Is The Drake worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — The Drake is worth it if you want a historic, lakefront Chicago stay at the north end of the Magnificent Mile with easy access to Oak Street Beach and downtown sights. It’s strong on location, historic public spaces, and on-site dining (Palm Court, Coq d'Or); skip it if you need an on-site pool, full spa, or the lowest-priced modern boutique rooms.
In this guide
Location & neighborhood
The Drake sits at 140 E Walton Place at the north end of the Magnificent Mile and directly across from Oak Street Beach. That puts walking access to the Lakefront Trail, Water Tower Place, 360 CHICAGO, and many shopping and dining options.
For visitors who want a central, walkable base for sightseeing or beach time, the location is one of the hotel’s main selling points. The hotel is marketed as one of the closest downtown properties to the lakefront and Oak Street Beach.
- Oak Street Beach: about a 3–5 minute walk (directly across the street)
- 360 CHICAGO and Water Tower Place: roughly a 5-minute walk
- Navy Pier: around 1 mile away (walk or short ride)
| Nearby | Typical walk time |
|---|---|
| Oak Street Beach | 3–5 minutes |
| 360 CHICAGO / John Hancock | About 5 minutes |
| Chicago Riverwalk | Roughly 10–15 minutes |
Rooms & suite options
Rooms at The Drake are individually furnished and cover 22 named types, from compact single-bed rooms to large suites. Notable room names you may see when booking include Room, 1 King Bed; Studio Suite; Suite, 1 Bedroom, Lake View (Michigan); Family Room; and Presidential Suite, 1 Bedroom, Lake View.
There are 535 guest rooms and 74 suites overall. Some suite categories (for example, Gold Coast suite types listed by the hotel) may include a private jacuzzi/spa bath as an in-room feature; the property also highlights the Princess Diana Suite among its signature accommodations.
- Examples: Room, 1 King Bed; Room, Lake View; Studio Suite; Suite, 1 Bedroom (Drake); Family Room (Deluxe).
- All rooms include premium bedding and a laptop-compatible in-room safe.
- Accessible room types are available (Room, Lake View (Mobility & Hearing); Room (Mobility & Hearing)).
| Room type (examples) | Typical bed setup |
|---|---|
| Room, 1 King Bed | 1 King Bed |
| Room, 2 Queen Beds | 2 Queen Beds |
| Family Room, with Sofa bed | 1 King Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed |
Dining, tea, and the bar scene
Dining at The Drake centers on a few signature venues: Palm Court (afternoon tea), Coq d'Or (historic cocktail bar and American fare), and Cafe on Oak (breakfast overlooking Lake Michigan). Breakfast is available on-site for an additional fee unless you book an explicit Bed and Breakfast package.
Palm Court is known for Afternoon Tea (Fri–Sun, seatings up to 90 minutes) and offers a Prince & Princess Tea for children ages 3–12. Coq d'Or is a longtime hotel bar with no-reservation, walk-in seating and clearly posted hours across the week.
- Palm Court Afternoon Tea: Fri–Sun 12:00pm–4:30pm; reservations recommended; 90-minute seating max.
- Coq d'Or hours: Mon–Thu 11am–midnight, Fri–Sat 11am–1am, Sun 11am–11pm; walk-in seating.
- Cafe on Oak: breakfast spot with lake views; weekend hours published (Fri–Sun) and weekday hours vary.
| Venue | Typical offer / note |
|---|---|
| Palm Court | Afternoon Tea service (reservations encouraged) |
| Coq d'Or | Historic bar with cocktails and American fare (walk-in) |
| Cafe on Oak | Breakfast overlooking Lake Michigan (fee unless packaged) |
Event spaces and weddings
The Drake has extensive event and wedding facilities, including two large ballrooms and multiple meeting rooms. The Gold Coast Room (6,838 sq ft) and the Grand Ballroom (about 5,214 sq ft, original 1920s Charleston-era space) are commonly used for large receptions.
The hotel lists 21 event rooms and about 36,863 sq ft of meeting space overall, which supports a wide range of group sizes from intimate gatherings to large banquets. If you’re planning a wedding, the property has a long history as a Gold Coast landmark and offers on-site catering and ceremony/reception coordination.
- Gold Coast Room: largest ballroom, lake views, capacity listed up to 900 for receptions.
- Grand Ballroom: historic 1920s space, suitable for live bands and dance floors (capacity ~500).
- Smaller rooms such as the French Room and Camellia Room suit intimate to mid-size events.
| Venue | Square feet / typical capacity |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast Room | 6,838 sq ft / up to 900 guests (reception figures listed by the hotel) |
| Grand Ballroom | About 5,214 sq ft / ~500 guests |
| Camellia Room | Mid-size room, used for intimate to mid-size meetings |
Amenities and practical info
The Drake offers a 24-hour fitness center with cardio machines, free weights, yoga mats, and stretching areas. There is no on-site pool and the property does not have a dedicated spa facility; in-room massages can be arranged.
Standard in-room and lobby WiFi is available for a daily surcharge (complimentary for eligible loyalty members). The hotel provides both self-parking (in/out privileges) and valet parking for a daily fee; EV charging is available nearby rather than directly on-site. The reservation holder must be 21+ to check in and will need a photo ID and credit card at arrival.
- Fitness center: open 24 hours (cardio, weights, yoga mats).
- WiFi: standard in-room/lobby WiFi for a daily fee; complimentary for qualifying loyalty members.
- Parking: self-parking and valet available for daily fees; self-parking includes in/out privileges.
- No on-site pool; no dedicated on-site spa (some suites may have in-room jacuzzi/spa baths).
- Pets: Hilton policy allows pets with a non-refundable fee and limits (confirm current fee with hotel).
| Service / Facility | Note |
|---|---|
| Check-in / Check-out | Check-in begins at 3:00 PM; check-out is 12:00 PM (noon); front desk open 24 hours |
| WiFi | Daily surcharge for standard WiFi; complimentary for eligible loyalty members |
| Airport transfers | No airport shuttle provided by the hotel |
Pros and cons — honest summary
Below are the main strengths and drawbacks, drawn from the hotel’s facts and typical guest priorities. Use this to decide whether The Drake matches your travel needs.
If you prioritize historic public rooms, immediate lakefront access, and on-site tea/bar dining, The Drake is a strong choice. If you need modern minimal design, resort-style amenities like a pool or full-service spa, or the lowest rates, consider alternatives.
- Pros: Prime Magnificent Mile and Oak Street Beach location; historic public spaces (Palm Court, Grand Ballroom, Coq d'Or); many room types including lake-view suites; large event and wedding capacity.
- Cons: No on-site swimming pool or dedicated spa; WiFi and parking are extra fees; rooms are individually furnished so décor and layout vary (some guests prefer consistent modern rooms).
- Good for: travelers wanting landmark history, lakefront walks, afternoon tea, business events, and weddings.
- Not ideal for: travelers who need resort-style amenities (pool/spa) or fixed modern-room design.
| Good for | Not ideal for |
|---|---|
| Historic hotel experience, lake views, babys/ family tea | Travelers wanting an on-site pool or full spa |
| Weddings and large events | Budget travelers seeking lowest nightly rates |
| Walkable access to Magnificent Mile shopping and Lakefront Trail | Visitors expecting included meals or all-inclusive pricing |
