From the moment you arrive at The Langham, Chicago, you know you are somewhere special. As soon as you pull up to the hotel’s entrance, you are greeted by staff who are ready to whisk you away from the hustle of downtown Chicago into a place of serenity and beauty.

Chicago Spa Guide: The Best Windy City Spas

Opening as a Langham Hotel in 2013, it is in a building that previously housed IBM’s regional headquarters. It is the only hotel to reside in a building designed by architect Mies van der Rohe. It was declared a landmark in 2008 and its current owners have continued the beautification and preservation efforts. As part of re-purposing the building to a hotel from its office origins, they brought in the original architect’s grandson who had worked on the building in 1971 when it was first erected.

There are two striking factors that raise this property to its luxury status. The first is the genuine warmth emanating from the staff. It’s not just formulaic service, they make their guests feel welcome and interact with them in a non-scripted manner. It’s Midwest charm at is finest. 

The second is the building itself. The rooms are large, starting at 516 square feet and expanding with specialty suites. The entire property is decked out with original artwork that is sometimes surprising and gives the feel of a gallery on every floor. The light fixtures dazzle with contemporary appeal—the one in the lobby sporting more than 500 glass-blown pebbles lit with LED lights. Each guestroom is fitted with modern technology designed with guest convenience and comfort in mind.

Accommodations

There are 268 guest rooms, 48 private suites, and two 2-bedroom suites with kitchenettes. There are several types of private suites with the most luxurious being the Infinity Suite (2,700 square feet), which has two king beds, a table for 10 guests with a private butler pantry, and a living room parlor with a hand-painted grand piano, fireplace and bar.

Why You’ll Love It

The guestrooms are delightful. Even the standard rooms are spacious and comfortable. Windows stretch from floor to ceiling, flooding the room with light and a lovely view of the city. The beds are divinely comfortable and every evening the housekeeping staff turns down the room by laying out robes, spreading a towel on the floor next to the bed with a pair of slippers resting on it.

The bathroom is designed for indulgence. In addition to the marble sinks, there is a choice of three bathing methods. There is a large round tub with the same marble as the sinks. Then there are two different shower nozzles: one, directly above on the ceiling is a rainforest-style shower (which you’ll also find in their spa locker room), and a second one on the wall that lets you control the pressure and direct the water.

As an extra touch? The wall between the tub and the guestroom is opaque—except that at the touch of a button it becomes transparent so you can look out on the guestroom or the city as you bathe.

One thing you might notice as you walk down the corridors is that there are no “Do not disturb” signs hanging from the doors. Instead, inside the guestroom door there is a set of buttons. Pressing one of them alerts housekeeping that you do not wish to be disturbed. Pressing another of them informs them that you would like to have your room cleaned.

The light switches are helpfully identified and there is a master switch to turn all the lights on or off both at the door and near the beds. You don’t have to go stumbling around in the dark after turning off the lights, especially if you use the night light in the bathroom that softly lights up the area under the counter. 

The staff is eager to help—whether it’s giving you a tour of the room and explaining its special features, helping you reserve tickets for events in the city or calling a taxi for you.

What to Expect

Guests at The Langham are treated thoughtfully and offered a place of comfort where they can relax, destress, and enjoy a launchpad into the delights of downtown Chicago. It’s also an ideal location for a staycation. You don’t ever have to leave the hotel to enjoy yourself.

You can expect great food, indulgent spa services, a high-end fitness center and a large, heated pool. During non-COVID times, there is a signature afternoon tea—and until COVID is a thing of the past, you can get an afternoon tea delivered to you lunchbox-style to enjoy in your room or out in the city.

Key Features

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, directly across from the Trump Tower, The Langham, Chicago has a striking design, open spaces filled with light and 22-foot windows in public areas that allow the city skyscape and the Chicago River to act as ever-moving backdrops.

There are a variety of activities including a Cinema Suite that guests can rent, hosting up to 16 people. You can indulge in popcorn, snacks or even a full meal while watching a movie in comfortable recliners. In non-pandemic times, there is a Children’s Suite filled with books, games, video programming and toys for children to enjoy. 

There is complimentary Wi-Fi and guests have access on their phone or other electronic devices to a wide selection of newspapers and publications. 

Cuisine

You don’t want to skip Travelle—it might just be the highlight of your stay. The superior service enjoyed elsewhere in the property extends to this seasonal American cuisine restaurant. We enjoyed every course of our meal—each one having distinct flavors that danced around your tongue, bursting in a celebration the longer you held it in your mouth.

When we mentioned to the server that my friend was very fond of the mushroom ragout, he passed the word back to the kitchen. Minutes later, the chef brought out a recipe and explained to her how to make it. It was just one example of the many ways that everyone went above and beyond when it came to service.

We took the server’s suggestions for many of the courses and were not once disappointed. The Alaskan halibut—which was nestled on a corn chorizo mix could not have been more delicate. There was a slight crisp on the top layer and then purely tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

In addition to the restaurant, there is spa cuisine available at the pool, an extension of the seasonal American cuisine and a bar next to the restaurant that serves custom-crafted cocktails.

Then there is the food at The Club Level…

Insider’s Tip

Make sure you add the Club Level to your stay. It’s more than worth it, for the food alone.

The Club Level is available with the reservation of any suite or a Club Level room. It’s on the 12th floor and overlooks the Chicago River where, depending on the time of year, you can watch kayaks or touring boats. It is 4,000 square feet and comfortably adorned with couches, arm chairs and tables. There is a writer’s corner with an antique manual typewriter (it’s not for use but adds a touch of delight to the room—especially with its typewritten note quoting the former President Obama about his Chicago heritage.)

The shelves in the corner hold board games, card games, picture books and small sculptures. It’s a place to hang out and enjoy a leisurely afternoon. 

There is also a constant buffet of food starting with breakfast, followed by a light lunch and tea time, wrapping up with evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Breakfast includes an omelet station with a chef who makes custom dishes from a variety of fresh offerings. While I haven’t done a complete survey, they are surely some of the best omelets in Chicago. 

And kids of all ages will be delighted by the table of candies from candy bars to jelly beans to wrapped candies.

There’s little chance that you will go hungry—or thirsty, there is an open bar throughout the day—and all the food is of top quality. Even if you think you are full, it’s difficult to pass up the delicacies offered on these buffets.

Spa Treatments

Nor would any visit to The Langham be complete without a trip to Chuan Spa, a place where East meets West and one can go to re-energize, heal, and treat the body, mind, and spirit.

Spa Profile: Chuan Spa at The Langham, Chicago

The spa entrance is a moon gate, inviting people to enter into a transformative world where they leave their troubles behind. The locker rooms include a series of a Himalayan salt sauna, a Eucalyptus steam room and an herbal sauna, with cold rain showers available in between. 

The therapists are exceptional and the entire spa is designed so that its guests can truly get away and experience spa as it is meant to be. To learn more about my visit to Chuan Spa at The Langham, Chicago, check out my Spa Diary.

For more information and to book a stay, call 312-923-9988 or visit The Langham, Chicago’s website and follow them on Instagram: @langhamchicago

The Langham Chicago, 330 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

[Photos by Bridgette Redman]

Bridgette Redman, who is a second-generation journalist, fell in love with spas and travel while working as a writer and editor for 16 years at the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. As a freelancer for the International SPA Association, she co-wrote two textbooks, nine workbooks and numerous case studies on spas. Her freelance career began in the 80s and she has written for publications in Michigan, Arizona, California, and Texas along with several regional and national publications. She is a committed storyteller who loves sharing narratives which improve people's quality of life and build community. Born and raised in Michigan, she currently lives in Lansing with her husband and son. See more of her writing at www.bridgetteredman.com