The Bar/Lounge at The Peninsula Chicago

"Hugely raved about and regarded as one the best ""scenes"" in Chicago, the bar is buzzing and lively on weekends"

"And then there's the weekly calendar of food events: A Thursday ice-cream social stars sundaes, Key lime parfaits, and dreamsicles; afternoon tea gets a fashionable update on Fridays; and a weekend chocolate bar transports you to a candy-land fantasia"

"Follow it all up with a rare whiskey nightcap at the Peninsula Bar"

"High-tech bedside control panels in rooms, afternoon tea in the lobby and grand fireplaces in the bar are just some of the hotel’s perks"

"Shanghai Terrace serves up Shanghainese and Cantonese fare, like a perfectly crispy Peking duck, in a swanky, 1930s supper club setting—but we'd also happily stick around for Dim Sum nibbles of barbecue pork bun and spicy beef potstickers"

"Large, light-filled rooms with French doors separating lounge and sleeping areas especially suit families with kids, as does the large indoor pool and hotel activities such Cantonese dim sum cooking lessons and weekend chocolate buffets"

"Minibars, DVD players, coffeemakers, full-length mirrors, iPod docks and 27-inch flat-screen TVs add to the list of creature comforts"