
Hotel 505 River North
Best for families and guests who want an on-site heated pool, straightforward meeting space, and a River North nightlife/gallery location.
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Hotel 505 River North is a contemporary 4.5-star downtown Chicago hotel in River North with a heated 17th-floor pool and 261 rooms; read this if you want a River North-centered stay with on-site pool and family-friendly features. The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago is a stylish 4.5-star Luxury Collection property on Michigan Avenue; read this if you prefer a Magnificent Mile address and Luxury Collection service near the Riverwalk.
Updated · about 0.3 km apart

Best for families and guests who want an on-site heated pool, straightforward meeting space, and a River North nightlife/gallery location.

Best for travelers who want a Luxury Collection stay on Michigan Avenue with easy access to the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago Riverwalk.
When Hotel 505 River North wins: pick Hotel 505 if an on-site heated pool (17th-floor), rooftop sun deck access, and explicit family- and pet-friendly policies matter. It also offers larger meeting/event capacity for groups in River North.
When The Gwen wins: pick The Gwen if you want a Michigan Avenue address and Luxury Collection branding—it’s a more classic Magnificent Mile option steps from Michigan Avenue and the Riverwalk with multiple on-site dining options and more meeting rooms listed.
Bottom line: both are 4.5-star downtown hotels within a short walk of each other and of the Riverwalk/Magnificent Mile; choose Hotel 505 for pool and family/pet amenities and The Gwen for a Michigan Avenue Luxury Collection experience and central Magnificent Mile positioning.
| Category | Hotel 505 River North | The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Contemporary River North hotel with modern brasserie and rooftop sun deck. | Stylish Luxury Collection property on Michigan Avenue with a rooftop terrace and Mediterranean restaurant. |
| Location | 505 N. State Street in River North — a short walk to the Magnificent Mile and Chicago Riverwalk. | 521 North Rush Street on Michigan Avenue — steps from Michigan Avenue and Riverwalk. |
| Size (rooms) | 261 rooms and suites. | 311 guestrooms. |
| Ages / audience | Family-friendly; children welcome; dog-friendly (fees and limits apply). | All-ages property (welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities). |
| Pools | Heated indoor pool on the 17th floor plus rooftop sun deck; some sources also list an outdoor pool. | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | CBR, an on-site modern American brasserie and cocktail/whiskey bar serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and happy hour. | Two restaurants including Kostali (Mediterranean) and a bar/lounge; 24-hour room service available. |
| Spa / treatments | No standalone spa; offers in-room spa treatments and Spa Suites with jetted tubs. | Not published |
| Meetings & events | Over 8,000 sq ft of meeting/event space across ~10 rooms; ballroom and banquet facilities. | Conference space around 3,388 sq ft and 14 meeting rooms (multiple meeting spaces listed). |
| Fitness | 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes (17th floor). | 24-hour fitness facilities; wheelchair-accessible fitness center noted. |
| Accessibility & services | Wheelchair-accessible public areas, pool and registration desk; valet parking available. | Multiple accessibility features (wheelchair-accessible public washroom, elevator door widths given), valet parking (surcharge). |
Hotel 505 sits at 505 N. State Street in River North, close to galleries, nightlife, the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago Riverwalk.
Choose Hotel 505 for a River North base that keeps you close to galleries, bars and easy transit access.
The Gwen is located at 521 North Rush Street on Michigan Avenue—essentially on the Magnificent Mile and steps from the Riverwalk.
Choose The Gwen for the classic Magnificent Mile experience and immediate Michigan Avenue access.
Hotel 505 has 261 individually decorated rooms and several Spa Suite options with jetted tubs.
Pick Hotel 505 if you want in-room spa features and a range of suite-style options.
The Gwen's listing shows 311 guestrooms and a range of room categories from Superior to Suites.
Choose The Gwen for a broader set of room categories under Luxury Collection standards.
Hotel 505's on-site dining anchor is CBR, a modern American brasserie and cocktail/whiskey bar.
Hotel 505 is convenient for all-day brasserie dining and a dedicated cocktail bar on property.
The Gwen lists two restaurants (including Mediterranean-focused Kostali) plus a bar/lounge and 24-hour room service.
The Gwen offers a Mediterranean restaurant and round-the-clock room service options for a classic city-luxury dining experience.
Hotel 505 highlights a heated indoor lap pool located on the 17th floor plus a rooftop sun deck.
If an on-site, heated indoor pool and rooftop sun deck are priorities, Hotel 505 is clear about those amenities.
The Gwen's supplier listing highlights a rooftop terrace and garden but does not publish on-site pool details.
The Gwen offers rooftop terrace space and fitness facilities; the presence of an on-site pool is not published in the supplier listing.
Hotel 505 provides a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes and is steps from River North nightlife.
Hotel 505 suits active travelers who want round-the-clock fitness plus quick access to River North nightlife.
The Gwen lists 24-hour fitness facilities and multiple accessibility features; nightlife/shopping are immediate from Michigan Avenue.
The Gwen is a good pick for travelers who prioritize a central Michigan Avenue location with full accessibility features and all-day fitness.

Hotel 505 — heated indoor pool on the 17th floor plus a rooftop sun deck and family-friendly pool environment.

The Gwen — steps from Michigan Avenue shopping, ideal for Magnificent Mile-focused stays.

Hotel 505 — over 8,000 sq ft of meeting and event space across about 10 rooms, plus ballroom and banquet facilities.

The Gwen — Luxury Collection affiliation, two on-site restaurants including Kostali, and 14 meeting rooms listed.
Both are very close to the Magnificent Mile; The Gwen sits directly on Michigan Avenue while Hotel 505 is a short 3–5 minute walk from it.
Hotel 505 clearly publishes a heated indoor pool on the 17th floor and a rooftop sun deck; The Gwen's supplier listing does not publish an on-site pool.
No — both properties welcome guests of all ages. Hotel 505 is explicitly family-friendly; The Gwen's listing welcomes guests of all orientations and identities.
Hotel 505 offers over 8,000 sq ft of meeting space across roughly ten rooms and a ballroom; The Gwen lists sizable conference and meeting room options as well but with smaller total conference square footage in the supplier listing.
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