Riu Plaza Chicago

Riu Plaza Chicago Overview

First Impressions

Walking into Riu Plaza Chicago, you immediately feel like you’ve landed somewhere that gets the balance right between polished and approachable. The lobby has this modern, clean aesthetic without being cold — honestly, it’s the kind of place where you can show up in jeans or a business suit and feel equally at home. What struck me most was how the staff seemed genuinely happy to see guests, not just going through the motions you sometimes get at larger hotels.

Location & Neighborhood

The Streeterville location is honestly perfect if you want to be in the thick of things without the chaos of downtown proper. You’re literally a few blocks from Navy Pier (which, I know, tourists love it or hate it), but more importantly, you’re walking distance to some of Chicago’s best neighborhoods. The Magnificent Mile is right there, but you can also easily wander over to River North for dinner. I mean, couples absolutely love this spot — and I get why, because you can walk to so many great restaurants and bars without dealing with rideshares every time you want to go somewhere.

The Room Experience

The room I stayed in was spacious by Chicago standards, which actually means something in this city where hotel rooms can feel like closets. The windows are floor-to-ceiling, and if you get lucky with your assignment, you’ll have some pretty decent city views. What I appreciated most was the attention to practical details — plenty of outlets near the bed, good lighting for reading, and a bathroom that doesn’t make you feel like you’re playing Tetris every time you need to move around. The four-star rating feels accurate; it’s comfortable and well-appointed without trying to be something it’s not.

Breakfast & Dining

The breakfast setup here is actually worth mentioning, which isn’t something I say often about hotel dining. They do a proper buffet with both the standard American fare and some healthier options that don’t look like they’ve been sitting under heat lamps for hours. What really impressed me was their attention to dietary restrictions — the gluten-free options aren’t just an afterthought, they’re actually thoughtfully prepared. You know what’s nice? You can grab breakfast without feeling rushed, and there’s enough variety that even picky eaters will find something they like.

Why Guests Love It

This hotel works because it doesn’t try to be everything to everyone, but it does the important things really well. The location means you can walk to most places you’d want to visit, the service feels personal rather than corporate, and the overall experience just feels… easy. I think that’s what keeps people coming back — there’s no drama, no unpleasant surprises, just a solid place to stay that lets you focus on enjoying Chicago rather than dealing with hotel headaches. Plus, with that location rating of 9.7, you’re basically getting a front-row seat to one of the city’s best neighborhoods.

To book a hotel in Chicago during winter lights, visitors plan ahead to balance Magnificent Mile shopping with ice-skating at Millennium Park.

Riu Plaza Chicago Accommodations

Reviews of Riu Plaza Chicago

• Shaked from Israel (9/10)

  The hotel is new and clean, the staff is helpful, and the location is great in a cool part of the city. But the best factor is the breakfast, which was the best hotel breakfast I had in Chicago.

• Loredana from Italy (9/10)

  Location, new hotel, trendy and clean, roof top terrace stunning view, large and comfortable room

• Vanesa from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Super friendly and mostly bilingual staff (Chicago seems to be a hob for Latinx, what a wonderful surprise!). A sumptuous breakfast (seriously spoilt for choice), and a fantastic location.

• Ronald from United States (9/10)

  The hotel was clean, comfortable and conveniently located. The breakfast was fantastic.

• Dawn from United States (9/10)

  Very friendly staff, from the front desk to the cleaning crew. The hotel is very clean and has been clearly updated recently. The breakfast spread was fantastic, a lot of options and good coffee! The location in downtown Chicago is perfect, close to most attractions, restaurants, bars, etc.

• Harry from United Kingdom (8/10)

  Breakfast good. Such a shame about filter coffee vats as opposed to proper coffee machines. The coffee lets the breakfast down

• Treiterer from United States (9/10)

  Cleanliness, location is with walking distance of many attractions, the staff was friendly, the rooftop bar view was amazing and the drinks were very good.

• Rob from Australia (9/10)

  Locality and roof top bar was excellent

• Vanu from Argentina (9/10)

  Great place to stay. Nice rooftop. The location is a Plus.

• Anna from Ukraine (9/10)

  1. Great location and nice personnel
  2. New, clean and cozy rooms. Just a little noise from the corridor
  3. Great rooftop bar with a view (photo attached) and good prices in the menu.

Facilities