Winter Weekend in Chicago at Ian Schrager's latest hotel, The Public
by Amy and Eric van Cronk, newlyweds (check out highlights from their dreamy honeymoon to Bora Bora!), travelers extraordinaire, and connoisseurs of life.
photos via wunderground and onmilwaukee.
We lucked out and arrived just after a snowstorm, so the city was blanketed in snow, kids were in the parks sledding, and cozy, crackling fires were everywhere! I loved wandering the neighborhoods with the sound of the snow and salt crunching under our boots, looking at historic old stone townhouses that I would love to one day own and popping into neighborhood pubs with dark wood bars and exposed brick walls to warm up with a beer or hot chocolate. The city has so much character – really, it’s like a smaller, more civilized New York (but don’t tell my NYC relatives that)!
What we loved about Ian Schrager's latest hotel, The Public.
1) New and very clean
2) The friendly staff upgraded us upon check-in
3) The Library Bar in the lobby has a roaring fire and serves swanky cocktails at night and lattes and sweets all day
5) The Pump Room – a historic restaurant in the lobby that has been there for years (though apparently many are sad that the hotel renovation took away some of the restaurant’s old charm). It’s now a John-Georges restaurant.
6) GREAT location right smack in the Gold Coast area (walking distance to Lincoln Park, shopping and cocktails at the Drake!)
7) Historic – it’s the old Ambassador East Hotel
Our Chicago Favorites (from someone who used to be a local):
Pizza - Chicago style deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati's. Get the famous butter crust!
Italian - La Scarola. An old-school Italian restaurant with a lively atmosphere. You won’t find tourists here but you will find plenty of old Italian waiters hustling by with bottles of wine and piping hot plates of pasta. The chicken parmigiana is not on the menu, but they will make it for you and it is to die for!
Sandwiches - Bari's Deli. Don’t shy away from the giardiniera, a favorite Italian condiment in Chicago made of hot peppers and spread onto the freshly baked bread. We got the “superhot” but I would ask for a sample before ordering to make sure you can handle it. It might blow your barn doors off! It’s a local deli with no seating so be prepared to eat on the go. We took our sandwiches back to the Public and ate fireside in the Library Bar.
photo via Serious Eats Chicago
Drink - Moscow Mule at the Drake Hotel. Go to the downstairs bar, the Coq d'Or, which is all dark wood and very historic. It opened “immediately after” prohibition ended (suspicious!) and you can peruse a listing of the most popular, stylish drinks of each decade since then. My personal favorite, the Moscow Mule, is served in a charming copper mug!
Moscow Mule recipe via Oregon Live
Serves one
1 teaspoon grated ginger2 ounces vodkaJuice from 1/2 limeAll-natural ginger beer2 lime wheels
Fill a copper mug or an old-fashioned glass with ice. Add grated ginger, then pour vodka over ginger. Squeeze lime juice into glass, then top off glass with ginger beer. Garnish with 2 lime wheels, one floating on top, and one on the rim.
— From the Gilt Club
Neighborhood - Gold Coast. LOVELY, charming and very central.
Creative cocktails – The Matchbox, cleverly named as it’s also probably the smallest bar you will ever walk into!
Activity with Kids – Lincoln Park Zoo (it’s free too!)
Breakfast – Wishbone, a bustling southern breakfast. Don’t be afraid to get a biscuit and grits with your eggs… when in Rome!
photo via Sister Bison
Fun BBQ Restaurant – Q. Warm, festive and packed. The food is delicious but portions are big so you may want to share!
Comedy – The original Second City is here. We didn’t make it to a show but hope to next time.
Jazz/Blues bars - Kingston Mines and The Green Mill.