HOTELS
CHICAGO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Rich with history, this newly restored Venetian Gothic-style space has become the ultimate hot spot thanks to its vintage club vibes and stellar food and dining options, from mixology haven Milk Room to rooftop sensation Cindy’s, whose all-season balcony boasts drop-dead gorgeous views of Millennium Park. 12 S. Michigan Ave., 312-940-3552; chicagoathletichotel.com
DANA HOTEL
Located in the heart of bustling River North, this boutique hotel and spa offers a soothing respite from the city by balancing the latest technology with luxurious amenities, an aesthetic of natural, sustainable woods and earth tones, and the world-class Spa at Dana. 660 N. State St., 312-202-6000; danahotelandspa.com
GODFREY HOTEL
One of the city’s hottest hotels, this chic River North space boasts 221 stylishly appointed guest rooms and suites and is also home to two neighborhood dining and nightlife favorites: lobbylevel Italian must-try Dolce Italian and fourth-floor indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge IO Godfrey. 127 W. Huron St., 312-649-2000; godfreyhotelchicago.com
THE GRAY
This buzzed-about new hotel by Kimpton has made a splashy debut in the Financial District’s majestically restored New York Life Insurance Building, and boasts opulent design fused with modern touches. South American-inspired rooftop bar Boleo and library-chic mixology hot spot Vol. 39 are both destinations worth exploring. 122 W. Monroe St., 877-7717031; grayhotelchicago.com
HOTEL CHICAGO
Part of Marriott’s Autograph
Collection, this stylish boutique hotel neighboring the House of Blues appeals to business and leisure travelers alike with luxe in-room amenities like 42-inch flat-screen TVS, 300-threadcount combed cotton sheets, and 24-hour concierge service—not to mention easy access to neighborhood dining and drinking hot spots. 333 N. Dearborn St., 312-245-0333; thehotelchicago.com
HYATT REGENCY
With more than 2,000 guest rooms, a full-service business center, and 240,000
square feet of event space, this expansive hotel (the city’s largest) located along the Chicago River is a magnet for corporate travelers. 151 E. Wacker Dr., 312-565-1234; chicagoregency.hyatt.com
KINZIE HOTEL
A prime setting in the heart of the River North dining and nightlife district plus luxe amenities like 42-inch flat-screen LED TVS, a 24-hour fitness center, pet-friendly rooms, and an evening cocktail reception equal one very chic boutique hotel. 20 W. Kinzie St., 312-395-9000; kinziehotel.com
THE LANGHAM
Consistently named among the top hotels in the world since its opening in 2013, this sumptuous retreat from the London-based luxury hospitality brand offers 24-hour butler service and a prime vantage point of the city from its iconic setting in Mies van der Rohe’s 1971 IBM Building. INSIDER TIP: Get a taste of the good life with luxe afternoon tea in the lobby-level Pavilion. 330 N. Wabash Ave., 312-9239988; langhamhotels.com/chicago
LOEWS HOTEL
Tucked away in Streeterville between Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier, this gleaming high-rise hotel is a brilliant addition to Chicago’s skyline and boasts 400 guest rooms (including 25 luxury suites) plus Iron Chef Jose Garces’s meat-centric dining destination Rural Society. 455 N. Park Dr., 312-840-6600; loewshotels.com/ chicago-downtown
PARK HYATT
Rising over the historic Water Tower at the north end of the Magnificent Mile, this elegant, contemporary-chic property’s rooms boast contemporary artwork and sweeping views of the city and Lake Michigan. NOMI Kitchen restaurant and the Spa at NOMI are must-try locals’ destinations in themselves. 800 N. Michigan Ave., 312-335-1234; chicago.park.hyatt.com
THE PENINSULA
This elegant oasis just off Michigan Avenue recently celebrated its 15th anniversary in Chicago with a next-level renovation to more than 300 guest rooms and suites. The on-site spa just might be the city’s best. INSIDER TIP: Lobby-level hideaway The Bar is one of the city’s classiest, clubbiest watering holes. 108 E. Superior St., 312-337-2888; chicago.peninsula.com
THE RITZ-CARLTON
Chicago hospitality veteran Peter Simoncelli has stepped into the GM role at this newly renovated Windy City institution, which boasts four-star service, a recently added Club Lounge, chic dining destination Deca, and a state-of-the-art fitness center, all adjacent to Water Tower Place shopping. 160 E. Pearson St., 312-266-1000; ritzcarlton.com
NEW SHERATON GRAND
Set on the Chicago Riverwalk within strolling distance of Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier, this 1,200-room hotel scores with an indoor heated pool, on-site Shula’s Steak House, and views of the lake, river, and city skyline. 301 E. North Water St., 312-464-1000; sheratonchicago.com
SOFITEL CHICAGO MAGNIFICENT MILE
This angular, 32-floor glass high-rise is an ultra-sleek dose of Parisian joie de vivre in the city’s Gold Coast. Boasting 415 luxury guest rooms, two must-try dining and drinking spots in Café des Architectes and Le Bar, and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, it’s an appealing option with serious European flair. 20 E. Chestnut St., 312-324-4000; sofitel-chicago.com
THOMPSON HOTEL
Contemporary, hip design from renowned British creative Tara Bernard, one of the city’s best hotel restaurants in One Off Hospitality Group’s Nico Osteria, and pictureperfect location in the heart of the Gold Coast make this a truly sophisticated urban haven for cosmopolitan travelers. 21 E. Bellevue Pl., 312-2662100; thompsonhotels.com
THEWIT
With bold, whimsical design, luxurious amenities like spa-inspired bathrooms and 42-inch high-definition TVS, and a buzzing rooftop lounge that draws crowds of locals and visitors alike to see and be seen, this stylish space just south of the Chicago River is one of the Loop’s hottest destinations. 201 N. State St., 312-467-0200; thewithotel.com