A Merry Hotel Christmas: The Peninsula Chicago
[Ed. Note: Our Hotel Maven Courtney checked out the hotel scene in Chicago, hoping to find the merriest hotel of them all. Here's her report.]
Chicago's Miracle Mile was over the top with Christmas decorations and crowds like thickets shuffling down the sidewalks. Each year the avenue gets more festive and so do the hotels. We were on a mission to find which one went over the top and we believe we found a winner.
It wasn't easy. The hotels around this famed Michigan Avenue go over the top in creating a wintry wonderland for shoppers. Themes ran rampant from traditional red and green to more modern flair. It was The Peninsula who won our hearts. Thick silvery toned garland and lights lined the entrance as happy barhops and valet drivers welcomed you to the abode. Inside, the place was aglow with more lights and trees that were over the top without ever being tacky.
When it came to food, a drawn-out lunch would have been nice at the hotel's Shanghai Terrace, but the place to be was their Pierrot Gourmet. The menu is a flair of French tartines, flambees, charcuterie and cheese plates alongside other European favorites. Tables are large, Tuscan-style, and shared. The crowd is the mod-shopper who didn't want to take three hours out of critical shopping time. Service here is always impeccable. During our visit there were two visits from upper management to assure we were having the most quality of lunches.
And there you have it, Chicago's most beautiful in-season hotel du jour. Now mind you, most hotels will probably change their décor once more before the holiday so as not to be passé. Therefore, the search continues.
[Photo: Atelier_Tee]
Related Stories:
· Peninsula Reviews [TripAdvisor]
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