If you follow me on Instagram you know that I spent this past Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago, and you also know that I loved every moment of it.
I absolutely love the city of Chicago. This was my third time there, and each visit it grows on me more and more. There are even aspects of it that I (dare I say?) enjoy more than New York. It’s such a clean and beautiful city with its own unique culture. It doesn’t have as much of the hustle & bustle of New York, but I think that’s one of the things I love most about it. Chicago also has a killer restaurant scene (more on that below). Here’s a recap the entire visit.
Where We Stayed in Chicago
During this trip to Chicago we stayed at Swissôtel – an award winning luxury hotel conveniently located in the The Loop area of the city.
Swissôtel has taken the idea of wellness while traveling to the next level with their new Vitality Suite. Words can hardly express what a pleasurable experience it was staying in the Vitality Suite, but this is a blog, so I guess I ought to try 😉
Swissôtel Chicago boasts the first Vitality Suite in the world (with seven Vitality Rooms at Swissôtel properties around the world) and offers a serene and stylish sanctuary with personalized wellness features to help guests maintain their mental and physical health while away from home. The suite itself is 1,700 square feet and five rooms!
Amenities of the Vitality Suite include:
- fitness “Wellbeing Wall,” which includes a Peloton bike, water rower and more
- complimentary Lunya sleepwear set
- sleep sound therapy
- water therapy bath and shower system
- a la carte pillow menu
- refreshment center with healthy snacks & beverages
At an additional cost you can get in-room private training sessions so you don’t even have to leave the comfort of the suite. We trained with Nicole Pernic – who runs corporate wellness at Swissotel – on Saturday morning, and it was such a fun and energizing way to start the day.
At an additional cost you can also experience a special five-course vitality menu using seasoning ingredients by Chef Dan McGee. We had this incredible breakfast spread after our in-room workout before we headed out to explore the city for the day. On the menu was:
- Smoked Salmon & Grilled Cauliflower with Curried Onion “Hummus” & Capers
- Duck Confit, Artichoke & Goat Cheese French Toast Casserole
- Crispy Sweet Potato Tots with Turmeric Aioli
- Parfait of Panna Cotta, Mixed Berry Compote, Granola Streusel
- Oatmeal, fresh coffee & juices
Starting at $1200 a night, the Vitality Suite is for those who prioritize luxury and full-access to wellness amenities while traveling. With that said, in my opinion that cost definitely matches the level of value we received staying in the Vitality Suite. I’ve never experienced accommodations quite like this – I truly felt like a well rested, energized, wellness queen!
Please note that I was given a complimentary stay at Swissôtel for this coverage, however all opinions herein are my own.
Where We Dined in Chicago
Of course dining out was a huge part of our itinerary in Chicago. Here’s where we ate/drank.
Tanta: get the Niguiris Nikei and pork fried rice
Beatrix: a great go-to for any meal with a few locations throughout the city. I love their (brunch) Cauliflower Grits & Eggs and they have an amazing bakery/pastry selection.
RPM Steak: the New York Strip (charred medium rare) was incredible. Also the wedge salad, hen of the woods mushrooms & millionaire’s potatoes.
Au Cheval: no-brainer, get the burger with the works (bacon + egg).
Aba: absolutely beautiful. We only went here for drinks (they have a great outdoor area), but I’ve heard they also have great Mediterranean food.
RPM Italian: one of the more buzzy restaurants in Chicago, and for good reason. Great vibes + a killer Carbonara.
Sunda: Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad, crispy rice sushi, duck fried rice.
Le Colonial: went here for drinks + enjoyed some bites at the bar. Very chic, great vibes. Would love to go back for a full meal but also a great spot for pre (or post) dinner drinks.
Side note: another Chicago favorite is Girl And The Goat. We didn’t make it there this trip, but I ate there last year and it is as incredible as everyone says!
Where We Wandered in Chicago
During this trip we did a handful of “touristy” things but also made it a point to explore more of the local spots, mostly in the West Loop area. Some of the things we did:
- Boat architecture tour – this was fun, but in retrospect we probably would’ve taken a smaller boat. Ours was really crowded and kind of stressful, ha
- Soho House Chicago
- Millenium Park
- Walk along the Chicago Riverwalk
- Walk along the Chicago Harbor
- Navy Pier
I love feeling like I’m getting to truly know a city, so changes are I’ll be paying a visit to Chicago again soon!
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