Hotel Blake stands out from the ostentatious old-fashioned Chicago hotels, offering instead a more stylish option in Printers Row. The contemporary, spacious rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, earth tones with splashes of red, and black and white photos of barren tree limbs, which are a nice alternative to the forgettable landscapes that usually hang on hotel walls. For dinner, head to the hotel’s equally sophisticated Custom House restaurant, where innovative chef Shawn McClain turns out Mediterranean-influenced artisanal meat dishes.

Hotel Blake Amenities:

• 162 rooms. Complimentary High-speed Internet access. Fitness center. Spa. Business center.