
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Best for wedding parties, events, and travelers who want landmark architecture and large meeting/banquet spaces.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is a landmark historic hotel on Michigan Avenue with large ballrooms, a tiled Junior Olympic indoor pool and family-friendly programming. The Peninsula Chicago is an ultra-luxury Magnificent Mile flagship with polished rooms, a full-service spa and a quieter, high-end service style — read this if you’re choosing between grand historic character and contemporary ultra-luxury on the Magnificent Mile.
Updated · about 0.2 km apart

Best for wedding parties, events, and travelers who want landmark architecture and large meeting/banquet spaces.

Best for travelers who prioritize refined, ultra-luxury service, a full spa program, and contemporary polished rooms.
When InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile wins: choose the InterContinental if you want historic 1929 architecture, expansive ballroom and meeting capacity, a dramatic tiled Junior Olympic indoor pool, and more of a social, event-forward atmosphere.
When The Peninsula Chicago wins: pick The Peninsula for a quieter ultra-luxury stay, highly rated guestrooms, a dedicated full-service spa and a compact, highly polished property close to Michigan Avenue shopping.
Bottom line: both put you on the Magnificent Mile; pick InterContinental for history, scale and events, or The Peninsula for a higher-end, service-focused stay and spa-led relaxation.
| Category | InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile | The Peninsula Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Historic, social, event-forward (large ballrooms, active public venues) | Ultra-luxury, polished, service-focused |
| Location | Directly on Michigan Avenue at 505 N Michigan Ave (steps to shopping and Riverwalk) | |
| Size (guest rooms) | 792 guest rooms across multiple towers | 339 guestrooms |
| Ages / audience | All-ages; enforces minimum check-in age 21 for primary guest; family-friendly pool | All-ages (family-friendly listed); not adults-only |
| Pools / signature amenity | Historic Junior Olympic-size indoor pool with 1920s Spanish Majolica tiles (family-friendly) | Indoor pool (1) as part of spa/health facilities and a full-service spa |
| Restaurants & bars | Michael Jordan's Steak House & Bar, Casa Chi (Nikkei), Center Court (breakfast), on-site Starbucks | Two restaurants including Shanghai Terrace (Chinese) and a hotel bar/lounge; room service and a coffee shop/cafe |
| Spa & wellness | InterContinental Spa with treatment rooms, a couples room and Finnish saunas; 24-hour fitness center | Full-service spa with massage and body treatments; health club and indoor pool |
| Events & weddings | Extensive event space (dozens of rooms, Grand Ballroom, multiple historic ballrooms) — marketed for large weddings | Event and banquet facilities available, but smaller scale compared with InterContinental |
| Pet policy & fees | Pet friendly with a fee (InterContinental lists $150 per stay; size limits apply) | Pets allowed in specific rooms only; supplier listing shows a pet fee (USD 350 per pet, per stay) |
| Check-in / check-out | Check-in from 3:00 PM; standard check-out 11:00 AM (InterContinental) | Check-in from 3:00 PM; standard check-out 12:00 PM (The Peninsula Chicago) |
InterContinental sits directly on the Magnificent Mile with immediate access to shops, the Riverwalk and landmark buildings.
Choose InterContinental if you want the busiest, most eventful stretch of Michigan Avenue at your doorstep.
The Peninsula is centrally located on Superior Street just off Michigan Avenue and close to Water Tower Place.
Pick The Peninsula when you want high-end proximity to Magnificent Mile shopping while keeping a slightly quieter street presence.
InterContinental rooms spread across the Historic and Executive/Grand Towers, with numerous room and suite types.
InterContinental is better when you want a range of room types, some with historic character and tower distinctions.
The Peninsula offers 339 guestrooms presented with an ultra-luxury service approach.
The Peninsula is a strong choice for travelers who prioritize contemporary finishes, service and a compact luxury room product.
InterContinental mixes landmark public restaurants and more casual outlets across its busy public spaces.
InterContinental offers a mix of lively, public-facing restaurants that suit groups and event crowds.
The Peninsula runs a smaller set of refined dining options with emphasis on quality and service.
Choose The Peninsula if you want quieter, service-driven in-house dining and a hotel-centric culinary experience.
InterContinental’s signature public amenity is its historic Junior Olympic-size indoor pool with 1920s Spanish tiles.
If a distinctive historic pool matters to you, the InterContinental’s tiled pool is unique on the Magnificent Mile.
The Peninsula centers its guest experience on a full-service spa and wellness facilities alongside an indoor pool.
The Peninsula is a better fit for guests prioritizing a full spa program and a quieter wellness focus.
InterContinental combines a 24-hour fitness center, saunas and late-night public bars tied to its busy event calendar.
InterContinental suits travelers who want a full, active hotel with public nightlife and wellness access.
The Peninsula focuses on spa treatments, a health club and quieter evening lounges.
The Peninsula appeals to guests seeking a quieter, spa-led evening and private wellness services.

InterContinental — expansive historic ballrooms and extensive event space tailored for large wedding weekends and conferences.

The Peninsula — compact luxury property with refined service, a full-service spa and highly rated guestrooms.

InterContinental — the landmark Junior Olympic-size indoor pool with historic tiles is family-friendly and distinctive.

The Peninsula — full-service spa offerings and integrated wellness amenities for guests prioritizing treatments and relaxation.
Both hotels sit on or steps from the Magnificent Mile; InterContinental has a designated entrance directly onto the shopping district, while The Peninsula is a short stroll to Water Tower Place and Michigan Avenue.
Yes. InterContinental is explicitly family-friendly with a family-accessible pool; The Peninsula is listed as family-friendly as well and allows children (not adults-only).
InterContinental has far larger event and ballroom capacity, with numerous historic ballrooms and extensive meeting room inventory suited to big weddings and conferences.
Neither property is an all-inclusive; both offer breakfast on-site (InterContinental’s Center Court; The Peninsula offers breakfast for a surcharge) and breakfast is not universally included with every room rate.
The Peninsula is positioned around a full-service spa and will appeal to guests prioritizing spa treatments; InterContinental offers a well-appointed InterContinental Spa with saunas and treatment rooms but is also known for its historic pool and large fitness complex.
Explore how InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·