Is America's Best Hotel Really In Chicago?

By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 19, 2016 2:18PM

The rooftop at the Virgin Hotel Chicago. Photo courtesy of Virgin Hotel Chicago.

I'm a pretty big booster of Chicago's restaurant scene, but our hotel scene doesn't always get as much attention. That's a shame, as the new wave of fancy hotels that have opened in the past couple of years has taken our city's selection to a new level. Think of the Chicago Athletic Association, London House, Kimpton Grey, Soho House, Loews and more; there's no denying we have some pretty awesome hotels. But do we have the best?

According to a big national poll, we definitely do. The Virgin Hotel Chicago was rated by readers of Conde Nast Traveler (more than 300,000 voters) as the best hotel in both Chicago and the United States. They were rated the sixth best hotel in the world!

So what about that, huh? Is Virgin Chicago the best hotel in the city?

I've stayed there (and on my own dime, not on a media freebie), and it's very nice. The room design is innovative and beautiful, their bathrooms are gorgeous and their in-room dining is pretty solid. That being said, they barely have a lobby (especially compared to the grandeur of a Loews) and their restaurants frankly aren't great yet (especially compared to the awesome food service options at Chicago Athletic Association).

So what do you think? Other Chicago hotels made the list; The Thompson was #14, and the Chicago outpost of the Hotel Monaco (one of my favs) was #45. Anything else that should have made it?