
Hotel 505 River North
Best for travelers who want a lively River North location, straightforward modern rooms, and rooftop pool access without a strict luxury price premium.
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Hotel 505 River North is a 4.5-star, 261-room River North property aimed at travelers who want walkable access to galleries, nightlife and the Magnificent Mile. Waldorf Astoria Chicago is a five-star Gold Coast hotel known for residential-style luxury and a full-service spa — read this if you’re choosing between downtown energy and classic five-star polish.
Updated · about 0.8 km apart

Best for travelers who want a lively River North location, straightforward modern rooms, and rooftop pool access without a strict luxury price premium.

Best for travelers seeking classic five-star service, a dedicated full-service spa, and a Gold Coast address near Oak Street and Michigan Avenue.
When Hotel 505 River North wins: pick Hotel 505 if you want to be in the thick of River North’s galleries, bars and quick walks to the Magnificent Mile, plus easy access to a heated 17th-floor pool and rooftop sun deck in a larger, family-friendly property.
When Waldorf Astoria Chicago wins: choose the Waldorf for a more formal five-star experience, a full-service spa, an Art Deco building with concierge-driven service, and a Gold Coast address a short walk from Oak Street and high-end shopping.
Bottom line: both are excellent central options; Hotel 505 leans toward active downtown convenience and pool access across a larger property, while the Waldorf focuses on five-star refinement, a spa, and a slightly smaller, more residential-feeling hotel.
| Category | Hotel 505 River North | Waldorf Astoria Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Lively River North — modern American brasserie, rooftop sun deck, gallery/nightlife focus | Five-star Gold Coast residential-style luxury with an on-site full-service spa |
| Location | 505 N. State St., River North — short walk to Michigan Avenue and Chicago Riverwalk | 11 E. Walton St., Gold Coast — steps from Oak Street and Michigan Avenue |
| Size (rooms) | 261 rooms and suites | 214 guestrooms |
| Who’s welcome / ages | Family friendly; children welcome (main guest must be 21 to check in) | |
| Pools | Heated indoor pool on the 17th floor plus rooftop sun deck (hotel lists indoor & outdoor pool references) | Indoor pool (wheelchair-accessible) and health club on site |
| Restaurants & bars | CBR — modern American brasserie and cocktail/whiskey bar serving breakfast through dinner and happy hour | Brass Tack — American cuisine with bar/lounge and 24-hour room service available |
| Spa & wellness | No standalone spa; in-room spa treatments and Spa Suites with jetted tubs; 24-hour fitness center with Peloton | Full-service spa offering massages, body treatments and facials; 24-hour fitness facilities and fitness classes |
| Meetings & events | About 8,000+ sq ft of meeting space across 10 rooms, ballroom and terrace options | Conference space totalling 7,911 sq ft with 9 meeting rooms |
| Accessibility & family services | Wheelchair-accessible public areas and pool; pet-friendly (dogs), family amenities and kids welcome | Wheelchair-accessible meeting spaces, pool and spa; babysitting and wedding services available |
| Known for | Walkable River North location, rooftop pool deck and value-minded modern rooms | Five-star service, residential-style rooms, and a full-service spa in the Gold Coast |
Hotel 505 sits on North State Street in River North, within a few minutes’ walk of the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago Riverwalk.
Pick Hotel 505 for a central, walkable River North base focused on dining, galleries and nightlife.
Waldorf Astoria Chicago is in the Gold Coast, a short walk to Oak Street, Michigan Avenue and high-end shopping.
Choose Waldorf Astoria for a quieter, more residential Gold Coast address with luxury shopping nearby.
Hotel 505 has 261 individually decorated rooms and suites, including Spa Suites with jetted tubs.
Hotel 505 provides a larger inventory of modern rooms and specific Spa Suite options for in-room relaxation.
Waldorf Astoria offers 214 guestrooms with five-star finishes and residential-style layouts.
Waldorf rooms emphasize five-star bedding, finishes and in-room amenities typical of a luxury hotel.
CBR at Hotel 505 is an on-site modern American brasserie and cocktail/whiskey bar that serves breakfast through dinner and hosts a weekday happy hour.
CBR is a convenient, all-day neighborhood brasserie for guests who plan to dine on property without a formal fine-dining experience.
Brass Tack provides American cuisine with bar/lounge service and 24-hour room service at the Waldorf Astoria.
Waldorf’s dining supports a formal five-star stay with on-site options and 24-hour room service.
Hotel 505 highlights a heated indoor pool on the 17th floor with a rooftop sun deck and mentions both indoor and outdoor pool access in third-party listings.
Hotel 505 is a strong pick if a rooftop-adjacent pool and sun deck are priorities.
Waldorf Astoria Chicago offers an indoor pool accessible to guests and integrated with the hotel’s health club facilities.
Waldorf’s indoor pool complements its full-service spa and health club for a traditional luxury wellness experience.
Hotel 505 does not operate a standalone on-site spa; it offers in-room spa treatments and Spa Suites plus a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes.
Choose Hotel 505 when you want in-room spa-style experiences and a fitness-focused setup without a dedicated spa facility.
Waldorf Astoria features a full-service spa plus fitness classes and a health club for guests wanting a comprehensive wellness program.
Waldorf is the better fit if you want a dedicated spa and on-site wellness programming backed by five-star service.

Hotel 505 — steps from River North galleries, bars and quick walks to the Magnificent Mile.

Waldorf Astoria Chicago — offers a dedicated full-service spa with reservations and treatments.

Hotel 505 — heated 17th-floor pool with a rooftop sun deck for year-round swimming and seasonal sunning.

Waldorf Astoria Chicago — five-star service, residential-style rooms and formal hotel amenities.
Hotel 505 is explicitly family-friendly with kid-welcoming pool amenities; Waldorf Astoria accepts children too, but Hotel 505’s layout and pool offerings are more family-oriented.
Waldorf Astoria Chicago has a full-service spa; Hotel 505 offers in-room spa services and Spa Suites but not a standalone spa facility.
Yes. Both properties are short walks to Michigan Avenue and easy to reach the Magnificent Mile shopping corridor.
Hotel 505 has 261 rooms versus Waldorf Astoria Chicago’s 214 guestrooms.
Explore how Hotel 505 River North stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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