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Hotel at a Glance: 3.5-Star Hotel near Shopping in Chicago

Chicago’s skyline is marked by distinctive architecture, from the Willis Tower skyscraper to the corncob-esque duo that make up the Marina City complex. Perched along the riverfront, the hotel affords views of many of the city’s most famous buildings. Guests can take in the scenery while sipping seasonal cocktails and local craft beers in the hotel’s 15th-floor cocktail lounge.

• Redesigned digs are equipped with free WiFi, and many rooms overlook the city or the river.
• Upscale comfort food: Traditional pot pie gets an upgrade with lobster at the onsite cafe.
• Best places to warm up: the heated indoor pool and the sauna
• A shopper’s dream: The hotel is less than a mile from State Street, which has department stores like Macy’s, and Michigan Avenue, which is lined with designer boutiques including Chanel.

Chicago’s River North: World-Class Art Galleries, Restaurants, and Nightlife near Downtown

Bordering the Loop on the northern side of the Chicago River, the River North neighborhood is where the skyscrapers of downtown give way to the award-winning restaurants and trendy nightspots of the North Side. Once an industrial area, River North is today home to architectural gems—the Jenga-like Contemporaine residential building on Wells Street is a good example—as well as eateries to suit every appetite and budget.

Dining options range from inventive Peruvian cuisine at Tanta Restaurant to Chicago classics such as Portillo’s. At Eataly, you could spend a full week working your way through the Italian offerings at 23 separate restaurants and food stalls.

In addition to its formidable culinary presence, River North boasts the country’s largest concentration of art galleries outside of Manhattan. Born around the same time that Jim Nutt and other Chicago Imagists rose to prominence, the River North Gallery District runs along Chicago, Superior and Huron Streets, occupying century-old, red brick warehouses that have been converted into lofts and exhibition spaces.

Amid River North’s restaurants, condos, nightclubs, and galleries, you’ll also find the leaders of Chicago’s rapidly growing tech sector. Among the companies that have offices here: Google, a gaggle of digital startups at the 1871 co-working space, and, yes, Groupon (we’re in the old Montgomery Ward building, where the mail-order catalog was born).

You can easily travel beyond River North using Chicago’s public transportation system, which is one of the best in the nation. Check out our guide to Chicago public transportation for helpful tips on navigating the city like a local.

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