Thompson Chicago

By now the Thompson brand’s international ambitions are out in the open, and if the Thompson Chicago already feels familiar, it’s because the Thompson boutique-hotel recipe is fairly well understood: equal parts classic, eye-catching modernism, luxe yet attainable comforts, and inviting, magnetic public spaces, where travelers and locals meet and mingle over a cocktail or a meal. The look is sharp and fairly sunny, the vibe is hip but not exclusionary, and the details are thoughtful enough to remind you that hospitality is best handled with a personal touch.

The Gold Coast location is quintessential urban Chicago, and makes for the best possible introduction to the city. The best rooms look out over Lake Michigan, but the city view’s far from shabby, and all are framed by the Thompson’s typically sharp interior design. All mod cons, as they say, are present and accounted for, and some of the finer points are very fine indeed: 400-thread linens, rain showers, minibar snacks by Dean & Deluca.

And while Chicago is legendarily food-obsessed, you won’t likely go wrong by dining in. Nico is a seafood-centric Italian offering under the direction of James Beard award-winning chef Paul Kahan, and beyond the hotel you’ll make do with the Gold Coast’s offerings — hardly an exercise in deprivation.