Hi all,
I'm planning a trip to Chicago in late September, will be staying first four nights in hotel, then three nights with friends. I'm looking for a hotel within 15 minute walking distance to the Chicago Art Institute, hoping to fulfill a long held fantasy of being able to "drop in" (I'll buy membership) any time I want for as short and as long as I want. I'd also like charm, quiet restaurant in hotel, if possible room service, but not necessary. There is a charming reasonable Hyatt (Lincoln Park?) 3 miles away, but not close enough. The Athletic Club looks VERY masculine and quite expensive, Silversmith Hotel I can't tell from website if it would be lovely or somewhat weird and cold in terms of decor; I like both contemporary and older styles. It's my tentative plan at the moment.


All suggestions welcome, thanks much.

Why not consider the Blackstone, it seems like what you want.

As a preface, just know that on weekends, there will be crowds on Michigan Ave. around Millenium Park/Art Institute. Especially on the west side sidewalks of Michigan Ave. If the ideal is a less-crowded, prettier walk to/from the museum on those 4 days, then walking on the EAST side of Michigan Ave. from the Blackstone, would give you a nice experience. The Blackstone has a gorgeous, historic lobby, with that Al Capone barber in the basement. The Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan) would also be a pretty, more "back in time" walk to the Art Institute. (The Congress Hotel and Le Meridian Essex are in that area, and used to get bad reviews--I'd check tripadvisor and Google reviews, which goes for all hotels.) But in those areas, you are farther away from other conveniences.

For a walkable location, my recco would be the classic Palmer House Hilton, which you could enter/exit from either Wabash or State. You cross Wabash under the el tracks, and view the great old buildings of jeweler's row, and then the wider Michigan Ave. unfurls as your walk on Monroe. Or the StayPineapple Hotel. Plus, this area is far more convenient to restaurants and coffeeshops, and buses to take you north to River North/Gold Coast. Again, these hotels are in the loop, so bustling. And if you add a night of theater at the Goodman, or at the Chicago Theater, or a Broadway in Chicago offering, you can walk easily to the hotel.

There's a whole slew of hotels at Michigan and Wacker, but know these sidewalks will be crowded. You may get a really lovely river view or skyline view, though. And very close to an architecture boat tour.

If you wouldn't mind popping on to the frequent 151 Sheridan bus on Michigan Ave to go to/from the museum, and for a nicer, out the door experience, I'd look at North Michigan Ave/Gold Coast. The Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile feels really nice to me, in and out the door. Or the Thompson Chicago. The Ambassador Gold Coast has the historic Pump Room, and would offer nice Gold Coast Walks.

Do you have an idea of what you want to spend on hotels? September is still a busy month in Chicago for conventions, concerts, etc. and hotel rates can be incredibly expensive. I live in Lincoln Park, and there are some nicer neighborhood hotels up here, and the park, but you're on the buses to/from the museum. Which to me, would be nice.

Post back with questions! Have fun planning.

Also, if you were speaking of the Hotel Lincoln - JDV by Hyatt, it's fine and more of a neighborhood hotel. There are restaurants on Wells nearby. To get to the museum though, for a better experience, I'd walk through the park to catch the 151 Sheridan Bus at Stockton X Lasalle rather than catch the 36/22 Bus outside the hotel door (though that's an option to get back to hotel more quickly.) Also, if you're willing to stay in Lincoln Park, you may also want to look at the Willows Hotel on Surf, which is more north, but also in a convenient area for restaurants, and the Sheridan Bus. This is a neighborhood hotel, though. You will not feel much like a tourist here.

ChgoGal has provided terrific info. I'll just add that I've stayed at the StayPineapple and it was an easy walk to the Art Institute. Enjoyed my stay there - good food (was also close to El stop from the airport)

Have fun in my hometown! Have you been to Chicago before?

How fun to pursue your exploration of the Art Institute. It is great you are going to become a member. It is closed on Tuesday, but every other day it opens at 11am with members allowed in at 10am. I don't really like staying south of the river, but if you really want to visit the Art Institute a few times a day, I think The Palmer House is the best choice. I don't think there is anywhere within 15 minutes that could be called charming or quiet.

We have a condo near Hotel Lincoln and it is a pretty area right on the park, with a some nice restaurants at various price points, within walking distance. If nothing else, go for a casual lunch Friday, Saturday or Sunday at the Hotel Lincoln rooftop, J Parker for the gorgeous views. And ChgoGal's great recommendation (among many) to ride the 151 bus up there will give you some beautiful views. I also like the suggestion of the Ambassador, it is in a nice area with some beautiful old Chicago mansions and some restaurants nearby.

What else do you want to do there? Are your friends in an outlying area or will you do more Chicago with them? The Architectural Boat Tour is great and if you are a foodie, the Fulton Market area has endless fantastic choices. Enjoy!

I've stayed at the Blackstone and agree with Christina--it would appear to tick all your boxes.

Thanks,, this is very helpful. I'll go look up the Blackstone, which sounds lovely, but I really do want something easily walkable. I have a psychotherapist friend whose office was close to the Art Institute and she used to sometimes spend her lunch hour looking at only one painting, which sounds like heaven to me. This is my attempt to have a tasting sample of that experience. I'll arrive at hotel Tues, checking out Sat, so crowds shouldn't be be too bad. The hotel I've liked best was recommended by a friend who I'll be staying with, The Hyatt Lincoln (Park). Lovely decor, moderate prices but not close enough to my fantasy dream. My husband and I stayed once in the Omni Gold Coast (an old famous hotel) which we liked very much. Could that now be the Ambassador?

The Art Institute is amazing and I love your plan to spend as much time as you can there. Unfortunately, it's not open 24/7 ... so I'll second coral22's recommendation to take one of the architectural boat tours. Usually about an hour IIRC, it really is a pleasant way to see the some of Chicago's amazing architecture.

Hi,
And as someone who grew up in a suburb of Detroit, I envy you your hometown. I'd been once in college with a roommate for Thanksgiving, but didn't see the city, and have really only been twice with my husband, once when he was sent to Gary, Indiana to make a software installation and all his colleagues teased him about finally going to America (we SF Bay Area, he born and raised in Italy). I just wrote another poster extolling the Lincoln Hotel before I read this. I really like both the decor and the prices; it's close to where the friend I'll spend my last three days with.

I knew that about the Art Institute, a benefit of membership no longer offered at the MOMA or the Met in New York. I want the option of visiting several times a day or not depending on daily wishes and moods. I'll arrive Tuesday night equipped with walking guide, be pretty much on my own for Wed, Thur, and maybe Friday, then on to my friend (who will be returning from a trip) on Saturday. I assume I'll do more Chicago with them, but would welcome suggestions. We did Frommer's walks in early 2000 maybe (=then came back in fall of 2001 to ward off potential flying phobia, loved the Gold Coast neighborhood. We also went on the Architecttural boat tour that autumn which I could do again. I'm not a foodie, but love long lunches as major meal. There's an exhibit I really want to see at the Art Institute, will try to get there early Wed morning or end of day, take that day slowly but do something. I want that first day to be "easy" but not empty. The 151 bus could be good --I haven't used public transportation except the ferry because of immune problems, but am getting braver and can always mask.

Thanks again.

Not feeling like a tourist is always an advantage!

Thanks, I believe I will be staying in Lincoln Park area when I join my friend who lives there for 3 days on Saturday.

Thank you. Could your "name" be familiar from our 2008 3 week koyo Japan trip, for which this forum was invaluable?

In addition to the Art Institute and architectural boat tour, my favorites in Chicago include:

• the Shedd Aquarium, including its oceanarium;
• the stained glass domes of the Chicago Cultural Center; and
• strolling / people watching in Millenium Park.

Have fun!

Thanks, everybody--this was SO helpful. I'm going to cancel my reservation at the Silverstone. I've now made reservations at both the Palmer House and the Blackstone; I'll probably do the Blackstone--I like the rooms much better and .4, miles 11 minute walk sounds fine, though of course just a number of feet is better. I'm hoping to have enough points with my credit card to defer at least some of the cost by then.

I have one question. I tentatively reserved the Club floor at the Blackstone, which would be $75 a night more ($300 in all) than the Palmer (don't remember price of nonClub floor. It provides continental breakfast and snacks. I thought that if I have full lunch out, that could be breakfast and dinner, and that also it might provide brief chatting company, which could be an advantage since I will be traveling alone, which I've only done in Genoa (my husband's home town, a familiar hotel, also friends) and Yosemite since I've been on my own. Does this seem like good reasoning or foolish spending? I have little familiarity with club floors--once we were gifted one because the receptionist liked my husband's access, but we don't usually stay in chain hotels.

I'm really pleased because the Hyatt Athletic seemed expensive and very masculine, the Silversmith risky in terms of decor, and the Palmer rooms okay only at premium level (which I did). Since the standard price of Yosemite Lodge (not gorgeous Ahwahnee) is now $350, price seemed okay because my traveling years are coming to an end and for whatever reason, hotels matter to me. If not for museum access, I would have chosen the Lincoln.

For any of you who live in Chicago, I highly recommend the upcoming Caillebotte exhibit, which I've seen both in Paris (mob scene even during the week 3/4 through its stay) and at the Getty in LA (almost empty on weekday morning). I'm hoping it is not so publicized in your city as it was in Europe.

The Caillebotte exhibit does look wonderful! Not a lot of advertising for this, as far as I can tell. And the Omni Hotel isn't the AMbassador; The Omni is right on the Mag Mile around 700 North or so, and the Ambassador is in the Gold Coast neighborhood around 1200 North.

The more I think of this, the less I think the Blackstone would be the place to pop in/pop out. Were I to walk back after a morning sightseeing/museum-going and a lunch somewhere, I may not be inclined to go back out. (One of my grocery stores is .4 miles away and another .1 mile, and that's what I was thinking about, and repeating that walk more than once/day would be boring/possibly tiring to me.) I feel the Palmer House, in one of their nicer rooms (as their reviews are a bit up/down) would be a better choice. It's SO close to many places a local or a tourist would want to go. You can grab breakfast at the nearby Goddess and the Baker, or Beatrix Market, or even grab a coffee/pastry at the Stan's Donuts or Starbucks, and picnic in Millenium Park or one of the Art Institute's gardens. The South Gardens are my absolute favorite, but they're not always open.

With 3 full days before seeing your friend, I can imagine you spending a half-day at the museum, having a rest at the member's cafe with that pretty view, more museum, then having lunch at the Gage, or Cindy's, or The Dearborn. (Keep an eye on the restaurant space at Randolph X Michigan where the Esta Loca Restaurant is "temporarily closed." This is a restaurant space with a great view, but there have been several restaurants open and close here in recent years, for some reason.)

Consider catching a Wed. matinee or evening performance of Ashland Avenue at the Goodman, or seeing what's playing at The Chicago Theater or at one of the Broadway in Chicago houses in the evenings. (I wouldn't ever pay full price, though, as a single ticket should be available as a day-of rush ticket. That way you can play it by ear, for your energy level any particular day. Yesterday, my mother and I saw the Tina Turner musical with great seats by walking up to buy day-of.) And of course, there's the Joffrey Ballet or Lyric Opera, or Drunk Shakespeare, or Second City. The Roosevelt Auditorium also brings in wonderful performances. Perhaps when you meet up with your friend, you can catch a play at A Red Orchid or Steppenwolf, and have a nice dinner at Boka or Old Town. The Farmer's Market in Lincoln Park may still be on when you visit, and that's on Saturdays and Wednesdays. And then there's the zoo, and the pretty Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Sounds like you already know Chicago architecture is wonderful in the loop and along the river, as you've done tours already. I love the loop buildings and sculptures, like the Picasso at Daley Plaza, or the Chagall's Four Seasons, or Flamingo by Calder. Or you can visit some of the historic lobbies, and just do a walking tour to see some great buildings. Another way to see the city might be to ride the brown line elevated train from Adams X Wabash north (toward Kimball) to the Armitage stop, walk east on Armitage and see the cute shops, past the original Charlie Trotter's, and have lunch/dinner around Halsted X Armitage at Summer House, or if you like tapas Cafe Baba reeba, and then take the brown line back south (to Loop) to Adams X Wabash.

Not sure how active you are or want to be those days, but having a ventra card will let you take the Michigan Ave buses north and south along that street to go north of the river toward Oak Street Beach, which could be nice to see. Plus, bringing you along the Magnificent Mile shops and Gold Coast. Taxis aren't easy to flag down, so if you're comfortable using Lyft or Uber, or a taxi app, that is recommended. (I like Lyft better in CHicago.) Buses can be packed during work commute times, and weekends, but usually not too bad in those off-peak times.

Post back with questions!

Hi CgoGal,
You made a really good point about the difference in distance because popping in and out on whim is exactly what I want. But I looked at Palmer House rooms again, don't like the standard and, while the Premium (which I'd reserved) is better, I'm not sure about it either. Also there were many negative reviews about the hotel experience itself. I looked again at the Athletic Club, but the rooms are super masculine (and more expensive). The Silversmith looks kind of cold and a number of reviews mention noise of the El.

This may be a can't have your cake and eat it too situation, I will sleep on it for a few days.

Thanks also for the suggestions about things to do--really helpful--I'll look at them more closely after I settle the "where" question in my head.

I wonder ... While I love your idea of being close enough to the Art Institute to pop in and out, if the hotels you are finding at a reasonable distance don't sit right with you, is it time to re-think location a bit? There's a LOT to see and do near the Art Institute, so you could, perhaps, pop in and out quite enjoyably even if the "out" times don't involve a return to your hotel. As one example, I find the Millenium Park a great place to roam or sit or people watch, and it's adjacent to the museum. Maybe ease of access is more important than physical proximity? Just a thought!

I have to say that I am not thrilled with the Blackstone location, there is not much around. Their club floor offering for a continental breakfast for $75, is not very enticing. I can see going back and forth from there could get tiresome after awhile. Maybe a good place to meet people to chat with would be the Member's lounge at the Art Institute? If you are going to be 15 minutes (5-10 even better) away from the Art Institute I would go north of it. And the Member's entrance is on the north side of the building, so that cuts down a little bit more of the walk. Having, said that, I have never stayed in that area, so I have nothing to recommend. It sounds like you are disappointed in some of the room choices, but since you will be out and about all day, maybe location is what to prioritize? Does your friend have other suggestions?

I think it might be worthwhile to go to Marshall Fields (ok, Macy's if you must) to the Walnut Room for lunch. It is very old school and one of the first restaurants in a department store in the country. It dates back to 1907, and, is not trendy but you get a feel for the experience of the First Ladies who lunch. The halls outside of it are lined with pictures of its history, and the world leaders, presidents and celebrities who visited there. Also, it showcases fashions from different eras. You should see the Tiffany mosaic ceiling from a top floor, and visit the area on the first floor where you can see all the way up all 8 floors and appreciate the architecture. The store itself has gotten a little shabby, but the historical aspects are still interesting.

I love ChgoGals recommendation to get on the Brown line, and go to Armitage. I love those cute shops and her restaurant suggestions, I also love Maison Parisienne.

Also, one day I might go to the Art Institute in the morning, hop on the same Brown line and go to The Kitchen for lunch, for its fun menu and beautiful river view. Then get on the Architectural boat tour, which you board nearby. Another day, hop on the bus and go to Beatrix on Clark Street for lunch. Also a walk along the lakefront is always refreshing.

I am sure your friend in Lincoln Park knows all the great restaurant spots, but we absolutely love Gemini. And the Farmer's Market on Wednesday and Saturday which operates this year until November 22.

I would definitely get the disposable 3 day pass for the CTA for $15. You can get it at the airport. What airport are you coming into? Either one has an easy train into the city, but I wouldn't use it alone after the evening rush hour. Enjoy!

Hi Coral,
You, Chgo gal, and KJA are all correct; I just need to decide which way to go with. I actually care about actual rooms and tend to spend a fair amount of time in them. They don't always have to be gorgeous; we had a chain of choice for road trips (Best Western), usually satisfying; for National Parks I tend to search repeatedly for cancellations to old history (and expensive hotels). I won't be out and about all day, I'll be back and forth, good reasoning both for closer in and a room I can feel pleasantly neutral about.


Will keep working. The Palmer gets a fair number of bad reviews about everything, only some of which I care about. Silversmith, Blackstone, Hyatt Athletic Club (pricey and Very Masculine rooms) all get good reviews for service, food, etc. Any additional feedback welcome.

Thanks also for suggestion about North of the Museum; I will immediately ask Perplexity how that translates into specific hotels. Someone asked which airport. I'll be flying SW Oakland, CA to Midway. Not my first choice but free. Used points to get 1-15 space in line (if they haven't already changed.

The hotel I like overall best is my friend's recommendation, the Lincoln--nice rooms, good prices, near parks. But too far from the museum. It's the only hotel she knows of (also has stayed in). I think that she and her husband often host guests.