The long anticipated Valerio DeWalt Train designed Godfrey Hotel is one of the latest entries to River North's booming hotel scene. The ultra trendy cubist-inspired Godfrey sports 221 brand new custom furnished rooms and is also the home of the indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge IO Urban Roofscape.

The spiritual successor to The Amalfi Hotel, the Kinzie represents a complete conceptual and physical overhaul of its predecessor. The "new" boutique hotel pays homage to Chicago history and culture through its custom Windy City inspired interior decor, art and furnishings.

The ultra hip ACME Hotel represents a departure from other touristy, high-business and generally bland chain offerings in River North. Although its rooms fall on the smaller side (roughly 200 square feet) of the scale, the hotel makes up for it through its unique amenities and packages, like the complementary use of Google Glass while exploring the city (for up to two hours).

The PUBLIC Chicago utterly oozes coolness. The brainchild of Ian Schrager, co-founder and former co-owner of the iconic disco-era nightclub Studio 54, this super contemporary Gold Coast offering is rather hip, but not overly pretentious. A departure from its previous life as the Ambassador East Hotel, PUBLIC Chicago still remains the home to the famed Pump Room bar and restaurant.

Host to one of the most beautiful hotel lobbies in the city, the meticulously preserved Palmer House is a Chicago icon and the second largest hotel in the Windy City. The utterly palatial landmark hotel was founded by early department store magnate Palmer Potter in the late 19th century but purchased by hotelier Conrad Hilton in 1945.

Opened in 2009 to much fanfare, the contemporary Koo and Associates designed Wit Hotel blasted onto the scene just in time to avoid the real estate crash. The trendy hotel is also home to ROOF on theWit, a rooftop bar that serves as a scenester sanctuary during the day, and a full-on nightclub in the evening.

A luxury gem off the Magnificent Mile, the James Chicago is a popular destination for travelers and locals alike who appreciate a true boutique hotel without the stuffiness. The 297 room hotel has received numerous awards including accolades for its David Burke’s Primehouse restaurant.

A mainstay of Chicago's five star circuit, the Langham is not only a fan favorite, but also recommended by many on our expert panel and ranked #1 on Tripadviser's Chicago hotels list. Expect five star accommodations, service and prices. A weekend stay at the primo spot can easily cost as much as a month's rent for many Chicagoans.

Initially designed by John Root of Daniel Burnham's architectural outift, and completed by Charles Atwood in 1895, the Reliance Building is a shining representation of the early skyscrapers that made the Chicago School of architecture world famous. Holding nearly every landmark designation under the sun, the building was restored in the late 90s and reborn as the Hotel Burnham in 1999. This unique hotel is an absolute must visit for architecture and history buffs.

Recently acquired by Paris-based Warwick International Hotels, the old Allerton has received a new name and will soon be going through major "product improvements" according to Warwick reps. Although a revived Tip Tap Tap Bar & Lounge is far from a sure thing at this point, a soon-to-be upgraded and updated Warwick Allerton Hotel deserves a spot on this year's list.

The four star, four diamond rated Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park is chic and stylish, but not over the top. The hotel's lobby and guest rooms are subtlety luxurious but the hotel may be best known for its close proximity to and incredible views of downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan.

The Thompson Chicago is another fan favorite and expert panel approved hotel famous for its super cool aesthetics and decor. A Gold Coast "lifestyle" boutique hotel, the Thompson has recently nabbed a spot on Travel + Leisure's It List of Best New Hotels for 2014.

The final super luxe on our list, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago holds its own among the finest hotels in North America with an incredibly long list of accolades, being named the best hotel in Chicago last year by Travel & Leisure and U.S. News & World Report. The hotel has also recently tapped chef and culinary virtuoso Brendan Sodikoff to head up its entire food and beverage program, including the menu of its lauded restaurant, Balsan.

The gargantuan Hilton Chicago opened in 1927 boasts a whopping 1,544 rooms and overlooks Grant Park. The hotel is famous for being a favorite of US Presidents, and making cameo appearances in many popular Chicago-based movies including Road to Perdition, U.S. Marshals, My Best Friend's Wedding and The Fugitive.