The Spa at Palmer House

The Spa at Palmer House sits on the fifth floor of the historic Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago, a short walk from Millennium Park and the Loop's office towers. It's a day spa in the classic sense: private treatment suites, a relaxation lounge, and a hydrotherapy circuit built around a state-of-the-art wetroom and Vichy shower.

The menu is short but specific. The Grand is the house's signature all-inclusive package, starting with a hydrotherapy session in the wetroom, followed by a head-to-toe Vichy shower scrub, a body wrap, and a head, scalp and foot massage. For something quicker, Polish in Vichy is offered in 15, 25 or 50-minute versions. On the facial side, Glow Revival combines hydrodermabrasion, sonic dermaplaning and high frequency for a deeper clean than a standard facial.

The spa works for solo visits, couples and groups, and it's set up to host both quiet personal appointments and small social gatherings, branded as its "Spa + Social" experiences. Walk-ins are welcome, though a reservation is recommended to guarantee a slot, especially for the longer water-based packages. It's an upscale property, priced accordingly, and open seven days a week with later hours on weekdays and Saturday, a slightly later start on Sunday.

Given the hotel setting, this is a good option if you're already staying at or near the Palmer House and want a facial or a water-based treatment without leaving the building, rather than a destination spa you'd travel across the city for on its own.