Our first time at an Omni Hotel was a most enjoyable one. For starters on the days leading up to the reserved dates of our stay we received a number of emails from Omni which informed us of events happening in Chicago, predicted weather as well as restaurants nearby.
Our arrival and check-in at the hotel, located just a few blocks south of the Hancock Tower on N. Michigan Ave. was a smooth and quick process. Our room, a suite on the 22nd Floor was fairly well appointed. We had our two kids with us so the two double beds and the pull out were put to good use. An armchair could have filled an empty corner in the Living Area and would have been useful to watch the large flat screen or even to rest your feet. The sofa bed sufficed. The beds were very comfortable, firm enough, but still comfy, there was an extra large safe, two TVs, a bar with sink, a large bathroom with two doors and even opening windows. Everything worked well and was very clean.
We had signed up as “Select Guests” which entitled us to morning juice or coffee brought to the room, at least 2 newspapers and free wireless internet (which would have cost $9.95/day otherwise). We also used the “Entertainment Rate” which brought it down to about $240US/night. Given the location, service and hotel class, it was great. We only used the gym facility that had about a dozen machines and an outdoor deck on the 5th Floor. It was clean, well maintained and didn’t fee claustrophobic.
I would stay there again, given the chance.
As for our time spent in the Windy City, all of 3 days, we did a lot including Bobby’s Bike Hike (Northside/Gold Coast with Erin), the Architecture Foundation River Tour, a picnic lunch in Millennium Park, deep dish pizza at Giordano’s, a drink at the top of the Hancock at 6PM (no lines and great light and it beats paying for the observatory 2 floors below as you only pay for the drink), Magnificent Mile shopping and a wrap up dinner at Boka in Lincoln Park. If you are new to Chicago, I would highly recommend all of the above. We hit it just right with the weather, so that helps a lot. For the deep dish pizza, no matter where you go for at dinner time on the weekend (Uno, Due, Gino’s East or Giordano’s) you’re looking at a 2 hour wait, so go later, like 9:30PM. Boka is a fairly new cutting edge restaurant, maybe a couple years old or so. Chef is a Charlie Trotter protégé (C.T. is one of the handful of premier way up-scale restaurants in Chi-town with prices to match) and the menu at Boka is unlike most others. You will not be disappointed with he compilation of tastes and flavors the kitchen will put together, each dish is like a fine wine, complex and long. No Tiramisu, Crème Caramel, chocolate mouse cake or fresh fruit cheesecake on this dessert menu,
Needless to say, we had a great time!