Room: 1726 — with fast Wi-Fi, a separate dressing area, large bathroom, business desk, good pod-coffee machine, even a fax machine. The room has the largest TV I've seen in a hotel, with more than 80 channels including the NFL channel, all controlled by a bedside Android tablet. That tablet also controls everything from the air-conditioning to the lighting. Of course, if you get in late like I did there's 24-hour room service and the food's fantastic (there's an 18 per cent service charge on top of the meal).
Bathroom: As big as some hotel rooms I've stayed in — a deep bath with an inset TV in the wall, an enclosed toilet, roomy shower, lots of mirrors, and a phone.
Toiletries: Oscar de la Renta.
Facilities: The hotel has a three-lane indoor lap pool on the 19th floor. It is spectacular with floor to ceiling windows and amazing views out to Lake Michigan. There are gym facilities on the 20th floor and the hotel offers spa facilities, which you can book. There's a bistro, Pierrot Gourmet, on the corner (also run by the hotel) featuring all-day dining and some fabulous desserts. A hip rooftop bar, Z bar, opened recently overlooking Michigan Ave if you fancy handcrafted cocktails. Add to that an award-winning Chinese restaurant, Shanghai Terrace. The Lobby serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon teas.
Verdict: This is understated five-star luxury, impeccably done. Sometimes it's the little things — the way housekeeping left spectacle-cleaning cloths out, the Welcome to Chicago platter featuring a Sears Tower made of dark chocolate, the complimentary fruit bowl, the gracious mid-western hospitality throughout my stay.
Yes, it's pricey — but it's an unforgettable experience.
