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

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.