Bright, natural light spills into the 12th floor lobby and atrium of The Ritz-Carlton, which is one of the brightest and most welcoming lobbies I’ve seen. This luxury property has perks for all seasons. It’s attached to Water Tower Place, so you can shop, dine, and sleep without ever setting foot outside, and it’s just about a 10-minute walk to Oak Street Beach, which you can see from your room, if you luck into (read: pay for) a lake view. Rooms are on floors 13 through 31, which means the floors here begin where many hotels stop, and views are what you’re really paying for. Even standard rooms are a generous size, although bathrooms are smaller than I’d expect, and the decor is stately but not terribly interesting. More interesting is the heated pool, which has LED lights that change its color and is a draw for many families, especially during “dive in” movie nights. The restaurant, Deca, serves primarily steak and seafood, and the lounge, which sits beneath the lobby’s glass skylights, is a wonderful place to work or relax.