Top Hotels for RSNA 2020 with on-site restaurants in Chicago
Australians flying into Chicago for the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting typically land after around 22 hours of travel, often via Los Angeles or San Francisco. By the time they reach their hotel, most delegates want a quality meal without leaving the building. A property with an on-site restaurant means no taxi to find, no Google Maps in the cold, and no fumbling with currency for an Uber. For radiologists juggling sessions and hallway catch-ups, having breakfast, lunch and dinner under one roof removes a layer of logistics that can otherwise swallow half an evening.
Chicago is not short of dining options, but the area around McCormick Place thins out once the conference crowds leave. Stay close to the Magnificent Mile, River North or the Loop, and you will find hotels that treat their kitchens as seriously as their meeting rooms. RSNA 2020 ran from 29 November to 4 December, a window where snow already dusts the lakefront, so the closer your dinner is to the lift, the smoother your week goes.
Why Chicago hotel restaurants suit Aussie delegates
American hotel restaurants operate on a different rhythm to those back home. Portions run larger, service flows differently, and tipping is part of the bill rather than an optional thank-you. For delegates on a packed scientific programme, a quiet in-house breakfast can save 45 minutes that would otherwise be lost to a queue somewhere on State Street.
Many Australian radiology teams also share plates or order family-style. In Sydney or Perth, splitting mains is normal whether you are in a hotel or a hatted restaurant. The hotels along Michigan Avenue have picked up on this, offering shareable tasting menus that let a table of six try several items without inflating the bill. Coffee culture travelled from Melbourne long ago, and you will find skilled baristas pulling single-origin espresso shots in almost every lobby from Wacker Drive northwards.
Standout stays along the Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile runs along North Michigan Avenue and packs more than 30 major hotels into a short stretch. Properties such as the Drake, the Hilton Chicago and the InterContinental sit within a few blocks of each other, each running kitchens that serve breakfast from around 6am so delegates can be on the "L" train by 7.30am. Booking a high floor often gives a view of Lake Michigan that would otherwise cost extra at a revolving restaurant.
For a quieter experience, try the boutique hotels one block east or west of the main strip. Their in-house restaurants source from Midwestern farms, a refreshing change for delegates used to South Australian wagyu or Margaret River chardonnay. Several properties stock rotating local beers, and the bar staff are happy to walk first-time visitors through the difference between an IPA and a pale ale.
River North picks for late evening menus
River North sits just across the Chicago River from the Loop and packs in a high concentration of converted warehouses and modern hotels. Many newer builds have placed their restaurants on a high floor or rooftop terrace, ideal for an Australian team unwinding after CME sessions. Look for properties where the kitchen stays open until at least 11pm on weekdays.
Groups travelling with a coordinator tend to ask about a few practical details before booking:
- Private dining rooms seating between 8 and 20 guests
- Vegetarian and gluten-free options confirmed in advance
- Flexible bill-splitting for delegates paying individually
Finding those details, plus negotiated room blocks and competitive rates, often goes through a dedicated secure group registration page rather than calling the hotel directly.
Where The Loop earns its place
The Loop is Chicago's historic business district and the closest neighbourhood to many of the city's financial and cultural landmarks. Hotels here lean formal and unapologetically American, with pre-theatre set menus, long cocktail lists and an in-house sommelier as common features.
From The Loop, the "L" train to McCormick Place runs around 20 minutes, with transfers at Roosevelt or Cermak-Chinatown. Delegates who skip the group shuttle find it efficient enough. Australian first-timers are sometimes surprised that Chicago tap water is drinkable, which means no bottled water runs and an easier morning routine. When weighing Loop hotels against Magnificent Mile alternatives, several features are worth comparing side by side:
- Restaurant hours overlapping with late congress sessions
- Room service menus running past 10pm for working dinners
- Loyalty programmes that Australian team members can already link to
Booking tips worth knowing before you fly out
Before committing, check the cancellation policy in writing. Australian travellers, used to flexible refundable rates through Qantas Hotels or local platforms, sometimes book American rates that look comparable but turn out to be prepaid and non-refundable. A short email to the hotel revenue manager can usually convert a non-refundable booking into a flexible one for a small fee.
Compare the conference rate against the public rate for the same dates. The RSNA room block usually includes complimentary wi-fi and sometimes a daily food credit, which a casual booking site rarely mentions. If the numbers stack up, lock in the conference rate and pocket the credit for breakfast on day two.
Making the most of the hotel restaurant
Once you have chosen your property, treat the first night as a recon night. Walk through the restaurant, glance at the menu, check the opening hours and book a table if the lineup looks busy. Most Chicago hotel chefs are proud of their seasonal rotation, and a quick chat with the maître d' can flag any dishes scheduled to change during your stay.
Off the clock, many Australian delegates use a quiet evening to handle admin, reply to work emails or join a video call with the team back in Brisbane or Adelaide. A comfortable room service menu that goes beyond basic club sandwiches is what separates a productive evening from a wasted one. For a lighter distraction between sessions, have a look at the Rain Casino bonus game, which has become a favourite lobby pastime among attendees with a few spare minutes.
Reserve your group block through the conference accommodation service well ahead of the November cutoff, and your radiology team can fly into Chicago with the only important question left being which dessert to order on the first night.