If you’re craving a local experience in a big city, book a B&B and get ready to wake up to the smell of fresh coffee being brewed for you to enjoy with your homemade breakfast. Opt for a stay in one of these bed and breakfasts nestled among the residential neighborhoods of Chicago and you’ll soon be feeling right at home.
The Publishing House Bed and Breakfast
Bed and Breakfast
Courtesy of the Publishing House Bed and Breakfast / Expedia
This handsome 11-room bed and breakfast epitomizes the boutique lifestyle. Just minutes from haute West Loop restaurants, the former publishing house, built in 1909, is ideal for a peaceful getaway. City-chic industrial accents like concrete sinks contrast with romantic vintage details such as clawfoot tubs. It’s undiscovered by many, but not completely obscure to all; Fodor’s listed the inn on its list of Most Eclectic Hotels in Chicago, while Condé Nast dubbed it one of Chicago’s 25 best hotels. Rent out the whole space for a one-of-a-kind event, or just enjoy a weekend of ricotta pancakes in the morning and wine by the fireplace in the evening.
Perched on a tree-lined street, this inn blends in with the landscape of its historic neighborhood. Enjoy a few nights in one of nine recently redesigned rooms; each comes complete with complimentary gym access to Wicker Park Fitness and gourmet breakfast. If you’re in town for a few weeks, stay a while in one of the multi-room apartments equipped with kitchens. The owner of the inn has lived in Wicker Park for over 20 years and wanted this space to epitomize city living, with good accessibility to the surrounding neighborhood. It’s just steps from the art galleries and restaurants on Milwaukee Ave and just a few train stops away from The Loop.
A gray-stone facade and embellished iron gate characterize this stunning Lincoln Park property built in 1887. Wander through the grotto and up the spiral staircase of the Italian-style villa to catch some sun by the spa, or borrow a bike and head out for a beach day along Lake Michigan. Italian architecture exudes old-world charm in each of the unique rooms, some with their own fireplaces and separate entrances. Enjoy a homemade breakfast, or use the kitchen to whip up your own meal using fresh ingredients from the weekly Lincoln Park farmers’ market. No matter your reason for visiting Chicago, a stay at Villa D’Citta will be a memorable experience.
Recharge with a stay in a house designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Prairie-style home in the Rogers Park neighborhood was built in 1915 and features characteristic aspects of Wright’s signature clean-line aesthetic: a flat roof, geometric patterns and the extensive use of natural materials. Each detail of the restoration has been meticulously logged to stay in line with the original vision. Make sure to visit the Japanese Tea House on the property, a wood-walled den that pays homage to Wright’s experience in Japan and its influence on his later works.
Eat, drink and sleep all in one place at this humble inn situated above a Michelin-star restaurant of the same name. No room is the same and nightly prices vary accordingly, but each is well-designed with form and function in mind. From here you can bike to music venues and top-notch brunch spots in the Logan Square neighborhood. Seasoned travelers will enjoy being immersed in a part of the city with edgy flair and plenty of discoveries to be made right outside the door.
