The Drake has an elegance that's impossible to duplicate today. From the wainscoting in the wide hallways to the mail chutes and classic elevator doors on each floor, there are vintage delights everywhere, especially in the ornate lobby. This is one of the best places in Chicago to get married (which I did this past November). I love that some of the elevators have benches in them. We were married in the Gold Coast Ballroom with its marble columns, mirrors, chandeliers and views of Lake Michigan/LSD.
We stayed in the Presidential Suite- where dignitaries and movie stars and Princess Diana have stayed. The place is palatial. In addition to a living room with 2 fire places, a separate dining room, mable foyer, there is a kitchen, separate powder room and very large bedroom. The views are spectacular! We woke up looking out over Lake Michigan.
Unique Qualities: For all its historic splendor, the Drake offers all the amenities that guests have come to expect in a premium modern hotel, such as mini-bars, modem lines, bathrobes and complimentary newspapers.
Its 537 rooms are large and luxurious and contain separate seating areas and foyers. One of the complaints is that the rooms are quite small. I would say that the rooms themselves are spacious but the bathrooms are quite small.
There is a fitness center in the hotel- al beit a small one. The hotel has reciprical agreement with Equinox in the Bloomingdales building- so I would recommend heading over there for a good workout. All the rooms are wired for high-speed internet access. The phones are all dual-line, have speaker phones and caller ID.
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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120
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Phone: (312) 787-2200
Address: 140 E Walton St. (and Michigan Avenue)
Directions: Across from Bloomingdales. A half block from the beach. Down the street from the Mag Mile (shopping)
Website: www.thedrakehotel.com
on Oct 3, 2002
