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Marcel Proust once wrote, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." You’ll ruminate on those words upon walking into Viceroy Chicago’s lobby and seeing the quote and others from the French ...
READ MORE about Viceroy ChicagoOur Inspector's Highlights
- This design hotel makes every detail count, from the big (that Proust poem) to the small (bold black-and-gold horizontal striped walls and graphic floors at the elevator bank).
- The surrounding neighborhood never gets boring. It’s a scene with an older crowd wining and dining at upscale staples (Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, Maple & Ash), raucous 20-somethings barhopping on Division Street and tourists flocking to witness it all over deep-dish pizza (next door at Lou Malnati’s). Bonus: it’s all close to the beach.
- A meal at Somerset is a must. The menu covers everything from chicken kebabs to ricotta cavatelli.
- Zip up to the 18th floor to Pandan, where you can sidle up to the bar for cocktails like the Red Panda (Japanese whisky, turmeric, ginger, lemon, pineapple and egg white) and bites (everything from lobster dumplings to sweet corn tempura).
- Aside from Pandan, the rooftop is a destination alone for its alfresco pool and vistas of the city and the lake.
Things to Know
- The pet-friendly hotel furnishes your pooch with a bed and water bowl. It charges a $125 pet fee for the stay.
- When the weather warms up, borrow one of the complimentary bikes to pedal the path along Lake Michigan.
- While the Gold Coast hotel doesn’t have its own spa, its partnership with nearby Exhale grants you discounts on treatments and fitness classes.
- Help yourself to the fruit-infused water in the lobby when you need a refreshment.
The Rooms
- Chaise lounges, floors-to-ceiling windows, midcentury-modern furniture and jewel tones will entice you to stay a while in the stylish room.
- We like that the Lake View rooms give you a glimpse of the waves rolling in. But for optimal views, pick the Viceroy One Bedroom Suite, whose bedroom bears two walls of windows.
- The spacious bathrooms have several different marbles, seated rain showers, CORPUS bath products and ample vanity space.
- Gold-brick headboard wallpaper pops in the space. A digital reproduction of a work produced by London artist Tim Modus, it represents Chicago’s architectural history.
The Look
- Beyond the Proust wall, the airy three-story lobby gleams with white marble and brass.
- An oversized work depicting a Venetian carnival recital by South American Cubist painter Badi hangs behind the polished brass check-in desk. Drift over to the adjacent wall to see gold-framed black-and-white photos of bygone Chicago buildings, offices and apartments.
- Graphic wood flooring, brass accents and plentiful wood make the two-story Somerset glow soft gold. Douses of color come from the pine-green banquettes and the red neon “Cedar Hotel” sign mounted on the wall.
- At Somerset, a portrait serves as a secret door to a hunter-green-filled private dining space that recalls a yacht club.
Amenities
Bar
Gym
Meeting rooms
Outdoor pool
Pet friendly
Restaurants
Getting There
Stories
