The Waldorf-Astoria offers top-of-the-line luxury in Chicago. With an intimate, boutique feel -- but all the amenities of a large hotel -- the 188-room Waldorf caters to leisure and business travelers. Sleek rooms feature neutral tones, contemporary furnishings, and gorgeous marble bathrooms that offer separate showers and soaking tubs, as well as TVs inset in the mirrors. Highlights include the upscale restaurant Balsan, a top-notch spa, and health club with extensive services and an indoor lap pool. Plus, the hotel's location in the swanky Gold Coast neighborhood puts it within walking distance of upscale shops, restaurants, and attractions.

The elegant 306-room Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel is a good value, considering its location half a block from the Magnificent Mile. It's true that the historic property doesn’t have many amenities (only a 24-hour fitness center and a 24-hour business center), and the rooms are on the small side — but they're nicer than those at the similarly priced Sutton Place, and come with big flat-screen TVs and Frette linens.

HOTEL IS CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. IT WILL REOPENT IN AUGUST 2013 AS A THOMPSON HOTEL. Questa 246-camera boutique a due isolati dal Magnificent Mile offre servizi di alto livello come i giornali mattinata libera, 24-ore servizio in camera, servizio auto mattino, e servizio di pulizia due volte al giorno. Ma il contemporaneo camere - anche se pulito e grande - potrebbe usare un aggiornamento (la maggior parte ancora televisori a tubo ). La posizione è ottima, ma spesso è possibile fare meglio per il prezzo.