Where to Stay - Chicago - page 33

Hard Rock Hotel Chicago The good news: This hotel is not
located on top of the super-touristy Hard Rock Cafe (which is about
a mile or so away in River North). In fact, it is a relatively restrained
rehab of one of the city's historic skyscrapers, the 40-story Carbide
and Carbon Building. The overall theme here is music: Pop tunes
echo throughout the lobby, TV monitors show videos, and glass
cases display pop-star memorabilia. But the mix of old and new can
be somewhat jarring—the black-and-gray lobby feels like a night-
club, while the marble-and-gold-trimmed elevator bank still feels
like an office building. The guest rooms are neutral, with modern
furniture; the building's larger-than-average windows let in plenty of
natural light. The so-called Hard Rock Rooms on the corners of each
floor are larger than the standard double rooms and feature chaise
lounges for stretching out.
The lobby starts swinging after dark, when the music gets going
at the street-level bar, Base (open until 4am, it hosts live music and
DJs most nights).
230 N. Michigan Ave. (at Lake St.), Chicago, IL 60601. & 866/966-5166 or 312/345-
1000. Fax [phone]. www.hardrockhotelchicago.com. 387 units. $169-$349
double; from $1,500 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $39 with in-out privi-
leges. Subway/El: Red or Blue line to State/Lake. Amenities: Restaurant (Asian
fusion); bar; exercise room; concierge; business services; 24-hr. room service; same-
day laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV w/DVD player and video games,
free high-speed Internet access, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe, CD player.
Hotel Burnham If you're looking for a spot with a sense of
history, this is it. The historic Reliance Building—one of the first
skyscrapers ever built and a highly significant architectural treas-
ure—has been brilliantly restored as an intimate boutique hotel
named for Daniel Burnham, whose firm designed the building in
1895. The Burnham is a must for architecture buffs: Wherever pos-
sible, the restoration retained period elements—most obviously in
the hallways, with their terrazzo tile floors, white marble wainscot-
ing, mahogany door and window frames, and room numbers
painted on the translucent glass doors. Rooms are clubby but glam-
orous, with plush beds, mahogany writing desks, and chaise lounges.
The hotel's 19 suites feature a separate living-room area and CD
stereo systems. Don't come to the Burnham if you're looking for
extensive amenities—the lobby is tiny, as is the exercise room. But
the Burnham is one of Chicago's most distinctive hotels, and it's
highly recommended for visitors who want a historic location jazzed
up with a dash of colorful modern style.