A Base to Celebrate: Chicago’s Best New and Improved Hotels
By Amber Gibson
Whether you’re choosing a home base for your wedding guests or out-of-town visitor or just planning a staycation of your nearest and dearest, these Chiacgo hotels are new or improved and offer a memorable experience fit for a special celebration.
THE RITZ CARLTON, CHICAGO
With a new 15th floor club lounge and extensive guest room and fitness club renovations, this classic luxury property is getting a much-need facelift. Guests staying on club-level floors can enjoy five delicious food services throughout the day while soaking up views of the Magnificent Mile, Lake Michigan and historic Water Tower. Don’t miss the signature Ritz-Carlton dark chocolate, blending decedent Valrhona dark chocolate with Grand Marnier and candied orange peels.
The second phase of renovations being in January, and by June 2017 the hotel will debut a brand-new lobby, signature restaurant, bar, spa and 12th-floor market café, all designed by San Fransisco-based design BAMO. 160 East Pearson St., Water Tower Place, 213-266-1000, ritzcarlton.com
THE KIMPTON GRAY HOTEL
The Kimpton’s fifth and newest Chicago property is also its nicest, breathing new life the 1894 limestone, granite and terra-cotta bones of the former New York Life insurance building, now a historic landmark. The 293-room hotel hits a grand slam in the food and drink beverage department, thanks to three sophisticated restaurant and bar concepts.
Steadfast sees three meals a day on the ground floor, including while roasted dry-aged duck with a lavender honey lacquer and addictive chocolate covered foie gras bites. Vol.93 is a classy cocktail lounge and wine bar with a law library theme and great caviar and cheese service. On the rooftop, Peruvian Boleo spices it up with a live DJ, pisco cocktails and vibrant ceviche, empanadas and anricuchos – skewed meat and fish. 122 W. Monroe St., 288-771-7031, grayhotelchicago.com
SHERATON GRAND
This massive 1,214-room hotel on the riverfront underwent a $25 million renovation last year, including an expanded health club, new lobby, guest rooms and popular executive club lounge, along wth new family rooms with two double beds and a twin sleeper chair to accommodate a family of five. Special amenities include a complimentary in-room movie, complimentary breakfast for two kids and traditional Chicago candies and snacks waiting in your room. With a plethora of room types and 57 suites, this is a great destination for a large gathering.
It’s also the only hotel in Chicago with outdoor event space directly in the Chicago River Esplanade, including river gates allowing for a dramatic entrance by boat. Indian weddings are a specialty. With more than 1250,000 square feet of event space , the hotel can accommodate 1,000 guests and has experience hosting Ganesha Puja and Mehndi ceremonies. 310 E. North Water St., 312-464-1000, sheratonchicago.com
CONRAD CHICAGO
Smart, modern and demurely glamorous, the Conrad Chicago is the newest opening of all. Pierre-Yves Rochor and Puccini Group have transformed this former office building into a sleek new hotel with 287 rooms and 24 suites just tips from the Magnificent Mile. Mid-century modern artwork by Joseph Albers and Frank Stella accent warm beach wood, and minimalist bathrooms boast freestanding marble tubs with impressive views. Ascend from the ground level atrium to the 20th floor and view the delicate bone china and gold leaves hanging form the two-story sky lobby. Even meeting rooms have stunning 360-degree views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan.
Three restaurant’s helmed by celebrity chef Richard Sandoval include ground-floor Italian café II Tavolino and Baptiste & Bottle, featuring approachable Midwestern cuisine and i bourbon-centric beverage program. Next summer, guests will be able to enjoy sushi and sashimi the rooftop Japanese restaurant too.
THE PENNINSULA
This past June, The Peninsula competed a yearlong guest room redesign of all 331 guest rooms and suites, incorptaing the brand’s proprietary technology and new furnishing’s. The LED touchscreen will panels are remarkably intuitive and now a mobile conceiver is just a text message away. A delicate hand-embroidered silk chrysanthemum art will is the crown jewel in each suite, and it’s impossible not to feel at home on the rich leather couches, surrounded by new darker wood paneling and lush fabrics. The Peninsula has also expanded its Keys to the City Program, offering special access to 15 different Chicago attractions and experiences, like a private kitchen at our at Grace restaurant. 108 Superior St., 312-337-2888, chicago. peninsula.com
THE GWEN
The former Conrad Chicago, adjacent to The Shops at North Bridge, had been rebranded as a Starwood “Luxury Collection” property. The hotel is named after Chicago-born sculptor Gwen Lux, with a similar abstract aesthetic to Hilton’s LondonHouse property across the river, with a bold material, color and lines. 521 N. Rush St., 312-645-1500, thegwenchicago.com
THE VILLAS AT GRAND GENEVA RESORT & SPA
We know, this isn’t exactly in Chicago, but if you want a close escape where you can enjoy the best in winter and summer outdoor activities as well as guest restaurants, shopping, salons and spas, a short drive to Lake Geneva is all it takes. At the soon-to-be-completed villas (the first half open in March 2017, the remaining in June) at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, you can enjoy all the amenities of a top-notch city hotel and then some – each villa boasts a full kitchen, fireplace, flat-screen TV’s, washer and dryer and upscale furnishings. 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, 800-558-3417, grandgeneva.com
