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Hotel at a Glance: Dana Hotel and Spa

Landmark skyscrapers and high-end shops line Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue just north of the Chicago River. The iconic thoroughfare is home to some 460 high-end shops, including Armani, Chanel, Apple, and American Girl. Just three blocks away, Dana Hotel and Spa sits amid the fine-dining restaurants of the River North neighborhood. The 4-star boutique hotel has received accolades from Condé Nast Traveler (named a Readers’ Choice Top 200 U.S. Hotel in 2011) and Forbes magazine (named Chicago’s Best Boutique Hotel).

• Luxury amenities: All guest rooms have plush Serta mattresses, a private chilled wine reserve, and a Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin sound system.
• Apogee lounge overlooks the city from the 26th floor and serves eclectic cocktails.
• 24-hour fitness center: Work out on Italian TechnoGym equipment before detoxing in a steam room.
• Book an aromatherapy massage at the hotel’s spa. 

Chicago’s River North: World-Class Art Galleries, Restaurants, and Nightlife near Downtown

Bordering the Loop on the northern side of the Chicago River, the River North neighborhood is where the skyscrapers of downtown give way to the award-winning restaurants and trendy nightspots of the North Side. Once an industrial area, River North is today home to architectural gems—the Jenga-like Contemporaine residential building on Wells Street is a good example—as well as eateries to suit every appetite and budget.

Dining options range from inventive Peruvian cuisine at Tanta Restaurant to Chicago classics such as Portillo’s. At Eataly, you could spend a full week working your way through the Italian offerings at 23 separate restaurants and food stalls.

In addition to its formidable culinary presence, River North boasts the country’s largest concentration of art galleries outside of Manhattan. Born around the same time that Jim Nutt and other Chicago Imagists rose to prominence, the River North Gallery District runs along Chicago, Superior and Huron Streets, occupying century-old, red brick warehouses that have been converted into lofts and exhibition spaces.

Amid River North’s restaurants, condos, nightclubs, and galleries, you’ll also find the leaders of Chicago’s rapidly growing tech sector. Among the companies that have offices here: Google, a gaggle of digital startups at the 1871 co-working space, and, yes, Groupon (we’re in the old Montgomery Ward building, where the mail-order catalog was born).

You can easily travel beyond River North using Chicago’s public transportation system, which is one of the best in the nation. Check out our guide to Chicago public transportation for helpful tips on navigating the city like a local.

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