PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

With the feel of an upscale European inn -- and a loyal clientele of regulars -- the Talbott is one of the city's best small, independent hotels. The cozy, wood-lined lobby has the secluded feel of a private club, with roaring fireplaces in the winter and leather couches for curling up with a cup of tea. The larger-than-average rooms are decorated in soothing neutral tones, with furniture chosen for its residential feel (such as carved-wood desks), European linens, and plasma TVs. The upscale bathrooms vary in size; some have separate shower stalls and bathtubs and others only tubs. Perhaps surprising for a property that feels so traditional, the Talbott is also at the forefront of guest-service technology; the lights turn on automatically when guests enter their rooms, and a high-tech sensor system shows housekeeping when a room is occupied -- so no one will barge in while you're enjoying a late-morning sleep-in.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chicago 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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