Is Hotel 505 River North worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Hotel 505 River North is a solid downtown choice if you want walkable River North access, an on-site restaurant (CBR), and upper-floor pool and fitness facilities. It’s especially convenient for shoppers, gallery-goers and meeting attendees, though you should expect destination fees, valet parking costs, and no standalone spa.
In this guide
- Location — where you’ll be and what you can walk to
- Rooms — what you’ll find in guest rooms and suites
- Amenities — pool, fitness and practical details
- Dining and bar — CBR and what to expect
- Meetings, events and weddings
- Costs, policies and practical notes
- Who should choose Hotel 505 River North — pros and cons
Location — where you’ll be and what you can walk to
Hotel 505 River North sits at 505 N. State Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, a short walk from the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago Riverwalk. The property address places you close to galleries, restaurants, nightlife and several downtown attractions.
The CTA Red Line’s Grand/State stop is essentially at the hotel’s doorstep, so you can reach other parts of the city quickly by subway. Navy Pier, Millennium Park and many loop attractions are an easy transit or short taxi ride away.
- Address: 505 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60654
- Nearby walks: Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) ~3–5 minutes, Chicago Riverwalk ~5–7 minutes
- Closest transit: CTA Red Line (Grand/State area) within a quick walk
| Nearby spot | Approx. proximity (descriptions from hotel material) |
|---|---|
| Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) | About a 3–5 minute walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | About a 5–7 minute walk |
| House of Blues / The Escape Game | Within a few blocks / short walk |
Rooms — what you’ll find in guest rooms and suites
The hotel has 261 rooms and suites; the primary publicly listed room types are the Deluxe Room and the Deluxe Room, City View. Rooms are described as individually decorated and range from standard king/queen layouts to larger Spa Suites (Junior Spa Suites, One-Bedroom Spa Suites, Luxury Spa Suites) that include jetted soaking tubs.
Standard room features include complimentary in-room Wi‑Fi, desks, seating areas in many rooms, and bathrooms ranging from standard showers to suites with jetted 'Fuji' soaking tubs. Housekeeping is available on request rather than as an automatic daily service.
- Deluxe Room — options: 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds
- Deluxe Room, City View — 1 King Bed, city-facing window
- Spa Suite options exist (named on hotel materials) with jetted soaking tubs and walk-in showers
- Free Wi‑Fi in guest rooms; housekeeping provided on request
| Room type | Key feature |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Deluxe Room, City View | 1 King Bed with city view |
| Spa Suites (Junior/One-Bedroom/Luxury) | In-room jetted soaking tubs (per suite description) |
Amenities — pool, fitness and practical details
The hotel’s signature wellness features are on the 17th floor: a heated indoor pool that’s kept year-round and a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes and cardio equipment. The pool area includes a rooftop sun deck for use when weather allows.
There’s no standalone spa facility on site; instead the property offers in-room spa treatments and Spa Suites with jetted tubs. Practical services include a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, laundry/dry cleaning and valet parking.
- Heated indoor pool on the 17th floor (year-round) and rooftop sun deck
- 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes (17th floor)
- In-room spa treatments available; Spa Suites feature jetted soaking tubs
- Housekeeping on request, free Wi‑Fi in rooms, 24-hour front desk
| Service/Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pool | Heated indoor pool on 17th floor; rooftop sun deck; pool capacity is limited for comfort |
| Fitness center | Open 24 hours; Peloton bikes included with destination fee |
| Spa | No standalone spa; in-room treatments and spa suites available |
Dining and bar — CBR and what to expect
CBR is the hotel’s on-site modern American brasserie and cocktail/whiskey bar, serving breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner with a business-casual dress code. Hours vary by meal and day of week — breakfast and lunch run weekdays while brunch and weekend hours are listed separately on the restaurant site.
Reservations are recommended for CBR. The hotel’s destination fee includes a small credit toward the restaurant on some booking materials, and the restaurant runs a Tuesday–Friday happy hour in many current schedules.
- CBR serves breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner and hosts a bar/happy hour
- Breakfast (Mon–Fri) 7–11 a.m.; Lunch (Mon–Fri) 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Dinner and Brunch hours vary (see restaurant for current days)
- Reservations recommended; business-casual dress code
| Meal / Service | Typical hours (check CBR for current schedule) |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (CBR) | Mon–Fri, 7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. |
| Lunch (CBR) | Mon–Fri, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. |
| Happy Hour (CBR) | Tue–Fri, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. |
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 a ballroom and banquet hall used for weddings and large events. The meeting rooms support capacities up to stated hotel materials and are positioned for downtown access.
Event attendees staying onsite have access to the hotel’s amenities (fitness center, pool) and on-site dining; the property also lists terrace and outdoor options for event programming. The hotel reports accessible features for events, such as a ramp and wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
- Over 8,000 sq. ft. of event space across 10 rooms (some sources cite 8,150 sq. ft.)
- Ballroom and banquet hall available for weddings and receptions
- On-site catering options via CBR and terrace/outdoor space for event use
- Accessible event spaces and support for mobility needs
| Event feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Total event space | More than 8,000 sq. ft. across multiple rooms |
| Maximum single-event capacity | Hotel materials reference capacities suitable for mid-sized conferences (check with hotel for exact numbers) |
| Event catering | CBR can provide food/beverage for events; reservations/menus coordinated with hotel |
Costs, policies and practical notes
The hotel charges a nightly destination/resort fee (reported on booking sites) that bundles items such as lobby coffee/tea, Wi‑Fi, two bottled waters, fitness center and Peloton access, seasonal bike use, pool access and a small dining credit. Valet parking and offsite parking are separate fees.
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM; the primary guest must be at least 21 and present a photo ID and credit card at check-in. The hotel is non-smoking and dog-friendly (up to two dogs per room with specified fees).
- Check-in: 4:00 PM; Check-out: 11:00 AM; 24-hour front desk
- Primary guest must be 21+ and show photo ID and a credit card at check-in
- Destination fee applies (items bundled vary by booking); valet parking extra (on-site valet reported around $80/night)
- Pet policy: up to two dogs per room (each up to 50 lbs) with published pet fees
| Policy / Fee | Notes |
|---|---|
| Destination fee | Reported on booking sites; typically includes Wi‑Fi, fitness access, pool use, bottled water and small dining credit |
| Valet parking | On-site valet reported around $80/night (separate from destination fee) |
| Pet fee | $75 for stays up to 7 nights and $150 for 8+ nights per dog (hotel-published amounts) |
Who should choose Hotel 505 River North — pros and cons
Good fit: travelers who want a central River North base within easy walking distance of shopping, galleries, the Riverwalk and nightlife; groups holding meetings or small conferences who need downtown meeting rooms; guests who value an upper-floor indoor pool and Peloton-equipped fitness center.
Less ideal: travelers seeking a full-service spa on site, those who want to avoid destination or parking fees, or guests who require daily housekeeping as a default service rather than on request.
- Pros:
- - Very central River North location near Magnificent Mile and Riverwalk
- - Heated 17th-floor indoor pool and rooftop sun deck; 24-hour fitness with Peloton bikes
- - On-site restaurant and event/meeting space totaling ~8,000+ sq. ft.
- Cons:
- - Destination fee and separate valet parking increase nightly cost
- - No standalone spa facility (in-room spa services and spa suites only)
- - Housekeeping is by request rather than automatic daily service
| If you prioritize | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Central downtown walking access | Yes — this is a strong choice |
| On-site full spa | No — only in-room spa treatments and spa suites are offered |
| Lower out-of-room costs (no extra fees) | Be aware — destination fee and valet parking are common |
