Chicago hotel with teens

[Anonymous]

Planning a trip to Chicago with 2 adults and 2 teens.

We will do the major tourist items - first trip for all of us. I don't know the city and am having a tough time deciding on hotel/neighborhood to stay. We would like to stay around $350 a night. Any suggestions?

I'll also take any suggestions on restaurants - we will do the hot dogs/pizza but also want to try a couple nice restaurants - no prix fixe menus but everyone is flexible and interested n trying new things. We will have a car with us but hope to not use it while we are in the city.

[Anonymous]

Stay downtown. Look at River North/magnificent mile, Streeterville, North Loop, probably River North being top. These are all super walkable to all the main attractions. You will have a great time. Chicago is the best American city imo.

[Anonymous]

Adding that if you are looking at specifics, I would suggest a hotel in area around Sheraton Chicago Riverwalk or Hyatt Regency. Swiss hotel and Radisson blu are also in that area. I prefer to be close to the Riverwalk. That area is quiet, feels like a little oasis in the city, you can take stairs on Wacker down to the Riverwalk, rent some bikes, and bike (or walk) a long the Lakeshore going south. It's beautiful with the boats in the harbor and the city in the background.

[Anonymous]

Agree with River North. I like the Intercontinental and the Gwen at that price point. Intercontinental has a great indoor pool.

Highly recommend the architectural boat tour. It is a block or two away and next to a Lou Malnatti's for deep dish pizza.

Restaurants - Shaw's Oyster Bar (not main restaurant), Gibson's Italia, Bavette's, the Franklin Room.

[Anonymous]

Hyatt, Fairmont, and InterCon are nice.

There’s a Westin and Kinzie near each other that are both nice as well.

I consider all of these hotels walkable.

[Anonymous]

Gibsons is always awesome Topo Grigio Old Town in Wells for Italian is a treat.

Unfortunately so many of my favorites are gone now but those 2 are stalwarts.

-Chicago hometown mom but haven't been back in awhile

[Anonymous]

We liked The Robey in Wicker Park with two teens. You have to take the L to do tourist stuff downtown, but Wicker Park is a cool neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants that we all enjoyed.

And if you’re trying to cram everyone in one room, they have a queen bed + twin bunk bed option that worked well for us.

[Anonymous]

NP here... Does anyone have opinions about the Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Loop? We have a room booked there over spring break. It seems like it makes more sense for us than the Sheraton (free breakfast and bigger room) but i want to make sure it's a decent location.

It's DH, me, and our 13 year old DS.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in Chicago.

I like staying at the Palmer House. It’s a great location and I love the lobby.

Fave hot dog: Weiner Circle in Lincoln Park. Fave pizza: Lou Malnati’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here... Does anyone have opinions about the Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Loop? We have a room booked there over spring break. It seems like it makes more sense for us than the Sheraton (free breakfast and bigger room) but i want to make sure it's a decent location.

It's DH, me, and our 13 year old DS.

I live in Chicago, fine location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gibsons is always awesome Topo Grigio Old Town in Wells for Italian is a treat.

Unfortunately so many of my favorites are gone now but those 2 are stalwarts.

-Chicago hometown mom but haven't been back in awhile

I live in Chicago now, these are like old school Chicago classics. My teen would not be into either I think. Look into the Lettuce Entertain You family of restaurants (lettuce.com), West Loop is jam packed with amazing places to eat. Wrigleyville has come a long way in terms of dining options. What kind of food do you like?

For teens - Small Cheval or Au Cheval; sushi rotary restaurants; Home Slice or Paradise Park

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We liked The Robey in Wicker Park with two teens. You have to take the L to do tourist stuff downtown, but Wicker Park is a cool neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants that we all enjoyed.

And if you’re trying to cram everyone in one room, they have a queen bed + twin bunk bed option that worked well for us.

Love this idea, that's a great location, and I didn't realize there was a hotel now in that (very recognizable) building, that's cool. It does look quite expensive in the summer though, understandably. That queen plus bunk room around $450-500/night if staying over a weekend. We rented a 3BR apartment a couple more stops up the blue line last summer for $400/night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Chicago.

I like staying at the Palmer House. It’s a great location and I love the lobby.

Fave hot dog: Weiner Circle in Lincoln Park. Fave pizza: Lou Malnati’s.

I was also going to suggest Palmer house. For your first visit, it’s great old school Chicago. Def Lou Malnatis, too. If your teens are trendy/shoopers, head to some of the smaller neighborhoods and walk around and get dinner one night. An afternoon in Evanston and tour of northwestern would also be fun.

[Anonymous]

Our son goes to Northwestern and we visit Chicago pretty often (DH lived there for one year when we were first dating, so we have fond memories of the city).

A few hotels we've liked:

close to lots of tourist destinations (e.g., the lake, the Bean, the Art Institute, the architecture cruise):
the Palmer House
Marriott Magnificent Mile
the Wit

a little farther afield, but still walkable to tourist destinations -- and also cooler than the above hotels:
the Hoxton

Have fun, OP! Chicago is a great city!

[Anonymous]

Embassy Suites on Columbus Dr. Two-room suites and free buffet breakfast. We’ve been staying here for years.