InterContinental Chicago Rating: 4.0 Pearls

Magnificent Mile, Chicago, Illinois

The InterContinental Chicago

Originally built in 1929 to house the exclusive Medinah Athletics Club, and then completely renovated in 1988, the InterContinental's building is one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks. The grand lobby, with a huge staircase and Spanish-inspired decor, is normally full of business travelers. The lobby’s fountains and chandeliers give way to the intimate ambience of Zest, the hotel’s street-level restaurant, with views of the Magnificent Mile.

Natural light pours through huge windows into the wonderful junior Olympic indoor swimming pool located on the eighth floor. Several rows of seating and a terra-cotta fountain with Spanish tiles remain from the building’s golden days, when young elite athletes would fill the hallways of the majestic club.

Standard rooms are on the small side; it's worth considering the much larger rooms at Omni, which are usually available for the same price. The InterContinental’s Deluxe Rooms, and especially the suites, come with better amenities than the Standard Rooms and are far more spacious.

View on a Larger Map

The Intercontinental has a prime address right on the Magnificent Mile, an iconic stretch of North Michigan Avenue known for its upscale shopping. However, it is not all about department stores out here. Art galleries, landmarks — such as the Water Tower, the John Hancock Observatory, the Pumping Station and Wrigley Building — and top-notch restaurants are within easy walking distance from the hotel.

• 9-minute walk to the Loop
• 10-minute walk to the John Hancock Observatory
• 13-minute walk to the Theatre District
• 13-minute walk to the Millennium Park
• 15-minute walk to the Art Institute of Chicago
• 18-minute walk to the Chicago City Hall
• 12-minute drive or 39 minutes by subway to the Museum of Science and Industry
• 15-minute drive or 26 minutes by subway to the Wrigley Field
• 18-minute drive to Midway International Airport
• 25 minutes by subway to the Old Town
• 27-minute drive to O’Hare International Airport
• 34 minutes by subway to Kenwood neighborhood

Double Deluxe Room

Standard rooms are on the small side for the price and some have small windows. The 328 rooms and suites in the main tower were renovated in 2010, and feature updated decor (fresh carpets, curtains, furniture) a mahogany-and-brown color scheme. But the beige-and-brown historic tower rooms are starting to show their age.

• 32- to 42-inch flat-screen TV with cable access
• Wi-Fi for a daily fee
• Mini-bar
• Safe large enough for a laptop
• Coffeemaker with free coffee and tea
• Shower/tub combo
• CD player; iPod docks available upon request on first-come, first-served basis

The fitness center

• Fitness center open daily, there is a fee to use. It features a sauna and some spa services, such as aromatherapy treatments and massages.
• Indoor pool
• 24-hour business center staffed throughout the day; some fees apply
• Daily fee for Wi-Fi
• Babysitting services
• Valet parking is expensive
• Meeting and events space: Over 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space, including 28 meeting rooms and a 6,400-square-feet ballroom

The Bar at the InterContinental Chicago

• Michael Jordan's Steak House opened inside the former Zest space in August of 2011. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
• Eno: Serves wine, chocolate and cheeses from around the world.
• Lobby Bar: Serves cocktails, wines and a light menu in the hotel lobby.
• Starbucks: Open daily.
• 24-hour room service