Honest high-rise
reviews for Chicago.
The stuff your broker won't tell you. Every tower, rated across 7 categories — including a Winter Score no other site tracks.
The buildings worth knowing
Lake Point Tower
The curved glass icon that still turns heads — if you can handle the quirks.
Aqua Tower
The most photographed building in Chicago — and the residential experience mostly lives up to the hype.
NEMA Chicago
Chicago's flashiest rental — two tiers, one building, and an amenity package that genuinely has no equal.
St. Regis Chicago
Chicago's tallest residential tower — and it earns the superlative.
The rankings that matter
Every corner of downtown Chicago
The resource I wish I'd had when I was looking.
When I started looking for a place to live in Chicago, I did what everyone does — I Googled "best apartments in Chicago" and got a wall of sponsored listings pretending to be advice. Every building was "luxury." Every pool was "resort-style." None of it told me what I actually needed to know.
Like which buildings have a 10-minute elevator wait during morning rush. Which lobbies look great in photos but smell like the restaurant on the ground floor. Which "resort-style pools" are the size of a bathtub. And which buildings hit you with a special assessment six months after you move in.
So I built Upper Level — the resource I wish I'd had. Honest reviews based on actually living in and around these buildings, not just touring the model unit on a Tuesday afternoon when everything looks perfect. No listings, no referral fees, no sponsored content. Just the truth.
Read the full storyHow I rate buildings
7 categories, scored 1–5
Recently published
Lake Point Tower
505 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611
The curved glass icon that still turns heads — if you can handle the quirks.
Aqua Tower
225 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601
The most photographed building in Chicago — and the residential experience mostly lives up to the hype.
NEMA Chicago
1210 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago's flashiest rental — two tiers, one building, and an amenity package that genuinely has no equal.
St. Regis Chicago
363 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601
Chicago's tallest residential tower — and it earns the superlative.
One Chicago
1 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654
River North's newest mega-tower — impressive amenities, still finding its identity.
Trump International Hotel & Tower
401 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
The architecture is undeniable. The politics are unavoidable. The views are spectacular.
More buildings are in the pipeline.
I'm actively adding reviews across Gold Coast, Lakeshore East, and River North. New profiles drop regularly — subscribe to get notified the moment they go live.
Recently Added
Ontario Place
River North · Condo
640 North Wells
River North · Rental
The Tides at Lakeshore East
Lakeshore East · Rental
The Gallery on Wells
River North · Rental
State & Chestnut
Gold Coast · Rental
Marina City
River North · Mixed-Use
One East Delaware
Gold Coast · Rental
Upshore Residences
Uptown · Rental
The Draper
Uptown · Rental
Get notified when new reviews drop
No spam. Just new buildings and updated intel.
New buildings. Updated reviews. Insider intel.
I'll let you know when I add new buildings, update a review, or uncover something worth knowing about Chicago high-rise living.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know something I should know?
Current or former residents: share your insider intel anonymously. Your identity is never shared.
Share Your Intel