Hotel Sax: Stylish Digs near House of Blues and Magnificent Mile

Chicago’s River North neighborhood was once lined with factories and warehouses; today, it’s studded with art-deco buildings and the country’s largest cluster of art galleries—second only to Manhattan. One of the area’s most iconic landmarks is Marina City, a pair of cylindrical high-rises that resemble corncobs; they’ve been featured in The Blues Brothers, The Dark Knight, and the album cover of Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The stylish Hotel Sax is part of the one-block Marina City complex and sits within walking distance of famous steak houses, live music at the House of Blues, and designer-clothing stores on the Magnificent Mile.

Glossy Italian marble floors and flickering candelabras in Hotel Sax’s lobby set the tone for the hotel’s upscale aesthetic. After the sun sets, head down to the onsite Crimson Lounge, which resembles a Victorian parlor, complete with gold-framed portraits, oriental rugs, and button-backed boudoir furniture in a deep burgundy and mauve. Despite the old-fashioned decor, the vibe here is hardly subdued: well past midnight, DJs spin tunes and bartenders craft cocktails infused with exotic ingredients including fresh cilantro, agave nectar, and hibiscus syrup. If you want the royal treatment, head to the VIP lounge, where you can order bottle service and sip Dom Perignon behind a cloak of velvet curtains.

If you get a chance, stop by Bin 36, the onsite wine store. It hosts tastings and has a menu with more than 50 artisan cheeses.

In the guest suites, crushed-velvet throw pillows are piled on pillow-top king beds with padded headboards. Each room is outfitted with 42-inch LCD TVs, and the studio king room has an additional sleeper sofa.

Chicago's Loop: Historic Commercial Center with World-Class Museums and Parks

Hotel Sax is situated just north of the Loop, Chicago's historic commercial center and the country’s second-largest business district. Skyscrapers loom large, including the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the Chicago Board of Trade. This part of town is also home to award-winning waterfront parks, a glitzy theater district, and some of the world’s finest art collections.

About a mile from the hotel you can find the Art Institute of Chicago. There's a gargantuan collection of masterpiece works here, everything from marble busts and sarcophagi to modern masterpieces such as Edward Hopper's Nighthawks and Grant Wood's American Gothic. The Loop itself is also lined with a spectacular array of public art, including outdoor sculptures from Picasso and Joan Miro, and pointillist hopscotch grids.

Grant Park, known affectionately as "Chicago's front yard," occupies more than 300 acres along the lake. Modeled after the gardens at Versailles, the park is dotted with several impressive attractions, including Buckingham Fountain, The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium.

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