
Chicago Athletic Association
Best for travelers who want a historic, characterful downtown stay steps from Millennium Park with rooftop dining and casual, social venues.
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Chicago Athletic Association is a restored 1890s Venetian Gothic landmark hotel on Michigan Avenue that reads as an adults-oriented cultural hub; this guide is for travelers who want historic character, rooftop views and lively bars. The St. Regis Chicago is a contemporary five-star luxury hotel in a landmark downtown tower with a full-service spa and indoor pool; this guide is for travelers prioritizing modern luxury, skyline rooms and spa amenities.
Updated · about 0.8 km apart

Best for travelers who want a historic, characterful downtown stay steps from Millennium Park with rooftop dining and casual, social venues.

Best for travelers who want contemporary five-star rooms, a full-service spa, indoor pool access and skyline views from a notable tower.
When Chicago Athletic Association wins: pick the Athletic Association if you value historic architecture, immediate walking access to Millennium Park and Cloud Gate, plentiful and varied onsite restaurants and bars (including a rooftop), and social, playful spaces like the Game Room and Stagg Court.
When The St. Regis Chicago wins: choose The St. Regis if you want a modern five-star experience — accessible spa services, an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and rooms with premium bedding and skyline or river views in a contemporary tower setting.
Bottom line: both hotels are excellent downtown choices but serve different priorities — the Athletic Association for history, onsite dining variety and event spaces; The St. Regis for modern luxury, wellness facilities and a quieter full-service luxury hotel experience.
| Category | Chicago Athletic Association | The St. Regis Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Historic Venetian Gothic building, lively social venues, playful atmospherics | Contemporary five-star tower with refined, modern luxury finishes |
| Location | 12 South Michigan Avenue — steps from Millennium Park, Cloud Gate and the Art Institute | 401 East Upper Wacker Drive — central downtown, within ~0.5 mi of Grant Park and the Riverwalk |
| Size (rooms) | 240 guest rooms and suites | 192 air-conditioned rooms |
| Check-in age / audience | 21+ minimum check-in (adults-oriented) | |
| Pools | No on-site pool available for guests | Indoor pool (wheelchair-accessible pool listed) |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple venues (The Ives, Midōsuji, Cindy’s rooftop, Drawing Room, Game Room, Shake Shack, Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea) | Two restaurants, one bar/lounge and a coffee shop / cafe |
| Spa & wellness | No in-house spa; fitness center 24-hour and discounted access to a nearby spa | Full-service spa on site, steam room and 24-hour fitness center |
| Known for | Historic athletic-club architecture, rooftop views and event spaces including Stagg Court and White City Ballroom | Modern tower skyline presence, contemporary luxury rooms and on-site spa/pool |
| Event & meeting space | 17,000 sq ft across multiple ballrooms and seven meeting spaces (including unique venues) | 8 meeting rooms and banquet hall |
| Pets | Pet-friendly (up to two pets per room; animal waiver required) | Pets allowed (pet policy and fee listed: pet fee USD 150 per accommodation, per stay; service animals exempt) |
Chicago Athletic Association occupies a landmark Venetian Gothic building directly across from Millennium Park and the Art Institute.
Choose it if you want the most immediate access to Chicago’s cultural core and scenic park views.
The St. Regis Chicago sits in a modern downtown tower on East Upper Wacker Drive with easy access to the Riverwalk and Grant Park.
Choose it if you want a skyline-forward base that's still centrally located to the lakefront and park areas.
Rooms at the Athletic Association blend historic details with contemporary comforts across 240 guestrooms and suites.
Pick the Athletic Association for rooms with historic character and direct park views.
The St. Regis Chicago offers contemporary guestrooms and suites (192 rooms) with premium bedding and skyline or river views.
Pick The St. Regis for modern five-star room configurations and skyline or river views.
Chicago Athletic Association emphasizes a variety of food-and-drink experiences within the historic property.
Choose the Athletic Association for variety, unique venues and strong, walk-in urban energy.
The St. Regis Chicago has fewer outlets but offers formal dining and 24-hour room service.
Choose The St. Regis if you prefer quieter, full-service hotel dining and reliable room service.
Despite the 'athletic' name, Chicago Athletic Association does not include a pool or an on-site spa.
Don’t pick this hotel if an on-site pool or spa is a must-have.
The St. Regis Chicago lists a full-service spa and an indoor pool among its wellness amenities.
Choose The St. Regis if on-site spa services and swimming are important to your stay.
The Athletic Association mixes 24-hour fitness with playful nightlife and social spaces.
Pick this hotel if you like a lively on-site social scene paired with late-night bar options.
The St. Regis focuses on quieter luxury wellness and classic hotel nightlife.
Pick The St. Regis for a quieter, wellness-centered stay with spa-focused amenities.

Steps from Millennium Park, the Art Institute and Cloud Gate — unbeatable walkability to Chicago’s Cultural Mile.

On-site full-service spa plus an indoor pool and steam room for guests who want hotel wellness facilities.

Multiple distinct restaurants and bars including rooftop Cindy’s, intimate Midōsuji and the Game Room.

Contemporary rooms and suites with premium bedding, Smart TVs and river or skyline views in a landmark tower.
Chicago Athletic Association is directly across from Millennium Park; The St. Regis is a short walk but not immediately adjacent.
Neither property is all-inclusive; The St. Regis charges separately for cooked-to-order breakfast (fee), and Chicago Athletic Association does not include meals in room rates.
The St. Regis Chicago has an indoor pool and a full-service spa on site; Chicago Athletic Association does not have an on-site pool or spa.
Both properties require a primary guest who is 21 or older to check in; neither is marketed as adults-only in the sense of banning children outright, but Chicago Athletic Association enforces a 21+ minimum check-in age hotel-wide.
Chicago Athletic Association has extensive, distinctive event spaces (17,000 sq ft) including historic ballrooms and Stagg Court; The St. Regis offers meeting rooms and a banquet hall but fewer unique historic venues.
Explore how Chicago Athletic Association stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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