The Drake Hotel

Chicago, USA

Star 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 (2738)
  • Very good (1378)
  • Average (621)
  • Poor (353)
  • Terrible (216)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Would recommend

Jul 12, 2025 EDINA N

Excellent service wonderful historic hotel Chris the doorman wonderful. The beds are old and pillows uncomfortable though and restaurant in hotel expensive with average food but the people and atmosphere cant be beat
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Wedding in Chicago.

Jul 5, 2025 happyhubbie New York

Attended a family wedding in Chicago, the wedding party was staying at the Drake, so we stayed there. Having now stayed there, it wouldn’t have been my first choice. I know that the hotel is a “classic” with quite a history, but it is quite rundown. My room had wall paper hanging from the corner and the couch was not just worn, it had a tear in… Read more
Attended a family wedding in Chicago, the wedding party was staying at the Drake, so we stayed there. Having now stayed there, it wouldn’t have been my first choice. I know that the hotel is a “classic” with quite a history, but it is quite rundown. My room had wall paper hanging from the corner and the couch was not just worn, it had a tear in the arm. The public spaces are fine. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Disgusting

Jul 5, 2025 Pranamama New York

The Drake was on my husband’s bucket list- I have to be honest our SUITE was disgusting. Peeling wallpaper, filthy upholstery! Beautiful view of lake and (6) HUGE SPIDERS !!! Husband said they were just outside but I saw one on a closing elevator door going up. Glass on room’s service tray was dirty. Faucet in TINY bathroom sprayed all over the… Read more
The Drake was on my husband’s bucket list- I have to be honest our SUITE was disgusting. Peeling wallpaper, filthy upholstery! Beautiful view of lake and (6) HUGE SPIDERS !!! Husband said they were just outside but I saw one on a closing elevator door going up. Glass on room’s service tray was dirty. Faucet in TINY bathroom sprayed all over the mirror. No robes (!?). Tea was visually lovely but no menu choice for sandwiches which lacked quality (shrimp definitely past prime) roast beef like leather, cucumber was tasty- hard to botch that. Breakfast was good and the bar appetizers satisfied. Hilton, get a Stanley Steamer, exterminator, plumber, and wallpaper maintenance crew! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Old and Tired

Jun 23, 2025 yankeetravels27 New York City, New York

This was clearly once a fabulous hotel. The lobby area is still very grand and the location could not be better. However everything else in the hotel is old and tired. The wallpaper in the rooms is stained, the paint is chipping, and it frankly just smells old. Don’t get me wrong, I love a historic hotel, but I expect it to be comfortable as well… Read more
This was clearly once a fabulous hotel. The lobby area is still very grand and the location could not be better. However everything else in the hotel is old and tired. The wallpaper in the rooms is stained, the paint is chipping, and it frankly just smells old. Don’t get me wrong, I love a historic hotel, but I expect it to be comfortable as well and this was not. The gym was well appointed to give credit where due. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating The drake

Jun 20, 2025 Rafael G

Daphne from HGV was very helpful with recommendations and suggestions. I love the drake and her hospitality was the perfect touch for the drake. Very funny and I will be coming back again