DESTINATIONS THE US | CHICAGO
TRIED & TESTED
The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection: Set in the heart of downtown, this sleek boutique hotel is an excellent option for a luxury stay. Expect suave, contemporary rooms, and a bar and restaurant offering regular jazz performances. There’s even a complimentary chauffeur service on weekends for trips within a two-mile radius. A night’s room-only in a Superior King Room starts at $329.
thelasallechicago.com
HYDE PARK
WHY GO? Barack Obama’s former neighbourhood is something of a cultural gem on Chicago’s South Side. It’s the home of the University of Chicago – where the ex-president taught constitutional law for 12 years – as well as museums, parks and architectural treasures.
GOLD COAST AND MAGNIFICENT MILE
Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel: Located in a 150-year-old building near Millennium Park, Palmer House is something of an institution in Chicago – the brownie is said to have been invented there. The lavish lobby has an all-day buzz and hosts regular live music. The hotel also offers a restaurant, several cafes, a speakeasy bar, spa, pool and fitness centre. A night’s room-only in a Standard Double Room starts at $186.
hilton.com
WHY GO? One of the city’s glitziest neighbourhoods, the Gold Coast flanks Lake Michigan and is renowned for its opulent historic mansions, high-end boutiques and swanky restaurants.
WHAT TO DO Oak Street is at the heart of the neighbourhood, with its 19th-century architecture and upscale shops, while the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is well worth a visit. Take a guided tour of the geometric Charnley-Persky House, a National Historic Landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and fellow architect Louis Sullivan. The nearby Magnificent Mile is home to high-end shops, restaurants and architectural marvels such as the Chicago Water Tower (pictured).
WHAT TO DO Come hungry for Valois Restaurant, a cash-only diner said to be one of Obama’s favourite breakfast spots; then walk it off at the Japanese- style Osaka Garden, dotted with waterfalls and cherry blossom trees. Wander through to the elaborate
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (pictured) and check out the University of Chicago campus, near the site of the soon-to-open Obama Presidential Center. Then visit Unesco-listed
Robie House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous feats of architectural genius, before hopping over to neighbouring Kenwood.
² 38 13 NOVEMBER 2025
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Anthony Tahlier; Shutterstock/JMT Photography and Media, Nicholas J Klein, ezellhphotography
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