Chicago: 5 Places to Stay

As you walk into the Peninsula, the concierge and receptionist greet you by name; classical music plays when you enter one of the 339 rooms; and your bedside table has a control panel to manage the lighting, deactivate the doorbell for privacy, and alert housekeeping when you want service. The luxury extends to the hotel's spa by ESPA: it includes an outdoor sundeck, spa cuisine, eight treatment rooms, a steam room, and a lap pool. And be sure to dine at Shanghai Terrace— Food and Wine voted it one of the top 100 Asian restaurants in the U.S.

Insider Tip: Enjoy Chocolate at The Pen every Friday and Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Open to the public, the event features a jazz trio along with an unlimited selection of sweets ranging from chocolate-dipped strawberries to chocolate tiramisu.

Room to Book: Reserve one of the renovated rooms with new linens, carpeting, iPod docking stations, and flat-screen TV's. (All rooms are scheduled to be renovated in 2008.)

• 1. The Peninsula Chicago
  108 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611; 866-288-8889 41.895722-87.624929 peninsula.com