City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Address: 140 E. Walton Place
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Address: 120 E. Delaware Place
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Address: 505 N. Michigan Ave.
34. The James Hotel
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (877) 526-3755, (312) 337-1000
Address: 55 E. Ontario St.
Description: Sleek and artsy meet warm and welcoming at this 297-room hotel (106 suites) just off North Michigan Avenue shopping. A sense of urban chic describes the guestrooms, with ambient lighting, slate tile in the bathrooms, and understated decor. Guests are privy to complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary luxury car service, pampering at the onsite Spa by Asha, and even a guided city running tour that highlights architecture and public art. Take time as you check in to browse the eclectic modern art, including a rotating gallery of local artists’ works in the business lounge. Popular with an after-work crowd, the JBar gets creative with its cocktails, while dry-aged meats are the focus at award-winning chef David Burke’s Primehouse.
35. Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (312) 751-8100
Address: 163 E. Walton Place
Description: Some history and intrigue come with a stay here. Opened in 1927 as the Davis Hotel, its rumored gangster connections gained credence during a 1980s renovation that uncovered a secret door and staircase. Its grand Crystal Ballroom is still a knockout with a 25-foot-high domed ceiling and original built-in illuminated dance floor. Guests enter through a lofty 2-story lobby and are just a block from Lake Michigan and down the street from Mag Mile shops and the John Hancock Center. Petite rooms include 40-inch flat-screen TVs and posh bedding.
36. Omni Chicago Hotel
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (800) 843-6664, (312) 944-6664
Address: 676 N. Michigan Ave.
Description: All 347 rooms in this Magnificent Mile hotel are suites, making family stays particularly comfortable. Plus, kids get treated to games and books, a backpack, a list of local family attractions, and a safety and first-aid kit. Sign up for the free guest loyalty program to take advantage of perks like free in-room Wi-Fi, newspaper delivery, and complimentary morning beverage. The 676 Restaurant & Bar serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with built-in views of the bustle below. While not all rooms offer such spectacular views, you can request one or, when weather permits, just take it all in on the 5th-floor outdoor deck, right off the indoor pool.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Address: 800 N. Michigan Ave.
38. Peninsula Chicago
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (312) 337-2888
Address: 108 E. Superior St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Celebrating its 10th anniversary of making a fuss over every guest, this award-winning, crème de la crème hotel features 339 rooms (83 suites) with superior furnishings and a classy feel. At the highest level, the Peninsula Suite boosts the brilliance with a wraparound terrace and outdoor whirlpool. Dining is also of the highest caliber. The Lobby restaurant, with its awesome 20-foot-high windows, offers iPads for single diners, as well as a 3-course prix-fixe lunch, perfect for busy VIPs. Its stunning spa treats mind and body and was a key factor to the Peninsula’s ranking by Health magazine as America’s Healthiest Hotel.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Address: 160 E. Pearson St.
40. Tremont Hotel
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (312) 751-1900
Address: 100 E. Chestnut St.
Description: Personalized attention makes up for a lack of flashy amenities (except for free Wi-Fi) at this charming hotel just off the hustle and bustle of North Michigan Avenue and near Rush Street nightlife. Of the 130 rooms and suites, corner rooms tend to be larger, so snatch one if you can; for long-term stays, the next-door Tremont House equips you with full kitchens. Let the chefs do the cooking at Mike Ditka’s, a manly man’s restaurant with requisite giant steaks and chops in a sports-themed setting.
41. Whitehall Hotel
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (800) 948-4255, (312) 944-6300
Address: 105 E. Delaware Place
Description: Like its nearby neighbor, the Tremont Hotel, this vintage boutique hotel stays true to its old-fashioned roots. Built in the 1920s as elegant apartments, it was converted to a hotel in the 1950s and has been restored and updated several times since. Guests over the years included Katharine Hepburn, Robert Redford, and the Beatles. It now comprises 222 rooms that embody a slower-paced grace and sensibility than many modern hotels (check out the mosaic tile in the bathrooms—it’s all hand-laid). Higher-end rooms and suites are decked out with restored antique mahogany and offer turndown service.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Address: 20 W. Kinzie St.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Address: 660 N. State St.
44. Embassy Suites Chicago–Downtown/Lakefront
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (312) 836-5900
Address: 511 N. Columbus Dr.
Description: One of the greatest appeals of this 455-room all-suite hotel is its complimentary cooked-to-order hot breakfast. But that doesn’t diminish its other pros: close to Navy Pier, onsite 21-screen movie theater, indoor pool, and convenient parking garage. Each 2-room suite overlooks the 11-story, skylit atrium and offers lake or city views.
45. Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (800) 465-4329, (312) 836-5000
Address: 350 W. Mart Center Dr.
Description: Certainly the closest beds when you’ve got business at the adjacent Merchandise Mart, this 521-room chain is far from just convenient. Wi-Fi is free and so are the surprisingly stunning city panoramas. The 15th-floor atrium lobby is an inviting space to lounge, with its earthy tones, plenty of comfy seating, and a soothing water wall. The trendy Cityscape bar takes full advantage of the views, while the pleasant ItaliAsia restaurant goes above typical hotel dining. A variety of room and suite sizes are available, culminating in the duplex suite, with full living room and dining room. Families will appreciate the 16th-floor indoor, skylit pool.