Review: New United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD)
- Konrad Tillman
- May 7
- 5 min read
Intro
Prior to my flight from Chicago to Newark, I had the opportunity to visit the brand new Polaris Lounge that has just been renovated in Chicago. Part of the reason I booked this trip was to visit this lounge, and let’s just say: it did NOT dissapoint.
This lounge is marvelous, there are no two ways about it. After visiting almost every lounge in the western hemisphere, the Polaris Lounge at IAD takes the crown. With out-of-this-world service, exceptional dining, an ambiance, and decadent showers, I will purposefully travel through Chicago in the future.
Location+Access
Similar to the previous Polaris Lounge, the lounge is located closeby to gate C18, in the C concourse. If you happen to be transiting from the B gates, there is a simple walkway that will take you there within minutes.
While the lounge might be new, the access rules remain the same. Only passengers meeting the following requirements are eligible for entry:
Passengers seated in Polaris (within 24 hours, either the day before or the day after)
Passengers seated in Business Class on a long-haul flight with a Star Alliance Carrier
Passengers seated in First Class on a long-haul flight with a Star Alliance Carrier (+1 Guest)
Most people tend to call the access rules stingy, but honestly, it creates an exclusive atmosphere.
Seating
This lounge is nothing short of spacious. Size-wise, it is much bigger than the lounge in Washington, but smaller than the one in San Francisco.
Stepping in, I was pleased to find a beautifully decorated main room with plenty of different options for seating. Whether you are looking for cubicles or dining tables, this place has it all. On the one hand, it felt very Polaris-esque, but it had a very modern twist to it.
Slightly off to the right is where you will find some more seating next to the buffet and shower suites (more on those later). Beautifully red-appointed seats lay the foundation for a fantastic visit.
Moving on to the back. Proceeding past the main bar and the “speakeasy”, there is space in the back offering couches and booths to relax in. As I sit and write this in the Polaris Lounge in Newark, the lounge at ORD is 10x nicer.
Dining
Located in the back is where you will find the most beautiful dining room in the whole of the Polaris network. With seating for around 50 people, there is a sophisticated feel to it. Offering the likes of Rib Eye steak and the infamous Polaris burger, this is a place you must check out when at the Polaris Lounge.
Keep in mind, lunch starts anywhere from 11-11:30 am.
However, if you are in a hurry, there is also a buffet located nearby to the entrance of the lounge. I only stopped by for breakfast, but I would presume that the standard Polaris line buffet would come into effect here (but who knows, as their menu in the sit-down dining is exaggerated here).
Bar
Much like with all of the other Polaris Lounges in the network, the Polaris lounge offers a bar located in the center of the lounge featuring mid to top-shelf liquor. Think Patron level 😉.
However, what makes this lounge unique is that it offers a Speakeasy bar that only opens from 2 pm onwards. Words cannot describe how beautiful this place is, as it’s truly mesmerizing. Not just sleek, but it could be placed in the middle of New York and still have charm. Wow, United, Wow.
Quiet Rooms
For those looking to have some downtime before their flight, United has done a fantastic job of providing a quiet area in the lounge. While not quite as private as the nap rooms, these spaces provide a good place to get comfortable and relax.
Modern, good, exceptional
Showers/Nap Rooms
Nearby to the buffet is where you will find the infamous Polaris showers and nap rooms. Starting with the nap rooms. I didn’t find the need to use them, but the lovely staff working happily showed me the way to take a picture. These pods feature a blanket and an eye mask, but be aware that you are limited to an hour (really depends on how busy the lounge is).
However, what I did engage with was the showers. The first thought that came to my head was “wow, these are modern but simplistic”, and honestly, these shower suites were. All of the amenities one could want were provided, minus a shaving kit, and the water pressure was good!
Service
I’ve had some pretty damn good service over the years, from being escorted through Doha Airport in a golf cart, to white glove service on Emirates. For some reason, the Polaris Lounge offers some of the best service I have seen anywhere in the world. Here are a couple of moments that stood out to me:
Upon entering, the staff said, “You have a big smile on your face. Is that because of the Polaris Lounge?”. Exceptional, psychologically speaking, picking up on the small details is impressive.
The bartender during the mornings, Gary, is one of the kindest gentlemen I have met. Honestly, I planned to do some work but ended up chatting with him for 30 minutes.
The lounge manager was present and offered to show off parts of the lounge to guests. I mean, even at First Class lounges, they don’t do this.
To summarize, the service here (at the moment) is some of the best you will find in the whole world. As I always say, “what makes a product great is when you want to be there as much as they want you to be there, and the lounge staff do!
Final Thoughts
If you happen to have access to the Polaris Lounge in Chicago, you have to visit! When I say this is the best lounge in the US at the moment, it truly is (minus Chelsea). With exceptional service, fine dining, fantastic drinks, and a lovely ambiance, you should now choose Chicago as your transit point. Now we just need Newark to renovate and expand their Polaris Lounge: EHHHH.
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