We’re lucky to live in Chicago with so many luxe hotels in the city. Each has their own high-end spa set-up and I’ve been slowly checking them all out over the years. One of these days I’ll put together a list of my most recommended spas and the plusses and minuses for each one, but for now, this article is going to tell you everything you want to know about the St. Regis Spa in Chicago!

I booked a massage for myself and my husband in late November as a birthday treat for him, and a mid-holiday treat for myself. We were also staying overnight at the hotel, and we were able to check in early before our 2pm treatments to unpack for our short stay. The spa is located on the 10th floor of the hotel, and you don’t have to be staying there to get a treatment.

The spa concierge is welcoming and helpful, offering us sparkling wine, and took us back to the locker rooms to show us around. The locker rooms are quite small compared to some of the other fancy spas in Chicago such as the Peninsula and at the Waldorf Astoria, but there was nearly no one else there when we arrived, so it felt private. The robes are very plush and roomy, and I would venture that the spa sandals provided are some of the highest quality and most comfortable I’ve ever had at any spa.

The locker rooms have all of the amenities you could expect – infused water, really amazing showers, as well as a sauna and steam room. There are also plenty of toiletries like shavers, hair ties, and feminine products, as well as dyson blow driers for your use. The one thing I think this spa experience was really missing was a hot tub of some kind. Most other larger spas have, at least a small one, and I was really looking forward to a hot, relaxing soak before my treatment, so I was a little disappointed that there was no hot tub here.

You can access the indoor pool, though, which is absolutely massive. There are a lot of lounge chairs here, but it didn’t seem like they were cleaned up when we arrived. Lots of used towels, etc. were strewn about, so we didn’t really feel comfortable taking over a couple of chairs. Plus, with kids running around, that wasn’t really the level of relaxation we were going for at the moment.

There’s also an absolutely massive gym on this floor with tons of work out equipment including machines and weights, as well as a pilates reformer studio. The gym has a nice view as well, so if you have the time, definitely get a quick work out in here.

Back inside the spa, there are a couple of intimate and cozy relaxation rooms, with one meant to be silent. It was a chilly winter day, so it was nice to just relax by the fire with some tea and complimentary snacks. This area is really not big enough to host a large group of guests, but that’s a welcome change from the massive and loud common areas at spas in places like Las Vegas.

There are approximately 10 treatment rooms, and they are all very modern, as the building itself is very new. The massage table was super squishy and warm, and my 90 minute service was excellent. My masseur was very intuitive in understanding what I preferred, and the stress relief massage really did melt all the stress of the season away. I remember literally thinking that it didn’t matter at all what was happening outside the walls of the room, I was in pure bliss. This was one of the best massages I’ve had in recent memory.

Following the treatment, I was provided chocolate and a shot of super juice, and met my husband back in the relaxation room. There, they brought us one of the most amazing chocolate tarts I’ve ever had from the restaurant, Miru, just upstairs. I didn’t have my phone with me at this point for photos, but the cake was moist, the mousse was delicate, and the ganache on the top was just the right level of gooey and sweet to make this probably one of my favorite chocolate desserts of all time. On check out, Brian got a bag of samples of lotions and other goodies, and a card for his birthday! They really do think of everything!

Overall, I think the St. Regis spa experience was excellent, although I really did miss not having a hot tub here. The services, though, were great, and the extra birthday touches made us feel special. The prices here are probably some of the highest for a spa experience in Chicago, though, so it’s definitely a splurge. If you are looking for a special treat, don’t hesitate to book a treatment here, and definitely let them know if you are celebrating!