Imagine opening the doors to an elegantly furnished apartment. You walk up to the window, several hundred feet above ground, and find an expansive view of downtown Chicago waiting for you.
That’s the difference between a hotel room and a suite. Hotel rooms are nice, cozy and typically just one room. Suites can be palatial, the kind of dwelling where dignitaries and movie stars camp out when they’re in town.
At Play looked around and found some suites so sweet, you’ll want to file a change-of-address form. Check them out.
KN Tranquility Suite
Hotel Monaco, 225 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-960-8500
Price: $299-$599
In 2002, Oprah Winfrey proclaimed designer Karen Neuburger’s KN pajama line her favorite, and we all know what that means (cue audience screaming). Neuburger returned to Chicago last month and unveiled her latest creation: the KN Tranquility Suite at Hotel Monaco. Partnering with the Kimpton hotel, Neuburger has built a 450-square-foot pocket of peaceful calmness, anchored by a wall-size, in-room fountain that trickles water on command. Along with the clarion call of babbling brooks, the suite includes bamboo/cotton bedding and a gorgeous, 11th-floor view of the Chicago River.
The Loft Suite
The James Chicago, 55 E. Ontario St.; 312-337-1000
Price: $759
The James has a lot going for it already. Prime location. A top-tier steakhouse. A spot on Travel + Leisure’s 2007 “It List.” But the rooms, in the words of Tyra Banks, are fierce. The decor sports just the right amount of modern flair without becoming loud or obnoxious. Case in point: the James’ 550-sqare-foot loft suites (the hotel has 26 of them). Designed by Deborah Berke, the bigger suites possess the same sleek design, but come with an added bonus: a separate “theater” room with a projection television and built-in sound system.
The Presidential Suite
The Omni Chicago, 676 N. Michigan Ave.; 312- 944-6664
Price: $899
Let’s get this out of the way. The Presidential Suite rests on the 25th floor, so you know the views of downtown Chicago and the Magnificent Mile are amazing. But it’s the suite’s interior that sends jaws to the floor. Topping out at a cavernous 1,312 square feet, the Presidential boasts a dining area with room for eight, a spacious bathroom with a shower stall and a bath tub, and a living room with a grand piano — because you never know when Michelle Pfeiffer will stop by to sing a duet. Then again, with a living room filled with couches, chairs and a wet bar, it’s easy to pass off the room as a lounge. My advice: Place a goblet on the piano ledge and remind your friends to tip well.
The Peninsula Suite
The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St.; 312-337-2888
Price: $7,500 ($7,900 during high season, which begins April 1)
For those of you with bank accounts as bottomless as your sense of extravagance, then the life of a celebrity awaits. Jennifer Aniston called this suite her home for months while shooting “The Break Up.” And there’s little wonder why she stayed so long. This warm, laid-back suite feels like a mansion. And at 3,000 square feet, it could be. The suite includes a master bedroom, a master bathroom, a private exercise room, a dining room for eight, a living room with fireplace and a grand piano, and a private outdoor terrace with a Jacuzzi.
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gjeffers@tribune.com
