6 Things To Know About The St. Regis Chicago

Over the years, I have stayed at many of Chicago’s best hotels despite living just 30 minutes from the city. However, one property has eluded me time and time again — The St. Regis Chicago, widely regarded as one of the city’s best and most luxurious hotels. 

Since I had an expiring Free Night Award courtesy of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, it provided me with an excellent opportunity to experience the property, which is in one of the tallest buildings in the city.

Here’s a look at my November 2025 stay at The St. Regis Chicago, along with key details about the property.

1. It’s an Excellent Use of a Marriott Free Night Certificate

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is an incredibly valuable premium card, particularly for frequent Marriott Bonvoy hotel guests. It offers numerous perks and benefits, including complimentary Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite status, 25 elite night credits each year, and up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (upon enrollment).

However, the most valuable (and my favorite) perk of the card is the free night award you earn each card anniversary. The free night award gives cardholders a reward night at any hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy (up to 85,000 points).

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

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A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $700

Annual Fee

$650

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• A Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
• Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy^® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Points redemption rates for The St. Regis Chicago vary significantly, but the property can be booked for 85,000 points (or less) throughout the month. For dates that require more than 85,000 points, Marriott also allows members to top off free night awards with up to 15,000 more points.

As a reference, we value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents a piece, making 85,000 points worth $595. However, many properties, including The St. Regis Chicago, often have significantly higher cash rates than what the points value dictates.

2. It Has a Prime Location Near Many of Chicago’s Famous Sites

The St. Regis Chicago is on East Wacker Drive in the Lakeshore East neighborhood, overlooking Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Lakeshore East is one of Chicago’s most modern mixed-use developments, renowned for its numerous high-rises featuring condominiums and residential towers, as well as lush green spaces.

The property is located just north of Lakeshore East Park, a 6-acre green space featuring gardens, fountains, and walking paths that serves as the centerpiece of the neighborhood.

The area around the property is extremely walkable, and the hotel itself is less than a 15-minute walk from many of Chicago’s most iconic sights, including the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, the Wrigley Building, the Chicago Architecture Center, the Chicago Theatre, the Museum of Illusions Chicago, and the Chicago Riverwalk.

3. Rooms Are Modern and Luxurious

As to be expected of any high-end hotel, The St. Regis Chicago featured an extremely modern and luxurious room. I used my free night award to book a standard Superior Guest room. However, I also applied a Nightly Upgrade Award to my reservation to upgrade to a better room. 

A few days after I made the reservation, the Nightly Upgrade Award was approved, and I was given a Metropolitan Suite, which offered views of Lakeshore East Park and Lake Shore Drive.

When I arrived at the property, around noon, my suite was not ready. After waiting for about an hour, I checked to see if the suite was ready. It still was not, so the front desk representative further upgraded me to a Caroline Astor Suite.

This was a massive upgrade, considering Caroline Astor Suites typically sell for over $1,500 per night.

Caroline Astor Suite

The suite was elegant with high-end furnishings throughout. As I entered the room, I walked down a long hallway that opened up to the suite’s spacious living area. I loved the furniture, which created a sense of refined luxury and comfort.

The bedroom was equally sophisticated. The king-size bed was extremely comfortable, featuring a plush, padded headboard and linens of top-notch quality.

The suite also boasted a massive bathroom adorned with elegant marble finishes. The highlight was the large, freestanding circular tub.

Of course, the suite also offered tremendous views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, including Navy Pier.

4. The Amenities Are High-End

The St. Regis Chicago offers guests numerous luxurious amenities, including an award-winning, world-class full-service spa, a business center, a fully equipped 24-hour-a-day fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, and several meeting and event spaces.

The St. Regis Spa features several steam rooms and saunas. The spa also offers an extensive range of spa treatments, including massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures.

I utilized the indoor swimming pool, and although it was fantastic, it was busy throughout the day with numerous families, which detracted from the luxurious atmosphere of the property.

5. There Are Several Places To Eat and Drink

The St. Regis Chicago offers 3 dining options: Miru, Tre Dita, and Bar Tre Dita. The hotel also offers 24-hour-a-day room service.

Miru is an upscale Japanese restaurant, specializing in Japanese seafood entrees and sushi; Tre Dita is a Tuscan restaurant; and Bar Tre Dita specializes in wines and cocktails.

I had breakfast at Miru. As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, I received a $70 breakfast credit for my welcome amenity.

I ordered the Tokyo breakfast, a bento-style mix that included grilled salmon, dashi tamago, rice, and miso soup for $36. The meal was delicious. The grilled salmon just melted in my mouth. The miso soup, which was served with tofu, seaweed, and scallions, reminded me that I need to revisit Japan soon.

I also had the cinnamon French toast for $19. It was served with berries, maple syrup, and whipped cream. The portion was relatively small, but it was the perfect sweet pairing with the Tokyo breakfast.

6. The Hotel Offers a Complimentary Car Service

The St. Regis Chicago offers its guests a complimentary car service for destinations within a 2-mile radius of the property. Although the 2-mile radius may seem limited, it covers many of Chicago’s top attractions.

The hotel offers this service on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the day. Unfortunately, the hotel only has 1 vehicle, a Rivian R1 SUV. Still, this is an amenity worth taking full advantage of.

I used the complimentary car service to be dropped off at Momotaro, one of the city’s top sushi restaurants, where I had made reservations. This complimentary amenity saved me a $12 Uber ride.

Final Thoughts

The St. Regis Chicago is one of Chicago’s premier hotels, situated in one of the city’s finest locations. The property has much to offer, including spacious guest rooms and suites, luxurious amenities, and 2 fine-dining restaurants.

I was able to book this property using an 85,000-point free night award, which I earned from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. Best of all, I was upgraded to one of the hotel’s best suites, which typically sells for over $1,500 per night.