Hotel at a Glance: Amalfi Hotel Chicago

The Amalfi is a 4-star boutique hotel in Chicago's bustling River North neighborhood, set within walking distance of upscale shopping and James Beard Award–winning restaurants. Stop for a complimentary breakfast at the hotel before you head out for the day.

• Magnificent Mile: World-class shopping on Michigan Avenue is just blocks away.

• Restaurants galore: Award-winning eateries, such as Smith & Wollensky, The Purple Pig, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf, and Sunda, are within a few blocks of the hotel.

• Comfy rooms: Though River North nightlife is just outside your door, you can just as easily stay in and watch a movie from your room, which is equipped with a DVD player. DVDs are available at the front desk.

• Pajama breakfast: Every morning, a deluxe complimentary continental breakfast is served on every floor, so you can enjoy croissants and fresh fruit in your robe.

Chicago's River North: World-Class Art Galleries Steps from Historic Commercial Center

In addition to housing some of the city's trendiest restaurants and bars, River North is right near the Loop—Chicago's historic commercial center and the country’s second-largest business district. Skyscrapers loom large here, 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 and a glitzy theater district. Head to the nearby Loop's Art Institute of Chicago for its gargantuan collection of artwork, ranging from marble busts and sarcophagi to modern masterpieces such as Grant Wood's American Gothic. The Loop itself is also decorated with a spectacular array of public art, including outdoor sculptures from Picasso and Joan Miro, and pointillist hopscotch grids.

In the 1960s, Chicago artists such as Jim Nutt began creating surrealist art that rejected many of the modernist trends in New York. The group would eventually become known as the Chicago Imagists—and the artists' impact was significant enough that, ever since, Chicago has played a crucial part in the international art world. Today, the city's most concentrated cluster of galleries is in its River North neighborhood, where Amalfi Hotel Chicago is situated. Century-old, red brick warehouses now house lofty exhibition spaces, each specializing in distinct art styles ranging from modern American art to European Impressionism.

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