Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
93
151 to Michigan Ave. Bridge; walk east.
Amenities:
3 restaurants and lounges; indoor pool; health club;
sauna; business center; 24-hr. room service; massage.
In room:
A/C, TV w/video games, dataport, minibar,
coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
Talbott Hotel
Finds
The family-owned Talbott is a small, European-style gem
that's one of the city 's best small, independent hotels, and a fine choice for families.
Constructed in the 1920s as an apartment building, the Talbott was converted to a hotel
in 1989. That's great news for families, because the hotel has many suites with two bed-
rooms and two bathrooms, plus kitchen facilities. The location just off the M agnificent
Mile is superb , and it 's across the str eet from an upscale gr ocer, Goddess and G rocer,
which makes it easy to pick up snacks and drinks to stock y our kitchen. The hotel 's
wood-paneled lobby, decorated with leather sofas and v elvety armchairs, two wor king
fireplaces, tapestries, and numer ous French horns used for fo x hunts, is intimate and
inviting. Kids ' amenities ar e sparser her e than at some larger hotels, but the homey
,
nonchain hotel atmospher e, large suites, av ailability of kitchens, and prime location
make this one of my fav orites for families.
Rooms are decorated in neutral tones, with furnitur e chosen for its r esidential feel,
such as car ved wooden desks, plus E uropean linens and plasma TVs. They vary in size,
so ask when making r eservations. Suites and the hotel 's king r ooms entice with J acuzzi
tubs; suites have separate sitting areas with sofa beds and dining tables.The Talbott is not
for families in need of extensiv e hotel facilities, but the cozy atmospher e and personal
level of ser vice appeal to visitors looking for the feeling of a small inn rather than a
sprawling, corporate hotel.
20 E. Delaware Place (btw. Rush and State sts.), Chicago, IL 60611.
&
800/TALBOTT
(825-2688) or 312/
944-4970. Fax 312/944-7241. w ww.talbotthotel.com. 149 units . $169-$449 standar d kings; $260-$671
suites. Kids 17 and under stay free in parent's room. Rollaways $20/night; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Valet parking $40 with in/out privileges; self-parking $30. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State.
Ameni-
ties:
Restaurant (Italian); lounge; complimentary access to nearby health club; c oncierge; business ser-
vices; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning.
In room:
A/C; TV, high-speed and Wi-Fi Internet
access, minibar, hair dryer, iron, safe.
4
Tremont Hotel
Slightly mor e upscale than the
Talbott but with the same small,
European-style feel, the Tremont caters mainly to adults. Suites are the only realistic family
option, as most guest r ooms tend to be on the small (or shall w e say, “intimate”) side. In
fact, all rooms except the suites hav e only one bed and accommodate two people. R ooms
in the Tremont H ouse—a separate building next door—hav e kitchenettes. S uites ar e
designed so one room includes a king-size bed with its o wn television, minibar, and bath-
room. The adjoining living r oom includes a sofa bed, television, minibar , and bathr oom.
The cozy lobby with a fir eplace sets the mood fr om the start. The furnishings are tasteful
without being somber, and rooms are cheery, with yellow walls and large windows.
The steak-and-chops restaurant off the lobb y, the memorabilia-filled M ike Ditka's Res-
taurant (p. 124), is co-owned by the legendary former Chicago Bears football coach.
100 E. Chestnut St. (1 block w est of M ichigan Ave.), Chicago, IL 60611.
&
800/621-8133
or 312/751-
1900. Fax 312/751-8650. www.tremontchicago.com. 130 units. $119-$279 double; $199-$299 suite. Kids
17 and under stay free in parent's room. No rollaways (most rooms are too small); cribs free. AE, DC, DISC,
MC, V. Valet parking $40. Sub way/El: Red Line t o Chicago/State.
Amenities:
Restaurant; small ex ercise
room (and ac cess to nearby health club); c oncierge; business ser vices; massage; bab ysitting; laundr y
service; dry cleaning.
In room:
A/C, TV/VCR, CD player, high-speed Internet access, minibar, coffeemaker,
hair dryer, iron, safe.
