Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Best Health Club:
The fitness
center and spa at
The Peninsula,
108 E. Superior St. (
&
866/288-
8889
), offer the latest workouts
and skin treatments in a sparkling
new setting; afterwards, you can
relax on the outdoor sun deck or
take a dip in the pool with stun-
ning city views. See p. 92.
•
Best Hotel Pool:
With its dazzling
all-tile junior Olympic-size pool
constructed in 1929, the
Hotel
Inter-Continental Chicago,
505
N. Michigan Ave. (
&
800/327-
0200
), takes this award easily. See
p. 94.
•
Best for Travelers with Disabili-
ties: The Omni Ambassador
East,
1301 N. State Pkwy.
(
&
800/843-6664); the
Four Sea-
sons,
120 E. Delaware Place
(
&
800/332-3442); and
Fair-
mont Hotel,
200 N. Columbus
Dr. (
&
800/526-2008), go the
extra distance for guests with spe-
cial needs, also providing high-
tech accessories for those who are
hearing- and vision-impaired. See
p. 102, 91, and 83, respectively.
the Hard Rock Cafe—should keep
junior happy, too. See p. 100.
•
Best Value:
Alas, Chicago hotel
prices keep surging. For the best
combination of decent rates and
excellent location, try the
Red
Roof Inn,
162 E. Ontario St.
(
&
800/733-7663
), or the
Hamp-
ton Inn & Suites,
33 W. Illinois
St. (
&
800/HAMPTON
)—the
latter getting bonus points for hav-
ing a pool. See p. 99 and 101,
respectively.
•
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Hotels:
The
City Suites Hotel,
933 W.
Belmont Ave. (
&
800/248-
9108
), and the
Majestic Hotel,
528 W. Brompton St. (
&
800/
727-5108
), located in residential
North Side neighborhoods, are
uniquely designed, cheap, and con-
venient to public transportation.
See p. 104 and 104, respectively.
•
Best Location:
Most visitors will
be more than happy with the loca-
tion of any hotel on the Magnifi-
cent Mile of North Michigan
Avenue. See “Near North & the
Magnificent Mile,” beginning on
p. 91.
3 Best Dining Bets
Yes, we Chicagoans do eat plenty of
deep-dish pizza, but we don't stop
there. Chicago is home to an ever-
expanding galaxy of sophisticated
restaurants whose kitchens are ener-
gized by culinary stars. The average
dinner price has risen accordingly, but
if you're willing to splurge, you can
experience one-of-a-kind meals from
some of the top chefs in the country.
Budget-minded diners can take refuge
at a variety of fine ethnic restaurants,
where a satisfying meal won't break the
bank. For details on these and other
terrific restaurants, see chapter 7.
•
Best Spot for a Romantic Din-
ner:
Secluded
North Pond,
2610
N. Cannon Dr. (
&
5845
), is an Arts and Crafts-
styled retreat with a postcard-per-
fect setting in Lincoln Park. Not
only does it boast a dramatic vista
of the Gold Coast skyline, but the
restaurant's out-of-the-way locale
also requires diners to begin and
end their meal with an idyllic
stroll through the park. For charm
on a much lower budget, try
Cyrano's Bistrot & Wine Bar,
526 N. Wells St. (
&
312/467-
0546
), a cozy spot that will make
you feel like you've jetted off to
the romantic City of Love. See
p. 152 and 146, respectively.
•
Best Spot for a Business Lunch:
A millennial take on the classic
773/477-
