Why this building matters
Opened May 2, 1927 as the Stevens Hotel and designed by Holabird & Roche, this Beaux-Arts colossus was the largest hotel in the world, with 3,000 rooms and its own bowling alley, theater, and rooftop golf course. Later the Conrad Hilton, it remains one of Chicago’s most storied addresses. It stands within the Historic Michigan Boulevard District — the Grant Park streetwall designated a Chicago Landmark in 2002, which Preservation Chicago played a key leadership role in advocating for and creating. Many of these grand buildings, now beloved hotels, might have been lost without that protection.
Read Hilton Chicago's history on Historic Hotels of America → (booking directly with the hotel doesn't generate a referral fee that supports our preservation work — the button at right does)
What guests are saying
What guests love
- The sheer grandeur: a block-long Beaux-Arts landmark with opulent ballrooms and a lobby that recalls the golden age of grand hotels.
- An unbeatable Michigan Avenue setting directly across from Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, and the Museum Campus, a short walk to the Art Institute.
- A genuine piece of Chicago history — the world’s largest hotel at its opening, host to presidents and a fixture of the city for a century.
What to keep in mind
- A vast historic hotel — grand public spaces, variable room sizes
- Convention-scale property; busy during big events
Best for Travelers who want grandeur and history on Michigan Avenue, with Grant Park and the Museum Campus at the doorstep — and anyone drawn to Chicago’s great hotel heritage.
Summary of guest reviews. Sources: Hilton Chicago, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Preservation Chicago. Photography courtesy of Hilton Chicago, used with permission. Details may change over time.