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The Drake hotel glowing at dusk above Oak Street Beach and Lake Michigan

The Drake

The grande dame of Chicago — a 1920 Italian Renaissance Landmark
with afternoon tea, live jazz, and lake views fit for royalty.

1920Renaissance 140 E. Walton Place, where Michigan Avenue meets the lake

The Drake. 1920, Marshall & Fox, 140 E. Walton Place. Photo courtesy of The Drake.

The Palm Court with its cherub fountain and grand floral centerpiece
The Palm Court at The Drake Hotel, where afternoon tea has been served beneath a marble fountain and live harp music for generations — one of Chicago’s most enduring hospitality traditions. Photo courtesy of The Drake.
Afternoon tea seating around the Palm Court fountain
Afternoon tea service around the Palm Court fountain at The Drake, a 1920 Italian Renaissance Landmark at the head of the Magnificent Mile. Photo courtesy of The Drake.
The Drake's neon rooftop sign glowing over the lakefront at dusk
The Drake Hotel’s rooftop neon sign, a beloved fixture of the Gold Coast skyline above Lake Shore Drive. Photo courtesy of The Drake.
The opulent Gold Coast Room ballroom with gilded columns and chandeliers
The Gold Coast Room, The Drake’s grand ballroom and a center of Chicago social life since the hotel opened in 1920. Photo courtesy of The Drake.
View over the lakefront, Oak Street Beach and Lake Shore Drive
The Drake’s setting where Michigan Avenue meets Lake Shore Drive, overlooking Oak Street Beach and Lake Michigan. Photo courtesy of The Drake.

Why this building matters

Opened in 1920 and designed by Benjamin Marshall in the Italian Renaissance style, The Drake has anchored the corner where Michigan Avenue meets Lake Shore Drive for over a century. Queen Elizabeth II took tea here; Princess Diana, Winston Churchill, and a long line of presidents stayed. Its rooftop neon sign is a beloved part of the skyline, and the Palm Court tea service and Coq d'Or bar carry traditions that have barely changed in a hundred years.

Read more on The Drake's own history page → (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 Old World elegance is the heart of its appeal. Reviewers love the grand lobby full of crystal chandeliers, the upholstered walls and high ceilings, and a vintage, almost Plaza-like ambiance that feels worlds away from the city's trend-driven hotels.
  • The traditions are beloved. The Palm Court serves a daily afternoon tea beneath a sparkling fountain and live harp music, while the wood-paneled Coq d'Or — one of the first bars to open in Chicago after Prohibition — offers live jazz on weekend nights. Grand event spaces like the Gold Coast Room keep the hotel at the center of the city's social life.
  • And the location is exceptional: where Michigan Avenue meets Lake Shore Drive, with sweeping Lake Michigan views, on the Magnificent Mile, steps from the Oak Street boutique shopping district. Guests frequently describe the staff as gracious and first-class, and the rooms as large and comfortable.

What to keep in mind

  • A century-old grande dame — some rooms feel dated
  • Large, busy hotel with frequent events & weddings

Best for Ideal for travelers who want a storied, elegant, classic-Chicago experience in a prestigious Gold Coast location with lake views — couples, special-occasion guests, afternoon-tea seekers, and history lovers among them. If you require fully modernized rooms and bathrooms, request an updated room category and lean into the vintage charm.

Summary of guest reviews. Sources: The Drake Hotel, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Preservation Chicago. Photography courtesy of The Drake, used with permission. Details may change over time.