Where to Stay - Chicago 2005 - page 88

The city's tallest hotel, the Four Seasons occupies a rarefied aerie between the
30th and 46th floors above the Mag Mile's most upscale vertical mall. The ele-
gant rooms have English furnishings, custom-woven carpets and tapestries, and
dark-wood armoires. Each has windows that open to let in the fresh air. Bath-
rooms boast such indulgences as a lighted makeup mirror, oversize towels and
robes, scales, and Bulgari toiletries. Kid-friendly services include little robes, bal-
loon animals, Nintendo, a special room-service menu, and milk and cookies.
The hotel's elegant fitness center and spa exude the same upscale, old-money feel
as the rest of the public areas. An 18-foot-high white marble fountain marks the
entrance to the opulent Seasons Restaurant.
120 E. Delaware Place (at Michigan Ave.), Chicago, IL 60611. & 800/332-3442 or 312/280-8800. Fax 312/
280-1748. www.fourseasons.com. 343 units. $435-$535 double; $585-$3,500 suite; weekend rates from
$305. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $36 with in/out privileges; self-parking $26. Subway/El: Red Line to
Chicago/State. Pets accepted. Amenities: 2 restaurants (New American, cafe); lounge; indoor pool; fitness
center and spa; concierge; business center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; 24-hr. dry clean-
ing. In room: A/C, TV w/VCR and pay movies, high-speed Internet access, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
Park Hyatt Chicago For those in search of chic modern luxury, the
Park Hyatt is the coolest hotel in town (as long as money is no object). The
building occupies one of the most desirable spots on North Michigan Avenue
and the best rooms are those that face east, overlooking the bustle of the Mag
Mile and the lake in the distance.
Luxury might be the watchword here, but the look is anything but stuffy: The
lobby feels like a sleek modern art gallery. German painter Gerhard Richter's
Piazza del Duomo Milan masterpiece is the visual centerpiece of the space, pro-
viding ample evidence of what visual treats lie in store for guests. Rooms feature
Eames and Mies van der Rohe reproduction furniture and window banquettes
with stunning city views (the windows actually open). The comfortable beds are
well appointed with several plush pillows. While most hotels might provide a
TV and VCR, this is the kind of place where you get a DVD player and
flatscreen TV. The bathrooms are especially wonderful: Slide back the cherry-
wood wall for views of the city while you soak in the tub.
NoMI, a restaurant nestled on the seventh floor overlooking Water Tower
Square and the Museum of Contemporary Art, serves French-inspired cuisine
and features an Architectural Digest -worthy interior by New York-based designer
Tony Chi; the place has gotten stellar reviews, but be prepared for fairly small
portions at expense-account prices.
800 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. & 800/233-1234 or 312/335-1234. Fax [phone]. www.
hyatt.com. 203 units. $375-$425 double; $695-$3,000 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $36 with
in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State. Amenities: Restaurant (French/American); lounge;
indoor pool; health club with Jacuzzi and spa; concierge; business center with computer technical support;
24-hr. room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; 24-hr. dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV w/DVD player
and pay movies, CD player, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
The Peninsula Chicago Do believe the hype. The first Midwest loca-
tion from the luxury Peninsula hotel group promised to wow us, and it does not
disappoint. Taking design cues from the chain's flagship Hong Kong hotel, the
Peninsula Chicago mixes an Art Deco sensibility with modern, top-of-the-line
amenities. Service is practically a religion; every staff member I passed here made
a point of greeting me, and the well-equipped business center can provide admin-
istrative assistants to handle everything from Internet searches to dictation.
Rooms are average in size (the “junior suites” are fairly small, with living
rooms that can comfortably seat only about four people). But the hotel's