Family-Friendly Accommodations - Chicago with Kids - page 85

hotel's other restaurants, including The Avenue and Shanghai Terrace, do offer
children's menus, but I'd recommend that the meal be an adults-only affair.
108 E. Superior St. (at Michigan Ave.), Chicago, IL 60611. & 866/288-8889 or 312/337-2888. Fax 312/751-
2888. www.chicago.peninsula.com. 339 units. $445-$455 double; $500-$4,500 suite. Kids 17 and under stay
free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $36 with in/out privileges.
Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State. Pets accepted. Amenities: 4 restaurants (seafood, Asian, Continental,
and European bakery); bar; indoor pool with outdoor deck; fitness center; spa; hot tub; sauna; concierge; busi-
ness center; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning. In
room: A/C, TV w/pay movies (VCRs and DVD players upon request), fax, dataport, minibar, fridge (upon
request), hair dryer, safe.
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago Perched high atop Water Tower Place, the
Ritz-Carlton casts a soothing presence on guests as they're deposited into the
airy 12th-floor lobby. Not surprisingly, the quality of the accommodations is of
the highest caliber. The standard rooms have traditional furnishings; suites are
especially suited to families, with an additional living area furnished with a sofa
and chair, a writing desk, a second TV and VCR, and a stereo. Lake views cost
more but are spectacular (although in all the rooms, you're up high enough that
you're not staring into surrounding condominium buildings). Families will find
this luxury crash pad quite welcoming: Every child receives a gift and can bor-
row toys and games from a stash kept by the concierge. Video games are avail-
able, and kids' food can be delivered by room service 24 hours a day. Teenagers
receive a special gift pack upon arrival.
Guests staying in Premier Suites are treated to a gratis wardrobe pressing upon
arrival, personalized stationery, Bulgari toiletries, and fresh flowers. Service is the
Ritz-Carlton's selling point, whether it's the “compcierge” who helps guests with
computer problems or the “allergy-sensitive” rooms that are cleaned with special
nonirritating products and come stocked with nonfeather duvets and pillows,
plus hypoallergenic bath products on request.
Whether or not you stay here, the Ritz-Carlton is an elegant place for after-
noon tea, served at 2:30 and 4:30pm in the lobby. At one end of the lobby is the
Greenhouse restaurant, designed with a glass roof and wall that seems to jut out
over the city. The hotel's gastronomic claim to fame is The Dining Room, one
of Chicago's finest, serving French cuisine under the direction of acclaimed chef
Sarah Stegner. The hotel's excellent Sunday brunch includes a special buffet for
children replete with M&Ms, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and
peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches.
160 E. Pearson St., Chicago, IL 60611. & 800/621-6906 or 312/266-1000. Fax [phone]. www.four
seasons.com/chicagorc. 435 units. $395-$535 double; $545-$4,000 suite. Weekend rates from $310. Kids
under 18 stay free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $36 with
in/out privileges; self-parking $26 with no in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State. Pets
accepted. Amenities: 4 restaurants; 2 lounges; indoor pool; health club w/spa, hot tub, and sauna; concierge;
business center; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning;
premier suites. In room: A/C, TV w//VCR and pay movies, fax, dataport, minibar, hair dryer.
Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Whether or not you stay here, you'll
quickly spot the Sofitel, thanks to its striking white stone-and-glass facade and
geometric shape: A narrow prism tower rising from a square base. Located 1
block west of the Magnificent Mile, the Sofitel doesn't cater specifically to fam-
ilies, but service is so accommodating that you and your kids will be made to
feel right at home. The interior is stylish, with a funky, modern flair and color
combos that stray far from the traditional, with deep purples and reds combin-
ing with black and white graphics. The place has a whimsical air that will appeal
to kids: Luminescent floor tiles in the lobby change color in a never-ending light