PRICE:
Frommer's Exceptional

If you're looking for a spot with a sense of history, this is it. The historic Reliance Building -- one of the first skyscrapers ever built and a highly significant architectural treasure -- has been brilliantly restored as an intimate boutique hotel named for Daniel Burnham, whose firm designed the building in 1895. The prime State Street location is across from the massive downtown Macy's department store and a few blocks away from the historic Cadillac Palace Theater and Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theater. The Burnham is a must for architecture buffs: Wherever possible, the restoration retained period elements -- most obviously in the hallways, with their terrazzo tile floors, white marble wainscoting, mahogany door and window frames, and room numbers painted on the translucent glass doors. Rooms are clubby but glamorous, with plush beds, mahogany writing desks, and chaise lounges. The hotel's 19 suites feature a separate living-room area and CD stereo systems. Don't come to the Burnham if you're looking for extensive amenities -- the lobby is tiny, as is the exercise room. But the Burnham is one of Chicago's most distinctive hotels, and it's highly recommended for visitors who want a historic location jazzed up with a dash of colorful modern style. Ask for a room on a high floor in the northeast corner -- the views north and east are dazzling. The on-site Atwood Café serves creative comfort food against a Gilded Age backdrop. There's also complimentary Starbucks coffee in the lobby every morning and a wine reception each afternoon from 5 to 6pm.

A bonus for animal lovers: Pets are positively welcome here. The hotel provides beds, treats, and dog-walking services, among other amenities (they'll even clean out your in-room kitty-litter box!). The Hotel Monaco and the Hotel Allegro, owned by the same company, offer similar pet perks.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chicago 2008, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»