Check out the Nosebleed section from high above by giving your Chicago experience an upgrade.
The Hilton Chicago is the perfect spot to be amongst the action of Chicago’s biggest music festival, Lollapalooza. It’s not just the hotel’s classic Beaux-Arts architecture style that woos the clientele in (just think past presidents!). The hotel offers the ultimate VIP treatment with some rooms offering sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the renowned Grant Park, home to the city’s most prominent music spectacle.
Chicago is where is the Lollapalooza magic was created, first held in 1991. Fast forward, and it is now one of the world’s largest music festivals, including a city line up of Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago.
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The 29-storey hotel offers front row access to the best views of Chicago (Lollapalooza included), and a stay at this centrally located hotel is worthy of an encore experience.
Location
The hotel is a hop, skip and jump from iconic public artwork Cloud Gate (also affectionately known as the silver bean). This tourist drawcard dominates Chicago’s postcard pictures at Millennium Park.
The hotel is the perfect springboard to hop on the city’s metro, ‘L’ and go further beyond to tourist hotspots such as Chinatown. Also within walking distance is the Magnificent Mile, the city’s central commercial hub. Make sure the camera is on as the area is home to Chicago’s most famous landmarks, including the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower, Chicago Water Tower, Wrigley Building Skyscraper and the John Hancock Center. (Check out the 360-degree rooftop observation deck on the 94th floor). Further afield, this downtown institution boasts brilliant views of Lake Michigan from above.
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The rooms
Not all hotel rooms are created equal, and Hilton Chicago’s spacious 1,544 rooms prove to be the stuff of dreams.
The hotel’s contemporary rooms have a comfortable, slick corporate feel to them. There is ample space for both double beds and luggage to co-exist together in one area without the need for trampling over furniture. Beds are firm and boast a sea of pillows on top, so be rest assured; you will have a good nights’ sleep.
The winning feature is the coffee machine, a vital part of my two-day stay in the Windy City and something that I took advantage off, especially for the disposable cups.
If you do catch yourself staying at the hotel around Lollapalooza time, upgrade yourself to lake views as you can both catch glimpse of the festival and hear it from your room!
Breakfast time
The full breakfast buffet is a notable mention of the hotel and was another highlight of my Hilton Chicago stay (besides the far-reaching views to Lollapalooza). Imagine waking up and realising the world’s flavours is on a platter. From Dim Sum, noodles, English Breakfast delights and Continental Europe style, the buffet is overloaded with options. (Let’s say that one plateful here is not enough!)
The major attraction of the buffet is, of course, its Egg Station. Its long lines are justified as it offers almost every topping possible to produce a generous serving of the golden egg to your liking.
If suffering from post-festival hangovers, the festival caters to those craving the grease with sausages, American-style bacon, potatoes, beans and gravy biscuits up for grabs. It’s not all about the overindulgence of grease as ample fruit platters and granola are readily available for the health-conscious.
With numerous runs to the buffet, you can expect to walk it off playing tourist for the day around the city (or in the Lollapalooza mosh pit!).
The details
Hilton Chicago – 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60605 USA
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Image Source: Hilton Chicago and Julia D’Orazio
Julia travelled as a guest of Hilton Chicago, and all thoughts and opinions are of her own.
