Famous for:
AtmosphereLively
StyleModern Design

Hotel description

Often a new city hotel has to settle for adapting an existing building, shoehorning modern interior design into a prewar skyscraper or hiding boutique flash behind an unassuming facade. Not so the Sofitel Water Tower. Architect Jean-Paul Viguier was allowed to start from scratch, and the result is striking — a dramatic bright white wedge-shaped building that looks for all the world like a giant ice breaking ship cutting its way across Chicago.

The inverted wedge shape, while arresting enough from the outside, has a delightful effect on the interiors as well — guest rooms on the underside of the wedge protrude out over the sidewalk, allowing a unique view straight down onto the street.

Of course in some chain hotels one would prefer to look out the window, rather than catch a glimpse of the tired decor and flabby furniture. Here, again, this hotel is different; Sofitel is a chain, yes, but one with respect for design — guest rooms feature Barcelona chairs by Mies van der Rohe and the hotel lobby is stocked with a small library of books about Chicago architecture and design.

Let's not forget the creature comforts — though the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Hotel could certainly get by on good looks alone, it is a fully-functioning big-city luxury hotel, with high-speed internet, 24-hour room service, spacious bathrooms, and a convenient downtown location, just off the Magnificent Mile. Though the staff may speak with French accents, and the interiors are deeply European, there's little danger of forgetting where you are — those vast picture windows have commanding views of the city's unique architecture, if you can tear your eyes from the sidewalk below.

How to get there:

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower is located a few blocks from the Chicago Ave. station on the red "L" line and approximately a 30 minute drive from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

Travelling with Kids

Guests over the age of 21 are considered adults. Some rooms accommodate 3 or more. The "Room with 2 double beds or one-bedroom suite with sofabed" room sleeps up to 4 guests. For crib/cot, must book "Superior King or Double bedded room" room or larger. For 2 adults + rollaway bed, must book "Rollaways are not offered" or larger. For 2 adults + 2 kids beyond crib age, must book "Room with 2 double beds or one-bedroom suite with sofabed" room or larger.

Cribs are available and may be subject to an additional fee. No additional charges for kids beyond crib/roll-away.

Babysitting services provided by screened outside help at US$Varies per hour. The restaurant is kid-friendly with high chairs and a kids menu. Room service offers a kids menu.

Contact & location

20 East Chestnut St - Downtown, Chicago

+1.312.324.4000

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Sofitel Chicago Water Tower

This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at WikitravelView full credits

This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at WikipediaView full credits

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