for an Uber. The room was nice, clean and met our needs. The staff was friendly and helpful. The restaurant, Hoyt, always seemed. packed and crowded so we didn’t end up eating or drinking there. Overall, not as high rated as the London house, but certainly nice in a great location.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2026

Tommy

Staff was super helpful in my arrival

Pet

6/10

Pleasant

28 Jun 2026

Venkat

Excellent location and very good views from the hotel. The inside of the room is ok. Nothing over the top. Bathrooms were clean and well-maintained. Elevators had wait time at peak hours.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2026

Tobias

We enjoyed our stay very much and will definitely stay here again. The only complaint is the elevators were very slow all weekend long. The hotel was very busy so it was hard for them to keep up. Other then that we enjoyed our stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2026

Chris

Jock was a gem! Very helpful and friendly.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2026

Wade

Gorgeous hotel. Location is fantastic. Staff are very friendly and very helpful. Our rooms were clean and we had an awesome view. We will definitely stay here again.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

26 Jun 2026

Cora

Good stay. Great location. Great room view.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jun 2026

Julie

Had a Fabulous time. Beautiful views. Perfect location.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Anthony Gaddy

The staff was very helpful and accommodating, we arrived early and a room was available. Our room was very clean, a nice walk in rain shower with a bench. They have a nice restaurant the Hoyt that has good breakfast, lunch and dinner options. The location is optimal since so many things are within walking distance or a short cab ride usually $12-15 bucks. We loved Chicago and the Royal Sonesta and will definitely stay here again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Mark

Great place to get away, unwind and enjoy the sights of downtown. Everything in walking distance, great location and great attentive staff. Valet was very much on point as well.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jun 2026

David Glenn

Excellent location right in the heart of everything. Staff was very friendly and helpful throughout my stay highly recommended when visiting Chicago

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jun 2026

Martika

Room was clean, hotel smells good, we had a great view ! Restaurant had a bomb breakfast sandwich! Staff were nice as well. Would stay again.

6/10

Pleasant

23 Jun 2026

David

We stayed here because of it's proximity to the children's museum and other attractions for our kids. The kids did really like the bunk beds in the family suite. However, for how expensive it is, it's a bit run down. It's pretty clear it needs an update. If you have a car, you have to pay for valet or self-park far away. We did valet and in general the valet guys were super nice and helpful, although you have to text for your car 20-30 mins before you need it, and there was one time when I brought the car back and had to wait for a valet to show up (but I get it, they're busy). There were large tour groups that took up the elevators and lobby a lot. And there's no room service. You have to go down to the restaurant to order and then bring it back to the room yourself. The first night the restaurant was closed, which is not ideal when arriving with small kids. All in all it's fine, but it's just not super family friendly.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

23 Jun 2026

Colleen

Great location in Downtown, spacious rooms. However the outside noise of loud cars and emergency sirens were constant and often disturbing at night. Could hear neighbours talking on the room next door. Not a quiet hotel at all.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

23 Jun 2026

kristine

Good location
Outside dining was never open /available

Family

8/10

Excellent

22 Jun 2026

Sean

Friendly & helpful staff!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jun 2026

Dave

Nice property

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

22 Jun 2026

John

The food at the lounge was terrible. Ordered the royal burger and it was by far one of yhe worse burgers I have even eaten. Patties tasted like they were frozen and thrown on the grill without any seasoning. Extremely disappointed due to the fact that the hotel was great.

Family

8/10

Excellent

22 Jun 2026

Caitlyn

The Royal Sonesta is in an incredibly convenient location with a helpful hotel staff. We were given the wrong room initially that did not meet expectations, but we were able to correct this with hotel staff after some delays.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jun 2026

Oleh

Nice hotel, very nice stuff. I expected that it will be newer but it was very clean and comfortable. Valet parking is awesome, service is very convenient, but $80 is a bit expensive for overnight parking. They upgraded us for river view, which was nice, very good experience. Breakfast was decent nothing fancy but very good

Partner

2/10

Poor

22 Jun 2026

Quashinda

Upon check-in, I was charged a security deposit for my stay, which I understand is standard practice at most hotels. However, after checking out, I noticed an additional charge for food purchased at the hotel restaurant, despite being informed that these charges would be deducted from my original deposit.
As a result, I was charged approximately $500, and I do not believe my expenses at the hotel totaled that amount. I have made several attempts to resolve this issue, but I have only been able to reach a customer service line and have been unable to speak directly with someone at the hotel.
This experience has been very frustrating, particularly due to the lack of direct communication and difficulty resolving billing concerns. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I would not choose to stay at this hotel again.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jun 2026

Richard

The hotel is in a great location. The rooms are clean and spacious. The staff was too notch. We will definitely stay here again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Jennifer

The property is close to the Riverwalk and CTA bus and train routes. The room is spacious with a large sitting area and bathroom. The bar is warm and inviting, with dining inside or outside. All types of restaurants are nearby and within walking distance. Millenium and Grant Park are a few blocks away. The Magnificent Mile is within walking distance or you can take several buses up Michigan Avenue. The staff is very helpful and you will enjoy your visit.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Jennifer

Great stay, very pleased. Convenient location, a lot in walking distance . Highly recommend

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Rosa

Great location!!!

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

21 Jun 2026

Bathinaiah

Great views of river.Helpful staff overall.
Lot of wear and tear. For the price, lots of better and luxurious options nearby.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Ross

Very clean well maintained and great location.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Eugene

Small and quiet, friendly staff. Wish there was a microwave in room.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

20 Jun 2026

Brandy

Beautiful views, delicious food at the on site restaurant, and the best customer service I have ever experienced in my life!

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jun 2026

Valerie

From check in to check out, my family had a wonderful time at the property.

Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

19 Jun 2026

Samantha

The staff was great. There is no over sized parking for a GMC truck. The quality of the room was terrible. In the room I was in, the window was broken, the water pressure was horrible. The water pressure was so low it took forever to wash my hair. All the cushions in the lobby were stained and dirty.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jun 2026

Anna

Friendly staff, large clean quiet rooms. Outstanding location. Great value

Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2026

Javier

Beautiful hotel. Excellent service. Perfect location

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2026

Renee

My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Royal Sonesta. The entire team was kind, approachable and professional.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jun 2026

Miranda

n/a, great staff & place

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jun 2026

Shalice

Beautiful clean hotel, staff is amazing, decor was really cool. Would definitely stay again!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

Ahmed

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

David

Restaurant is very limited and no room service.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

Feng

Incredible location, comfortable rooms, great bar and a restaurant attached! Loved staying here!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

James

Incredible views, great value, great location

Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

Sierra

My first experience at this hotel was lovely. Staff was friend, kind patient and very helpful. I’d recommend it to any travelers and look forward to staying at this property in the near future.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

15 Jun 2026

Steven

Great location. Check in took a while because they were busy. Very clean property would stay here again

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jun 2026

Amanda

Had a birthday party for 12 women with 4 rooms reserved. They did a great job finding us the best deals, booking us as close as possible, and handling all our different arrival and departure schedules. Loved this stay and now am a fan of all soonesta properties.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jun 2026

Shakeema

Great

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2026

Rafa

The suite was clean and had a lot of kitchen ware for my stay. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2026

Caro

Perfectly located. Efficient staff. Rooms were clean and generously sized with great view. Recommend!

6/10

Pleasant

12 Jun 2026

Alice

We booked the Royal Sonesta Downtown because it appeared to be one of the nicer and more convenient options in the area. At over $3,000 for three nights, we expected a much better experience. The room was decent, but several things felt outdated, and the bathtub handle was broken, so we couldn’t use it. Housekeeping, however, was excellent and one of the highlights of our stay.

Our biggest issue was the inconsistency of information from staff. Guest Services was often busy or went to voicemail, forcing us to visit the front desk, which always seemed overwhelmed. We requested early check-in and late checkout when booking. One employee told us to call a few hours before arrival to check availability, but when we did, another representative rudely said they wouldn’t know until we arrived. Fortunately, the front desk agent at check-in was friendly.

We also received conflicting answers about ice machines. One employee told us every even-numbered floor had one, only for us to later learn our floor specifically did not. Another employee said ice could be delivered, but when we called for it, they told us it could not and incorrectly claimed our freezer made ice in a super condescending manner.

We were told the night before departure that a decision couldn’t be made until the next morning because the house manager wasn’t there. The next day it was denied an hour before normal checkout. Overall, it’s a decent hotel, but not worth the price we paid.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2026

Very enjoying stay!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

Sharon

Great location. Very friendly staff. Super clean and fantastic view. Will stay here again when in Chicago.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

yukiko

I had

8/10

Excellent

10 Jun 2026

france

Jjj

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2026

Jeremy

Loved the location and the style of the hotel.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2026

Lindsay

Perfect proximity to the Riverwalk and downtown Chicago. We left our bags with the front desk on the morning of check-in, as we got there around 11 am. No more than 30 minutes later, the lovely receptionist called me and offered a discounted early check-in with an upgraded room. We pounced on the offer and checked in without a hitch. Our room was spectacular, lots of room and wonderful amenities. The bathroom was spacious and modern. Our view out of our long window was right out to the river and skyscrapers. It was a definite wow factor for us. Thank you so much for the comfortable and unforgettable stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2026

Chase

Amazing view!

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2026

Brittny

This is a lovely property in a great location. It's within walking distance of many things. Everyone was nice and welcoming upon our arrival and recommended some things to do and Places to eat. I really enjoyed my stay and would return.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

Steve

Hughly recommend the hotel. Spectacular view, very nice rooms, staff was great to work with.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

Maria

Super great location, walking distance from most everything in downtown. Very nice and clean rooms. Friendly staff. Will definitely recommend

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

Jana

The hotel staff were extremely friendly and very helpful for navigating sightseeing and dinner suggestions.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jun 2026

Dietria

Love the area

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2026

LaKoi

I recently stayed at the Royal Sonesta Downtown Chicago for four nights and had an experience that started with disappointment but ended exceptionally well. When I booked my stay, I specifically selected a City View room because it was my first time visiting Chicago, and I was excited to enjoy the city's beautiful skyline and river views. Upon arrival, I was checked into a room on the 17th floor. However, when I entered the room, I was disappointed to find that my \"city view\" consisted mainly of a back parking lot and alleyways between surrounding buildings.
I returned to the front desk and requested to speak with a supervisor. That's when I had the pleasure of meeting Satara. She was incredibly understanding, sympathetic, and genuinely cared about making my first Chicago experience a memorable one. After listening to my concerns, she went above and beyond by offering me a one-bedroom suite on the 26th floor. The upgrade completely transformed my stay. Not only did the suite provide more space and comfort, but it also featured two incredible views of the city that exceeded my expectations. Thanks to Satara's outstanding customer service and willingness to help, my Chicago trip became everything I had hoped for and more. Thank you, Satara, for your professionalism, kindness, and dedication to guest satisfaction. Employees like you make all the difference. I truly appreciate everything you did to make my first visit to Chicago so special.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2026

Tiffany

The hotel was beautiful and clean. All of the staff we came across were very friendly, helpful and nice. Beautiful view of the river!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2026

Mario

Excellent location. Friendly staff. Comfortable and clean rooms.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2026

LaGina

Everytime I come to Chicago, I stay here. It’s in a great location, GREAT staff, lobby always smells good, clean building, just wonderful. I’ll always return !!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2026

negar

The riveri view was great I really enjoyed it.
It is in the best location in downtown Chicago. It gets a little bit noisy at night, but it is downtown!
The only thing that I was not happy about it was that the breakfast was not a Buffet one. There is a restaurant that you should order your breakfast. Everything else was great and I enjoyed staying here

Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2026

Ronald

Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Made the stay very pleasant.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 May 2026

Amy

Loved the Royal Sonesta! The beds and pillows were all very soft and not our preference, but we still loved our stay. The signature lobby scent smelled so good! (Is there a Sonesta Lobby candle I can buy!? lol). The location could not be better in downtown Chicago. Staff was so friendly. 10/10 would recommend!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Darnell

We were given a room upgrade when we arrived. The staff were very helpful and were quick to get us a cab or give a restaurant recommendation. We will definitely be back.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 May 2026

elvin

It’s very conveniently located, had a good restaurant, and great views

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Randy

We are very pleased with our stay! We had a king river view room. It was very spacious, had a perfect little fridge and coffee station in a corner, and a giant bathroom with two vanities! The shower was huge and even had a bench- perfect for storing your toiletries. The bed was comfy and sheets were nice and crisp. Pillows were to my taste and I appreciated that! (Not the mushy feather pillows that last half a night) I’m not sure if we were actually controlling the temp, but I could turn the fan on a constant hum which makes me happy. You need your keycard to use the elevators which is a great safety feature. We could hear televisions and conversations from other rooms while standing in the hallway on our floor waiting for the elevator, but did not hear through the walls in our room. We were on the 8th floor, so of course we had city noise- but that’s just part of it!

My personal opinions, which do not detract from my 10/10 hotel rating… waterfall shower head- sounds glamorous and feels exciting, but if you have hair longer than an inch it takes forever to actually wash. There were lots of doorman but only one who actually interacted and greeted guests. I should have gotten his name to give a personal compliment.Check in was efficient, but not friendly.

We ate in the bar late in our first night. The burger was amazing (bacon jam!) and the bartender was great. Ambiance of bar was fun and we appreciated the convenience of actually having a good restaurant on site!

Partner

4/10

Poor

30 May 2026

Kimberly

The staff at the reception and at the restaurant weren’t the best. It took 10 minutes to get a waitress even though there were a few standing by and looking at our table of 3. We extended our stay for one more night due to a delay for our flight and we tried to book again, the receptionist wanted us to do book through Expedia. We had four different people trying to tell us different things on how to book. I wish that the staff knew what they were doing especially since it was an expensive stay.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Ananda

A very quick trip to Chicago and this hotel was perfect! Close to the metro, so there was no need for a car or an uber. Everything is either in walking distance or on the metro line…perfect location! The hotel itself is beautiful and the people there are lovely. We had the option to pay $25 for an early checkin which was very helpful. The room was clean with an incredible view of the river. We would absolutely stay here again!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2026

Angela

Exceptional experience! Staff was amazing! So helpful and friendly. Offered restaurant and sight seeing suggestions. Even came from behind the desk and outside to the sidewalk to give us specific directions to get to the L to get to a Cubbies game. Location was outstanding. Convenient to everything. We walked everywhere. Felt very safe. Room was spacious. Bathroom had two counters and sinks which worked great for my friend and I. Very clean and great amenities. Highly recommend this hotel!

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

28 May 2026

Miner

Location is convenient. I was wondering is it only me having the problem with the size of the walk in shower. The washroom is big, but the walk in shower is comparative small for me and my kids. We are all under 130lbs! Design matters that much in Chicago but the shower design is totally out of mind!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2026

krystal

Great location. Staff was super sweet.

Family

8/10

Excellent

28 May 2026

Stephen

Paid everything upfront . 2 days after checkout I was hit with 142.13 charge for destination charge. Shocked me.

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Sunil

Great location, nice property, helpful staff, and spacious, comfortable rooms.

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Shirley

I booked this hotel for a birthday trip for my boyfriend and we were so please with everything the hotel had to offer. We arrived early to check-in and our room wasn't yet ready and they offered to hold our bags until our room was ready which gave us time to explore and eat. They mentioned we would get a text when the room was ready, we didn't receive one so we just waited until 4pm to head back to be on the safe side. Check-in was easy and smooth. We booked the Premier King Room with River View and had room 1803 which was perfect. The view was amazing! The room was perfect for the two of us. A little after we checked in, one of the staff had to come to our room and brought some birthday surprises for my boyfriend. I had mentioned in the notes of my booking it was a birthday trip. They brought us a piece of cake and bottle of Prosecco. So sweet! The next day it was raining and didn't have an umbrella and we're going to buy one but the hotel actually provides you one if you ask the front desk, free of charge! It was so convenient! We also had brought back leftovers, but our room wasn't equipped with a microwave. I had asked the front desk if there was any where we could reheat our food and they offered to send a microwave to our room for free as well! The staff was absolutely amazing and so helpful with everything we needed. We also had a $10/day drink credit at Hoyt's, I got a drink one the last night which was so good! If we visit again, will definitely stay again!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Judy

Staff was very friendly and helpful. will stay again on our next visit back.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Shiloh

We stayed in the deluxe king with ricer view, insanely worth it. Super clean, great location, exceedingly friendly staff!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2026

leanna

It was a beautiful room and very professional staff.

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2026

Thomas

The front desk staff went above and beyond with our room upgrade. The room was wonderful. Location was in the heart of exactly where we wanted to be. This will be our go to Hotel whenever we visit Chicago in the future.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Daniel

Amazing hotel

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Ashley

Our first time staying at a Royal Sonesta Hotel and we absolutely loved it! We thought it was very family friendly, the staff were amazing. We called in early in the morning for early check in and they were able to get us in our room sooner. The valet service was fast and the guys were very helpful.

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Lizet

Excellent hotel. Clean, very helpful staff, great location. Definitely recommend it.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Eduin

Excelente estadía, no tengo dudas todo estuvo bien

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

Kelly

Beautiful place, my room was upgraded and had a huge room. I had only booked one night and wish I could have stayed longer. Valet staff especially Lucas and front desk extremely nice. Loved the location!! I will be back

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

Sara

Front desk was super nice! The place was very nice and comfy for our stay.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

24 May 2026

Suzette

The room was clean and my view of the lake was simply beautiful!!

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

Jeremy

Very beeatiful views and a elegant vibe throughout the hotel. Nice clean room as well. Will stay again

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

Lenny

The view was really nice and the place was very clean. Staff was very friendly

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

David

The hotel was wonderful and perfectly located in downtown Chicago. The staff at the restaurant bar were fabulous, lots of people in the lobby to help take care of your needs, and check in was fabulous. I got a room with a view of the river on the 30th floor and spectacular. Look forward to coming back.

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2026

Vanessa

Location was fantastic for a first-time trip to Chicago. Room was very spacious. Staff gave us an early check-in which was much appreciated. Plenty of restaurants and shopping right nearby. Didn’t partake of the bar, restaurant or gym during our stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2026

Teri

We returned after staying a few days earlier and tried restaurant. Really tasty, fresh food. Staff very attentive in hotel and restaurant. A gem of a stay in Chicago!

10/10

Exceptional

18 May 2026

Gabriel

Great hotel 10/10

Self

6/10

Pleasant

18 May 2026

Maciej

Great place, but rowdy crowd on weekends. Was able to hear guests next door thru our room.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 May 2026

Philip

Great location, nice room, friendly staff. Dissapointed that the hotel bar was closed Sunday. We went next door for breakfast as much better priced for same fare.

4/10

Poor

17 May 2026

Diane

The hotel was fine. However, upon check in we received a free “upgrade” to room 3516. Shortly after getting to the room I began to notice non- stop banging and thumping sounds next door, similar to cabinet doors being slammed in a neighboring room. Realized shortly that the room is adjacent to several elevator shafts. Too tired and too late in the evening we decided to just ride out the night. Non stop bumps and the occasional squeal ensued throughout our stay. Thankfully I had some really good earplugs with me.
A disclaimer from the front desk would have been greatly appreciated. If you do get stuck in this room make sure to ask for a discount and bring a nice pair of earplugs.

Partner