
The Drake
Best for travelers who want a classic, lake-facing Chicago hotel with formal afternoon tea, historic ballrooms, and proximity to Oak Street Beach.
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The Drake is a historic 4-star Gold Coast landmark on the north end of the Magnificent Mile, best for travelers who want lakefront views, classic venues, and a formal, historic Chicago stay. Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk is a large 4-star, major-brand riverfront hotel that suits travelers who want modern, scale-driven downtown accommodations close to the Riverwalk and conference spaces.
Updated · about 1.2 km apart

Best for travelers who want a classic, lake-facing Chicago hotel with formal afternoon tea, historic ballrooms, and proximity to Oak Street Beach.

Best for travelers who want a big-brand, modern riverfront hotel with many meeting rooms, river and skyline views, and on-site dining options.
When The Drake wins: choose The Drake if you want a storied, lakefront Gold Coast stay, historic bars and Palm Court tea, lake views and direct access to Oak Street Beach, or formal event spaces for weddings and galas.
When Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk wins: pick Sheraton Grand for larger conference or meeting needs, more on-site meeting/banquet capacity, a very large guestroom inventory, and river- or skyline-view rooms with easier access to the Chicago Riverwalk.
Bottom line: both are 4-star downtown options within easy walking distance of many central attractions; pick The Drake for lakefront history, atmosphere, and formal venues, and the Sheraton Grand for scale, meeting space, and a contemporary riverfront base.
| Category | The Drake | Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Historic, formal, lakefront Gold Coast landmark | Large-brand, contemporary riverfront hotel |
| Location | Across from Oak Street Beach; north end of the Magnificent Mile | On the Chicago River near the Riverwalk and Michigan Avenue bridge |
| Size (rooms) | 535 guestrooms and 74 suites | 1,218 guestrooms |
| Who it's for | Couples, families, wedding/ballroom events, shoppers | Business travelers, conference groups, riverfront sightseers |
| Pools & fitness | No on-site pool; 24-hour fitness center | Indoor pool and 24-hour fitness center |
| Restaurants & bars | Coq d'Or, Palm Court (afternoon tea), Cafe on Oak | 3 restaurants including Shulas Steak House, coffee shop, 2 bars/lounges |
| Meeting & event space | 21 event rooms; large historic ballrooms (Gold Coast Room, Grand Ballroom) | 125,000 sq ft of conference space and 43 meeting rooms |
| Accessibility & family policy | Welcomes children of all ages; reservation holder must be 21+ | Not adults-only; family stays allowed (up to 2 children 17 and younger stay free with existing bedding) |
| Known for | Historic public spaces, afternoon tea, lake views, wedding venues | Riverfront location, large meeting capacity, skyline/river-view rooms |
| Parking & fees | Self-park and valet available (fees listed by property) | Covered self-parking (surcharge) and on-site parking options |
The Drake sits at 140 E Walton Place at the north end of the Magnificent Mile with direct proximity to Oak Street Beach.
Choose The Drake if you want immediate lakefront access and the northern Magnificent Mile location.
Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk sits on the Chicago River near the Riverwalk and Michigan Avenue bridge, placing you near downtown attractions and riverfront promenades.
Choose Sheraton Grand for direct Riverwalk access and a central downtown position for river- and skyline-focused sightseeing.
The Drake offers individually furnished rooms and historic suites, emphasizing classic character and lake views.
Choose The Drake for individually furnished rooms and signature historic suites with lake-facing options.
Sheraton Grand provides a large inventory of traditional, deluxe, club and suite room types with river, skyline, and lake views.
Choose Sheraton Grand when you want many room choices and high-floor club or river-view options.
Dining at The Drake centers on historic Palm Court tea service, Coq d'Or cocktail bar, and a lakefront breakfast spot.
Pick The Drake if you value the historic Palm Court tea and a classic hotel bar experience.
Sheraton Grand offers multiple on-site dining outlets including an American steakhouse and casual café options.
Pick Sheraton Grand if you want more on-site restaurant variety and casual meal options.
The Drake does not have an on-site swimming pool; its signature advantages are lake access, historic public rooms, and ballrooms.
Choose The Drake for lake access and historic public venues rather than poolside amenities.
Sheraton Grand lists an indoor pool and large meeting and event spaces as notable on-site amenities.
Choose Sheraton Grand when an on-site pool or extensive meeting space matters.
The Drake focuses on 24-hour fitness facilities and historic nightlife in Coq d'Or and Palm Court tea service by day.
Choose The Drake for late-night historic bar atmosphere plus a 24-hour workout room.
Sheraton Grand pairs a 24-hour fitness center with an indoor pool and hotel bars for post-meeting drinks.
Choose Sheraton Grand for convenient fitness hours, a pool, and on-site bars for casual evenings.

The Drake — immediate access to Oak Street Beach and lake-facing public rooms.

Sheraton Grand — far larger meeting footprint (125,000 sq ft) and 43 meeting rooms.

The Drake — Palm Court, Coq d'Or, and historic ballrooms fit formal occasions and weddings.

Sheraton Grand — indoor pool plus high room count and river/skyline-view rooms.
The Drake is directly across from Oak Street Beach and is the closer choice for beach access.
Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk — it lists 125,000 sq ft of conference space and 43 meeting rooms versus The Drake’s smaller meeting footprint.
Yes. The Drake offers Lake View and Beach View rooms; Sheraton Grand lists River View, Lake View, and Skyline View room categories.
Yes. Both hotels welcome families; neither is adults-only. Each property has its own child policies and fee rules at check-in to confirm.
Explore how The Drake stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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