Name: The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North
Address: 505 North State Street, Bronzeville, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Chicago, Cook County, United States of America
Rating: 8.63

What guests think

Across recent reviews, travellers describe The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North as centrally located and walkable, with very friendly staff, spacious rooms and comfortable beds, but note recurring drawbacks like the long pool closure, occasional maintenance issues, and dated furnishings.

Many guests find rooms clean and quiet with nice views, though several cite inconsistent housekeeping and cleanliness lapses. The location near the Red Line and major sights is a highlight, yet a few mention street noise or feeling uneasy around nearby late‑night activity. On-site dining and bar service earn praise, but room service is not offered and valet parking can be costly or slow. Expect a well-situated stay with warm service and comfortable rooms, tempered by occasional upkeep hiccups and some service limitations.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities draw mixed feedback: the pool is often closed or under maintenance, while the gym is considered good and the rooftop terrace pleasant but limited in hours. Valet parking can be pricey or slow, and there were occasional elevator outages.

Related guest reviews

10

Odis

Aug 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very nice but parking expensive

4

Han

Aug 6, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Update your listings to reflect that the pool is closed so as to not mislead customers.

8

Desiree

Jul 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Its nice to have the restaurant and bar on the first floor. Hotel staff is nice. I was on floor 7 and the hallways was smelly like mildew. The room AC blew nice and cold and the room didnt have a smell. Unfortunately after booking this place we were told the pool was out of order for basically the ENTIRE summer which is crazy. So felt like we could have gotten a better hotel. Overrall it was convenient location within walking distance of basically everything

4

Sandro

Jul 28, 2025

·

Stayed 8 nights

Thermostat not working properly Room not cleaned we left hotel at 10:30 am ! No security out front during evening Rude impolite chwck in Terrible first impression Pool out ofvorder Never stay here again

8

Elizabeth C.

Jul 26, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Easy access to transit and walkable to lots of stuff. The pool was closed, though, and we didn’t find out til we arrived.

10

Andor

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

it was fine stay. I was disappointed that the pool was closed. That was literally the main reason we booked this hotel.

10

Steven

Jul 14, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Close to everything we wanted to do in Chicago. Unfortunately the pool was closed. Rooftop terrace is great, but they should keep it open later than 10 pm.

8

Aaron

Jul 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Rooms were excellent. No coffee in the room, but free coffee in the lobby every morning. Pool was closed, seemingly for a long time, but rooftop patio was a good surprise. Gym was good.

4

Toya

Feb 25, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

My rental car was damaged by valet parking

8

Noah

Dec 30, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Had only one functioning elevator on the property for the entire weekend but apart from that it was pretty great, doorman was nice. Restaurant downstairs was pretty good.

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is generally good with many noting tidy rooms and public spaces, but reports of missed housekeeping, bathroom hair/grime, dust, and occasional odors show inconsistency.

Related guest reviews

10

Sara

Oct 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was a short stay for me, but I wished I could have stayed longer. Very clean and the staff were super friendly. The lobby is small and very cozy. The whole vibe is just so inviting. The location is also very central.

10

Emily

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Lovely, friendly, clean hotel. Great location too. I'd stay here again!

8

Joseph

Oct 4, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Mostly positive, but I did not get housekeeping. I mentioned that at check out and I was told for the first time that housekeeping was only on request. BAD! There should be a sign in the room about this.

10

Tracy

Sep 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was clean and smelled clean. The entire staff was helpful and friendly. Would definitely stay there again.

6

Jimson Ross Castisimo

Sep 5, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Valet parking is expensive and not reliable. If you have a rental car, I do not recommend this hotel, or at least find an alternate parking garage (could even be much cheaper than the valet). Also, housekeeping left the trash and cleaning bottle in our room one day.

4

Arezoo

Sep 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Room: The room was spacious, but the cleanliness was mediocre. The shower curtain was dirty, there was hair on the shower wall, and a dead fly in the bathtub. The leather headboard was also torn. Location: Located in the River North area — close to tourist spots but also near the bar scene. It didn’t feel safe to walk around at night. That said, the hotel did have security at the front entrance. Be aware: you’ll hear ambulance and fire truck sirens throughout the night. Staff: The staff were nice.

6

Elena

Aug 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The people were exceptionally nice! Every staff member we spoke to was extremely friendly and helpful. They were also able to check us in early which was great and they gave us a complimentary bottle of wine. My biggest complaint was around the room cleanliness - dust so thick on the side table I could wipe my finger through it, hair all over the shower, and the leather bed frame was peeling little flakes all over the bed - it was in seriously bad shape. The carpet was also not great but to be expected with a large hotel and I know a lot of times age of the carpet is out of housekeeping’s control

10

Sherry

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Cleanliness

6

Michael

Mar 17, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

On the plus side, the staff was great, the room was nice, and the view was very good. On the negative side, the room was a bit dirty - partially eaten chocolate on the floor, hair on the duvet, and after spilling a little water on the carpet and laying a washcloth on it, the washcloth looked as if I had mopped up spilled coffee. Also, the bathroom door is a barn door with a very large gap, so there is no real privacy.

6

Kevin

Feb 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Filthy bath tubs and sheets

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are often spacious and comfortable with good beds and city views. Some feel dated or have maintenance issues (AC/thermostat, peeling headboards, older TVs), and light street or siren noise can intrude.

Related guest reviews

8

Kristen

Nov 11, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

We had a junior suite and the room was comfortable, spacious, and cozy. The bathroom was also spacious and spotless.

10

Henry

Oct 29, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great room with a nice view and very comfortable.

6

Michael

Oct 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I received a room, where the fairly loud ventilation of the aircondition was impossible to be switched off, which negatively impacted my stay.

6

Bryce

Oct 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great staff. Very nice and attentive. The room was in poor condition with the headboard ripped, the ceiling in the bathroom peeling and coming apart.

6

CYNTHIA

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Everything is old, nothing worked phone remote control TV, headboard was peeling. Bedspread was too light, not warm. Whole place needs upgraded. Would never return.

6

Othman

Jul 13, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We reserved this hotel for its beautiful pool. Pool was closed after I booked it I received an email with that. I tried to cancel but they charge over 50% for cancelation fees. Breakfast not included too. Room table and desk full of scratches. No main center light for the room, only three table lamps. TV was old and no apps nor can share anything from the phone. The bathroom was clean and huge. City view window also was on the positive side.

8

Jocelyn

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

VIP room upgrade was great. Spacious room. 17th floor. Floor to ceiling window. City view. Comfortable bed and pillows.

4

Cheryle

Jun 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I paid nearly $400 to stay an extra night after a 4 night stay in order to work all day from my laptop in my room. I had work deadlines and I couldn't afford to lose time by flying out midday so I paid for an extra night. Unfortunately, the wifi did not work and the front desk staff couldn't help resolve it. It was very frustrating because I stayed an extra day JUST to work out of the hotel.

10

Meng-Yu

Jun 10, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

We were here for a four-night stay and couldn't be happier with our experience. The location is great, the front desk is helpful and friendly, the room is spacious and clean, and the housekeeping is professional. Shout-out to all the staff who we met and made our stay comfortable and enjoyable. We loved our entire stay and can't wait for our next trip to Chicago. We'll definitely stay with Royal Sonesta Chicago River North the next time we're in town!

10

Suzanne

Apr 19, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The room was very big and well arranged

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Service

Service is frequently praised as friendly, welcoming, and helpful across front desk, concierge, and bell staff. A smaller share report rude interactions, slow responses, miscommunication about housekeeping-on-request, or delays in room readiness or promised credits.

Related guest reviews

6

Angelina

Oct 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Young lady up front was extremely rude and had terrible energy whenever she helped us out. View and beds were nice

8

Joseph

Oct 4, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Mostly positive, but I did not get housekeeping. I mentioned that at check out and I was told for the first time that housekeeping was only on request. BAD! There should be a sign in the room about this.

10

Lauren

Oct 1, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Staff were incredible! Super friendly and helpful, Antwoine helped a lot with our bags haha, he was amazing. All made our Chicago trip great.

10

Barbara

Sep 17, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Our stay at the Royal Sonesta started out top-notch when we checked in and met Gabby at the reception desk. What a ray of sunshine !!!! So informative,sweet,caring, went out of her way to help us more than once. It just put such a positive spin to our first time visit to Chicago! Also the main bartender at you restaurant, forgot his name, he was also very pleasant and helpful Would definitely stay here again the location couldn’t have been better. It was clean since we felt very safe. Thanks so much. We really enjoyed our trip. Steve and Bobbi

6

Smith

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Advertised a pool and breakfast was included. The pool was closed and there was no breakfast. I was offered a credit for breakfast at the restaurant, used it, and then was billed for it.

10

Tanya

May 11, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great customer service. Excellent location. Rooms are very comfortable and spacious. Most importantly the beds are comfortable!

6

Amy

Apr 13, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Bellmen were excellent and super friendly and went above and beyond to be helpful. Front desk and guest services did not have their act together and didn’t do any of the things they said they would, ie deliver extra coffee pods to the room, add my spouse to the reservation, and set us up with late check out. It wasn’t horrible but inconvenient because they said they would do these things.

10

Bobbi

Apr 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hotel and staff were amazing throughout the entire stay. It was clean, safe, and the food was excellent. Spiro was exceptional and made everything easy to navigate and plan throughout the city. This hotel comes highly recommended and we definitely plan to return!

4

Sarah

Mar 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was at 4pm, we arrived at 4:30pm with our kids and were told the room would be ready in 30 mins. We hung out in the lobby, kept being told the room would be ready “soon” or “in 5-10 mins.” It was finally ready at 7pm!! Beyond disappointing and the staff did very little to help.

10

Jonathan

Dec 8, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Front office is OUTSTANDING. They tend to everything and go above and beyond to make sure you have everything you need. Gabby at the front desk was amazing to us during our stay.

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Location

Central River North location is widely praised for walkability and easy access to the Red Line and major sights. A few guests felt uneasy near the nearby 7‑Eleven at night and noted frequent street sirens.

Related guest reviews

10

Mark

Oct 29, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Comfortable room. Friendly, helpful staff. Very convient to Red Line.

10

MICHAEL

Sep 11, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

We came for business but stayed a little longer to see the city. Chicago is absolutely gorgeous and The Royal Sonesta River North is in the perfect location to see it all. Lots of great restaurants close, river walk is right there, trains within a minute of leaving the front entrance. Staff was excellent with directions and suggestions, so clean and will definitely stay here again. The two concierge gentlemen were amazing. Thank you

10

Reina N

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Location was great! Walking distance to a lot of places, train was 1 block away so it was easy to take transportation.

6

Megan

Aug 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Rooms were very clean and spacious! The inside of the property was very clean, staff were extremely helpful and caring! The area around/ outside didn't feel the safest, they did have a security guard outside at all times. I would not stay in this location with our children again because of safety concerns.

10

Jennifer

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Good location

10

Jonathon

Jul 29, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The hotel was clean and conveniently located in downtown Chicago. It was easy to walk to Millennium Park, various shopping plazas, Navy Pier, and almost every other tourist attraction in the city. For those that aren’t walkable, the subway is also nearby. The friendly hotel staff worked hard to keep the hotel clean. However, the area around the hotel is bustling, so if you’re looking for a quiet getaway, this might not be the best choice.

8

Jon

Jul 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Every time you walked in the lobby, it smelled heavenly. The staff always greeted you when you walked to the elevators. Beds were comfortable and room was clean. Neighborhood was safe during the day but at night was questionable with the amount of people hanging out at night next door and at the 7-11 just a block over.

8

Lars

Jul 16, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Central location

10

Ishaq

Jul 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The location of the property is perfect.

10

Tresa

May 5, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location and crazy fast elevators! Comfy beds too! Front desk staff were always friendly whether we were coming or going. Red line station was just across the street which was very convenient for us getting to both the White Sox and Cubs stadiums. Many restaurants were walkable as well. One thing to note is that there were sirens of some kind that passed in front of the hotel quite frequently so I think a fire/police station was nearby.

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Dining

On-site CBR restaurant and bar are often praised for tasty food and breakfast with friendly service. Room service is not offered and hours can be limited, with occasional issues around promised breakfast credits.

Related guest reviews

8

Steve

Sep 30, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Staff was great. Room needs more lighting. All the lights had to be turned on manually. None of them were connected to a wall switch. Wish they had room service. Great location

10

Barbara

Sep 17, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Our stay at the Royal Sonesta started out top-notch when we checked in and met Gabby at the reception desk. What a ray of sunshine !!!! So informative,sweet,caring, went out of her way to help us more than once. It just put such a positive spin to our first time visit to Chicago! Also the main bartender at you restaurant, forgot his name, he was also very pleasant and helpful Would definitely stay here again the location couldn’t have been better. It was clean since we felt very safe. Thanks so much. We really enjoyed our trip. Steve and Bobbi

10

Cynthia

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We would have preferred having a coffee maker in room without asking for one. Would have loved room service which you don’t offer. Would have liked the bar open more than it was. Other than that, we loved your hotel & our room. Thank you!

10

Beverly

Jul 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location right by the red line station and walkable to downtown and all the restaurants and sights. Family friendly and staff was very accommodating. Restaurant had great food too.

10

Ernest

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very good location next to a lot of dining and shopping choices. Restaurant on property also excellent.

8

Jason

Jul 15, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The pool was not in operation which was a significant consideration in choosing the hotel to begin with. So that was a disappointment. Nevertheless, it was a decent value. It's greatest asset is its location. It's within 100 yards of a subway station, and a 10 or 15 minute walk to most places either from the hotel or after a short subway ride. Overall, the stay was pleasant. Although you're not going to receive some of the amenities you would come to expect from a hotel like this. There was no room service. The restaurant downstairs was closed two of the evenings we were there. Nevertheless, it was right next door to a 7-Eleven, so we had easy access to snacks and drinks. Also, the staff was pleasant. I would consider returning to this hotel so long as the price was reasonable.

10

William

Jul 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Breakfast at CB was fabulous!

6

Smith

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Advertised a pool and breakfast was included. The pool was closed and there was no breakfast. I was offered a credit for breakfast at the restaurant, used it, and then was billed for it.

10

Michael

May 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Enjoyed our three night stay. We ate breakfast once and dinner once at the restaurant. Delicious! The coffee in the front room each morning was great. We sat in the comfy chairs and had a couple of cups each day. Our room was cozy. We will be coming back to The Royal Sonesta for sure!

10

Alexander T.

May 28, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent 2 night three day stay. Hotel is in a great location in River North area with an excellent restaurant and bar off the lobby and short walking distance to many other nice restaurant options. Hotel is clean and quiet and staff are polite and very helpful service. I’ll return again! Thank you!

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The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North