The Hoxton has four options for rooms (Snug, Cosy, Cosy Up, and Roomy). None are palatial in size (the largest rooms are 300 square feet), but all are modern and stylish, with leather headboards, brass lighting, and retro-styled speakers.

Visited by Joseph Hernandez

Courtesy of the Publishing House

This 11-room, three-story property located in the former Historic Free Methodist Publishing House is private and low-key while still being in the center of it all in the West Loop. While the space is now a bed and breakfast, it has lived many lives—as the Walter Rudolph Casket Factory in the 1930s through 1950s and the Museum of Holography from 1976 to 2009. You can feel that historic charm in its current iteration, even after the hotel’s renovation in 2016. There’s original wood paneling and maple flooring, but the property now feels updated to suit a modern day traveler.

Design varies with each room, which are named after Chicago literary figures, and the communal third-floor living room, meant for lingering, has a grand piano and double-sided fireplace. There’s also a wine bar, the Press Room, in the basement. Because of the property’s intimate size, it’s a great option for a buyout so a big group or wedding party can all stay together.

Visited by Joseph Hernandez

Down by the River

The Loop and River North are bustling business and tourist areas. You can access most CTA rail lines (including the Blue Line, which runs to the airport) and walk to iconic landmarks like Millennium Park and the “Bean,” the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Riverwalk. Of course, you’ll need to eat when you’re checking landmarks off your to-see list.

Walk in at Gus’ Sip & Dip (a BA Best New Bar of 2025) for no-fuss classic cocktails and a Wagyu beef dip in a tavern setting, or delight in Indian fine dining at Indienne (a Best New Restaurant of 2023). You can’t miss a daytime stop at Doma, a Croatian café with a dynamite breakfast sandwich and destination-worthy hashbrowns. Plus, River North is home to many Chicago classics like Rick Bayless’s Topolobampo and Shaw’s Crab House. We recommend a quick trip south to Chinatown for an MSG martini and neon-drenched vibes at Nine Bar.

Courtesy of the Chicago Athletic Association

The Chicago Athletic Association offers an elevated members club experience without the steely pretension. It’s also one of the most gorgeous properties in town. The common spaces in this Venetian Gothic building include a game room and a historic basketball court (a holdover from the property’s previous life as an actual athletic club). As for dining, Cindy’s Rooftop offers cocktails with unbeatable views of Millennium Park on a year-round terrace that’s enclosed by a photo-worthy glass atrium, and the cozy Drawing Room in the 19th-century-inspired lobby has all-day fare in a space you wish were your living room. The hotel also just debuted Midosuji, an eight-seat omakase counter with two seatings a night.

From the moment you meet Courtney Storer, you can tell she’s Chicago-born and Chicago-bred. Yes, the accent is a bit of a giveaway, but her warmth and affability are what radiate quintessential Midwestern charm. Until just a few years ago, Storer was a chef in the more traditional sense, working in kitchens from Paris to Los Angeles, that was until she got the opportunity to serve as both culinary and co-executive producer of FX’s The Bear, which is coming back for its fourth season on June 25. Culinary producer isn’t a typical production credit, but it was established for her because the role she serves on the show wasn’t in existence before. Essentially, everything food and cooking related on the show, Storer touches. Whether that’s training the actors in knife skills, crafting Michelin-level plates for the camera, or designing the ultimate spread for the iconic “Feast of the Seven Fishes” episode in season two. Storer might even indulge the cast for a craft service request of focaccia, as it’s a favorite amongst them. Outside the series, she’s currently working on her first cookbook and has a project, Coco’s to Go-Go, that does catering and was a huge supporter of LA fire relief.

Chicago’s been a great place to eat for a long time. With its many iconic dishes, including the show’s notorious Italian beef sandwich, it’s one the ultimate high-low cities. You can indulge in foie gras over white table cloths one night, and the next you’re be on a street corner eating a “through the garden” hot dog with the same fervor and enthusiasm. Here are some of Storer’s favorites for both.

Mr. Beef is all about that no-frills, perfectly messy Italian beef sandwich that comes hot and dipped.

Nate LaCerra/Mr. Beef

The classic go-to’s that scream “Chicago”

For me, it’s a three-way tie: Portillo’s, Mr. Beef, and Lou Malnati’s. These places are so deeply woven into the fabric of the city that just saying their names brings up memories. Portillo’s has that fast-paced energy and all of the Chicago classics, like hot dogs, super sized sandwiches and other comforting favorites. Mr. Beef is all about that no-frills, perfectly messy Italian beef sandwich that comes hot and dipped. And Lou Malnati’s is a deep dish institution. There’s something grounding about places like these. You walk in, you know what you’re getting, and they never let you down.

The definitive hot dogs, and their toppings