This year’s EXPO Chicago is expected to reveal much for its art-goers. If you’re among the lucky many to discover this year’s fifth edition, check out our top places to stay to make your trip even better. And if you’re in need of any other recommendations or information regarding open exhibitions, restaurants, or events, check out our Whitewaller app, available for free on iTunes.
PUBLIC
PUBLIC, conceived by Ian Schrager, is an innovative, personalized, and empathetic hotel that offers 285 spacious rooms with updated functionality at an affordable price point. The hotel offers reimagined ideas and updated amenities, including the Library Lounge—with cocktails like Passion Chili Whiskey Fizz, Ginger Margarita, and Sour Cherry Old Fashioned—and the Pump Room—a hip dining option led by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, with famed dishes like Faroe Island Salmon Sashimi, Kale Salad, and Organic Fried Chicken.
Courtesy of The Peninsula Chicago.
Whitewaller Recommends: Check out their special offers, such as: Summer Suite Spot, where you can book any loft, one bedroom suite, or celebrity suite and receive a $50 credit for food and beverage; Breakfast in Bed, which delivers a breakfast for two people; Drive in, Stay Public—a deal that allows your complimentary overnight valet parking if you stay Sundays-Thursdays; Advance Purchase rates; and a Locals Only rate.
The Langham Chicago
In September 2013, The Langham opened as s 316-room hotel within the last office building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The hotel spans over 52 floors within the landmark property, which was first home to IBM’s national headquarters in 1971. As the fourth U.S. development of Langham Hospitality Group, the hotel is committed to being a purpose-driven space within a heritage building, offering amenities like a Club Lounge, the Chuan Spa, and a banquet space with a fine art collection.
Courtesy of Soho House Chicago.
Whitewaller Recommends: Be sure to check out their afternoon tea session, stop by the Club Lounge for butler service, and the Chuan Spa for their treatments and principles based on Chinese medicine.
Soho House Chicago
Soho House Chicago, located in the Fulton Market district, is a hotel and member’s club from Soho House & Co.—a company originally from London. The six-story building is a reinvented space from the original Belting Factory from 1907 that offers guests and private members access to the roof and Club floor, gym, screening room, and Belt Room.
Courtesy of PUBLIC Chicago.
Whitewaller Recommends: Enjoy breathtaking views from Chicken & Farm Shop, Fox Bar, and Cowshed Spa.
Thompson Chicago
Since its opening in October 2013, Thompson Chicago has stood out with bold architecture and rich accents by acclaimed British designer Tara Bernerd. The 247-room space offers stylish facilities for a retreat just steps away from Michigan Avenue and the boutiques on Oak Street. All rooms offer views of the city skyline or Lake Michigan, and the hotel is seen harnessing handpicked, limited-edition artwork, such as: FriendsWithYou’s “Moon”; Wes Lang’s “Flying Death”; and Cynthia Daignault’s “Someone was saying the music was over and no one had noticed.”
Courtesy of The Langham Chicago.
Whitewaller Recommends: Lexus offers vehicles to guests that want to explore the city with a GPS-led driving tour. The cars are also available for transportation within a five-mile radius.
Chicago Athletic Association
The Chicago Athletic Association, across from Millennium Park, opened as a 241-room luxury boutique hotel after a two-year restoration. The thriving space, spanning over 17,000 square feet of event and meeting space, provides a multitude of lively spaces: Cindy’s, a rooftop lounge; a Game Room full of complimentary recreational sports, such as billiards, shuffleboard, and bocce ball; two stunning ballrooms on the hotel’s 8th floor; the former Athletic Association gym completely transformed into a nearly 4,500-square- foot multipurpose stadium; and Chicago’s second Shake Shack on the ground floor. As prominent sports families once founded it as an athletic association, the hotel’s sports-driven heritage continues to be celebrated while offering outstanding restaurants, ballrooms, and lounges.
Courtesy of The Drake Hotel.
Whitewaller Recommends: In partnership with the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the Chicago Athletic Association is providing guided tours to the public. Get a firsthand look at the craftsmanship behind the building’s antique public spaces, such as the Grand Staircase Lobby and the second floor’s guest lobby, the Drawing Room. Tours are offered for free to members and for $15 for non-members, and are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 AM and 2 PM.
The Peninsula Chicago
The Peninsula Chicago opened in 2001 as a luxurious 339-room hotel with over 11,250 square feet of space for guest rooms, restaurants, ballrooms, meeting and event spaces, and a 3,000 square feet Peninsula Suite with its personal 2,000 square feet private terrace and jacuzzi. The hotel also offers an array of restaurant and bar options: The Lobby, an impressive dining option lead by Chef Moosah Reaume; Shanghai Terrace, a seductive setting with an outdoor dining option during summer months, and exquisite Asian cuisine by Chef Elmo Han; Pierrot Gourment, a European-style café and wine bar with light fare by Chef Norman Hargrove; and The Bar, an elegant cocktail spot with a fireplace and light snacks.
Courtesy of Chicago Athletic Association.
Whitewaller Recommends: The Business Center offers a private office with two computer stations, and The Lobby restaurant offers Afternoon Tea and “Chocolate at The Pen,” a decadent chocolate buffet, on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The Drake Hotel
Established in 1920, the Drake is a beaux-art hotel in the Gold Coast neighborhood with 535 rooms that span over more than 30,000 square feet of functional space. Home to 74 magnificent suites, luxury retailers, exceptional restaurants and bars, and the Hildt Art Gallery, the hotel is also a member of the Historic Hotels of America.
Whitewaller Recommends:Take advantage of their group offers for meetings, banquets, and special events, and be sure to stop by the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art!
Park Hyatt Chicago
The sophisticated Park Hyatt Chicago is a sophisticated hotel full of lounges and artwork, equipped to accommodate guests for lavish weddings, group meetings, or relaxing getaways. The hotel shines with food events, cocktails at NoMI Lounge, and an indoor pool with sweeping views of the city.
Whitewaller Recommends: Take advantage of NoMI Spa—an unforgettable experience that delivers a complementing bite and beverage, and is open from 8 AM- 8 PM daily.
