Art Deco on the outside but sleek and modern on the inside: the Pendry Chicago is the best of both worlds. The Carbide and Carbon Building’s luxurious bona fides stretch all the way back to 1929, when it was built. Rumor has it that its original architects designed the black granite, green terra cotta, and gold leaf exterior to resemble a foil-topped champagne bottle. The interiors have a more modern edge, though white marble is still a major player. Located at the edge of the Chicago Loop, Millennium Park is mere blocks away and the Art Institute of Chicago is close behind. Unwind at the end of the day by taking in the iconic skyline from 24 stories up at the open air Chateau Carbide. Think the rooftop bar might be too chilly in the winter? Cozy nooks outfitted with fireplaces and plush faux fur blankets may have you thinking twice (but there’s always an indoor bar and Venteux, the hotel’s French brasserie and oyster spot, if you can’t be convinced.)
Omni Parker House, Boston
The Omni Parker House in Boston is one of those hotels so steeped in American culture and legend, it almost merits no introduction. Founded in 1855, the hospitality hub has a reputation for being a landing spot for politicos of all stripes, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to legendary guests. It was favored by 19th-century writers including Ralph Waldo Emerson, novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Atlantic Founder James Russell Lowell. Charles Dickinson once stayed there for five months and first read A Christmas Carol within its walls. In the 20th century, John F. Kennedy proposed to Jackie O. at Table 40 of the hotel restaurant. Malcolm X once worked at the Parker House as a busboy. If the history isn’t alluring enough for you, how about dessert? The Parker House is the one and only birthplace of the Boston cream pie.
The Pierre NY, a Taj Hotel, New York
The Pierre is a New York institution, harkening back to the Gilded Age days of the Social Register and the Four Hundred. Located on the Upper East Side, the hotel is a staple of the off-Central Park skyline visitors and long-standing residents alike have come to expect. The decor still matches the building’s Neo-Georgian architecture, which was inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Imagine marble floors, gold crown holdings, and imposing flower arrangements. Elevator operators wear white gloves, always. The hotel is known for its storied permanent residents who live or lived in the upstairs co-ops including Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Aristotle Onassis, and Yves Saint Laurent—but the guest rooms are outfitted for visitors to live like a king for a day.
Melrose Georgetown Hotel, Washington, DC
Winter in Georgetown is a great way to experience frosty seasonal charm straight out of a Charlie Brown special without dealing with the truly bitter cold fronts that hit other parts of the Northeast. If you’re looking for a staycation, the Melrose Georgetown Hotel will offer that tony DC charm. Snowcapped brownstone boutiques, outdoor ice skating—this is East Coast Americana at its finest. The Melrose Georgetown Hotel boasts it all, as well as boutique touches like crystal chandeliers and stately white fireplaces. Just off the Foggy Bottom metro stop, all of DC’s most iconic sights are near at hand (no long walks in the cold air required). Take a gander along the Potomac waterfront, catch a show at the Kennedy Center, or linger along the National Mall without the summer crowds.
Hotel Sorrento, Seattle
Built in 1909 in an Italian Renaissance style out of red brick, the Hotel Sorrento in Seattle cuts a striking silhouette against the purple Cascades to the east and Olympic Mountains to the west. Although the city is known for its influx of tech workers in recent years, the Hotel Sorrento captures an old school elegance befitting the natural splendor that surrounds it. The Fireside Lounge offers stunning carved tiles of apples, grapes, and Mediterranean landscapes on and above the mantle, while the suites offer a Pacific Northwest charm with framed historic prints and cozy reading chairs. Located on historic First Hill in downtown, the hotel is just a hop and a skip from city institutions like Pike’s Place and the Seattle Art Museum, but the downtown also boasts some of Seattle’s best dining from the French rotisserie fare at Le Pichet to the Cantonese tasting menu at Vivienne’s Bistro.
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