The first time we stayed at the Pen in Chicago was in 2004 and the hotel was ranked by T&L magazine as the best in the US. While the hotel was very nice, it did not live up to our expectations. Well, it is two years later and things have changed! We have tried both the Four Seasons and Ritz in Chicago since our last stay and from now on we will stay at the Pen when in Chicago. My main complaint the last time was the bed - it was impossible to get a good nights rest because it was hard as a rock. Well, the Peninsula has rectified that issue - slept like a baby last night in a very comfortable bed. This is truly a five-star hotel - the location is perfect, the rooms are state of the art (very high tech), and the customer service from EVERYONE on the staff was top tier.

The Peninsula Chicago has my business forever...

This place is heaven on earth! The room was divine - I only had a view of the parking lot, but who cares when the carpet is a foot thick and the bathtub is huge! The bed was so comfortable I almost overslept and missed my meeting I was in town on business for. I ordered breakfast in and was perfectly satisfied.

I had a few hours before my flight home, so I had a glass of wine in the lobby restaurant. When I needed to run out to make a phone call, my waiter kept watch on my bags near my table while I was gone - that is what I call service! They even had models wearing the latest from YSL walking around the room in case you had a couple thousand dollars to spare. The cost is high, but if you want to know what superior service coupled with ultimate luxury is, stay at this hotel!

Stayed at the Peninsula Chicago for three nights late April/early May. Guy right there at streetside to greet cab and offer to take luggage up. (I decline that...feel guilty having anyone carry my luggage around. Im', relatively young and healthy enough! I go ahead and tip the guy anyway, since they probably peg you a cheapskate, not that that should bother me.) Check-in smooth but awkward and irritating as the clerk tries (through smiling face) to pronounce my not-really-THAT difficult ethnic name over and over. I even say it slowly, and have handed a written pronunciation to the person in similar situations in the past, but it doesn't seem to do any good. I would just as soon not have people calling my name in public where it can be overheard. Paranoid, you say? Perhaps. But I did get burned in a sitaution because of that one time. Something I don't want to go through again while on the road.
Then, clerk tries to line up transportaion (limousine) for your return trip to airport, etc... Not really necessary, I say. Asks me what time I'd like turndown service each night, and room make-up each day. I tell him, and that night, when I returned 30 minutes after turndown time, it hadn't been done. Next day, two hours after room make-up time request, it hadn't been done. To me, turndown service is like a lot of things in life -- nice, but hardly necessary. I do like having a room made up though!
Had a Junior Suite. Very clean. Separate living room and bedroom, large.long entrance foyer, phones all over the place, including three in bathroom. Bathroom very nice with TV at foot of deep tub, radio console as well, two separte vanities. I was there by myself, so there was plenty of room. I don't mind paying for extra space. Pampering I can do without. For the most part, hotel workers left me alone, which I like. I'm from the "don't call me, I'll call you" school. If I need something, I'll ask. Don't hover and make a lot of fuss on my account.
Very quiet, serene, dignified atmosphere permeates throughout the hotel and restaurants. Service and waitstaff at Lobby Restaurant exemplary. Food very expensive, but what do you expect?All kinds of great restaurants and shops around the hotel (Magnificent Mile). Walgreens across the street for sundries at good price. Hotel Gift Shop very small and comes up short in that regard. Also, no ice machines or vending machines on property. Again, something I don't mind doing for myself if given that opportunity. Also, no mouthwash as part of bathroom products. Does have everything else.
Pool area and fitness room(s) outstanding. Nice pool and hot tub with great views. Exercise room has many Cybex machines to work all parts of body, plus usual assortment of treadmills, lifecycles, etc...
Will definitely stay there again, and am looking forward to it.

My husband and I stayed in this hotel for new years eve and had a wonderful, wonderfl time. The room was beautiful and the service phenomenal. I had a massage at the spa and met my husband afterwards in the pool. The pool facilities are amazing - i wanted to spend an entire day in the locker rooom. They had fluffy towels, a menthol steam room and fancy bath products in the HEALTH CLUB showers. Back at the room we had a huge bathroom with tub and double shower. There were Molton Brown products there as well. The bed was divine and there was a remote control next to it on both sides that controlled the drapes and lights in the entire room. There was a welcome bag with little treats when we got there. The next morning i had breakfast with girlfriends in the little cafe next door which was wonderful, too. One of the best new years eves I have ever had.