Excellence Luxury Villas · Chicago
Luxury Villa Rentals in Chicago
Apartments and penthouses by the river and the lake, from the Loop and West Loop to Wicker Park and Hyde Park
As featured in
Skyscrapers, a freshwater sea and serious appetites
Chicago burned almost to the ground in 1871 and rebuilt itself with such ambition that it more or less invented the skyscraper. The result is the finest architectural skyline in America, set along the shore of Lake Michigan, with beaches, parks and a lakefront trail running for around 18 miles beside water that looks very much like the sea.
Our Chicago collection runs to 48 apartments, from two-bedroom city flats with rooftop terraces and pools to skyline penthouses and very large apartments for family gatherings, spread across the Loop, the West Loop, Wicker Park, Ravenswood and Hyde Park.
Here is a guide to the neighbourhoods, the seasons and what to do.
Chicago at a glance
- Apartments
- 48 across the city, sleeping up to 18 guests
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,500 to £7,800 a week, from around £2,900
- Best areas
- The Loop and River North, the West Loop, Wicker Park and Bucktown, and Hyde Park
- Best time
- May to October; June to September for the lakefront and the summer festivals
- Getting there
- Direct flights from London to O'Hare, around nine hours
Browse all 48 properties in Chicagoor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Safira Ravenswood Chicago: Luxury 9-Bedroom Penthouse with Gym – Chicago9 bedrooms
Villa Zephyros Lincoln Park Chicago: Spacious 8-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Pool – Chicago8 bedrooms
House River West Chicago: Spacious 6-Bedroom Apartment with Air-Con – Chicago6 bedrooms
House Greektown Chicago: Luxury 8-Bedroom Apartment with Air-Con – Chicago8 bedroomsWhere to stay in Chicago
The Loop and River North for architecture, museums and the river, the West Loop for restaurants, Wicker Park and Bucktown for independent shops and bars, and Hyde Park for the university and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Steel, glass and a boat to see it from
The Loop is the historic business district, named for the overhead railway that circles it, and it is where the architecture is thickest. The best introduction is a river cruise, which glides between a century of towers while a guide explains who built what, and why.
Millennium Park, with Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, known to everyone as the Bean, sits beside the Art Institute of Chicago, home to Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Hopper's Nighthawks and Grant Wood's American Gothic. Apartments here and in River North put the Riverwalk, the theatres and the lake within a short stroll.
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Restaurant row, old railways and the Cubs
The West Loop was once meatpacking warehouses. Today Randolph Street and Fulton Market form the city's most ambitious dining district, with Greektown a few blocks south on Halsted Street.
Further north-west, Wicker Park and Bucktown are the place for independent shops, record stores and cocktail bars, linked by the 606, a raised trail laid along a disused railway line. Ravenswood and Lincoln Park are leafier and quieter, and a summer afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Cubs' ivy-walled ballpark, is a very Chicago way to spend one.
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Frank Lloyd Wright and a model town
Hyde Park, on the lake south of downtown, is home to the University of Chicago and to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, a masterpiece of his Prairie style and part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing of his work. The Museum of Science and Industry, among the largest science museums in the world, is close by.
Further south, Pullman was built in the 1880s as a company town for railway carriage workers and is now a National Historical Park, a fascinating half day for anyone with an interest in how industrial America lived.
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Deep-dish, Italian beef and a proper winter
Chicago eats with conviction. Deep-dish pizza is a knife-and-fork affair, the Italian beef sandwich comes dipped in its own juices, and the Chicago hot dog is loaded with pickles, peppers and celery salt but never, on pain of local disapproval, ketchup. The fine dining is just as serious.
Summer is the great season, with beaches on the lake, the Blues Festival in June and Lollapalooza in Grant Park in late July or early August. Autumn is crisp and lovely. Winters are properly cold, with wind off the lake. Our concierge can book architecture cruises, restaurant tables, ballgame tickets and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Chicago
House Pilsen Chicago: Spacious 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Rooftop Access – Chicago6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £8,134 a week
House LaSalle Chicago: Spacious 6-Bedroom Apartment with Pool – Chicago Loop6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £7,770 a week
Penthouse Chicago Skyline: 3-Bedroom Luxury Penthouse with Skyline Views – Chicago3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £6,783 a week
Villa Harmattan Wicker Park Chicago: Luxury 2-Bedroom Apartment with Gym – Chicago2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £6,216 a week
House Ventus Streeterville: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Pool – Chicago3 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,195 a week
Villa Aurore Pullman Chicago: 3-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Skyline Views & Pool – Chicago3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,034 a week
House Kinzie Chicago: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Air-Con – Chicago3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £5,369 a week
Apartment Calumet Chicago: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Hot Tub & Air-Con – Chicago3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £5,159 a weekWhy book your apartment in Chicago with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Chicago is a city of very different neighbourhoods, and we know which apartments are a short walk from the river, the lake, the restaurants of the West Loop or the 'L' train. With 48 properties in Chicago, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Architecture river cruises, restaurant reservations in the West Loop, Cubs tickets at Wrigley Field, museum and Robie House tours, and private transfers from O'Hare. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Chicago?
The Loop and River North are best for first visits, with the architecture, museums and lakefront close by. The West Loop suits those who travel for restaurants, Wicker Park and Bucktown have a more independent, neighbourhood feel, and Hyde Park is quieter and close to the university and Robie House.
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
May to October is the most comfortable time, and June to September brings the beaches, outdoor concerts and summer festivals. Autumn is crisp and less busy. Winters are very cold, though the museums and restaurants make a good case for a short city break.
What is the best way to see Chicago's architecture?
A guided river cruise is the classic introduction, passing many of the city's great towers in around 90 minutes. Walking tours of the Loop and a visit to the Robie House in Hyde Park are excellent next steps, and the Skydeck at Willis Tower gives the view from above.
Can you arrange a private chef at a apartment in Chicago?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Chicago cost?
Across our 48 properties in Chicago, weekly rates typically range from £3,500 to £7,800, with the most affordable from around £2,900 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Chicago from the UK?
There are direct flights from London Heathrow to Chicago O'Hare, taking around nine hours. The Blue Line train runs from O'Hare to the Loop in around 45 minutes, and our concierge can arrange private transfers. Midway airport serves mainly domestic flights.
Are there apartments in Chicago for large groups?
Yes. Our Chicago collection includes properties with up to 9 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your apartment in Chicago
48 apartments and penthouses in Chicago, booked direct with our concierge on hand