
Hotel 505 River North
Best for River North dining, a rooftop sun deck and a family-friendly downtown base close to the Magnificent Mile.
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Hotel 505 River North is a 4.5-star downtown Chicago hotel in River North that emphasizes River North dining, a 17th-floor heated indoor pool and family-friendly amenities. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago is a design-forward 4.5-star property in the Aqua tower near Millennium Park for travelers who prioritize architecture, meeting space and central Loop attractions.
Updated · about 0.8 km apart

Best for River North dining, a rooftop sun deck and a family-friendly downtown base close to the Magnificent Mile.

Best for travelers who want design-forward rooms in a high-profile downtown tower with larger conference facilities and easy access to Millennium Park.
When Hotel 505 River North wins: choose Hotel 505 if you want a River North location within walking distance of nightlife and galleries, a heated 17th-floor indoor pool plus rooftop sun deck, and a hotel restaurant (CBR) that serves breakfast through dinner and a regular happy hour—an option that reads as family-friendly and pet-friendly.
When Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago wins: pick Radisson Blu for a recognizable design-focused downtown stay in the Aqua tower, larger meeting and event capacity (about 27,997 sq ft / 2,601 m² listed in supplier materials), on-site indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, and a central address a few blocks from Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue.
Bottom line: both are contemporary 4.5-star choices for downtown Chicago stays. If your trip centers on River North dining, nightlife and a smaller, service-forward hotel with a notable 17th-floor pool, go Hotel 505; if you need more meeting space, a signature downtown tower and straightforward access to Grant Park/Millennium Park, Radisson Blu Aqua is the better fit.
| Category | Hotel 505 River North | Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Contemporary River North with local dining and nightlife focus | Design-forward, architecturally notable downtown tower |
| Location | 505 N. State St., River North — steps from State Street, Magnificent Mile | 221 N Columbus Dr — a short walk to Millennium Park, Grant Park and Michigan Ave |
| Size (rooms) | 261 rooms and suites | 334 rooms |
| Audience / age policy | Family-friendly; children welcome (primary guest must be 21+ to check in) | All ages welcome (not adults-only); primary guest age rules apply per property |
| Pools | Heated indoor pool on the 17th floor plus rooftop sun deck; some listings note an outdoor pool as well | Indoor pool and a seasonal outdoor pool (seasonal outdoor pool open June–Sept per supplier listing) |
| Restaurants & bars | CBR — modern American brasserie with breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour | FireLake (restaurant and bar) with limited room service and weekday/weekend breakfast for a fee |
| Meetings & events | About 8,000+ sq ft meeting space across ~10 rooms (ballroom and banquet hall available) | Large conference capacity — about 27,997 sq ft (2,601 m²) and 13 meeting rooms |
| Wellness / fitness | 24-hour fitness center on 17th floor with Peloton bikes; fitness access included in destination/resort fee | 24-hour health club and 24-hour fitness facilities; fitness access available |
| Pet policy | Dog-friendly — up to two dogs per room (≤50 lbs) with fees | Not published |
| Known for | River North dining (CBR), rooftop sun deck and convenient walkability to galleries and nightlife | Aqua tower design, proximity to Millennium Park and sizeable meeting space |
Hotel 505 sits on North State Street in River North, a walkable area for dining, galleries and nightlife.
Stay here if you want River North nightlife, gallery hopping and easy Magnificent Mile access.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago sits in the Aqua tower a few blocks from Millennium Park and Grant Park.
Pick the Aqua tower location for immediate access to Millennium Park, Grant Park and Loop landmarks.
Hotel 505 offers 261 individually decorated rooms and a selection of Spa Suites with jetted tubs.
Choose Hotel 505 for individually styled rooms and Spa Suite options with in-room soaking tubs.
Radisson Blu has 334 air-conditioned rooms with designer toiletries and laptop-compatible safes.
Radisson Blu suits guests wanting a larger mix of room types and premium-high-floor or balcony options.
Hotel 505’s CBR is the on-site modern American brasserie and cocktail bar serving most meals and a happy hour.
If on-site daytime-to-evening dining and a local brasserie atmosphere matter, Hotel 505’s CBR is convenient and consistent.
Radisson Blu’s supplier listing highlights FireLake as the on-site restaurant and bar with limited room service.
Radisson Blu covers standard on-site dining and bar needs and is positioned for guests who may eat around Millennium Park or Michigan Avenue as well.
Hotel 505 promotes a heated indoor pool on the 17th floor with an adjacent rooftop sun deck; some third-party sites also list an outdoor pool.
Hotel 505’s pool and sun-deck setup is a key feature, especially for guests wanting easy year-round pool access in downtown Chicago.
Radisson Blu lists both an indoor pool and a seasonal outdoor pool (open June–September).
Radisson Blu provides both indoor and summer outdoor pool options listed in supplier material, useful for travelers visiting in warm months.
Hotel 505 has a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes and offers in-room spa treatment services rather than a standalone spa.
Pick Hotel 505 when you want a full gym available day or night and spa-like in-room options without a separate spa facility.
Radisson Blu lists a 24-hour health club and lobby fireplace; supplier listing does not publish a dedicated on-site spa by name.
Radisson Blu covers the fitness basics for active guests; if a named on-site spa is essential, supplier materials do not publish one.

Hotel 505 puts you in River North with CBR on-site and easy walking access to galleries, bars and restaurants.

Radisson Blu lists substantially more meeting and conference space (about 27,997 sq ft) and 13 meeting rooms.

Hotel 505 is explicitly family-friendly with a heated 17th-floor indoor pool, rooftop sun deck and kid-friendly amenities.

Radisson Blu occupies the Aqua tower and is a recognizable, architecturally distinct downtown option near Millennium Park.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago is a shorter walk to Millennium Park and Grant Park; Hotel 505 is closer to River North and the Magnificent Mile.
Hotel 505 does not operate a standalone spa but offers Spa Suites with jetted tubs and in-room spa treatments; supplier materials for Radisson Blu do not publish a named on-site spa.
Yes. Hotel 505 is marketed as family-friendly and welcomes children of all ages; Radisson Blu is also open to all ages (it is not an adults-only property).
Radisson Blu lists significantly larger event space and more meeting rooms; Hotel 505 has roughly 8,000+ sq ft across about 10 rooms suitable for small-to-medium events.
Explore how Hotel 505 River North stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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