HotelChatter

The Lobby
Entering the lobby just under the neon glass lightning bolt that travels up the facade of The Wit, our attention was immediately drawn to the two angel wing chandeliers hanging in the bilevel space. Apparently they were featured at the Hospitality Design Expo this year in Las Vegas, spotlighted as a groundbreaking design.

Since the hotel brushes right up against the State/Lake El train station just over the street and even with the hotel's second level, The Wit's stairwell to its second-floor lobby lounge mimics the design of subway stairs.

In the lounge, with a bird's eye-view of the Angel chandeliers, guests can settle into your typical comfy chairs and stare at the bookshelf, whose spines form the faces of historical personages.

Inside State & Lake

The Restaurants
Even newer than the hotel, since they have just opened within the last two weeks, The Wit's two restaurants—Cibo Matto and State & Lake—are way more appealing and packed with diners than we would have expected of a Doubletree property.

After passing through the upscale Italian Cibo Matto, we decided on buffalo fries, lamb, and a shandy drink at the gastropub State & Lake. And how were those buffalo fries with bleu cheese, you ask? Scrumtrilescent.

The outdoor portion of the rooftop bar

The Roof Deck and Bar
We couldn't call it a night without taking a gander at downtown Chicago from the floating bar on the 27th-floor rooftop of The Wit. By floating, we mean that one of the tables sits on a glassed-in balcony overhanging the side of the building, effectively garnishing your cocktail with a vertiginous view.

For winter, there is an enclosed lounge area with a fireplace, but our night visit came with perfect weather and we headed out on to the expansive patio complete with big screen TVs, another bar, and plush booth nooks. It's a bit like what the 60 Thompson's rooftop (A60) would look like if it had quadruple the space, a lax admission policy, and cheaper drinks. We liked.

Actually, we like The Wit a lot. It understands the Chicago party scene quite well for a hotel; a little dash of LA, a sprinkling of NY — and throw in some fireplaces and a gastropub and you've got yourself a hit. Now to sleep there ...