13 Decked Out Hotels in Chicago
[Last updated in November 2024]
Stay in the Santa Suite at Swissotel Chicago
Photo by Kelly via kellyinthecity.com
The Santa Suite at the Swissotel Chicago, is arguably one of the best Santa experiences at a Chicago hotel. The 2,000 sq ft Presidential Suite is transformed into a winter wonderland, with whimsical décor, including 17 Christmas trees. There are many ways to enjoy this spectacular suite: reserve the Holiday Tradition Package, which gets you a private visit with Santa in the Presidential Pad, for up to 20 people. It also includes a hot cocoa bar, holiday treats & champagne, cookie decorating and so much more! Or, you can also reserve the suite to host a small family gathering for 10 people, or up to receptions for 150.
Early in the season, the Swissotel does a Santa Days event, where an elf-guided tour takes you around the Santa Suite to meet Santa for photos. Tickets include hot cocoa and holiday treats, face painting, holiday crafts and a Letters to Santa station.
Skate at the The Peninsula Sky Rink
Photo via The Peninusla Chicago
The Peninsula Chicago goes to the nines during the holiday season with their magnificently decorated lobby and Christmas trees, elegant dining menus & sweet treats, family activities and performances and many opportunities for holiday events and hotel packages. From an Ugly Christmas Sweater party to daily Holiday Afternoon Tea, The Peninsula Chicago is sure to get you in the festive mood. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, there are opportunities to reserve a spot for their special festive dining experiences.
The hotel offers two holiday packages for overnight stays, such as the Holly Jolly Family Holiday Package that includes an in-room tree or menorah, a holiday welcome amenity, access to the holiday library of movies and games, and much more!
But probably the most unique experience at The Peninsula Chicago, is The Peninsula Sky Rink. For 11 years, the hotel has transformed their 4th floor terrace to an ice rink that overlooks Michigan Ave. Guests can skate around the rink listening to festive music, surrounded by the city skyline and twinkling lights.
Experience all the Holiday Festivities at the Four Seasons
Photo via Four Seasons Chicago
Plan a stay at the Four Seasons and enjoy their long lineup of festive experiences! A festive craft corner provides cookie decorating and an ornament bar, or you can drop off your gifts at the “That’s a Wrap” bar. There are also custom letters and envelopes available to write to Santa and you can drop them off at the mailbox located in the lobby. For an in-room festive experience, the Winter Wonderland Turndown service transforms your guestroom into a decorated mini snow globe.
Then, starting on November 30th and going through December 22nd, the Four Seasons will have their popular Teddy Bear Tea, and on December 15th, Santa will be making an appearance at the hotel to host a delicious North Pole Breakfast. On Christmas Day, treat yourself and your family to a Christmas Feast holiday brunch, serving extraordinary dishes, a spiked cocoa station and featuring live music.
Check out all of the Four Seasons’ holiday festivities here.
Book the Oh Christmas Tree Package at The Langham
Photo via The Langham Chicago
Holidays at The Langham includes festive events at the hotel like a holiday afternoon tea, Christmas Eve dinner and a brunch buffet and dinner on Christmas Day. On select days, including Christmas Day, guests will have the opportunity to visit Santa; no tickets or reservations are needed. But the entire holiday season kicks off with a tree lighting celebration, where guests can gather around and sample offerings from the hot chocolate bar.
To get more into the holiday spirit, book the Oh Christmas Tree package, which includes a lavish Christmas tree in your one-bedroom suite, cheese & charcuterie and champagne cocktails.
Attend the Tree Lighting Event at the Waldorf Astoria
Photo via The Music Trust
The lobby at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago is not only beautifully decorated for the holidays, but every year they have a tree lighting event* to kick off the festive season. In partnership with Lurie Children’s Hospital, this very elegant celebration serves food from award-winning chefs, as well as beer, wine and a specialty holiday cocktail. There is also cookie decorating and other children’s activities, all with live music playing in the background.
Throughout the month of December, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago is gifting one surprise amenity daily. Prizes include suite upgrades, fine dining, spa treatments and more! The festive hotel is also host to the holiday pop-up bar, Miracle at Brass Tack*. Enjoy holiday cocktails and food, while surrounded by Santa figurines and other Christmas décor. Children are welcome from 2pm-6pm, and the pop-up bar is running from December 1st through the 25th.
*Not yet confirmed for 2024 at the time of this writing.
Visit The Lodge at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park
Photo via Fairmont Chicago
Back in its 4th year, the Fairmont Chicago transforms its lobby into an immersive lodge experience with cozy décor and festive events. Mirroring that of an “Après Ski” lodge, guests will warm up and enjoy artisanal cocktails, sweet & savory fondues and s’mores. Open from 5p to midnight, and through February 2025, the pricing begins at $110 for 4 guests (max of 8) and reservations are required. There is live entertainment on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The hotel will also have a Breakfast with Santa, which includes a festive breakfast buffet, all-you-can-drink Mimosa, Bloody Mary & Hot Chocolate bar, cookie decorating and of course photos with Santa.
Book a Festive Holiday Package at the Loews Chicago Hotel
Photo via Loews Chicago Hotel
My family and I love staying at the Loews Chicago Hotel every holiday season. It’s tradition for us to go downtown the weekend of the Mag Mile Parade and Lights Festival and watch the fireworks from our room or the lobby. In the past, during the holiday season, Loews offered a Gingerbread + Breakfast Package, which includes a gingerbread cookie decoration kit, an in-room movie, books from the holiday bedtime story cart, a tent set up in the room and so much more! I am unsure if they still offer this, but they do have other festive offers worth checking out!
Reserve a spot on the Terrace at Hotel Zachary
Photo via Hotel Zachary
Reserve a Globe on the Terrace at the Alma at the Hotel Zachary and order treats and festive cider in the comfort of your own private life-size snow globe. Each globe has a holiday theme to choose from [the Cozy Cabin, Vintage Christmas or Apres Ski]. Keep warm with mulled apple cider, boozy hot chocolate, a s’mores tower or other holiday-inspired seasonal favorites, while admiring the Winterland scenery below at Wrigley Field.
Book the historic Holiday Afternoon Tea at The Drake
Photo via The Drake Hotel
The Drake Hotel delights their guests with a lineup of holiday happenings during the season. Children staying at The Drake can write letters to Santa and drop them off into the Christmas-themed red mailbox located by the gingerbread village in the lobby. With a direct line to Santa, your child is guaranteed a response from the Big Guy.
Another historic family tradition at the hotel is their Holiday Afternoon Tea. Reservations can be made in the Palm Court, and on select dates in the Club International. Both surroundings are beautifully decorated with holiday flora and festive décor, and there is a live harpist and carolers performing on select dates. The exquisite menu boasts gourmet tea sandwiches, decadent treats & sweets and special seasonal teas, among their normal tea offerings.
For a more casual setting, visit Lavazza Expression, located on the arcade level of the hotel, and partake in their seasonal specials, such as a peppermint latte. You can also take a seat at Coq d’Or to listen to live entertainment every weekend while sipping on spirited cocktails, or check out their 12 Days of Merry Martinis, where they’ll be pouring a new seasonal martini everyday during the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Then on Christmas Day, Coq d’or will be serving a special menu for Christmas Dinner.
If you’re planning a holiday party, take a look at The Drake’s events package they offer, which includes your choice of 3 holiday incentives. The long list of incentives include the Gold Coast Lakeview Suite as an auction item, a gift certificate to the Afternoon Tea, a complimentary ice sculpture, bar package upgrade, and so much more! There is also opportunity to win a $500 Amazon gift card.
Visit the Viceroy Chicago during Somerset Wonderland
Photo via Viceroy Hotel Chicago
The Somerset Wonderland* at Viceroy Chicago happens on one day only, where the hotel transforms itself into a holiday village. Ornaments and mugs are available for purchase, along with special treats, such as sandwiches, brats, cookies, hot chocolate and other festive drinks and treats. The kids can enjoy stocking and snowman decorating activities, and don’t forget to take your photo with Santa and The Grinch!
Through the end of January, book a Winter Hut* on the Somerset patio. Reservations are for 2 hours in your own chalet, where you and your friends & family can enjoy house-made food, s’mores kits and your choice of spiked hot chocolate or spiked apple cider.
Also available during the end of December, are holiday treats to go*. Pre-order your Holiday Cookie box or Take-n-Bake Cinnamon Rolls, both crafted by the Executive Pastry chef. Or for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, you can pre-order Christmas desserts, that include a Chocolate Chestnut Yule Log or a Spiced Eggnog Yule Log. If you prefer to dine in, Viceroy will have a tailored dinner menu for Christmas Eve and a sumptuous Christmas Day Brunch.
Like any other day during the year at Viceroy, the V Team Kids program at the hotel provides activities and amenities geared towards kids. Types of activities offered are picnic lunches, museum kits, scavenger hunts and board games. Be sure to contact the concierge desk at least 24hrs in advance to book your activities.
*Not yet confirmed for 2024-2025 at the time of this writing.
Gawk at the Grand Tree at the Palmer House
Photo via Palmer House
This historic hotel already has a gorgeous interior; couple that with a beautiful Grand Tree, and you have a stunning lobby where guests can relax and have cocktails and bites at the bar. The Grand Lobby Holiday Tree has its own tree lighting ceremony, when friends & family can gather around and toast to the start of the holiday season.
The Palmer House also hosts an annual Tuba Christmas event, where 400 tuba players perform Christmas classics in the Grand and State Ballroom. The performance is FREE!
Get Happy at Happy’s in the Chicago Athletic Association
Photo via allevents.in
Every year, the Chicago Athletic Association transforms their hotel bar to Happy’s Holiday Pop-Up Bar. In addition to a menu of special holiday cocktails, Happy’s has over-the-top decor, holiday tunes and many twinkling lights. Check their calendar for when they have kid-friendly events.
BONUS HOTEL IN THE SUBURBS: Hyatt Lodge
Photo via Jane V on yelp.com
There hasn’t been any confirmation this year yet, but last year, the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook announced their 1st ever pop-up bar: Prancer’s Pub. Step into a Winter Wonderland with over-the-top holiday decor, specialty cocktails and an exclusive holiday menu. The hotel also hosts a Breakfast with Santa.
In the past, the Hyatt Lodge also had a Santa Suite. Guests who reserve this room will have a decked-out dining area that seats 10, a holiday bar with a built-in refrigerator and ice maker, a bottle of wine and holiday cookies, festive decor lining the room and a step-out balcony that faces the stunning winter view of the lake.
Let’s hope to have more information on their festivities for this year soon!
Which festive hotels do you love to visit during the holiday season? Let me know in the comments!
‘Tis the season for holiday markets and festive decor! But even better if you pair that with a local farm that sells fresh produce, baked goods or Christmas trees, or has a petting and feeding zoo.