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Best Hotel Bets
Best Historic Hotel: The Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton Place (tel. 800/55-DRAKE), is a master at combining the decorous charm of yesteryear with every modern convenience.
Best Rehab of a Historic Structure: The Loop's revered Reliance Building, one of the world's first glass-walled skyscrapers, has regained its dignity thanks to a thrilling reincarnation as the tony Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington St. (tel. 877/294-9712).
Best for Business Travelers: Virtually every hotel in Chicago qualifies, but the Swissôtel Chicago, 323 E. Wacker Dr. (tel. 888/737-9477), combines extensive business services with stunning city views from all rooms.
Best Hotel Dining Experience: Almost every luxury hotel in town has a first-class restaurant -- usually with eye-popping prices. To give your wallet a break, try the Atwood Café at the Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington St. (tel. 877/294-9712), which offers accessible, modern American dishes in a dining room with real character.
Best Service: The attention to detail, regal pampering, and well-connected concierges at both the ultraluxe Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. (tel. 800/621-6906), and the Four Seasons, 120 E. Delaware Place (tel. 800/332-3442), make them the hotels of choice for travelers who want to feel like royalty.
Best for a Romantic Getaway: For a splurge, The Peninsula, 108 E. Superior St. (tel. 866/288-8889), or the Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 800/233-1234), will pamper you with luxurious rooms and top-notch amenities. For a cozier getaway, try the Talbott Hotel, 20 E. Delaware Place (tel. 800/TALBOTT), which is centrally located but tucked away from the crowds.
Best Trendy Hotel: The W Chicago Lakeshore, 644 N. Lake Shore Dr. (tel. 877/W-HOTELS), brings the hip W sensibility to a prime location overlooking Lake Michigan.
Best Views: This isn't an easy call. Consider several hotels for their mix of lake and city views: the Swissôtel; the Four Seasons; The Drake Hotel; the Ritz-Carlton; the Park Hyatt Chicago; and the Chicago City Centre. Peering over the elevated tracks, The Silversmith Hotel & Suites, 10 S. Wabash Ave. (tel. 312/372-7696), in the Loop, offers a distinctly urban vista.
Best for Families: With every room a suite, the Embassy Suites, 600 N. State St. (tel. 800/362-2779), and Homewood Suites, 40 E. Grand Ave. (tel. 800/CALL-HOME), are ideal for families looking for a little more space than the typical hotel room provides. The Chicago City Centre, 300 E. Ohio St. (tel. 800/HOLIDAY), not only has a great outdoor pool, but guests also get free access to an indoor pool, so you can go swimming no matter what the weather.
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Hotels: The City Suites Hotel, 933 W. Belmont Ave. (tel. 800/248-9108), the Majestic Hotel, 528 W. Brompton St. (tel. 800/727-5108), and the Best Western Hawthorne Terrace, 3434 N. Broadway Ave. (tel. 888/401-8781), located in residential North Side neighborhoods, have a more personal feel than many downtown hotels. They're also convenient to public transportation.
Best Location: Most visitors will be more than happy with the location of any hotel on the Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue.
Best Health Club: The fitness center and spa at The Peninsula, 108 E. Superior St. (tel. 866/288-8889), offer the latest workout equipment and skin treatments in a sparkling, airy setting. Plus, afterward, you can relax on the outdoor sun deck or take a dip in the pool with stunning city views.
Best Hotel Pool: With its dazzling all-tile, junior Olympic-size pool constructed in 1929, the InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 800/327-0200), takes this title easily.
Best for Travelers with Disabilities: The Four Seasons, 120 E. Delaware Place (tel. 800/332-3442), and the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr. (tel. 800/526-2008), go the extra mile for guests with special needs, also providing high-tech accessories for those who are hearing- or vision-impaired.
The Best Splurge Hotels
The Four Seasons (120 E. Delaware Place; tel. 800/332-3442; www.fourseasons.com): Appropriately enough in this skyscraper-packed city, some of the best hotels perch far above the sidewalk. The Four Seasons (as well as the Ritz-Carlton) is tucked above a high-rise shopping mall on Michigan Avenue. A favorite among camera-shy celebrities who want to keep a low profile, the hotel exudes understated luxury; expect discretion, not a lively lobby scene. Where the Four Seasons really shines is its service -- the concierges might be the best in town. The clubby full-service spa provides on-site pampering, for a price.
The Park Hyatt (800 N. Michigan Ave.; tel. 800/233-1234; www.parkchicago.hyatt.com): If the thought of overstuffed couches and thick brocade curtains make you wince, this is the hotel for you. With its focus on modern design and clean lines, the Park Hyatt feels like one of those cool urban spaces featured in Architectural Digest. Reproductions of Eames and Mies furniture fill the guest rooms, and in-room electronics include flatscreen TVs and DVD players. The coolest feature? Moveable bathroom walls that allow you to soak in the view while you lounge in the tub.
The Peninsula (108 E. Superior St.; tel. 866/288-8889; http://chicago.peninsula.com): Inspired by the elegance of 1920s Shanghai and Hong Kong, the Chicago outpost of this Asian chain is a seamless blend of classic and modern. The grand public spaces may be a throwback to the past, but the hotel's amenities are ultramodern. Bedrooms and bathrooms feature "command stations" that allow you to adjust lights, temperature, and TVs without getting up. The top-notch gym, spa, and indoor swimming pool (filled with natural light) make The Peninsula a must for fitness fanatics.
The Ritz-Carlton (160 E. Pearson St.; tel. 800/621-6906; www.fourseasons.com): Located above the Water Tower shopping center, the Ritz has one of the most welcoming lobbies in town, with light streaming through the windows, masses of fresh flowers, and bird's-eye views of the city. The guest rooms, decorated in warm shades of yellow and blue, have European-style elegance, and the staff prides itself on granting every wish.
The W Chicago Lakeshore (644 N. Lake Shore Dr.; tel. 877/W-HOTELS; www.whotels.com): The city's only hotel with a lakefront address may try a little too hard to be hip, but it offers a nightclubby vibe that sets it apart from the many cookie-cutter convention-friendly hotels in town. (The rates are substantially lower than those at the hotels listed above, but the W is still a splurge for thrifty travelers.) The rooms' color scheme -- shades of gray, black, and deep red -- are a refreshing change from the chain-hotel look (although they won't appeal to guests who like things light and airy). The top-floor Whiskey Sky bar is cramped, but good for people-watching, and the outpost of New York's trendy Bliss spa is a must-visit for beauty junkies.
The Best Moderately Priced Hotels
Chicago City Centre (300 E. Ohio St.; tel. 800/HOLIDAY; www.chicc.com): A real find for budget-conscious families, the City Centre scores big for its amenities: two pools (indoor and outdoor), free access to the Lake Shore Athletic Club next door, and free meals for children 11 and under at the hotel's restaurants. The location is great, too -- just a few blocks from kid-friendly Navy Pier.
Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown (33 W. Illinois St.; tel. 800/HAMPTON; www.hamptoninn.com): Located in a busy neighborhood full of restaurants and nightlife, the Hampton Inn feels more expensive than it is. The rooms have an upscale urban look, and the indoor pool is a draw for families. The hotel's hot breakfast buffet, included in the room rates and served in an attractive second-floor lounge, puts the standard coffee-and-doughnut spread at other motels to shame.
Red Roof Inn (162 E. Ontario St.; tel. 800/733-7663; www.redroof-chicago-downtown.com): This high-rise version of the roadside motel is your best bet for the cheapest rates downtown. The rooms don't have much in the way of style (or natural light), and the bathrooms, though spotless, are a little cramped, but it fits the bill if you want a central location and plan on using your hotel as a place to sleep rather than hang out.
Majestic Hotel (528 W. Brompton St.; tel. 800/727-5108; www.cityinns.com): A bit off the beaten path, this neighborhood hotel is tucked away on a residential street just a short walk from Wrigley Field and the lakefront. You won't find lots of fancy amenities, but the atmosphere here has the personal touch of a B&B. Rates include continental breakfast and afternoon tea in the lobby.
Best for Business Travelers: Virtually every hotel in Chicago qualifies, but the Swissôtel Chicago, 323 E. Wacker Dr. (tel. 888/737-9477), combines extensive business services with stunning city views from all rooms.
Best Hotel Dining Experience: Almost every luxury hotel in town has a first-class restaurant -- usually with eye-popping prices. To give your wallet a break, try the Atwood Café at the Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington St. (tel. 877/294-9712), which offers accessible, modern American dishes in a dining room with real character.
Best Service: The attention to detail, regal pampering, and well-connected concierges at both the ultraluxe Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. (tel. 800/621-6906), and the Four Seasons, 120 E. Delaware Place (tel. 800/332-3442), make them the hotels of choice for travelers who want to feel like royalty.
Best for a Romantic Getaway: For a splurge, The Peninsula, 108 E. Superior St. (tel. 866/288-8889), or the Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 800/233-1234), will pamper you with luxurious rooms and top-notch amenities. For a cozier getaway, try the Talbott Hotel, 20 E. Delaware Place (tel. 800/TALBOTT), which is centrally located but tucked away from the crowds.
Best Trendy Hotel: The W Chicago Lakeshore, 644 N. Lake Shore Dr. (tel. 877/W-HOTELS), brings the hip W sensibility to a prime location overlooking Lake Michigan.
Best Views: This isn't an easy call. Consider several hotels for their mix of lake and city views: the Swissôtel; the Four Seasons; The Drake Hotel; the Ritz-Carlton; the Park Hyatt Chicago; and the Chicago City Centre. Peering over the elevated tracks, The Silversmith Hotel & Suites, 10 S. Wabash Ave. (tel. 312/372-7696), in the Loop, offers a distinctly urban vista.
Best for Families: With every room a suite, the Embassy Suites, 600 N. State St. (tel. 800/362-2779), and Homewood Suites, 40 E. Grand Ave. (tel. 800/CALL-HOME), are ideal for families looking for a little more space than the typical hotel room provides. The Chicago City Centre, 300 E. Ohio St. (tel. 800/HOLIDAY), not only has a great outdoor pool, but guests also get free access to an indoor pool, so you can go swimming no matter what the weather.
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Hotels: The City Suites Hotel, 933 W. Belmont Ave. (tel. 800/248-9108), the Majestic Hotel, 528 W. Brompton St. (tel. 800/727-5108), and the Best Western Hawthorne Terrace, 3434 N. Broadway Ave. (tel. 888/401-8781), located in residential North Side neighborhoods, have a more personal feel than many downtown hotels. They're also convenient to public transportation.
Best Location: Most visitors will be more than happy with the location of any hotel on the Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue.
Best Health Club: The fitness center and spa at The Peninsula, 108 E. Superior St. (tel. 866/288-8889), offer the latest workout equipment and skin treatments in a sparkling, airy setting. Plus, afterward, you can relax on the outdoor sun deck or take a dip in the pool with stunning city views.
Best Hotel Pool: With its dazzling all-tile, junior Olympic-size pool constructed in 1929, the InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 800/327-0200), takes this title easily.
Best for Travelers with Disabilities: The Four Seasons, 120 E. Delaware Place (tel. 800/332-3442), and the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr. (tel. 800/526-2008), go the extra mile for guests with special needs, also providing high-tech accessories for those who are hearing- or vision-impaired.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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