Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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The hotel's restaurant, China Bar & Grill, serves Asian fusion cuisine in a high-energy
setting, and the lobby starts swinging after dark, when music gets going at the street-level
bar, Base (open until 4am, it featur es live music and DJs most nights). And because the
hotel actively courts rock bands who come thr ough town on tour, you never know who
you'll see stopping in for a drink.
230 N. Michigan Ave. (at Lake St.), Chicago , IL 60601. & 866/966-5166 or 312/345-1000. Fax 312/345-
1012. www.hardrockhotelchicago.com. 381 units. $169-$349 double; from $1,500 suite. Weekend rates
available. Kids 11 and under stay free in parent's room. No rollaways; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet
parking $39 with in/out privileges . Subway/El: Red or Blue Line t o Lake. Amenities: Restaurant; bar ;
exercise room; concierge; business services; 24-hr. room service; same-day laundry service; dry cleaning.
In room: A/C, TV w/DVD pla yer and video games , CD pla yer, free high-speed I nternet access, minibar,
coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
Hotel Burnham Here's my pick for Chicago's most distinctive hotel, one that
took a historic location and jazz ed it up with a dash of color ful modern style. This hip
hotel uses its sense of whimsy to embrace, not exclude, families. Don't come to the Burn-
ham if you're looking for extensive amenities—the lobby is tiny, as is the ex ercise room,
and there's no pool. B ut it's my top choice for families in this price categor y, provided
you book a suite, which will offer y our family plenty of space.
The result of a brilliant restoration of the historic Reliance Building—one of the first
skyscrapers ever built and a highly significant ar chitectural treasure—this intimate bou-
tique hotel (named for D aniel Burnham, whose firm designed the R eliance Building in
1895) is the wor k of the Kimpton G roup, the tr endsetting West Coast-based chain
behind the Allegro and Monaco hotels (both r eviewed later in this section). I t occupies
a prime spot in the hear t of State Street, across from Macy's (formerly Marshall Field's)
and 1 block south of the hopping N orth Loop theater district. The Burnham is a must
for architecture buffs: Wherever possible, the restoration retains period elements—most
obviously in the hallways, which r ecall the original office corridors with terrazz o tile
floors, white marble wainscoting, mahogany door and windo w frames, and r oom num-
bers painted on the translucent glass doors.
Rooms ar e clubb y but glamor ous, with plush beds, mahogany writing desks, and
chaise longues. The hotel's 19 suites featur e a separate living r oom area and CD ster eo
systems. To keep w ee ones enter tained, ask the hotel for coloring topics and cray ons,
games, and S uper Nintendo. During holidays y ou'll find special activities in the hotel
lobby, including decorating gingerbread men around Christmas and hunting for eggs at
Easter. D iaper bags, cribs, high chairs, changing tables, and mor e ar e av ailable upon
request. And ther e's a turndo wn ser vice with cookies and milk. The hotel's restaurant
offers a children's menu. Ask the concierge for special offers for tea at American Girl Place
Cafe and deals at the museums and theaters. And don 't leav e Fido at home: P ets ar e
positively welcomed here. The hotel provides pet beds, treats, food and water bowls, and
dog-walking services (and they'll even clean out your in-room kitty litter box!).
1 W. Washington (at State St.), Chicago, IL 60602. & 877/294-9712 or 312/782-1111. Fax 312/782-0899.
www.burnhamhotel.com. 122 units. $179-$299 double; $229-$399 suite. Kids 17 and under stay free in
parent's room. No r ollaways; cribs fr ee. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet park ing $40 with in/out privileges .
Subway: Red or Blue Line t o Washington/State. Pets allowed. Amenities: Restaurant; small fitness room
(and access to nearby health club); concierge; business services; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry
cleaning. In room: A/C, TV, fax, dataport, free high-speed Internet access, minibar, hair dryer, iron.
Hotel Monaco This 14-story hotel deftly manages to straddle the line betw een
fun and conser vative. The stylish decor has a funky feel that adds to the hotel 's playful
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