Loews Chicago Review (Downtown): Chicago, IL

The Loews Chicago Hotel is a 400-room property in downtown Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, about two blocks from Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile. I stayed here for two nights in February, booked through Chase’s “The Edit” program.

The Edit is Chase’s luxury hotel program that offers benefits similar to other preferred partner programs, including complimentary breakfast, property credits, room upgrades, and late checkout at participating hotels. It’s accessible to Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred cardholders and operates as Chase’s answer to Amex FHR, though the property list is smaller and more selective.

Location

The Loews Chicago sits on East North Water Street in Streeterville, right where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan. You’re two blocks from Navy Pier to the east and about a 10-minute walk to Michigan Avenue and the Magnificent Mile shopping district to the west. The location puts you close to major downtown attractions—Millennium Park is about a 15-minute walk south, and the Loop business district is easily accessible.

Streeterville itself is quieter than the Magnificent Mile corridor. It’s a mix of residential high-rises, restaurants, and some offices, so it doesn’t have the constant foot traffic and tourist crowds you get closer to Michigan Avenue. That’s a positive if you want a break from the chaos, but it also means fewer dining and entertainment options within immediate walking distance of the hotel.

Winter Considerations

Staying here in February means facing Chicago’s winter weather. The walk from the hotel to Michigan Avenue or the Loop means you’re exposed to wind coming off Lake Michigan, and it’s brutal. Temperatures in February hover in the 20s-30s, but the wind chill makes it feel significantly colder. The two-block walk to Navy Pier isn’t worth it in winter because most outdoor attractions are closed or unusable.

If you’re visiting Chicago in winter, you’ll want to factor in that outdoor walking is not fun. The hotel’s location isn’t bad, but the distance to restaurants and attractions means more time outside in the cold than you’d have at a hotel directly on Michigan Avenue. I would definitely recommend staying here in the summer, but I probably would not stay here again in the Winter.

Lobby & Check-in

The Loews Chicago lobby is contemporary and spacious, with high ceilings and a modern design that feels upscale without being overly formal. The space is well-lit, and the front desk is immediately visible when you walk in from the street entrance.

We checked in around 8 PM and the process was smooth. The front desk staff was genuinely friendly—not just going through the motions, but actually helpful and welcoming. They had my Chase Edit benefits ready to go and walked through what was included: complimentary breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, room upgrade consideration, and guaranteed late checkout. They also confirmed the room upgrade had been applied, which was a nice touch rather than having to ask.

One thing worth noting: they upgraded me to a higher floor rather than one of their renovated rooms. The renovated rooms are on lower floors, and the hotel’s standard upgrade logic assumes guests prefer high floors over renovated spaces. I would have actually preferred a renovated room on a lower floor, but they didn’t ask—they just applied the standard high-floor upgrade. It’s a small detail, but if room condition matters more to you than floor level, it’s worth mentioning at check-in that you’d prefer a renovated room if one is available.

Rooms and Suites

The Loews Chicago has 400 rooms total, with a mix of standard rooms and suites. Standard rooms run 377-449 square feet depending on category, which is on the smaller side for a four-star hotel but typical for downtown Chicago properties where space comes at a premium.

The hotel has been rolling out renovations over the past few years, so you’ll find a mix of renovated and non-renovated rooms throughout the property. The renovated rooms feature updated design, modern finishes, and contemporary furniture, while the older rooms show their age with more dated decor and worn finishes. The renovated rooms are on the lower floors, which created an issue at check-in: the standard upgrade logic sent me to a higher floor with an older room rather than offering the renovated lower-floor option. Make sure to ask for a renovated room at check-in!

I was assigned a room with two double beds on the 14th floor, which turned out to be one of the non-renovated rooms. The room was 377 square feet—standard size for the property—with two double beds, a small seating area, a desk, and the typical amenities. The decor felt dated with older furniture and a color palette that hasn’t aged well. It wasn’t terrible, but you could immediately tell this was an older room that hadn’t been touched in the recent renovation wave.

The bathroom was the weakest point. It had a dated bathtub/shower combination—the kind where the tub is surrounded by standard tile and a shower curtain, not the more modern walk-in shower or separate tub setup you’d find in renovated rooms. I really don’t like tub/shower combos in hotel rooms, and this one felt particularly dated and cramped.

The view from the 14th floor looked out toward the city rather than the lake, which was fine but nothing special. The higher floor meant good light and no street noise, but given the choice, I would have absolutely preferred a renovated room on a lower floor over a dated room with a slightly better view and higher floor placement.

Restaurants and Bars

The Loews Chicago has a few dining options on property, though none of them are particularly destination-worthy—they cover the basics for hotel guests without offering much beyond that. The food was actually better than I expected, given how empty the hotel was during our stay.

ETA Restaurant + Bar is the main restaurant, though during our stay, it was only serving breakfast. We used the Chase Edit breakfast benefit here both mornings—it’s set up as an à la carte menu where you order what you want and the credit applies automatically. The breakfast quality was good, not exceptional, but it covered a full meal without going over the included credit.

There’s also a coffee shop off the main lobby serving coffee, pastries, and light grab-and-go options. It’s convenient if you want something quick in the morning without sitting down for a full breakfast at ETA.

The Lobby Lounge is adjacent to the main lobby and was handling lunch and dinner service during our stay, along with cocktails and light bites throughout the day. It’s a small, comfortable space—good for a pre-dinner drink or a casual meal, but nothing memorable about it.

Streeterville Social is the rooftop bar on the upper level with views of the Chicago skyline. In February, it closed for the season, as is standard for Chicago rooftop bars—they typically operate only from late spring through early fall when the weather cooperates. If you’re visiting in warmer months, it’s supposed to be one of the better hotel rooftop bars in the city.

Fitness, Pool & Spa

The fitness center was open during our stay and is available 24 hours to hotel guests. It’s well-equipped with Technogym cardio equipment including two Peloton bikes, plus free weights and strength training machines.

The indoor pool was closed for renovation during our February visit. Normally, the Loews has a 75-foot indoor lap pool, which is a great amenity for a downtown Chicago hotel, but it was completely unavailable during our stay. The closure is part of a larger property renovation that was scheduled to run through late February or March 2026.

The spa was also closed for renovation. Under normal circumstances, the property offers a full-service spa with treatment rooms and various massage and facial services, but none of that was accessible during our visit.

The Edit Benefits

Chase “The Edit” Benefits at Loews Chicago

Booking through Chase’s “The Edit” program added solid value to the stay, especially given that the hotel was fairly empty in February and the base rates were low.

Complimentary Breakfast for Two: The breakfast benefit applied at ETA Restaurant + Bar, and it covered a substantial à la carte breakfast each morning. You order from the menu—eggs, pastries, coffee, juice—and the credit applies automatically to your room.

$100 Property Credit: The property credit applies to dining, spa services (if it had been open), or other on-property charges. We used it toward drinks and a light meal at the Lobby Lounge. It’s flexible and easy to use—just charge it to your room, and the credit is applied at checkout.

Room Upgrade: The upgrade was applied at check-in—I moved from a standard room to a higher floor. As I mentioned earlier, I would have preferred a renovated lower-floor room over a dated higher-floor room, but the upgrade was confirmed without having to ask for it. If I’d known to request a renovated room specifically, that would have been the better play.

Late Checkout: Late checkout was guaranteed as part of the Edit benefits, though I didn’t end up using it on this particular trip. It’s a useful perk for flexibility, especially if your flight isn’t until later in the day.

The combination of benefits added around $250-300 in value over the two-night stay at the same base rate you’d pay booking direct. For a Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred cardholder, The Edit is worth using when the property participates.

Final Thoughts

The Loews Chicago worked well for a quick visit in February. The staff was very friendly, the Chase Edit benefits added real value, and the location kept us close to our destination without dealing with Michigan Avenue crowds.

The room situation was frustrating though. Getting a non-renovated room with a dated tub/shower combo when renovated rooms were available on lower floors was a miss. If you’re booking here, explicitly request a renovated room at check-in—don’t rely on their upgrade logic to get you there.

For a winter trip to Chicago, the Loews was fine. Not great, but fine. The Edit benefits are great, and the location works. Just push for a renovated room, because the older rooms feel dated, and the bathroom situation is legitimately annoying.