Hotel check: Park Hyatt Chicago

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Published: 26/02/2009 - Filed under: Archive » 2009 » March 2009 » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Hotels » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Hotels » United States »

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WHAT'S IT LIKE? The Park Hyatt Chicago, which was completely rebuilt in 2000, is a 67-storey building with a lobby on the ground floor, meeting rooms in the basement, guest rooms on floors three to six, a restaurant, bar and spa on the seventh floor, and the remaining rooms on floors eight to 18. Above that, from floors 20 to 64, are the Park Tower Residences. The hotel’s reception sets the tone, with extensive artwork from the private collection of the Pritzker family – who still hold substantial stakes in the Hyatt chain and own the property itself – while in the Library lounge there are some huge fossils, accurately labelled. Guests are predominantly from the US, although a minority are from Europe, Australia and South America (there are Park Hyatt hotels in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Buenos Aires and Mendoza in Chile).

WHERE IS IT? On the corner of North Michigan Avenue and East Chicago Avenue. The best rooms look east to Lake Michigan, across the top of the historic water tower and down a protected corridor (no tall buildings allowed) between East Pearson Street and East Chicago Avenue.

ROOM FACILITIES All rooms are large, starting from 51 sqm for a Deluxe room up to 172 sqm for the 18th-floor Water Tower suite. Those facing on to the city are slightly less expensive than those looking over Water Tower Place and towards the lake. Room specification is high even though they were originally designed in 2000. There’s everything from the practical (iron and ironing board) to the luxurious (candles by the bath). Wifi access is free, as are local calls and bottled water, although there are no tea or coffee-making facilities. The rooms are dated only in the sense that you have to scramble under the desk to plug in your laptop.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS Named after its location on the “Magnificent Mile” of North Michigan Avenue, the 120-seat, Tony Chi-designed Nomi restaurant has French cuisine created by chef Christophe David as well as a full sushi bar, and an impressive wine list overseen by chief sommelier Fernando Beteta. When you enter the Nomi, located on the seventh floor, you walk through a glass-walled wine cellar, a great introduction to what’s on offer. At the back of the restaurant there is also a private dining room, which leads to a small art gallery, a break-out area and a further private dining space. Nomi lounge and Nomi Garden are also on the seventh floor.

MEETING AND BUSINESS FACILITIES There is 465 sqm of flexible indoor/outdoor event space, including the Grand Salon Ballroom, and 260 sqm of pre-function space. As well as four huge amber crystal chandeliers in the ballroom, there are leather-wrapped doors, wood panels, silk wall coverings and a large selection of artwork on display.

LEISURE FACILITIES There is a spacious 24-hour health club housing plenty of cardiovascular machines, a 23-metre lap pool, a steam room and whirlpool, as well as a Tiffani Kim spa with treatment rooms on the same floor as the Nomi restaurant. During the summer, you can borrow a bike and tour the lakefront.

VERDICT A great hotel, and one of the first Park Hyatt properties to flaunt the now much-admired, and imitated, mode of design – you’ll see the bowls of green apples in W Hotels as well. Although it needs to be refurbished, it is a small, almost boutique-sized property that has a real sense of style and excellent staff.