Frommer's Review
Newer hotels might get all the attention, but the InterContinental remains a sentimental favorite for many Chicagoans. Built as the Medinah Athletic Club in 1929, the building features truly grand details: marble columns, hand-stenciled ceilings, and historic tapestries (for a peek, go in the southern entrance on the corner of Illinois St.). An unfortunate 1960s addition made no attempt to blend with the original building's character, but a complete renovation in 2002 gave the public spaces a more unified, upscale look.
The guest rooms have two distinct identities, depending on location. Rooms in what's called the Main Building (the '60s addition) have an elegant, urban style, with lots of dark wood, deep yellow walls, and red velvet banquettes. The bathrooms feel brand-new but aren't particularly spacious, with small tubs. Rooms in the Historic Tower (the original building) have a more old-world feel: elaborately carved headboards, gold accents, and deep-red-and-cream drapes and bedding. The bathrooms, however, are completely modern; most come with both a tub and separate, large shower stall. (You'll pay about $50 more for rooms in the Historic Tower).
The hotel's restaurant, Zest, is the only street-level restaurant on Michigan Avenue (try to grab a table by the front windows to enjoy the never-ending street scene), and Eno, a cozy corner of the Historic Tower's lobby, is a popular place for wine, cheese, and chocolate. The InterContinental's main claim to fame is its junior Olympic-size pool on the top floor, a beautiful 1920s gem surrounded by elegant mosaics (residents of nearby high-rises buy memberships to the hotel's fitness center just so they can swim here). Architecture buffs can pick up an audio tour of the hotel at the concierge desk; the lavishly decorated meeting rooms and ballrooms (with themes such as Camelot or Renaissance Italy) are definitely worth a peek.
Facilities:
Restaurant (American); 2 lounges; indoor pool; 24-hr. fitness center w/sauna; concierge; 24-hr. business center; 24-hr. room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning
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.
