Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago is located inside the Aqua Tower. Completed in 2009, Aqua Tower was designed by acclaimed architect Jeanne Gang, who has been the recipient of numerous awards—including the 2009 “Skyscraper of the Year” honor—for her work on this stunning 82-story building whose exterior combination of white concrete balconies and gleaming glass windows seem to positively shimmer in the light. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago contains 334 rooms within this award-winning structure. Here you’ll find beautiful rooms and luxurious suites done up in various shades of cool, relaxing blue that play off the building/hotel name. Hotel amenities here include on-site parking, two distinct fitness centers, a spa, a spacious rooftop area that calls to mind a park or garden, extensive meeting space that can be reserved for private events, and an in-house restaurant that specializes in Italian cuisine.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Ambiance
Dare to say that, if you have ever seen Aqua Tower—the 82-story skyscraper that is home to Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago—you’ll sure remember it. This beautiful building—with its memorable, eye-catching façade—is an architectural marvel; it is widely considered one of the best recent additions to the already legendary Chicago skyline in some time. Entering the lobby of Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago you’ll quickly see that the interior vibe of the hotel more than does justice to the striking exterior of the establishment. No simple check-in desk here; instead, you’ll find what is known as the “Fireside Lobby.” This lovely area features reclaimed brick walls, bronze lattices and chandeliers, a 50-foot long fireplace, and more plush couches and chairs than you can count. There is even a small art gallery nearby that features a selection of photographs, paintings, and sculptures by local artists. This bustling area will make you feel at home right away. There are even multiple events hosted in this space every single day, including daily tea service in the afternoon, live music a couple nights each week, and occasional poetry readings.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Rooms
There are several different kinds of guestrooms available at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. Standard “City & Park View” rooms typically range from approximately 330 to 550 square feet in size, and come with either one king bed or two queen beds. You can also book a “Business Class” room here: these rooms usually are similar in style and format to “City & Park View” rooms, but they also provide you with complimentary access to the facility’s Business Lounge, where you can enjoy breakfast in the morning and drinks in the evening.
There are also a number of remarkable suites to choose from at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. Take your pick of a Park Suite, Lakeshore/Millennium Suite, and/or Aqua Suite to enjoy stunning views and luxurious accommodations ranging anywhere from 600 to nearly 1,800 square feet in size. Whether or not you select a suite or a more standard guestroom, you will feel right at home here. The in-room décor takes the hotel’s name and theme quite literally, as the average guestroom is awash in a mixture of cool, relaxing blues trimmed with subtle white accents.
In-room amenities at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel are headlined by free high-speed Wi-Fi and a large flat-screen, high-definition television. Every room comes with complimentary bottled water, as well as a coffeemaker and tea service. The bedding here is notably high-end and plush, and each room provides you with either a view of Lake Michigan, the Chicago skyline, or Millennium Park—if you have a preference, make certain to request it when you make your reservation.
Bathrooms at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago are modern and sleek. Clean white lines define the shower/tub space, as well as the tiled floor—while the color is provided by striking wall paneling in a peaceful shade of turquoise. Track lighting brightens the space even more, and complimentary “This Works”-brand bath products are to be found sink-side.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Amenities
There are a variety of appealing hotel-wide amenities you can take advantage of during your stay at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the entire facility, and there is a Business Center located on the second floor of the hotel that can be accessed 24-hours each day. There is also complimentary coffee available in the lobby each morning between the hours of 5:00am and 6:00am.
One especially remarkable feature of Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago is its multi-faceted commitment to health and fitness. Spread out across the second and third floors of the hotel you’ll find an indoor fitness center. At some 8,000 square feet in size, this state-of-the-art space features an indoor swimming pool, a basketball court, a spinning facility, and a wide variety of cardio equipment and weightlifting machines. This terrific space also includes a spa treatment room where you can enjoy a post-workout massage.
However, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago also features an outdoor space devoted to health and wellness. Weather permitting, you’ll not want to miss this unforgettable outdoor layout; it includes such details as a junior-Olympic-size swimming pool, sundeck, kids’ “splash pool,” fire pit, cabana, hot tub, and 80,000 square feet of what the hotel calls a “modern lifestyle garden.”
Filini Bar and Restaurant is located right inside the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. Open all day every day, Filini focuses on authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant space is a charming mixture of the rustic and the chic, as sleek, gleaming white walls meet exposed-brick façades—all of which is set off that much more by floor-to-ceiling windows that let in abundant natural light. If you visit Filini during your stay at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago make sure to keep in mind that all guests of the hotel receive a 10% discount at the restaurant and/or bar.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Neighborhood
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago is located in a prime spot right in the heart of downtown Chicago. Just one block to the north you’ll encounter the Chicago River, with its bustling Riverwalk, while only two blocks to the south is Millennium Park, home to Pritzker Pavilion and the ever-popular Cloud Gate (better known to most as “The Bean”). Other local attractions nearby include Michigan Avenue (that “Magnificent Mile” of shopping and dining destinations), the Art Institute of Chicago, Grant Park, Skydeck at Willis Tower, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Chicago’s iconic Museum Campus (which includes favorites like the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium). Additional accommodations in this area include Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, Virgin Hotels Chicago, Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, Loews Chicago Hotel, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Chicago, Sheraton Grand Chicago, Park Hyatt Chicago, JW Marriott Chicago, Swissôtel Chicago, and many, many more.
How is it Ecofriendly?
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago, as part of the Radisson Hotel Group, is committed to reducing its environmental impact all across the board. This means integrating concern for environmental issues, and a focus on sustainable practices, into all facets of its operations at its properties all across the world. At Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago these efforts take many forms. If you are dining in-house during your stay, at Filini Bar and Restaurant, you can rest assured that you are part of an effort to both reduce food and packaging waste; Radisson works hard within its restaurants to make certain that they purchase only locally and responsibly sourced food products and go to lengths to cut down on plate waste, spoilage, and cleaning products. Likewise, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago is part of Radisson Hotel Group’s endeavoring to better manage its water resources; they have installed a variety of water-saving technologies—including low-flow toilets, faucets, and fixtures—while continuing to routinely encourage employees and guests to themselves participate in water conservation.
One additional form this advocacy takes is the Radisson “Blu Planet Housekeeping” program. This program encourages guests to reduce their environmental footprint by choosing to forgo traditional housekeeping services. All guests have to do is opt-out of daily housekeeping services and they’ll receive a variety of “reward-point” incentives that may be used toward future Radisson hotel stays—while Radisson Hotel Group will simultaneously make an actual monetary donation to its partner water charity, Just a Drop. By opting-out of housekeeping services, guests will be cutting down on the amount of water used by laundry facilities, etc.