Peninsula Hotel Chicago
Magnificent Mile, Chicago, United States of America
At a Glance
The Lobby restaurant oozes timeless elegance and is the perfect place to start the day with a sumptuous breakfast, indulge in afternoon tea or an early evening chocolate buffet.
The hotel couldn’t have a better setting for those who wish to be in the very heart of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
The hotel’s indoor pool provides a welcome respite after a day in the city, especially during the winter months when you can watch the snow fall outside whilst taking a dip.
The Peninsula Academy offers guests of the hotel opportunities for unique city experiences from private architectural tours to a bootcamp with a former Navy Seal!
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Summer or winter, rain or shine, there's always great stuff going on in Chicago, so when you're planning a trip, there's no real "best" or "worst" time to go. Weather wise fall and spring are the best times in Chicago. Summers are hot and humid, with a July daily average of 24 degrees. Winters are cold and snowy with few sunny days, and with a January daytime average of -0.6 degrees. Spring and autumn are among the best times to visit for low humidity.
Insider's View
Indulge in a delicious hot chocolate or other goodies at the Friday and Saturday night chocolate buffet extravaganza!
Ask for a terrace table at Shanghai for fabulous views up to the Hancock Tower
Don your skates in the winter and check out the ice rink on the Shanghai Terrace
Call us on to start planning your holiday to Peninsula Hotel Chicago or take a look at our itineraries to United States of America
Description
The Peninsula Chicago is a five star, five diamond hotel located in the heart of Chicago’s well known Magnificent Mile. It is an unbeatable choice for guests seeking impeccable service, a superb location and Chicago city views.
The hotel is within close walking distance of the best of Chicago's shopping and city attractions, and features an award-winning spa as well as restaurants including the Shanghai Terrace and The Lobby. The balance of a far eastern elegance and mid-western hospitality makes this hotel a welcoming base from which to explore Chicago.
Suites embody a high standard of luxury, décor and amenities whilst still maintaining the all-important home-away-from-home feel. New for 2015, all the rooms have been refurbished and are freshly decorated in cream and blues hues as well as featuring multiple ipads. All rooms have fabulous views of the city, whether that is of Michigan Avenue, the Shopping district or Rush Street.
The hotel has a wide choice of dining venues. Guests can opt to eat at the number one Chinese restaurant in Chicago on the Shanghai Terrace which has a 1930s' feel to it. The five-star Lobby Restaurant serves contemporary American style food, traditional afternoon tea and a delicious Sunday brunch. The well-lit dining room is often accompanied by live music and has a children’s menu. The Terrace a wonderful spot to enjoy a drink or two and a light meal whilst admiring the panoramic city views.
If you want something at street level then the Pierrot Gourmet street scene café will be to your taste. The art-nouveau décor, open fireplace and wide choice of cocktails, cognacs and port create a relaxing environment at the end of the day.
The Spa at The Peninsula has been rated ‘America’s Healthiest Hotel’ by the Health Magazine. Its menu of luxurious body and skin care treatments suit all needs. If you are looking for something more active, the state of the art fitness suite allows you to work out whilst admiring Lake Michigan from the floor to ceiling windows. A variety of weekly classes and personal training sessions are also on offer. The 25 metre heated indoor pool and outdoor sundeck’s views of the city provide a striking backdrop for a leisurely swim or to read a book.
Accommodation
There are 339 rooms and suites here, set over 20 floors. 256 of these are standard rooms, starting with the superior room category, moving up to the deluxe room and grand deluxe rooms. Even the smallest rooms measure 527 sq ft, making them wonderfully spacious. There are 83 suites, with separate living rooms, starting from 793 sq ft. Some of the suites have sofa beds that can accommodate children, and some interconnect with other guest rooms. The junior suites boast fantastic views over Michigan Avenue and are amongst the most popular with guests.
Childcare
Families are well catered for at the Peninsula Chicago, with interconnecting rooms and suites with sofa beds to accommodate a family altogether, there are plenty of room options to choose from. There are special child-focussed activities and amenities available, and the concierge has hand-picked some superb family friendly activities to ensure you get the most out of your stay in Chicago.
Facilities
An award-winning spa occupying the top two floors of the hotel, with a blend of Eastern and Western treatments available. There is also a yoga room, relaxation lounge, well-equipped fitness centre and sun terrace here. There is a half-Olympic length swimming pool with floor-to-ceiling windows so you can enjoy city views as you swim laps.
Dining options are impressive, too, with three award-winning restaurants to choose from, a bar and in-room dining available. The Lobby serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, focussing on contemporary American cuisine. The Shanghai Terrace harks back to the 1930s and serves delicious Cantonese and Shanghainese dishes in the evenings. The Pierrot Gourmet is a European-style bistro open throughout the day in a relaxed environment.
Activities
Chicago has plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained from Segway tours around Navy pier to climbing up to the skydeck at Willis Tower. Chicago is also home to a vast array of museums and the iconic Millennium Park- housing the popular bean. The concierge at the Peninsula will be able to offer some great recommendations for your time in the city.
Reviews
Anna Northeast (Staff)
If you want to be in the heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile of shopping you couldn't be in a finer place. Turn left out of the Lion bedecked entrance and you are just a few steps away from a cacophony of designer and high street shops to keep even the more demanding shopper happy. That's not the only perk of this elegant and refined hotel though. The lobby isn't at street level, instead, guests are ushered to a waiting elevator to take them to the opulent entrance to the hotel. Walk up to the concierge and you'll glimpse your first sign of the special place you're in. The Lobby bar and restaurant is modelled on the original Peninsula in Hong Kong and ushers in superb light and an airy feel, which brings a space that could feel a little bit stuffy and traditional in to a warm and inviting salon, perfect for afternoon tea, a sumptuous breakfast or a tantalising evening buffet, all of which are regularly served (the hot chocolate is designed to the guests whim and is totally to die for, don't forget a little cayenne pepper to give it that extra kick). Live music echoes through the room and immediately puts you at ease, be it a pianist or a cello that entices you in. Just down a few steps, the Shanghai Terrace, voted top Cantonese restaurant in Chicago recently, offers a different feel. The terrace is siblime in the evening and perfect for a summer night with views up toward the Hancock Tower ensuring you never forget quite where you are.
Its not all about the food though, head up to the 20th (top) floor of the hotel and you will be greeted by subdued lighting and that wonderful spa aroma. There's plenty of opportunity to relax and be pampered here. If that's not quite your thing, take part in one of the 25 complimentary classes available each week or work out in what must be the most impressively set gym I've seen in a while. Our guide explains, why have just 2 people enjoying a penthouse view when instead all the guests can enjoy it whilst working out or having a swim in the pool on the floor below. A very sensible and generous plan I feel. As we head into the pool area it is, quite simply, heavenly. Comfy looking sunbeds are lined up along one side, a hot tub peeking out in the middle, and then a half size Olympic pool with three generous swimming lanes, awaits. Im almost tempted to jump right in (well this is our first visit since we flew in this afternoon and it just seems rude not to) but I'm assured it will still be there in an hour or twos time, the new guest rooms are begging to be admired so I bid the pool and those ever so comfy sunbed's farewell, for now.
It was worth it though, the hotel is undergoing a floor by floor renovation, its first since it opened almost 15 years ago, which is to be completed by April 2016. Its quite a transformation too. The rooms are fresh and bright with cool grey, blue and white hues throughout. The hotels Asian roots flow through with beautiful frescoes adorning part of one of the walls, offering a warm and inviting feel. Rooms can connect, we are assured, which makes this still a great choice for families too. The rooms are each powered by ipads (3 in each room sometimes) and the whole hotel can be accessed at the touch of a button whether that be an extra pillow from housekeeping or the volume for your TV. Its all the latest in in room technology and its pretty impressive. The only part of the rooms not to have a full facelift are the bathrooms which look a little old fashioned in comparison, however, still offer plenty of space and every luxury right down to the Oscar de la Renta toiletries.
Yes, its safe to say they've got it right here, it may not be cutting edge or groundbreaking or the latest funky offering in town but the Peninsulas superb continuity of luxury and service shine through.
Experiences
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Bespoke Tour of Chicago
Explore the windy city and all its highlights on this fascinating tour of Chicago. Jam-packed with shiny skyscrapers, lively bars and a picturesque seafront, Chicago offers a vibrant social scene with iconic landmarks such as the Willis Tower.
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Catch a Baseball Game
Sports fan or not, you can't help but enjoy the ballpark; it's an experience so quintessentially American. Chow down on dogs and beer, hear the barrel organ fire up the crowd and cry "Outta Sight" as a 'homer' is hit.
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Segway in Chicago
For a tour with a difference, head on down to Navy Pier and take a segway tour to explore Chicago's top attractions. The segway will do all the work for you, and you can just take in the city sights.
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Taste of Chicago
Take a trip to Grant Park by Lake Michigan in July for Taste of Chicago, the largest food festival in the world. Sample the delectable and varied cuisine and listen to the amazing Blues music that was born in Chicago. A true taste of the Windy City!
Holiday Ideas
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Epic Yellowstone & Montana Ranch
Chicago, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone & The Ranch at Rock Creek
from £12000 pp inc flights & transfers for 13 nights
- You'll visit some of the most photographed sites in the USA
- Get a city fix with a stop over in Chicago on the way out to the Rockies or on your return
- Private guide to take you off-the-beaten track wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park
Location & directions
Magnificent Mile, Chicago, United States of America
The Peninsula Chicago has a superb downtown address in a prime area for shopping, dining and exploring the city. Nearby attractions include the Art Institute of Chicago, the John Hancock Centre and the Millenium Park.
How to get there
International flight into Chicago O'Hare airport and transfer by road to the hotel. The journey from the airport is approximately 18 miles.
- 100% financial protection
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Firsthand knowledge
- Renowned service
- Award-winning tour operator
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