Last week, I headed to Chicago to visit a friend. While there, and while they were at work, I took the opportunity to meet with seven of my Virtuoso hotel sales reps and one non-Virtuoso property. These eight Chicago hotels are concentrated between River North and Gold Coast neighbourhoods of downtown. They range from boutique residential-feeling hotels to skyscrapers with incomparable views of the city and Lake Michigan.
Chicago hotels
There is no shortage of Chicago hotels. There are hundreds just in the city alone, not to mention those out by both O’Hare and Midways airports. Then there are hundreds in the suburbs! Where do you stay when you’re in Chicago?! For me, it’s all about the value that my partner hotels provide my clients. Chicago is an expensive place, don’t get me wrong. When you add up the meals you’ll have, the drinks you’ll buy, and the shopping – not to mention public transport – it can easily be over $500-$1000 for a weekend! This is where the Virtuoso Chicago hotels come into play. All offer a full breakfast for two, every morning, and a $100 credit that can go toward meals at the onsite restaurant, room service, spa, or activities within the hotel.
My clients also receive complimentary wifi, an upgrade (on availability) at check-in, and more. Some hotels have a house car for use too. However, since most are within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile, Grant Park, and the lakefront, in good weather you can take advantage of walking! One of the hotels, the Viceroy, is right in the middle of the famous Golden Triangle, home to some of the city’s best restaurants! The Viceroy is the only non-Virtuoso property I visited, and has two amazing restaurants on property; unfortunately there is not food and beverage credit here!
The hotels I saw
Chicago’s luxury hotels claim some of the best real estate in the city. Several are in historic buildings, while others were built precisely for the brand. I definitely saw more than one jaw-dropping view of the lake and city skyline. Many of the hotels are located in skyscrapers and take anywhere from ten to thirty floors. Several properties have less than 200 rooms. The highest lobby belongs to the Ritz Carlton; the hotel begins on the 12th floor. Here, the atrium is bright and airy despite the location. A small terrace is open in the summer, but I can imagine that in the winter, with snow falling outside it has a great greenhouse feel! The second highest lobby belongs to the Four Seasons. It begins on the 7th floor, with a very residential feel despite the grand staircase! The lobby and cozy living room extend across the footprint of the building. The onsite restaurant here takes up almost a third of the floor. Allium has a bright tea room for breakfast and a dark bar for evening cocktails.
Fun fact: the pool scene from Home Alone 2 was shot at the Four Seasons Chicago, not New York’s Plaza Hotel!
Holidays in the city
A fantastic festive holiday treat has to be the Peninsula Hotel’s outdoor ice rink! Open during the winter season, the small rink surrounded with fairy lights is perfect for families with kids or for couples. Savour hot chocolate at the chalet while snow falls around you, practice your triple lutz, or simply take leisurely laps of the popular attraction. At the Waldorf-Astoria, the French-inspired courtyard gets a holiday makeover, with a gorgeous Christmas tree and lights.
The floor to ceiling windows at the riverside Langham Hotel offer enviable views of the Chicago River and the renovated River Walk. In fact, the Langham Chicago would be a great location to spend St. Patrick’s Day! It’s the farthest south of the hotels I visited, but still within walking distance to Michigan Avenue and plenty of great restaurants. In fact, within sight of the hotel is a great riverside wine bar. On any given sunny day, the riverfront is packed with people who buy carafes of wine and sit along the steps. It is a great people watching spot! Credit for this local tip goes to Nick, from the Langham Hotel!
The place to be
The two most colourful hotels I visited have to be the Sofitel and the Viceroy. The Sofitel is located in a stunning architectural gem, a brand new construction that tapers as it goes up. Each room has spectacular views of the Mag Mile and the lake. The Viceroy is the farthest north of the hotels I saw. This hotel opened in September 2017 but already has fans. The first guests? A wedding party that took over on opening day. The lobby restaurant is part of the Somerset group, as is the rooftop bar. The pool is also on the rooftop, so expect this to be the place to be by summer 2018.
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For more information on Chicago hotels, check out my Virtuoso page!
