The buffet food choices weren't as diverse as I'd hoped and there was a waiting list for the restaurant so all told I was a little disappointed in the O'Hare Polaris lounge as compared to the ones at Dulles or Newark. (Both warm protein dishes were in a lemon caper sauce and I'm not a caper guy.) In general, the lounge was clean and the staff were friendly. The woman in the daybed resting area was lovely. read more

Coming here always goes well beyond my expectations, from the greeting to the dining experience to the comfortable seats and clean restrooms - I can picture myself living in this lounge!! However, they do close at 9:00 p.m: normally but they will extend the closing time if there are delayed flights and this is what we experienced. There is a main bar and a speakeasy type smaller bar that I prefer to go to. The shower rooms are excellent and very clean and are maintained very well. So enjoy the food, the drinks, the wait (you won't mind waiting for your flight). Thank you to Charlie B. For coming out and greeting us on this visit!! FYI, the Polaris at EWR is just as equally nice. But that's another review. :) read more

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Amazing job United! This place really needed an upgrade and I'm glad the mothership hub finally got it! Holy guacamoleeeeee! About frickin time! We absolutely love the decor..much more high end, classy, and timeless. We love the leather chairs and lounge areas. The addition of the new bar is a plus. Looks like I'm going into a high end bar or restaurant. The dining room looks 100x better than that outdated looking one prior! The wood and shelvings really makes this lounge so sleek. American Express and Capital one lounges finally have some competition! I love how spacious this place is and not crowded! Bathrooms and showers here never disappoint! We love the vibes here. Completely better with all these remodel! Food- 10/10 upgrade!!! The food here makes United Polaris SFO look embarrassing. I recall eating off of paper plates last year at the SFO Polaris lounge which was depressing. The dining room looks like it can accommodate more people than before and it looks so much more classier. We got the Polaris burger, potato soup, shrimp fritter, arancini. Here what I rate them below: Shrimp fritter- 8/10. Yum! Love the presentation. Fritter was perfect. Shrimp pieces were present. Potato soup-8/10 light and refreshing. Need a bit salt. Polaris burger-10/10 short rib burger. Must try here. I could have ate 3 of these. Fries need to just be like normal fries...3 rectangle potatoes didn't mash well with the amazing burger. Like just get normal skinny frites or Curley fries. arancini- 10/10. Perfect. Not too heavy! Cookie skillet- 10/10. Don't get anything else. Strawberry tart- 4/10- the tart was too hard. Need a softer base. Bundt cake- 11/10. Thank you chef for your mom's recipe. Best Bundt cake to mark 100 years. They also had a holiday special for Easter which I never seen in a lounge. They had someone carve lamb and served veggies & potatoes! Yummmm. Lamb was tender but bit dry. Still good. Mash potatoes were perfect. I love how there was a staff passing out drinks and mini pastries. Overall, completely different lounge! Service is top notch here. Michael took good care of us at the dining room. Food came out pretty fast. Happy 100th anniversary United Airlines! We are forever loyal to you if you keep this up. read more

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The recently renovated Polaris lounge in Chicago was a huge hit on our recent travels to east Asia. We had about 45 minutes before our flight and was able to squeeze in a couple drinks at the bar and have some food at the buffet. I love their alcohol selection as they had champagne and top shelf whiskey (including an Islay option). Would have loved to sit down at the restaurant but time was tight so we opted for the buffet which had a build your own salad bar and a plethora of hot options (chicken, fish, soup). My only complaint is that the speakeasy didn't open until 2 but that likely means that I'll have to find me way back! read more

United Polaris Lounge - Champagne - Airport Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Busy Polaris Lounge with a variety of seating options and arrangements--everything from cafe and bistro style seating to work pods and cozy lounge nooks with plenty of US outlets and USB ports (USB-C are not available). The bar is usually quite busy but typically easy to grab a drink. There's a self serve buffet with a variety of food options, coffee and cappuccino makers, and a sit down dining restaurant with a rotating tasting menu to choose from. I personally love to grab a sit down meal or place a reservation for one if I have the time. The experience is fun and quiet; relaxing and enjoyable and helpful and friendly dining staff. If your ticket includes access, you might as well go enjoy it! It makes for a pleasant experience and relaxing atmosphere leading up to the flight. read more

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This was my first experience in a Polaris lounge with access due to a business class international flight out of ORD. You don't get access on return flights, only flights out of the US. We had a short layover (1.5 hours with no terminal change) so we were a bit rushed to eat at the restaurant and had to skip dessert. We also should have gone straight to the restaurant to get on the waiting list. We got some good drinks while waiting and the food at the restaurant was worth the wait. Everything was good: crab fritters, bacon, arctic char, and my husband's burger. The service was on point everywhere, likely due to the fact access is pretty restricted and not too many people here for its size. The bathrooms are all private rooms making it convenient to change or freshen up between flights. Obviously go here any chance you get. read more

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The United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O'Hare delivers a noticeably upgraded pre-flight experience for international business class travelers. After a major renovation that reopened in April 2025, the lounge feels significantly more spacious and refined than before. It's now almost 50% larger than before , with plenty of seating and natural light streaming through large windows Design-wise it looks good. more inviting furnishings . Entrance is very appealing Dining has buffet, which includes both hot and cold selections., the food is tasty and a cut above typical lounge fare. premium drinks and creative cocktails are served in bar .. Amenities like semi-private relaxation areas, private phone rooms, shower suites, and daybeds make it easy to relax or work comfortably before departure. read more

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What an exceptional place to spend a layover, when you're at ORD. From the elevated food selections (the chicken picatta was a standout with a creamy lemony sauce), to the custom, thoughtful cocktails, along with a great selection of local beer and cider, this was a great stop. There's plenty of seating/spaces for people, with the ability to choose what appeals to you. There's lots of cozy seating around all of the windows, with great views of the planes/activity outside. There's plenty of bar seating, with two bars. There's separate individual seating, both in the main areas, and toward the back where it's quieter, the lights are dimmed, and seemed like the perfect napping/relaxing space. The restrooms are plentiful, individual, and light up green/red to easily see which ones are available. They were exceptionally clean. This club is quite large, well laid out, and appointed - great way to spend my layover time, before heading to Amsterdam! read more

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We only had a short layover in ORD so we had to stop by the brand new Polaris lounge on our way back from Europe. The location was very central in the C terminal right near the escalators. Access was controlled at the front desk and after scanning our boarding passes we were green lit for access. Inside the lounge was big, bright and empty with nice views from most window seats. Furnishings were in similar style as the Polaris lounges. Staffing levels were minimal given the hour and customers. The buffet breakfast spread was fully stocked but we would've really liked to dine in the restaurant area if we only had more time. I always preferred the lunch and dinner options more than breakfast. Bathrooms were clean and lots of rooms available. Didn't have time to use the showers suites nor the sleep rooms but good features to have. Will try to stay longer next time. read more

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The lounge is a great place to break away from the crowds and relax. The views are great for killing time between your flights. The drinks flow freely and strong (be careful). If you're not wanting an "adult" beverage there are plenty of other options available throughout the lounge. In addition, the food is great. Don't waste your time trying to find something in the airport; unless you need that iconic Chicago style pizza. There is a large selection of finger foods, salads, and desserts available. read more

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This review is for the United Polaris lounge restaurant for lunch. The ambiance is upscale with beautiful wood and decor. The lighting is quite bright, so it makes it feel a bit sterile, but otherwise nice. I started with a small cheese plate which was delicious and the perfect size. My chicken entree was good but the chicken was a bit tough and definitely too much butter on the potato puree. I enjoyed the meal and it was nice to relax in this space before boarding a long flight. read more

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Unlike most US air carrier lounges including those by United this place is: spacious, clean, well structured and organized, tastefully furnished and offers very good. Business travelers find anything they could wish for and tourists can begin their vacation here. Another unexpected plus is the healthy food. Chicago O'Hare is United's home base so they brought their A game here. read more

What a treat, I love my Sunni g experience wt the ORD United Polaris Lounge near Gate 17. The menu offers variety of appetizers, main dishes and desserts. The food was beautifully plated and they all tasted savory, delicious and fulfilling. The staff were very attentive and provided outstanding service. The ambiance can't be beat as I feel like I'm dinning at a fancy, hugh-end restaurant. Highly recommended the next time you fly Business Class and passing through O'Hare with a few hours to spare! read more

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Memorial Day 2025 1:20 pm Scenario: We always check policies as it's not fun to be surprised. Went to the lounge near B18 with friends who are also active duty. They got in for free, and we were stopped and said we needed to pay $29/ pp per their new policy effective 5/1 as while we were active duty, the tickets weren't paid by the government. If service is arbitrary, then what good is a policy? read more

Who doesnt love an elevated lounge experience? What makes Polaris lounges so special is the specialty restaurant they have on site where you literally order from. I had the truffle risotto which was better than I anticipated and a delicious salad. Walking around the buffet area, they had a great variety of options to choose from but a bigger dessert/sweets selection would be nice. Also, having an experienced mixologist working is ideal. Them not being able to make a kir royale was a bit insane to me. Since it's all for business class passengers, the lounge is rarely crowded so you can space out and be comfy. Although it did get busier nearing our departure. All in all, good experience and I'll visit again when Im in Chicago. read more

Chicago O'hare is a pretty nice airport actually. I recently had the opportunity to take advantage of the Polaris lounge here and it was so nice! It does get kind of crowded though so just make sure you're ready for that. We had a few hours to spend here, so we started by relaxing at a table and having some items from the buffet. I actually really liked the chicken and vegetable dishes with rice and it was really filling. But we wanted to try the restaurant, so we put our names down and like 30 minutes later we were called to be seated. While the items at the restaurant are a little more upscale and it's nice to be served, I think I would be just fine eating from the buffet. We also took advantage of the showers. It was very relaxing. I think I was most impressed by the bathrooms. Haha.... it sounds silly, but I've been to Polaris lounges before and the shower and food and restaurant situation are all great, but I like O'Hare's individual bathrooms. There's just like a long hallway of single stall bathrooms and theyre so clean and nice. Polaris is kind of the only way to travel internationally, so bes of luck trying to get upgraded in time to get to this lounge! read more

Luckily my connecting flight arrived early and I had long layover, and so I was able to enjoy all of the amenities in this lounge. First stop was the bar for some nice cocktails. We also put our name on the list for the restaurant. Since this lounge is being renovated and expanded, there are not that many dining tables available. This lounge gets very crowded by afternoon and so I am glad they working on expanding it. With our meal I enjoyed another olde fashioned and my wife had a sparkling rose. We each tried the celery soup and we had the Polaris burger. Everything was delicious. The staff in the restaurant and bar were great, but very overworked. Please be patient with them. After our meal we visited the Therabody relaxation suites. They were clean and we had a fantastic nap. The zero gravity loungers are fantastic! The staff also showed us the shower suites. Soon it was time to board our flight and we were relaxed and ready to go. I always try to dine in the lounge and then decline the meal onboard. The in flight meals on United are very hit or miss. read more

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This is my second time in the Ohare Polaris lounge and had the opportunity to utilise the shower facilities and seated dining this time around. Having a place to shower after a red eye is fantastic and the shower facilities are nice. Noticed there are day beds here also so if you have a long layover there is a place to take a nap. Had breakfast and ordered the breakfast tostada. It was surprisingly good and would definitely get this again. I came to the lounge right when it opened and the dining room wasn't open right away. Getting someone to help me took some time and the process was a bit confusing. read more

United Polaris Lounge - Breakfast tostada - Airport Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Small lounge, most of the seats are occupied. Nice buffet selection, bar. There's a dining section with tables. Private bathrooms. Showers. Not a bad place to chill for an hour. read more

This is QUITE the lounge. It's only open to those flying international Polaris, so in theory it shouldn't be crowded and chaotic. That said, it was pretty packed - I had a hard time finding a place to sit. Here's what you need to know: *Shower rooms, if you want them *Relax rooms if you need a nap *A big bar with top shelf options. Glass of champagne? Why not? *A buffet area with 1/2 dozen hot options plus plenty of salad, cheese and charcuterie. I tried a small bit of pasta and thought it was really good. Here's the bonus - they have a full service sit down restaurant that's included! I had been told the wait was an hour but it only ended up being 25 minutes. My cacio é pepe risotto was honestly spectacular and the bread pudding was pretty good too. Every employee was really nice and the place was very clean despite the crowds. If you are flying Polaris out of ORD you definitely should make some time to check this lounge out. read more

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1. No complementary entry if you are in Domestic First Class (unlike other airlines) 2. Coming apart at the seams. Finding a working outlet was like finding water with a divining ride 3. Limited wine selection. No pinot grigio, chardonnay, or savignon blanc...only "white blend" without an upcharge 4. It seems like all the lounges now have decided chicken thighs are new "in thing." I'm find with that - a) I love chicken thighs and b) both Delta and Centurion have turned them into art forms. Polaris made me weep for the chicken that gave her life to be turned into a hockey puck. I have consistently flown Delta now for 9 years and every time I try United, I remember why I don't fly them (which is a shame because Newark is the most convenient airport for me and United rules there). read more

You can make a reservation at the restaurant and if you have a long layover it is well worth it. Clean facility and friendly staff

Full bar, sleeper beds, vast amount of lounge chairs and charger ports, personally made meals from an order menu and a buffet style if you prefer. This place is quiet, and not very crowded. If you ever get the chance to fly business I highly recommend coming. Not only is it included in that price (for all star alliance business class flights) it helps justify the cost if it's your first time. Staff are friendly and open to helping you any way they can. read more

United Polaris Lounge - Airport Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pros: The dining area was the star of the show. The pan seared rainbow trout was delicious -- comparable to a quality restaurant. The service at the dining area (their restaurant) was professional, courteous and friendly. The bar was well stocked. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained and shower service was available. Cons: the buffet was terrible -- everything had been cleaned out and we had to remind them to refill.The milk in the tea/coffee area had run out and again we needed to remind them to refill. They were very courteous and immediately got to it, but attention to detail was missing. Also, the dining area (a la carte restaurant) had a nontrivial wait for seating. Basically, the lounge needs to be bigger -- it gets quite full during rush hours. read more

United Polaris Lounge - Pan seared rainbow trout - Airport Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here after a layover from Heathrow. The restrooms were very clean and the food dejection was superb. read more

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Hunger Games at the airport lounge. Eliminate other passengers as you stalk and must fight for a place to sit down. Good news. Food is wonderful. Bar is friendly, attentive, and ready to provide your favourite beverage. Bad news. HOT and CROWDED!!! Can't wait to get on the plane for a for a true luxury experience in Lufthansa business class. PS Remodeling is NOT an excuse to shortchange passengers with a premium ticket on an intercontinental flight. United needs to stop taking management and cost-cutting courses at Boeing. read more

The Polaris lounge is a wonderful perk when traveling in business/first. I really enjoy that they have multiple and a variety of seating areas including you can sit at the bar, in little cubicle type seating or some more open family seating. They have a decent food buffet area and a couple of drink stations for coffee and tea. The best splurge is the seated restaurant area which has a full menu of items - and hint - you can order as much as you want. The portions are smaller so go for the soup or the appetizers and then an entree and splurge with desserts or multiple desserts. Finally the shower stations are so welcomed especially after flying in from a long international flight. The staff (including the robot) were friendly and efficient read more

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Not among the best of the Polaris lounges. The layout is odd. Restaurant is tiny. There was a waitlist for seating. Of course, it is still better than the standard United Club. read more

We are here at the beginning of Easter and perhaps we lucked out but it wasn't crazy busy (but busy). The club has showers, sleeping areas, a restaurant and a buffet. It also has a large bar with a TV where we are watching the masters. The volume is good, not whisper but not loud. Recommend! read more

United Polaris Lounge - Lunch and dinner menu at the restaurant - Airport Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Polaris lounges are some of my favorite lounges to visit when traveling (and a huge part of reason to upgrade when traveling internationally) Clean & stocked showers. The sit down dining area is my favorite feature that sets it apart! read more

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I am always happy with the Polaris Lounges. They are always welcoming and friendly. The snacks are amazing and the ability to order food is a added touch. We had delicious burgers and ice cream. It's practically a destination. Once you go you will definitely want to go back. I think it's worth the price as traveling is stressful. Do yourself a favor and try it. read more

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The United Polaris Lounge in Chicago is definitely a step up from all the other United lounges that I have visited. The check in staff was extremely friendly, some of the staff at other lounges act more like entrance bouncers to nightclubs looking for a way to keep you out. The lounge was clean, staff quickly picked up dirty dishes, and the buffet was spotless. The food choices were the best I have seen at any United Polaris lounges with multiple options with relatively tasty food. The bar tender was friendly, quick, and did not up charge me for drinks that are normally free. Only issue I had is that they closed at 9:00 pm which seems really early for a large airport, most international airline's lounges are open 24 hours or at least as late as the airport is open. read more

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I am surprised by the overall 3.5 star rating of this lounge. Overall our stay here has been one of the best lounge experiences we have had. Below is a summary; Made to order cocktails, think craft cocktails- The Paper Plane was fantastic Great Wine Selection - think Duckhorn Pinot Hot and Cold Buffet spread with soups, salads, nibbles, cheese, hot chicken entree, desert etc. A la Carte Dining Option- they didn't have the rib eye today and there was a wait to get seated so we opted out (the only negative) Good service all around Clean restrooms and separate showers if you need one. Amongst the seceral lounges I been to in Asia, Europe and North America, this rates as one of the much better ones. read more

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I have used this lounge many years now and in general it is a huge step up for United but this is considered their flagship lounge. Overall it has the usual amenities expected from a higher tier lounge globally but a few things that continue to disappoint me - 1) private dining staff and service is extremely ridiculous, they need to ensure proper management of this area 2) shortage of several food items in buffet is expected as large volume of folks come in with just few members helping to replenish 3) the overall management of the drinks area needs more servers read more

This lounge may be considered as one of the best in the continental US! And it is also a newer one at Chicago O'Hare Airport. It consists of not just the actual lounge area, but it is also enriched with many other services including buffet & full service food, over-sized toilets, comfortable sized shower rooms, private individual cubicles, and napping rooms. Comparing to other lounges in this airport, this lounge had far less people in much larger area so your time spend at this lounge will be a very pleasant & comfortable one. Only open to United Polaris customers, but I hope you will have a chance to experience this brilliant & impressive lounge before your flight! read more

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Polaris lounge is a new thing. SFO is not ready yet. This is my first experience. I refuse to use regular United Club because as we all know, it blows. This is one step up. I had some salmon, which was good. Teriyaki flavor. The seaweed bean sprouts is pretty yummy. There are lots of soup and pasta options. Gumbo was good if you like sausage and seafood. I like the variety and just like the Points Guy pointed out, the single cocoon like seating where the marble table slides out is a good option if you want some peace and quiet while working on your project it give you the right set up. The place is located between C17 and C18, it's only for international business class and first class so you don't actually see many Americans depending on the day which is interesting. I have not tried the shower. I do like their flavored water. I think the place is way bigger than the usual Centurion Lounge. Given the food quality is better than the other usual United Club lounge, I'm thinking this is a good upgrade. Well rested and ready for my first class flight bounded for Sao Paulo. read more

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The United Polaris lounge in Chicago is located in Terminal 1, Concourse C next to gate C18. Don't get confused because there is a United Club lounge next to gate C16. These are separate lounges. The United Polaris lounges are only available to international business-class or first-class travelers on United or Star Alliance partners. read more

United Polaris Lounge - Entrance - Airport Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty cool lounge! First lounge with full service dining that I have been to! I was told they recently opened this lounge (maybe from a renovation?). There is a great espresso machine in the back! The buffet food is OK, but the full service dining food is better. read more

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I seldom mention personnel in my reviews, but what a horrible experience at ORD airport Terminal 1 C because of a Ms. Concaldo who works at this lounge. She is a terrible representative for the United Polaris brand and I had a thoroughly unpleasant experience checking in here. I was connecting from a 10 hour international flight booked through United airlines, flying United Polaris (international business class on a Boeing 787) that was connecting in ORD, and am also a United Club member. She was stern, cold, demeaning, insulting and rude, with no consideration that I had just got off a 10 hour flight. She basically barked at me and said that United made a mistake calling my United international business class booking "Polaris", even though that's what United calls their full flat seats in "Business class" on the 787 Dreamliner. "It's a mistake, that's not Polaris" she said, and refused me entry as she actually face palmed me and pointed at the door. So I hope you see this, United Airlines corp. Better stop calling it Polaris business class on the 787 if it has a stopover in Chicago. Ms. Concaldo said it's all a big mistake by you. It said Polaris on my booking, UA flight 844 United Boeing 787 en route via Sao Paolo connecting in ORD. There are nicer ways to explain things about your very confusing lounge policy and a kinder way to treat United customers and Club members. The other service reps were more helpful and understanding. American Airlines allows international business class booked through American Airlines that are arriving in the USA with a business class connection to use their premium lounges. United does not let stopovers use the Polaris lounge, especially if part of the leg is a Star Alliance partner that was booked through United. Take this into consideration when booking a ticket, even if it says "Polaris" when you book it. read more

One of the perks in paying that extra money for business class seats on United. The Polaris Lounge was outstanding. A full hot buffet. A free bar. Comfy seating. All excellent. We didn't really appreciate the full service comforts here until we used the business class lounge for Lufthansa Air Line on our return flight. Their buffet bar was three types of potato chips! Candy in glass jars that people were digging their hands into. A couple of varieties of alcohol: vodka, gin. What a disappointment that was. read more

United Polaris Lounge - Airport Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois