Hotel 505 River North rebrand and practical notes for returning guests
Hotel 505 River North is the recently rebranded name (formerly Royal Sonesta Chicago River North) at 505 N. State Street in Chicago’s River North. This guide summarizes what changed, what stays the same, and practical notes for returning guests (check-in 4:00 PM, check-out 11:00 AM; minimum check-in age 21).
In this guide
Rebrand — what changed and what didn’t
The property is now called Hotel 505 River North; previous branding included Royal Sonesta Chicago River North. Signage and online listing names were updated around late September 2026.
Operational features guests usually care about — the address (505 N. State Street), the 24-hour front desk, on-site restaurant CBR, and meeting/event space — remain part of the hotel offering.
- Name now: Hotel 505 River North (was Royal Sonesta Chicago River North)
- Address unchanged: 505 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60654
- 261 rooms and suites continue to be listed
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (CBR) | Open on property |
| Pools & fitness | Pool on 17th floor, rooftop sun deck and fitness center retained |
| Meeting space | More than 8,000 sq ft across multiple rooms |
Location and getting around
Hotel 505 River North sits in the River North / Near North Side neighborhood, within easy walking distance of Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) and the Chicago Riverwalk.
The CTA Red Line’s Grand station is effectively at North State and Grand and is the closest rapid-transit access for exploring downtown and other neighborhoods.
- Magnificent Mile / Michigan Avenue: roughly a 3–5 minute walk
- Chicago Riverwalk: roughly a 5–7 minute walk
- Nearby points: Bally’s Casino Chicago, Marina City, Tribune Tower within a few minutes’ walk
| Trip | Typical option from hotel |
|---|---|
| To Navy Pier | Taxi or rideshare (short drive) or bus connections from near the Red Line |
| To O'Hare (ORD) | No hotel shuttle — drive or CTA Blue Line from downtown |
| To North Avenue Beach | CTA/short drive; about 1.5–2 miles |
Rooms and suites — what returning guests should expect
Room types listed include Deluxe Room (1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds) and Deluxe Room, City View (1 King Bed); the hotel also continues to advertise Spa Suites and individually decorated rooms across 261 guestrooms.
Housekeeping is provided on request rather than automatically; contact the front desk to schedule daily service if you want it.
- Room names to request exactly: Deluxe Room; Deluxe Room, City View
- Spa Suites (Junior, One-Bedroom, Luxury) remain available with jetted soaking tubs for in-room spa experiences
- Free Wi‑Fi is available in all guest rooms
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Check-in / Check-out | 4:00 PM / 11:00 AM |
| Early check-in / Late check-out | Available subject to availability and fees |
| ID & card | Photo ID and credit card required at check-in |
Pools, fitness, and rooftop sun deck
The hotel keeps a heated indoor pool and the fitness center on the 17th floor; a rooftop sun deck is available for guests when weather allows.
Pool capacity is limited for comfort and safety; the fitness center is open 24 hours and includes Peloton bikes.
- 17th-floor heated indoor pool (open year-round)
- Rooftop sun deck adjacent to the pool area
- 24-hour fitness center with cardio equipment and Peloton bikes
| Amenity | Location / Note |
|---|---|
| Indoor pool | 17th floor; heated; capacity limits enforced |
| Fitness center | 17th floor; access included with destination fee |
| Rooftop sun deck | Seasonal access; weather dependent |
Dining — what to know about CBR
CBR is the on-site modern American brasserie and cocktail/whiskey bar serving breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner and happy hour. Reservations are recommended for busy times.
Happy hour runs Tuesday–Friday, and brunch service is offered on weekends per current hours; some dinner and bar hours vary by day, so check the restaurant’s current schedule before planning.
- Breakfast (Mon–Fri): 7:00–11:00 AM
- Lunch (Mon–Fri): 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Brunch (Sat–Sun): 8:00 AM–2:00 PM; Brunch bar 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Dinner/Bar: generally 4:00–10:00 PM on select evenings; happy hour typically Tue–Fri 4:00–6:00 PM
| Service | Typical hours |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Mon–Fri 7:00–11:00 AM |
| Lunch | Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–2:00 PM |
| Weekend Brunch | Sat–Sun 8:00 AM–2:00 PM |
Practical policies, fees, and pet info
The hotel charges a nightly destination fee that bundles several guest services; third-party listings report the fee in the low-$30 range and describe included items such as lobby coffee/tea, Wi‑Fi, two water bottles, fitness center access (including Peloton), seasonal bike use, pool access, Fresco Terrace access, and a restaurant credit toward CBR.
Valet parking is available on-site (third-party listings show about $80 per night with in/out privileges); offsite parking options are generally available nearby at lower nightly rates. The hotel does not provide airport transfer service.
- Destination fee: reported around $30–$32 per night (includes several amenities as listed by hotel sources)
- Valet parking: listed around $80/night (in/out privileges); offsite parking options exist nearby for lower rates
- Airport transfer: hotel does not provide airport shuttle service
| Policy / Fee | Source detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum check-in age | Primary guest must be 21 with photo ID and credit card |
| Pet policy | Dogs allowed — up to two dogs per room, up to 50 lbs each; pet fees: $75 up to 7 nights, $150 for 8+ nights per dog |
| Housekeeping | Provided on request rather than automatically |
Meetings, events and weddings
Hotel 505 River North offers more than 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space across roughly ten rooms, including ballroom and banquet facilities suitable for meetings and receptions.
Event planning services, catering through on-site dining (CBR), and accessible event features are part of the hotel’s offering; confirm capacities and AV needs directly with the hotel event team when planning.
- Total meeting space: listed as 8,000–8,150 sq ft across multiple rooms
- Max reported event capacity example: venues cited for up to ~230 guests (confirm exact room-by-room capacities with hotel)
- Accessible features available for events (ramp, accessible washrooms, wheelchair-accessible pool and registration desk)
| Event need | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Room capacity | Exact guest capacity for chosen room |
| Catering | Menu options and any room-block dining arrangements with CBR |
| Accessibility | On-site accessible entrances and facilities |
