The exterior of Hotel Cass. It's located in River North near downtown Chicago, home to Michigan Avenue's Magnificent Mile shopping corridor. 800/799-4030, hotelcass.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Cass)
A guest room at Hotel Cass. This is a Holiday Inn Express and a boutique hotel? Well, yes. 800/799-4030, hotelcass.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Cass)
A bathroom at Hotel Cass. 800/799-4030, hotelcass.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Cass)
The Belden-Stratford's elegant lobby boasts spectacular period decor and a cloud-painted ceiling. 773/281-2900, beldenstratfordhotel.com.
(Courtesy The Belden-Stratford)
This room illustrates the typical furnishings of the Belden-Stratford: Japanese prints, vintage furniture, and Oriental rugs. 773/281-2900, beldenstratfordhotel.com.
(Courtesy The Belden-Stratford)
A guest room at Hotel Indigo. 800/972-2494, hotelindigo.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Indigo)
Inside the Hotel Indigo. 800/972-2494, hotelindigo.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Indigo)
The eating area at Hotel Indigo. 800/972-2494, hotelindigo.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Indigo)
A kitchen area at Gold Coast Guest House B&B. 312/337-0361, bbchicago.com.
(Courtesy Gold Coast Guest House B&B)
Essex Inn is a 15-story downtown property with a metal-and-glass lobby. 800/621-6909, essexinn.com.
(Courtesy Essex Inn)
A guest room at Essex Inn. 800/621-6909, essexinn.com.
(Courtesy Essex Inn)
Another view of a guest room at Essex Inn. 800/621-6909, essexinn.com.
(Courtesy Essex Inn)
The exterior of Wicker Park Inn. 773/486-2743, wickerparkinn.com.
(Courtesy Wicker Park Inn)
A guest room at Wicker Park Inn. Each of the eight rooms has a name that matches its themed decor. 773/486-2743, wickerparkinn.com.
(Courtesy Wicker Park Inn)
The exterior of the Margarita European Inn. 847/869-2273, margaritainn.com.
(Courtesy The Margarita European Inn)
Entering the Grand Parlor from the lobby is like walking into the past. 847/869-2273, margaritainn.com.
(Courtesy The Margarita European Inn)
At the Margarita European Inn, decorative shelves display blue-and-white porcelain wares in a room with antique furniture and a working fireplace. 847/869-2273, margaritainn.com.
(Courtesy The Margarita European Inn)
The exterior of City Suites Hotel. The Belmont train stop is about a block away, which means you only face a roughly 20- to 30-minute ride to most downtown attractions. 800/248-9108, cityinns.com/citysuites.
(Courtesy City Suites Hotel)
A guest room at City Suites Hotel. 800/248-9108, cityinns.com/citysuites.
(Courtesy City Suites Hotel)
A community area at Hotel Sax, which is nestled in River North, on the northern lap of the Chicago River. 312/245-0333, hotelsaxchicago.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Sax)
The Crimson Lounge at Hotel Sax. This enormous cocktail bar has furniture that Louis XIV would have admired for its elaborate, opulent details. 312/245-0333, hotelsaxchicago.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Sax)
Hotel Sax offers special Entertainment Technology Studios and Suites at higher rates. Each one includes an Xbox 360 and a digital media player with Bose headphones. 312/245-0333, hotelsaxchicago.com.
(Courtesy Hotel Sax)
The exterior of Ohio House Motel. A two-story layout faces the parking lot. 312/943-6000, ohiohousemotel.com.
(Courtesy Ohio House Motel)
A guest room at the Ohio House Motel. 312/943-6000, ohiohousemotel.com.
(Courtesy Ohio House Motel)