By Sujoy Dhar
NITN: It was an emerald green waterway that my eyes were feasting on from the 15th floor suite of this hotel.
The sky-kissing Chicago highrises lined the banks of the Chicago river dyed for St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). I was resting after a few hours’ Amtrak train journey from St. Louis.
Time lapsed. Hours passed. A crimson sunset against the jagged skyline of the City of Broad Shoulders, as Chicago was described by poet Carl Sandburg almost a century ago, played out before my eyes as I gaped outside chilling with a hot cup of decaf coffee in a state of self-love.
The expansive view of Chicago from one of the suites of Pendry Chicago.
From this suite of Pendry Chicago, life is good. The former 1929 Carbide & Carbon Art Deco building of 37 stories is another Chicago landmark on the famous Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, the premier commercial district pulsating with upscale stores and cool food places and hotels.
The hotel is an edifice of black granite and marble with bronze trim with a unique shape. As the hotel describes itself, it is reminiscent of a vintage green champagne bottle reportedly symbolizing a response to the Prohibition era.
Once you step inside and check out the rooms and suites, you know that behind that robust masculine heritage exterior is a world of luxury and unexaggerated refinement.
Rooms:
I was staying in what they named Tower One Bedroom Suite in one of the upper floors (corner location). It offers an expansive view of the skyscraper-charged dramatic skyline of Chicago, the river (dyed all green in March for St Patrick’s Day) and the signature bascule bridges. What I loved most about it as I stepped inside are the pristine white walls.
A suite with a view of the Chicago skyline and the emerald waterway on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day.
The living area is spacious with a sofa bed and a large smart HDTV along with a dining table for four. The master bathroom, all marble, has a deep soak bathtub and separate walk-in shower.
The king size bed comes with a plush duvet and luxury linens.
I find a touch of minimalism too in this luxury suite that is not overdone and appears just right for someone like me. The coziness of the suite is infectious. You feel like prolonging your stay here.
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Food
From lobby bar to cafe to a French brasserie, Pendry Chicago welcomes you for great food experiences. The main dining restaurant is Venteux where a distinct, Parisian-inspired setting blends with the charm of Chicago’s bustling Magnificent Mile.
Venteux’s café area with its sage green and cream paint is heart-warming.
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Venteux (“windy” in French) is a French brasserie, café, and oyster & champagne bar with a modern take on Nouvelle French cuisine for brunch, dinner and happy hour.
I loved Venteux’s café area (inspired by Southern France cafes) with its sage green and cream paint and terracotta. An oversized brass pendant light, delicate moldings, speckled gold antique mirrors and floral textiles add to the elegance of the space.
During the daytime, the area is awashed with natural light cascading through 40-foot windows, while lush botanical murals cover the walls. Here you can find an activity space too where I found a charming young painter churning out artworks.
Bar Pendry is the hotel bar on the ground floor and it comes with a central fireplace. Unwind here with a sundowner or afternoon tea. The small bites to go with the drinks are inviting.
The hotel’s extended lobby is a happy art space for budding painters
The hotel also boasts of the rooftop space-Château Carbide- on the 24th floor. This al fresco rooftop space has both indoor and outdoor seating areas.
The Billiard Gallery adjacent to the lobby is another food joint. The hotel calls it a tucked away nook for billiards, cocktails and conversation. The Billiard Gallery is adjacent to the hotel’s lobby and restaurant, with a streetside view of Michigan Avenue.
Wellness
I am not a great workout person when I am travelling, but I did check out the hotel’s fitness centre. Pendry Chicago’s 24-hour fitness center has all the latest Technogym fitness equipment, Peloton bikes, weights and complimentary amenities.
Two days of Pendy Chicago were spent magically as I explored the city and crashed in the unhurried tranquility of my suite. I left Pendry Chicago for my next destination, Louisville, all recharged.
