
Hotel 505 River North
Best for travelers who want a smaller, River North location with rooftop sun deck and an on-site modern American brasserie.
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Hotel 505 River North is a 261-room, River North–focused downtown hotel with a heated 17th-floor pool and an on-site American brasserie (CBR); read this if you want a modern, walkable River North base. Palmer House a Hilton Hotel is a historic 4-star grand hotel in the Loop with large meeting capacity and a full-service spa; read this if you prefer classic downtown scale, event space, and a central Loop address.
Updated · about 1.2 km apart

Best for travelers who want a smaller, River North location with rooftop sun deck and an on-site modern American brasserie.

Best for groups, meetings, and guests who want a landmark, full-service hotel in the Loop with a spa and large event capacity.
When Hotel 505 River North wins: choose Hotel 505 if you want a more compact property in River North, easier access to the Magnificent Mile/Chicago Riverwalk, a heated 17th-floor pool and rooftop sun deck, and a contemporary brasserie (CBR).
When Palmer House a Hilton Hotel wins: choose Palmer House for classic downtown scale, large meeting and banquet facilities (130,000 sq ft / 77 meeting rooms), an on-site full-service spa, an indoor pool, and immediate proximity to Millennium Park and the Art Institute.
Bottom line: pick Hotel 505 River North for a River North neighborhood stay with modern, mid-size hotel amenities; pick Palmer House for historic, large-scale Loop accommodations and event-focused facilities.
| Category | Hotel 505 River North | Palmer House a Hilton Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Modern, mid-size downtown hotel with contemporary brasserie | Historic, large-scale grand hotel with classic public spaces |
| Location | River North (505 N. State St) — close to Magnificent Mile and Chicago Riverwalk | The Loop (17 E Monroe St) — within a short walk of Grant Park and Millennium Park |
| Size (rooms) | 261 rooms and suites | 1,641 guestrooms |
| Star rating / guest score | 4.5-star branding on property materials (marketed as 4.5 on site) | 4-star · guest rating 8.6/10 |
| Pools | Heated indoor pool on 17th floor plus rooftop sun deck; some listings note an outdoor pool as seasonal | Indoor pool (pool hoist and wheelchair-accessible listed) |
| Restaurants & bars | CBR: modern American brasserie serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour | On-site restaurant and coffee shop/cafe plus 1 bar/lounge; to-go breakfast available (surcharge) |
| Spa & wellness | No standalone spa — in-room spa treatments and Spa Suites (jetted tubs) instead; 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes | Full-service spa with massage and body treatments; 24-hour health club |
| Meetings & events | ~8,000–8,150 sq ft meeting space across 10 rooms (ballroom and banquet options) | 130,000 sq ft of conference space and 77 meeting rooms (large-capacity event hotel) |
| Accessibility & family policy | Family-friendly; children welcome; primary guest must be at least 21 to check in | Not adults-only; children 17 and younger stay free with parent/guardian using existing bedding |
| Near major attractions | Steps from River North galleries, Chicago Riverwalk, Magnificent Mile; transit access (Red Line) | Within a 5-minute walk of Millennium Park, Art Institute, Grant Park and Cloud Gate |
Hotel 505 River North sits on North State Street in River North, a short walk to the Magnificent Mile and Chicago Riverwalk.
Better if you want River North nightlife, galleries and shopping within easy walking distance.
Palmer House is in the Loop, steps from Millennium Park, Grant Park and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Better if you want the Loop’s cultural institutions and a central downtown address.
Hotel 505 offers 261 individually decorated rooms and suites, including Spa Suites with jetted tubs.
Smaller, boutique-feel inventory with spa-suite options for in-room relaxation.
Palmer House provides a large inventory of 1,641 guestrooms across many room and suite types.
Choose Palmer House when you need many room-type options or space for large groups.
Hotel 505’s CBR is the hotel's on-site modern American brasserie and cocktail bar.
Good for guests who want an all-day neighborhood brasserie and a nearby bar scene.
Palmer House has restaurant, coffee shop/cafe and a bar/lounge; to-go breakfast is available on weekdays for a fee.
Better for guests who want full-service hotel dining options and event catering.
Hotel 505 highlights a heated indoor pool on the 17th floor with a rooftop sun deck.
Good choice if a higher-floor pool and sun deck matter to your stay.
Palmer House lists an indoor pool with accessibility features and a 24-hour health club.
Better if you want a full-service spa and accessible pool infrastructure in a large hotel.
Hotel 505 provides a 24-hour fitness center (Peloton bikes) and in-room spa services rather than a standalone spa.
Choose Hotel 505 if you prefer fitness access plus in-room spa options and nearby nightlife.
Palmer House has a full-service spa and a 24-hour health club, plus an on-site bar/lounge.
Better for travelers seeking a traditional hotel spa plus evening cultural options nearby.

Hotel 505 River North — closer to River North galleries, the Chicago Riverwalk and Magnificent Mile shopping.

Palmer House a Hilton Hotel — huge conference capacity (130,000 sq ft) and 77 meeting rooms for large events.

Palmer House a Hilton Hotel — full-service spa with treatment rooms and a 24-hour health club.

Hotel 505 River North — heated 17th-floor pool plus rooftop sun deck for seasonal outdoor time.
Both hotels welcome children, but Hotel 505 River North is explicitly family-friendly and highlights kid-friendly pool features; Palmer House also allows children and notes children 17 and under stay free with a parent/guardian.
Palmer House is set up for very large meetings and banquets (130,000 sq ft and 77 meeting rooms). Hotel 505 has roughly 8,000 sq ft across ten rooms and suits smaller events.
No — Hotel 505 offers in-room spa treatments and spa suites with jetted tubs but does not operate a standalone spa facility.
Hotel 505 is in River North near the Magnificent Mile and Chicago Riverwalk; Palmer House sits in the Loop within a short walk of Millennium Park, the Art Institute and Grant Park.
Explore how Hotel 505 River North stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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