Four Seasons Chicago Tips: Adults Only Is Best
The Four Seasons in Chicago is a beautiful hotel, largely because there are no goldfish crackers ground into the carpet. It is the kind of place where the bath has a soaking tub and the elevator does not smell like a juice box. So here is the honest take: it is wonderful with kids and even better without them. What Four Seasons Chicago tips do you actually need to plan a stay — and is a child-free getaway really the move? Let’s get into it.
Is the Four Seasons Chicago Worth It? The Quick Verdict
Yes, if someone else is paying or you are working a points-and-perks angle. It is a genuine luxury hotel on the north end of the Magnificent Mile, with a 44-foot indoor infinity pool, a renovated spa, a 24/7 gym, and lake views that earn the price tag. It is expensive — book it on a deal or with the right card and it stops feeling like a hostage situation. Bring the kids if you want (the Kids’ Room is open again), but adults traveling solo will get the most out of the spa-pool-cocktail rhythm of the place.
Four Seasons Chicago Tips at a Glance
- Address: 120 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL 60611 (Gold Coast, north end of the Magnificent Mile); front desk +1 (312) 280-8800.
- Size: 345 rooms and suites across 19 floors of a 66-story tower.
- Check-in / checkout: 3:00 p.m. / 12:00 p.m.
- Parking: valet runs around $89 and self-parking around $58 a night — verify the current rate, and seriously, park somewhere else.
- Best money hack: book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts for breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, and a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
1. Where Is the Four Seasons Chicago?
2. Don’t Park at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
3. What Is the Check-in Time?
4. Download the App
5. The Concierge Can Arrange Transportation
6. What Is There to Do Nearby?
7. Should You Bring the Kids?
8. Is the Four Seasons Pet Friendly?
9. Which Room Should You Book?
10. Housekeeping Comes Twice
11. Avoid the Minibar
12. Should You Eat at the Hotel Restaurant?
13. Is the Spa Worth a Visit?
14. The Gym Is Open 24 Hours
15. Wi-Fi Is Included
16. What Is the Checkout Time?
17. How Can You Save Money?
18. Four Seasons Chicago FAQ
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Four Seasons Chicago Tips
1. Where Is the Four Seasons Chicago?
The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago sits in the Gold Coast at 120 East Delaware Place, on the north end of the Magnificent Mile. It occupies 19 floors of a 66-story tower, so even the entry-level rooms deliver real views of the skyline and Lake Michigan — the kind you stand at the window for instead of pulling the blackout shades.
The closest airport is O’Hare (about 18 miles northwest), followed by Midway to the southwest. Both are an easy rideshare or a more glamorous arranged car, depending on how the trip is being expensed.
2. The Parking Fee Is Outrageous
Parking here is its own line item of regret. Recent rates run around $89 a night for valet and roughly $58 for self-parking (in the 900 North Michigan building) — confirm the current price when you book, because these only go up. Hard, hard pass either way. Reserve a spot through a site like SpotHero before you arrive and save yourself the equivalent of a nice dinner.
Pro tip: Do you need to come and go? Make sure your spot has in-and-out privileges, or you’ll be paying twice for the privilege of moving your own car.
Bonus pro tip: Not all garages fit an SUV. Double-check the clearance before you pay, unless you enjoy the puzzle of three-point turns in a concrete spiral.
3. What Is the Check-in Time?
Check-in starts at 3:00 p.m. The hotel won’t guarantee early access to your room, but it will hold your bags and let you use the showers in the fitness center while you wait — so you can drop your stuff and start your day instead of loitering in the lobby with luggage.
Pro tip: If you book through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program with American Express, you can often get in early — noon check-in is one of the listed perks when a room is available.
4. Download the App
Four Seasons has an app, and it’s actually useful. You can message the staff, book transportation, and browse hotel activities without playing phone tag with the front desk. Request extra towels at 11 p.m. without putting on pants — the dream.
5. The Concierge Can Arrange Transportation
The hotel still markets a complimentary house car for short hops around the neighborhood — exact terms and range vary, so ask the concierge what’s covered when you check in. It’s a nice way to get to dinner without wrestling with parking or surge pricing.
The concierge can also arrange a paid airport car. It is rarely the cost-effective option, so if a budget matters, plan your O’Hare run in advance rather than booking it on a whim from the lobby.
6. What Is There to Do Nearby?
Why this hotel? Location, first and foremost. You’re steps from the lakefront, the shopping is right outside the door, and serious dining options are within walking distance.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a few blocks away. Bigger draws — the Shedd Aquarium, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Willis Tower Skydeck, Maggie Daley Park, and Old St. Patrick’s Church — are all within a couple of miles and easy to reach.
If you’re willing to travel a little farther south, the Museum of Science and Industry is worth the trip, and the Field Museum is right there on the Museum Campus too. Pack accordingly — our Chicago packing list covers the weather whiplash this city is famous for.
7. Should You Bring the Kids?
Chicago has a ton for kids to do. So is this hotel a good base for a family? Honestly, yes — and that’s a change from when I first wrote this.
The hotel leans into family travel now. There’s a Kids’ Room up on the 32nd floor with an arcade, video games, foosball, board games, arts and crafts, and a movie area — it’s complimentary, though it needs adult supervision. Kids get a welcome toy, child-sized robes show up in the room, pool toys and floaties are on hand, and children under five dine free. There’s even a “Sammy the Skyscraper” scavenger-hunt passport to keep them busy.
So why does the headline still say adults only is best? Because of how you’ll spend your time, not because the hotel can’t handle kids. The real magic here is the spa, the pool, a quiet cocktail in the Social Lounge, and waking up to a lake view with nobody narrating their dream at you. That’s a grown-up rhythm. Bring the kids and you’ll have a great time; leave them with grandma and you’ll have the kind of trip you brag about — and a night away is still cheaper than couples therapy.
If you’re deciding between this hotel and the Waldorf Astoria Chicago with kids in tow, the Four Seasons wins — the pool and the actual kids’ programming give it the edge. For more general strategy, our tips for traveling with kids apply here too.
8. Is the Four Seasons Pet Friendly?
It is. You can bring up to two pets, dogs or cats, up to about 25 pounds each, for a fee reported around $100 per stay — confirm the current policy when you book. The hotel provides a dog bed and treats, and dogs are welcome in the bar, restaurant, terrace, and lounge. The one catch: there’s no on-property green space, so you’ll be walking out to the sidewalk for bathroom breaks. Plan your loops accordingly.
9. Which Room Should You Book?
Every room is modern, clean, and has a soaking tub. They come with an espresso machine rather than a drip coffee maker, because of course they do.
In-room amenities include robes, hair dryers, ironing boards, umbrellas, corkscrews, bottled water, a scale (why?), and a complimentary shoe shine (also why?). Rooms also offer access to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, though you’ll log in to your own accounts — bring your passwords or accept the indignity of hotel cable.
Pro tip: You can request a microwave and a mini-refrigerator for your room. Essential if you’re traveling with a toddler, a CPAP of leftovers, or both.
Bonus pro tip: There’s free coffee and hot water in the lobby, which softens the blow of that espresso-only room policy.
A quick note on the room and suite roster below: layouts and square footages reflect what the hotel has published in the past and can shift, so treat the numbers as a guide and confirm the specifics for your dates. Every category offers a city or lake view — if you can swing it, the lake side is the one to ask for.
Standard Guest Rooms
The standard rooms run roughly 375 to 390 square feet. Choose one king or two doubles. Rollaway beds and cribs are available, and you’ll get either a city or lake view.
Maximum number of guests: 3 to 4 (with a maximum of 3 adults)
Executive Suites
The Executive Suites are around 575 square feet, with a king and sofa bed or two doubles plus a sofa bed. Cribs are available, and you can get a city or lake view.
Crucially, these have a door between the bedroom and the living area — key to your sanity if you’re traveling with kids who go to bed three hours before you do.
Maximum number of guests: 3 to 4 (with a maximum of 3 adults)
Premier and One Bedroom Suites
The One Bedroom and Premier Suites are about 725 square feet, with a king and sofa bed. Cribs are available. They add a separate living room with city or lake views.
You also get a full bathroom plus a guest powder room with a shower.
Maximum number of guests: 3 to 4 (with a maximum of 3 adults)
Deluxe One Bedroom and Author Suites
The Deluxe One Bedroom and Author Suites run roughly 950 square feet, with one king and two rollaway beds. Cribs are available, and you can get city or lake views. The living area is bigger than the smaller suites and includes a bar.
These have a full bathroom and a guest powder room with a shower.
The Author Suites also come with a private literary collection, which is a lovely touch and not remotely a family selling point.
Maximum number of guests: 3 to 4 (with a maximum of 3 adults)
Luxury Residences
The Luxury Residences are basically apartments, with a bedroom, living room, and kitchenette. They’ll even stock the pantry if you ask. There’s an option to add bedrooms, which is the kind of magic that makes you do quiet math about your mortgage.
You can get city or lake views.
Maximum number of guests: 3 to 4 (with a maximum of 3 adults)
Lake Michigan Terrace Suite
The Lake Michigan Terrace Suite is around 1,325 square feet, with a king, sofa bed, and rollaway. Cribs are available, and you get a lake view.
It has a full bathroom, a separate powder room, and a kitchen.
Maximum number of guests: 3 to 4 (with a maximum of 3 adults)
Lakeshore Terrace Suite
The Lakeshore Terrace Suite is roughly 1,700 square feet, with two king beds, a sofa bed, and a rollaway. Cribs are available, and you get a lake view.
This one has two full bathrooms and a separate powder room.
Maximum number of guests: 4
Presidential Suite
The Presidential Suite is no joke, clocking in around 2,700 square feet — larger than the average American home. It has one king, two doubles, and a rollaway. Cribs are available.
It has a kitchen, dining room, play area, and private workout room, plus two full bathrooms and a separate powder room.
Maximum number of guests: 4 (despite the fact that there’s a table for 8)
10. Housekeeping Comes Twice
Housekeeping comes twice a day, including a nightly turndown service. So yes, someone will fold your discarded clothes into something dignified while you’re at dinner. It’s a small luxury that’s hard to give up once you’ve had it.
11. Avoid the Minibar
The minibar is fully stocked with overpriced everything, and many luxury minibars are sensor-rigged — nudge an item and you may get charged before you’ve even read the price. There’s also no room to stash your own leftovers in there. Treat it as a museum exhibit: look, don’t touch.
Pro tip: Request a mini-refrigerator from the hotel for the stuff you actually want to drink, at prices that didn’t require a second mortgage.
12. Should You Eat at the Hotel Restaurant?
Sometimes, yes — and that’s an upgrade from my old answer. The hotel restaurant, Adorn, is still pricey, but it refreshed its lunch and dinner menus in 2025, and a couple of deals make it genuinely worth a stop. If you’re not chasing a dining credit, though, the surrounding neighborhood gives you more food for your money.
Pro tip: There are plenty of great restaurants near the Four Seasons Chicago. Try Carmine’s for dinner — the portions are huge and the gluten-free pasta is free-flowing.
Adorn Bar & Restaurant
Adorn, on the 7th floor, serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks; reservations go through Tock. Gluten-free bread is available. The May 2025 menus lean into the “Balance by Four Seasons” wellness angle, so expect lighter, produce-forward plates alongside the indulgent stuff.
It connects to the hotel’s Social Lounge, which is a great place to grab a drink before you eat — here or elsewhere.
Pro tip: Adorn runs a happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. — recent menus have listed deals like $10 martinis — plus a weekday “Power Lunch” Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Social Lounge also features regular live music; check the current schedule before you bank on a particular night.
Bonus pro tip: The Social Lounge also offers a Four Seasons Chicago afternoon tea — a fun splurge if you want the full white-tablecloth experience without committing to a tasting menu.
In-Room Dining
There’s 24-hour room service, with a kids’ menu and dessert options. It’s a good move for a treat night or when your kids are simply not up for being seen in public. Otherwise, with this much food downstairs and outside, you can skip it.
13. Is the Spa Worth a Visit?
This is the part of the hotel I’d build a whole trip around. The spa is an 8,000-square-foot wellness center with four treatment rooms, renovated back in June 2023. In 2025 it brought in the Hungarian skincare line Omorovicza and rolled out new facials — including an Ultimate Healing HydraFacial and a “Queen Facial” — so the menu is genuinely current, not a 2019 relic. Even the nail polish is vegan, if you keep score on that sort of thing.
You can book massages, facials, and body treatments, then drift over to the pool and pretend you have nowhere to be. This is exactly the rhythm that makes the place sing for adults traveling without small humans — and if a girls’ weekend is what you’re really after, our take on the Abbey Resort and Avani Spa is worth a look too.
14. The Gym Is Open 24 Hours
The 24/7 fitness center is included with your stay, runs about 2,300 square feet, and overlooks Michigan Avenue. It got a full reimagining from celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak, with a new gym launching on the 8th floor in October 2025 — so if you actually use hotel gyms, this one earns the visit. There’s also a standout pool: a 44-foot indoor infinity-edge stunner, plus a whirlpool and a steam room.
Note: Kids aren’t allowed in the pool after 9:00 p.m., which is either a disappointment or a feature depending on who you’re traveling with.
15. Wi-Fi Is Included
Standard Wi-Fi is included with your stay — as it should be, at this price point. No resort-fee shenanigans for the basics.
16. What Is the Checkout Time?
Checkout is at 12:00 p.m. The hotel won’t guarantee a late checkout at the standard rate, but it will hold your bags so you can squeeze in one last walk down Michigan Avenue.
Pro tip: If you booked through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program from American Express, you get a guaranteed 4:00 p.m. checkout — three extra hours that, on a short trip, are worth a surprising amount.
17. How Can You Save Money?
Is the Four Seasons expensive? Yes, it costs a small fortune. Fortunately, there are several ways to take the sting out — from direct specials to the right credit card portal. Hunt for a deal before you book at rack rate.
Book Direct
The hotel runs regular specials — think dining packages or a free night on a longer stay — and children in your room stay free. Check the current offers for your dates before you commit.
Third-Party Sites
You may find a better rate on third-party sites like Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Hotellook, or Tripadvisor. Compare against the direct rate, since the book-direct perks can outweigh a small discount.
Groupon
Nothing screams luxury like Groupon. Sneer if you must, then check for sales anyway.
Visit Off-Season
Chicago is the place to be in summer, and rates reflect it. If you can tolerate the cold — and the city is genuinely magical around the holidays, when the hotel runs a festive afternoon tea — you’ll find much better rates off-season.
Miles and Points
How do you stay at the Four Seasons for less? There’s no Four Seasons loyalty program to chase, but there are several solid ways to book this hotel for free or at a discount with an assist from plastic. (New to this game? Start with our points and miles guide for beginners and our roundup of the best beginner miles-and-points cards.)
American Express
You can book this hotel using American Express Membership Rewards points through the American Express travel portal.
Pro tip: This hotel is part of Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which is the single best value play here. Standard FHR perks include a room upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, a guaranteed 4:00 p.m. late checkout, and a noon check-in when available. On a luxury stay, those benefits can quietly add up to hundreds of dollars.
Bonus pro tip: If you carry the American Express Platinum card, check your current benefits — Platinum has carried a hotel statement credit for prepaid stays, but the terms change, so verify what’s active on your card before you count on it.
Capital One
You can book the hotel through the Capital One travel portal. Or book elsewhere, charge it to a Capital One Venture card, and erase the charge with miles after the fact.
Pro tip: The Capital One Venture X has carried an annual travel credit for bookings made through the Capital One portal — verify the current amount, then book through the portal to knock it off the price.
Chase
You can book this hotel using Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase travel portal. Worried that opening another card will tank your score? It usually won’t — here’s why credit cards don’t hurt your credit score the way people fear.
18. Four Seasons Chicago FAQ
Is the Four Seasons Chicago good for families?
Yes. The Kids’ Room on the 32nd floor is open (with adult supervision), kids under five dine free, and there are child-sized robes, pool toys, a welcome toy, and a Sammy the Skyscraper scavenger hunt. It’s a real luxury splurge for a family — though adults traveling without kids will get the most mileage out of the spa-and-pool side of the hotel.
How much is parking at the Four Seasons Chicago?
Recent rates run around $89 a night for valet and roughly $58 for self-parking, but these change, so confirm at booking. Either way, you’ll usually save money reserving a nearby garage in advance through a service like SpotHero.
Does the Four Seasons Chicago have a pool?
Yes — a 44-foot indoor infinity-edge pool, plus a whirlpool and a steam room, all part of the spa and fitness level. Kids aren’t allowed in the pool after 9:00 p.m.
Is the Four Seasons Chicago pet friendly?
Yes. It welcomes up to two dogs or cats, up to about 25 pounds each, for a fee reported around $100 per stay (confirm current terms). Dog bed and treats are provided, and dogs are welcome in the bar, restaurant, terrace, and lounge.
What’s the best way to save on a stay?
Book through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts. Even at the same room rate, you typically pick up breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, and a guaranteed 4:00 p.m. checkout — perks that can swing the value of the whole trip. Off-season dates and points portals stack savings on top.
Final Thoughts: Four Seasons Chicago Tips
Is the Four Seasons worth it? It depends on how you book it. The hotel is beautiful, the spa and pool are the real draw, and the location puts the best of Chicago at your feet. It’s also expensive — so chase a deal, lean on a card portal, and you’ll feel like you got away with something. Bring the kids and they’ll be well looked after; leave them home and you’ll discover why I keep saying an adults-only stay is the sweet spot. Either way, you won’t regret it.
I went to an adults-only resort in St. Lucia and it was the best thing ever. Don’t get me wrong, I love kids but since I don’t have any yet- I want to enjoy without them, for now. Love the great pictures of this hotel.
Great post! Thank you for sharing!
Great review! I did Chicago in winter, & saved a ton. I stayed at the Waldorf one day & Hilton the other days. I used cash/points at the Waldorf. I am looking to go to Chicago soon. Probably won’t stay at this hotel but maybe will in the future. I booked Marriott Talbot. Thanks for great review.
I love Chicago and plan to visit again soon. Great recommendation for a stay! Love the adults only policy!
I like your reviews. They contain the details that anyone wishing to travel needs to know. Thanks!
This seems like an amazing place to stay! If I find myself in Chicago, I want to at least go see it if I can’t stay there myself. Thank you for this in-depth review!