Nestled in the heart of an iconic, vibrant community in Chicago, IL, the Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago River North offers the perfect blend of modern elegance and local appeal. Whether for the big day, a laid-back rehearsal dinner, a shower, or a day after brunch, a unique wedding experience awaits you at The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North. Situated in Chicago’s storied arts and design district, our River North property offers a sleek escape from the bustle of the city and has a vibe all of its own.
Allow our diverse spaces and culinary delights to craft a memorable wedding experience for you and your guests. If grandeur and tradition are on your mood board, we offer our Gallery Ballroom, featuring soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and dripping crystal chandeliers. This space can accommodate up to 180 seated guests or up to 240 for a cocktail-style event, so you can share your special day with all those who mean the most to you.
For a more unique and eclectic vibe, we invite you to consider our private and semi-private dining spaces at CBR and Canvas, both offering flexibility in space to design an event that brings your vision to life. CBR and Canvas also boast additional outdoor space so you can take in the sights and sounds of the River North neighborhood pulsing with its unique music and art scene.
Ballroom, Brewery & Distillery, City Hall, Country Club, Desert, Estate, Garden, Hotel, Industrial & Warehouse, Library, Loft, Museum, Park, Restaurant, Rooftop
Business Attributes
Pricing for The Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago River North
Option
Value
Starting Cost
Affordable
Cost Starting
Price Range
$13,100 - $15,800+
Couples Usually Spend
$14,450
Peak Season Months
May-October
Peak Season Cost
$13,100 - $15,800+
Peak Season Reception Cost
Peak Season Ceremony Cost
$1,000
Peak Season Bar Service Cost
OffSeason Months
January-April, November-December
OffSeason Cost
$13,100 - $15,800+
OffSeason Reception Cost
OffSeason Ceremony Cost
$500
OffSeason BarService Cost
The Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago River North Reviews
Michelle P.(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 21-08-2021 I cannot say enough good things about The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North. Planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic is NOT easy, but The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North just made everything so much less stressful. When we had to reschedule, they just did it for free no questions asked. I mainly communicated with Allison S. (Director of Catering) and she was great. The food was FANTASTIC and this venue fulfilled all my city wedding dreams :) The venue has a cute little outside terrace which our guests enjoyed. The bartenders were amazing, as well as the wait staff. I loved their cheerful demeanors and just had a blast the entire evening. Their wedding package was totally reasonable and we got so much for the money we paid. I would recommend this venue to anyone and everyone who is thinking about hosting their wedding here. Reviewed on 06-09-2021
Emily S(other)3 out of 5 Rating
We had a room block for our wedding guests and we had our morning after brunch here. The rooms were amazing, the staff was great when we dropped off our welcome bags. The brunch was so good! It the food was amazing! We did have trouble getting in contact about the brunch. We got the final bill the week of when we'd been asking for it for a couple of months. The planning process was not great. Communication was not great. The event and the rooms itself were great the process wasn't. Reviewed on 13-07-2023
Caroline Roberts(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-07-2022 We stayed at the Royal Sonesta for my wedding weekend and hosted our Sunday brunch here as well! The staff was incredibly kind and helpful, and the outdoor terrace was the PERFECT spot for our pictures! The brunch on Sunday was delicious and the venue was beautiful. Reviewed on 06-11-2022
Alexa Stewart(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-07-2021 Allison S. and the team at the Royal Sonesta River North (FKA The Kimpton Hotel Palomar) were the glue that held our wedding together. Unfortunately, due to COVID we had to reschedule our wedding twice. (The third time was the charm!) Allison and the team made the wedding planning process seamless and demonstrated compassion and understanding.Allison was the absolute best! She stuck with us through the postponements, answered hundreds of questions, and coordinated many meetings/phone calls. Allison was patient, efficient, hard-working and knowledgeable about the wedding planning process/industry. There were many times throughout our planning process where we didn’t know if we could have 10, 30, 50 or 150 guests at our wedding, Allison was always there to share with us everything she knew about the very fluid changes that were happening in the COVID landscape between event spaces and the city. We could not have had a successful wedding without all of Allison’s work behind the scenes as well as help leading up to and on the day of our wedding!Additionally, all of the bartenders, waitstaff, and additional team members at the Sonesta were amazing. Everyone was incredibly friendly and hospitable. Our friends still rave about how fun they helped make the night!The food served at our wedding was also absolutely phenomenal! We elected to offer our guests the option of a chicken, fish, or vegetarian dish. We heard great things about all three meals. The passed appetizers at cocktail hour and late night snack (pretzels) were also terrific.All in all, the Royal Sonesta River North was an incredible place to host our wedding. The staff, delicious food, and beautiful ballroom helped bring our vision/dream wedding to life. We would recommend the Sonesta to anyone! If you’re considering this venue, do not hesitate! Reviewed on 03-09-2021
Ashley Herzovi(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 15-02-2020 I could not recommend a wedding venue more than the Hotel Palomar. From the minute that we met Allison and her team, my husband and I were treated like actual royalty. The team’s attention to detail was incredible and shined through even in our first meeting. Not only did we receive a detailed tour of the ballroom, hotel, and guest rooms but we left with a goodie bag of cookies with a handwritten note from the Executive Chef congratulating us on our engagement! The food is unbelievable and is sure to wow your guests. The menu choices are very expansive which meant we got to choose items that aren’t often seen at other weddings. Hot tip: the red wine braised short ribs were life-changing. The bar was also spectacular - good quality liquor choices and well made drinks by the bartenders. But the service, my goodness this might be the best part. I am the sort of person with endless questions and Allison was incredibly patient and responsive throughout the entire planning process. Also, during the entire wedding weekend the in-room dining and housekeeping teams took outstanding care of everyone in our room block. There was legitimately nothing that I would change about our wedding day because of the incredible care and hard work put in by the Hotel Palomar team! Choosing to host your wedding at the Palomar should be a no-brainer. Reviewed on 25-06-2020
Jessica Weinkam(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 19-10-2019 We really loved having our hotel block at the Kimpton Palomar. We didn't have our reception or anything there, but we received excellent service from all employees and the sales team (did not feel pressured, always answered my questions in a timely manner, and was helpful without being too sale-sy). All of our guests were impressed with how beautiful and spacious the rooms were. I later realized their pet policy, which is amazingly inclusive (no breed or size bans!) and accommodating if anyone wanted to bring their pet along. They may be a little more expensive than other hotels, but in my opinion the amazing hotel accommodations, daily free wine hour, overall service, and cleanliness of the hotel makes up for a slight price increase from a non-boutique hotel. Reviewed on 05-11-2019
Desiree Dent(other)5 out of 5 Rating
I simply LOVE when I have the opportunity to direct a wedding at Hotel Palomar. This venue is simply gorgeous and the staff is amazing! Over the last few years I have been able to work with Allison and she goes 100% and beyond for the client. She is extremely knowledgeable about the venue and is so very helpful on wedding day! I appreciate you Allison and the entire Palomar team for welcoming me and the DE Team into your family. Couples if you are looking for fabulous venue with an amazing staff, then look no further. You have all that at Hotel Palomar!!! xo Reviewed on 31-10-2019
Bianca Madrid(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 21-09-2019 We had our wedding reception and next-day brunch at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar, and the entire experience was amazing!In the beginning we met with Allison, who is the Director of Catering, and who became our point person during the whole process. Allison was absolutely amazing, very organized and extremely knowledgeable. She helped us with certain details we never knew to think about, and even gave us recommendations for our other vendors. She worked so well with us to make sure our day went smoothly, and it was perfect!Everyone at the Palomar provided impeccable service! Most of our guests were from out of town, so many of them booked our block of rooms during the wedding weekend. Everyone stated how friendly and attentive the staff were, with every employee greeting us with a smile and hello. We cannot emphasize enough how accommodating the hotel was. There was no request too outlandish; I needed to call the front desk a few times during the morning of the wedding for some requests (i.e. emergency kit for wardrobe malfunctions!). They were so great!The space was absolutely beautiful! The decor was simple, but very elegant! There was a balcony outside of the ballroom accessible to anyone during the reception. We also had the chance to take photos on the terrace overlooking the city. The space was the perfect size for a smaller intimate wedding, but it can definitely hold larger parties.The food was 10 stars! We had savory hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hour, an amazing 4-course dinner, and a late night station with doughnuts and sliders. Everyone left the night full and happy. The brunch the next day also allowed us to mingle more with our guests and close out the wedding weekend, and their spread of hot and cold dishes was delicious!Overall, we have zero regrets about having our reception and next-day brunch at the Palomar. We would highly recommend choosing this location! Reviewed on 30-10-2019
Christine Vonch(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 14-09-2019 Our September wedding at Kimpton Hotel Palomar was nothing short of amazing. I can't say enough nice things about Allison and the entire staff (special shout out to Gonzalo too!) When I was in the planning process, I met with a TON of venues in Chicago. Everywhere was overpriced, difficult to deal with and would nickel and dime you for everything. Allison was my last appointment and by that time I was pretty burnt out. Meeting with her was a breath of fresh air - so friendly, transparent in the pricing and the process and the ballroom was absolutely GORGEOUS and spacious. There's a beautiful outdoor terrace that's connected to the space as well. We knew pretty much immediately that we found the perfect, romantic and affordable city venue we had been searching for. Allison (our coordinator at the venue) is literally the most responsive and organized person you'll ever meet. I'll miss our constant communications. :) She made it so easy, was so detail organized, and you can trust that nothing will slip through the cracks with her. They really do go above and beyond to make sure you're 100% happy and your day will be perfect. Wedding day, I was blown away by even how more beautiful the ceremony/reception space was. I received so many compliments by the beautiful space and the amazing food. Sable is the restaurant and the food was AMAZING. And not many people say that about wedding food. Gonzalo (bartender of the year!!) also did everything he could to make me feel special - refilling our drinks, checking on us if we needed anything, you get the idea. If I had to redo my wedding, I would choose Hotel Palomar in a heartbeat, which is the best thing a bride can say after her wedding. Thank you so much Allison, Gonzalo and team. I'll thank you forever :) Reviewed on 29-10-2019
Michelle Wlezien(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-04-2019 I cannot say enough amazing things about the Kimpton Palomar and our experience with Allison. We looked at a variety of venues and The Kimpton Palomar was the first and only hotel that we saw. The Ballroom is gorgeous. Unfortunately, fortunately we were going to go with a different venue that was a bit more favorable for our budget. Allison then called us the next day and was willing to work with us to make our wedding day everything that me and my future husband had envisioned for our special day. Our target date was late April/ early May and Allison brought a new perspective which was so helpful. She filled us in on other events that were going on in that date range and when the most optimal Saturdays were depending on what other happenings were going on in the city that might cause the room block to be more expensive or create added traffic and congestion which was something that was not on our radar. She also was extremely patient and responsive to all the emails that I would send her way. She was very accommodating and allowed us both to bring our families to see the space on different occasions. Fast forward through more of our planning to the day of our tasting. We had our parents join us, not sure if that is the norm but Allison, the head chef, and senior staff member (Gonzalo) made us feel right at home. All of the food we tasted was amazing and one of our toughest decisions was, which beef dish would we be serve for the wedding, but luckily Allison and the head chef provided us with more insight that we knew was possible. Another great perk of our package was that it included a one hour session on the 17th floor terrace prior to the wedding and another hour for the day of our wedding. We decided to incorporate the terrace as one of the stops during our engagement photo shoot. Allison was so helpful with scheduling and even provided us with some cookies when we arrived that had been leftover from another event but were the perfect treat after an exhausting day of smiling :) We were planning to do our first look on the 17th floor terrace on the day of our wedding but Chicago weather had other plans for us that day. It not only rained but it also snowed on April 27th, records were definitely broken in the city that day. We had rented a bus to take us and the bridal party around to all these wonderful outdoor locations. Have no fear, our vendors were the best and so was the Kimpton Palomar staff. We were able to do our first look outside on the first floor at at area that was covered by an awning and were able to make it up to the 17th floor terrace for some fun shots with the umbrellas. Definitely not what we were planning but it all worked out despite what mother nature threw at us that day. The ceremony, cocktail hour, reception and brunch the next morning were all amazing. One of the highlights of the evening was when me and my husband came down to see all our guests during the cocktail hour. I went to the bar to get a drink and one of the guests stepped on my dress and scolded me for not having my dress bustled. At this moment I did not see my MOH but have no fear. I ordered a drink at the bar and next thing I know Gonzalo is bustling my dress, he literally SAVED THE DAY!! Everything about our wedding day was absolutely amazing and if we had to do it all over again, we wouldn't change a thing. All of the staff at the Kimpton Palomar exceeded our expectations and made our wedding day more amazing than we thought was possible. Reviewed on 29-10-2019
Vanessa Nance(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-06-2019 Our wedding here at the Kimpton was even better than we dreamed! From the beginning to first meeting Allison to even after the wedding the staff here were more than helpful, friendly, and would go out of their way to ensure everything was beyond perfect. Our guests complimented so much on the food, staff, how beautiful the venue was, and just overall how great of an experience they had there. Our venue coordinator (Allison) was so helpful and amazing at replying to any emails, my over load questions, final walkthrough, timeline of the day, and really just helpful in anyway she could. They really do go above and beyond here. Our experience here was so great, and we cannot wait to go back and visit the hotel here! Leaving that place after our wedding weekend, truly did leave a special in our hearts. We absolutely love it there. Reviewed on 24-10-2019
Maggie Thompson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-08-2019 Hotel Palomar did a fantastic job hosting our wedding. My husband, family and I are so happy we decided to choose the Kimpton as our reception venue. Our wedding reception was absolutely perfect. We dealt with Alexa the entire time of planning and are so grateful that she was there to help us along the way as well as be there the night of to ensure everything went smoothly. She was so attentive and organized, which I know my mom and I really appreciated whenever we would send her a million questions/emails. We also received so many compliments on the food at the reception. We have been to 3 more weddings over the last month and we were still getting compliments on how our dinner was the best. The portions were amazing!We are so glad we booked with the Palomar! Reviewed on 10-10-2019
Curtis May(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-05-2019 Hotel Palomar did a FANTASTIC job hosting our wedding reception! I’m not even sure where to start. Allison was amazing! She was a pleasure to work with during the planning phase and had everything buttoned up on our wedding day. Having Sable cater the food was a huge bonus – it was literally the best wedding food we’ve ever had! I can’t say enough about the level of service Allison, Gonzalo, and the rest of the staff at the Palomar provided. We received SEVERAL compliments from our guests about how professional the staff was. The ballroom is simply spectacular! We truly could not be happier with our experience at the Palomar! Reviewed on 07-10-2019
Jen H(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-07-2019 We had a wonderful July wedding at the Hotel Palomar and couldn't more strongly recommend the venue or our coordinator, Allison.The ballroom is absolutely beautiful -- we didn't have to spend much on additional decor. The big open windows gave us and our guests the feeling they were in the city instead of a traditional hotel ballroom. Allison thought of everything and helped us stay organized by giving us a huge list of questions to answer well in advance, when we had time to go through them thoroughly. She always answered emails directly and helpfully. Throughout the months-long planning process, we felt like we were in good hands. On the day of the wedding, everything went smoothly – food came out on time, drinks flowed, our rooming block was great, etc. Allison and her crew went out of their way to make sure everything went perfectly.We had one unfortunate run-in with a bellhop who dropped some pivotal wedding prep material but everyone else we dealt with at the Palomar - banquet staff, the front desk, bartenders and servers - was fantastic, helpful and friendly.Seriously, we couldn’t recommend the Palomar and Allison more strongly. We had an absolutely fabulous day that our guests are still talking about! Reviewed on 25-08-2019
Kimberley Fritzsche(parent)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 02-09-2018 We recently completed our wedding weekend at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar and everything was exceptional! Allison was very organized, handled all details of the weekend, and was terrific to work with. No request was too much for her. All of the hotel personnel were so terrific everyone felt like family by the end of the weekend (including the wedding guests.) From Emma Jane, who coordinated the actual wedding and day after brunch, to Gonzalo, who took care of everyone the entire weekend, and Sarah at the front desk, who handled a myriad of miscellaneous requests promptly, we could not be more pleased! The nightly hotel wine hour was a great opportunity for the wedding guests to mingle. All of the food and cocktails provided by Sable for various events was fantastic – big thanks to Amber and Kyle. I could go on and on but you get the idea – Hotel Palomar is a superb venue in all respects! Reviewed on 08-09-2018
Sarah Capaldi(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 11-08-2018 Lindsey was our main point of contact at Palomar. She was super helpful and responsive during the whole process. The Palomar was the only hotel that we reached out to that offered a tour and they made great suggestions for our first look spot and even reserved part of the restaurant as a back-up location. The hotel was wonderful, the rooms were amazing, and the staff was all so happy and helpful! The suites were huge (and a good price!) so we had plenty of room to get ready, and Lindsey made sure we had plenty of chairs for the salon technicians. Lindsey's thoughtfulness extended beyond the wedding as we had a bottle of bubbly waiting for us in the room when we got back from the reception.Lastly, all of our family member who stayed there loved their rooms and the service too! Reviewed on 15-08-2018
Evan Fry(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 16-06-2018 My guests raved about the service and the quality of the food! The food was served in a timely manner, and the personnel here were attentive to the requests and dietary restrictions of the guests. Gonzalo, one of the bartenders, was especially fun--he was so friendly with the guests. The drinks tasted great, the food was outstanding (mushroom soup is especially great), and the popcorn (late night treat, which we ordered as an add-on) is phenomenal. I was so glad they used real truffle in their truffle popcorn.Overall, Allison was professional and organized. She kept in contact with us leading up to the wedding, in order to make sure everything went smoothly. When we had some last minute comments and changes, she accommodated us quickly. This made the evening worry-free, and it went just as planned. The space looks great. There are floor-to-ceiling windows, a cozy patio, and sparkly chandeliers. The carpet is neutral, with a large floral print (not the red poppies, thankfully). The tables come with a cute crinkled satin linen and gold chargers. I brought in some small centerpieces, as you won't need any large centerpieces. I thought the default (gold) chairs were perfectly good with my color scheme, but that is all up to you!I highly recommend this venue! Your guests will have a blast in a central location, with excellent food and a beautiful ambiance. I had around 85 guests seated in ten tables and I thought the set up was perfect. Reviewed on 18-06-2018
Lori Ra(bride)3 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-06-2016 Overall, my husband and I are absolutely thrilled with how our wedding turned out. We will always look back on our day with extremely fond memories- it was magical. However, I want to give an honest review to those considering the Hotel Palomar for their wedding. Over our wedding weekend, we had planned two welcome events for those in town. One Friday night, and one Saturday night- both scheduled to take place in a private room in Sable (restaurant at the Palomar). The Friday night event was great-the reserved room was a perfect space for the gathering. Saturday night, hours before the gathering was supposed to start, the Palomar wedding coordinator informed us that we were getting kicked out of the private space, but we could \"use the bar area\". How were we supposed to let our guests know that the location had changed on such short notice? My relatives had to stand in the middle of a hot, cramped bar with nowhere to sit down and loud music playing. What made it worse was that I looked into the private room, and nobody was in it!! So upsetting.Most upsetting, though, were several requests we had specifically made were not followed through. We had asked for leftover food, cake, desserts to be packed up after the wedding. They were thrown away. We asked for there to be enough hors d'oeurves for cocktail hour. There weren't. We expected our Welcome Bags would be delivered (with an additional fee paid for delivery!)- a large number weren't, or were delivered too late for guests to use them. We were proactive in telling the coordinator at the Hotel what we wanted, and asking very specific questions. She would say yes, but not follow through. You expect things out of your control may not go your way, but not the things in our control that we had thought through carefully and requested. Reviewed on 03-10-2016
Annie Nickel(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-05-2014 Hotel Palomar was incredible for our wedding! Everything was perfect and we have no complaints! The venue is wonderful and has a nice city feel to it with all of the windows – the balcony is a great feature as well. Our out of town guests loved the location since it made easy for them to explore the city and we loved the options nearby to host other events like brunches and the rehearsal dinner. Guest rooms were great as well. Since it is a smaller hotel, it was easy and fun to run into our family and friends throughout the weekend.\r\rAlyssa (the catering manager for the hotel) is amazing to work with - she was so on top of all of the details during the planning of the event all the way through the day-of execution. She was able to customize everything to fit our priorities and we felt like it was a very personalized event. The rest of the staff was amazing as well. Everyone from the front desk to valet drivers to the waiters and bartenders was so kind and helpful. We also enjoyed that we were the only event for the day since the hotel only has 1 large ballroom– it allowed all of the staff to really focus on our wedding rather than being 1 of many events like some of the larger hotels.\r\rWe highly recommend Hotel Palomar to anyone! Reviewed on 20-06-2014
Annie Kearns(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-02-2014 I worked with Alyssa at Hotel Palomar. Let me say...for the busy bride (and who isn't busy?!), Alyssa was a God send. She took care of everything and answered all of my tedious questions within 24 hours and never made me feel as though I was a burden. I'm sure she was dealing with lots of other brides, but she always made me feel like I was only one.\r\rFood...Sable catering. In a word. Amazing.\r\rRoom...beautiful. Full floor to ceiling windows with views of downtown Chicago.\r\rNow, for the negative and the reason I couldn't give 5 stars. Valet parking is a bit of a nightmare. We had our ceremony in a church and the reception immediately followed, so we had a lot of guests needing to park all around the same time. My dad dropped my mom off at the door and then waited 50 minutes to get up to the valet. He missed the 1st hour of his daughter's reception! Part of the problem is the valet circle is VERY small, so I understand it's hard to get people in and out, but they also only had two people working. Reviewed on 09-04-2014
Jen Olson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 19-10-2013 All I can say is AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING - from the staff to the food to the ambiance, Hotel Palomar made our wedding day wonderful and stress free - had a delightful ladies brunch in the bridal suite...check out the rad zebra and leopard print robes - then cocktails and the most amazing dinner and dancing party ever. The service/attention to detail in the planning was incredible and perfect for my type A, way over-organized personality. We had a 3 month engagement and Palomar pulled it off with ease. Then when the time came, it went off without a hitch. Personnel at the hotel treated our guests phenomenally, accommodations were great and reasonable for guests particularly in downtown chicago. How they managed to cook 75 filets to perfection is beyond me but EVERY person came up to me at brunch the following day (yes - hosted at sable - delightful of course!) and said it was by far the best wedding food they have ever had...yes, everyone \"says\" this by my now Husband :) and I first looked at the palomar because Sable is one of our favorite restaurants...the chef at Sable actually does their banquets as well. The chandeliers, windows, and ambiance make it the perfect venue for dancing the night away. It is the perfect downtown setting and exactly what we were looking for. Reviewed on 30-01-2014
Kristy Champney(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 12-07-2013 We had our reception at Hotel Palomar in July. Everything was amazing. The staff was extremely professional and helpful. Our guests cannot stop talking about how delicious the food and signature cocktails were. The room was decorated perfectly. We were extremely happy with every aspect of our wedding there. Reviewed on 04-08-2013
Nicole Ay(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-06-2013 Alyssa and her team at Hotel Palomar brought our ideas to life for our wedding reception at Hotel Palomar in Chicago. The entire staff ensured that our wedding weekend went off without a hitch, and provided exceptional service.\r\rAlyssa is highly professional, incredibly friendly, and knows just how to put brides at ease with her confidence and experience. My husband and I highly recommend Hotel Palomar in Chicago for your wedding venue needs! Reviewed on 10-07-2013
Jennifer Hollenbeck(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 20-04-2013 Sable caters the food and mixed cocktails for the wedding package and it all tasted as good/the same as it would have been served at the restaurant on a normal night.\r\rThe staff at the Palomar was inviting, hospitable, and on point. Alyssa, the coordinator, was so organized and patient with all of our out of town family members. She also set up all the details for the reception I had planned so I did not have to worry about any of the set up on the day of the wedding. The staff was very helpful the whole weekend and I think we were all hugging when we left on Sunday! Reviewed on 07-05-2013
Lindsey Tomlinson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-12-2012 I can't imagine any other place but the Palomar to have our wedding. It was the most amazing day. Alyssa and her team went above and beyond our expectations. As the bride, I didn't have a care in the world on the actual day because Alyssa had everything under control. I was able to hang out with friend and family and take in every moment. The staff and the hotel were very professional and accomodating to all our guests. Guests kept commenting on how amazing the venue looked and how delicious the food was.\r\rWe were planning everything from New York City so I had to trust and rely on the Palomar for all our needs (ambiance, tasting, coordinating with other vendors, etc) and they did not disappoint. I trusted Alyssa so much that the entire process was stressfree. I would recommend the Palomar a million times over. AMAZING!! Reviewed on 16-01-2013
Julia Lenhoff(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-12-2012 My experience at Hotel Palomar was great! I have to admit I was beyond frustrated when the previous catering coordinator, Kerry Craig, left the hotel and moved out of state a month and half prior to my wedding and neglected to tell me, however, her replacement Alyssa Alexander was a blessing! She was so interested not only in my wedding but getting to know my husband and I as a couple. She was extremely attentive to every need and never made me feel as though I was a burden. She was equally exceptional on the wedding day and ensuring things ran smoothly! On top of that, all hotel staff were polite and efficent as well. Great experience! Reviewed on 20-12-2012
Jessica Marvin(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-06-2012 I recently had my wedding reception at Palomar Chicago. It was the most perfect day of my life. I have been showered with compliments from all my guests about how accommodating everyone is from the valet guys outside to the front desk to the wait staff! The room was beautiful, Kerry Craig, the coordinator, is on top of EVERYTHING, and it just couldn't have gone better. The food is DELICIOUS! You will feel pampered and like a true queen if you have your wedding at Palomar! Reviewed on 19-07-2012
Peta Minerof(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 19-03-2011 The hotel opened under a year ago, so it is new, and sparkling. The Ballroom is gorgeous with 3 walls of window looking over the city to the west. Unlike many hotel restaurants, Sable Kitchen is foodie heaven. Our meal was amazing, and coordinator Kerry Craig was flexible in creating a unique menu and format for our wedding. The guest rooms are spacious and luxurious too. We were able to arrange a kid's lounge in the hospitality suite, which was a huge success. We got so much more, and the quality was much better that other venues at the same price. (Don't confuse great value with low cost though!) Certainly there were some minor glitches as all wedding have. Kerry worked hard to make sure it all turned out as we wanted. For a girl who really didn't want the same old \"hotel wedding\ Reviewed on 05-04-2011
M S(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-08-2010 Our wedding reception was at the Palomar in August and we could not have been more pleased. The rooms were all perfect for our event. Our cocktail hour on the 17th floor terrace provided great views of the city. Our reception room with balcony overlooking State St. was the perfect size and provided plenty of space for dancing, dinner and a lounge area for our guests to relax. The patio was a great way to take a break from the festivities as well. Many of our guests stayed at the hotel were big fans of both the rooms and the friendly and accommodating staff. \rWe worked with Kerry Craig who was fantastic. She kept us informed about the hotel, as it was still under construction when we were doing planning, and worked with us to make sure everything was just they way we wanted. She was friendly and great to work with.\rThe food also deserves a special mention because it was wonderful! Our guests raved about all the courses including the wonderful dessert bar at the end of the meal. Chef Terhune worked with us to make sure the menu was just as we wanted it. She was very friendly and flexible as we planned our day.\rBoth Kerry and Heather checked in on us multiple times during our weekend, we can't rave about them or the Palomar enough. Our guests still compliment everything about the reception. We couldn't imagine a better place for our wedding weekend. Reviewed on 20-11-2010
Cherise Burke(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-09-2010 I was a bit nervous as my fiancee & I had booked the Hotel Palomar for our September wedding site unseen! During the months before the official opening Kerry Craig kept us up to date with the progression & when it opened in April it far exceeded our expectations! The hotel itself is amazing but the ballroom....absolutely beautiful! From the gorgeous chandeliers to the amazing view of the city the Palomar Ballroom was a stunning backdrop for our wedding. The food was fabulous, we are still getting compliments! But beyond the esthetics and probably most important is the way both my fiancee and I and our guests were treated by the staff. It's stressful planning a wedding & Kerry kept in contact with us every step of the way. Not only was she professional and always on the ball but she had amazing ideas and references for venders that were just as wonderful. This is how great Kerry is-I met with her the afternoon before our big day and in going over last minute details I decided I preferred \"silver\" table frames instead of black....I would have been fine with it but she could tell I was a bit disappointed....she went out that night and purchased silver frames for me because she wanted everything to be perfect! If you are having a lot of out of town guests (we had approximately 40 of their rooms booked for the out of towners for 4 days!) this is definitely the hotel to check out. The valets, doormen, and desk staff knew most of our wedding guests names by the second day. I honestly cannot say enough about the beauty of the hotel, the amazing food, and the kind and professional staff! If you are looking to give your guests (especially ones from out of town) a fabulous Chicago experience check out the Hotel Palomar...you will not be disappointed! Reviewed on 18-11-2010
Andy Czyznik(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 16-10-2010 What an amazing hotel! We had our wedding at the Palomar in October and it was beautiful!! The ballroom was stunning from top to bottom and the adjacent terrace allowed our guests to cool off after dancing. Not only is the hotel beautiful during the day, but the glows in evening. We took photographs on the 17th floor rooftop at night and the pictures were marvelous! \rAnd the food couldn't have been better! Everyone is still talking about the pasta station and mashed potato bar. \rKerry Craig (Director of Catering) did such an incredible job and made planning for the wedding a breeze. We met with other hotels, but she was by far the nicest and most accommodating. Thank you Kerry!! You made the wedding flawless! \rAnd a special thank you to one of Kerry's staff, Gonzalo Vega. He was so friendly made sure we were comfortable throughout the day. He frequently checked in on our guests in the hospitality suite and kept everything running smoothly. Reviewed on 18-11-2010
Nicole Sidor(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-09-2010 We had our ceremony and reception at the Palomar and could not have asked for a better venue. Kerry & KT were fantastic, the hotel was amazing and we are still receiving compliments on the food! Reviewed on 18-11-2010
Nanette Galanti(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-08-2010 My wedding was the first rooftop wedding ever at this new Hotel Palomar. It was a spectacular venue for our wedding. It was 6:30pm on Friday August 27, 2010. The weather was perfect for our amazing wedding. This hotel is highly recommended!!! Reviewed on 04-10-2010
34 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.85 out of 5.0
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