The Drake Hotel in Chicago offers Five Star Luxury Service
The Drake Hotel is one of Chicago’s most elegant and historic hotels. The Drake Hotel is located downtown right on Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast neighborhood so it overlooks Lake Michigan and is located close to everything happening at the beach. Hilton Hotels owns the hotel now, but it has been in operation since 1920 and is a formal hotel built in a time when only the wealthiest people could travel for leisure and they wanted all the lavish accoutremonts of home. Now the hotel is known as a luxurious place to stay for business, vacation travel, downtown shopping and weddings. It can be a bit more expensive (hence the luxury) than other Hotels in Chicago, but you can still get good prices on rooms at off peak times of year.
If you live in Chicago it is also a great place to have a fine dinner experience or to stop in to hear live jazz and piano music in the cocktail lounge. The entire hotel renovation was complete in 2003 and the Drake Hotel has been restored to it’s full glamour and elegance and has been featured in several Hollywood movies.
Drake Hotel Reservations can be made by phone or online at the Drake Hotel Chicago’s website. If you would like to call for reservations you can use the toll-free number 1-800-55-DRAKE or the local direct number 312-787-2200 if you are in Chicago. The room rates aren’t cheap, but remember the location is in the center of downtown and most rooms have spectacular views of the lake or the city or both. The room rates vary depending on the season, view, room size and number of beds (or a suite). In the summer travel season rooms range between $265.00 and $1,200.00 per night. In January and February when it is colder and less of a liesure travel season, the room rates vary from $145.00 to $1,000.00 per night. The official address of the Drake Hotel in Chicago is 140 East Walton Place. Because they are a Hilton owned hotel, you can earn and use Hilton Honor Points there for your stay.
There are several restaurants in the Drake Hotel Chicago. The Coq d’Or is open for lunch and dinner (11 am to 1 am) and they have an upscale restaurant and bar atmosphere. There is live jazz music performances played on weekend evenings. The Drake Brothers is a new steakhouse in the Drake Hotel with the best local food Chicago has to offer. Yet the attire can be casual for both of these restaurants.
The Cape Cod room is a seafood restaurant that has been a part of the Drake for 75 years. Seafood is flown in fresh daily to maximize the flavor of the dishes. Zagat has honored this restaurant many times since it’s opening in 1933. The Cape Cod is only open for dinner between 5:30 and 1o pm daily. It is difficult to get good seafood in Chicago, so this is a place not to miss if you visit.
The Palm Court is a kind of tea room and lounge all in one depending on what time of day you visit the hotel. I have been to the Palm Court room in the evening to see live music playing and enjoy some cocktails with friends after work. They have also served high tea in the afternoon to many dignitaries there over the years. The striking limestone water fountain in the center of the room gives the Palm Court an elegant garden feel. Afternoon tea is served from 1pm to 5pm daily. Jazz music and Cocktails are served between 5pm and 1am. Even if you live in Chicago, a trip to the Palm Court room is a fun night out.
It is also worth mentioning that the Drake Hotel is a great location for business meetings and conferences in Chicago. The room accommodations and the meeting accommodations are stellar. If you need meeting or conference room space in an elegant and impressive setting, the Drake would be a hotel to consider. The Drake is also popular for Chicago Weddings although they are usually booked a year in advance and are not cheap.
The room amenities include (from their web site):
- Fresh fruit at the Front Desk daily
- Elegant bathrooms with 100% cotton bathrobes
- Individual climate control in rooms
- Dual-line telephone system with speakerphones and caller ID
- Broadband Internet access in all guest rooms and meeting spaces
- Wireless hot spots in various public areas (Drake Bros.’, Palm Court, and the Gold Coast Foyer)
- Voicemail messaging
- Shoeshine Station
- A Secure safe in every room
- Non-allergenic pillows (optional by request)
- Remote control television with cable and video on demand access
- In-room iron and ironing boards for your convienience
- A Daily complimentary newspaper of choice
- Non-smoking floors and handicapped accessible rooms
- Chocolates with turndown service daily
- A Clock radio with alarm
- A Minibar
- A Hairdryer
- MSN TV (formerly WebTV)
- Valet parking
- Turndown service on request
The Drake Hotel also offers these following guest services:
- Gold Key Concierge
- Fully staffed Business Center
- Contemporary Fitness Center
- Luggage storage
- Multilingual staff
- 24-hour safety-deposit boxes
- Valet and laundry services: seven days a week
- Executive rooms with a private lounge
- Express check-out
