Cool Hotels Chicago: Bet On It
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Longman & Eagle is a gastropub and hotel in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Longman & Eagle)
Arlington Park is located northwest of the city of Chicago. There is no shortage of affordable and high-end hotels in the area, but if you venture down to one of these three spots for your stays at night, you’ll be making another memory—in addition to the bounty of those made at the track!
Per usual, all three still have availability for Arlington Million weekend.
The Win: Hotel Lincoln
The Rate: $379
The Lowdown: If you’re headed to “The Land of Lincoln” for the Million, Hotel Lincoln is one of the best bets in the area for a temporary luxury living space. It claims to have “mellowed” from its early past of hosting bootleggers, incognito craps clubs, and other Roaring 20s rabble-rousers.
The result of the 2012 touch-up is nothing short of spectacular.
Hotel Lincoln is now defined by its synthesis of modern amenities into a vintage Chicago experience. The J. Parker, the rooftop terrace, is a prime example of that in action. Their craft cocktail menu blends timeless spirited offerings, while the setting is unquestionably cutting edge. The simple, crisp living quarters are just north of the skyline, which provides a cliché, yet awesome, backdrop for your evenings.
The Place: The Drake
The Rate: $269
The Lowdown: This has been a Chicago institution since its establishment in 1920. The regal refuge is situated right off of the iconic Lake Shore Dr. and the shores of Lake Michigan.
The building is technically “Italian Renaissance” in style, but I’d suggest it is quintessential “City of Big Shoulders.” architecture. The bold gothic font of the hotel’s neon sign signals the proud tradition of the building.
The Drake’s list of past guests reads like a “who’s who” of great American icons: Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, George Gershwin, and Charles Lindbergh among the many.
Cape Cod, the hotel’s flagship restaurant and bar, is a longstanding member of the Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Established in 1933, its cornerstone is the oyster bar. If you take a close look, you may find the initials of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio etched into the world famous wood of the bar’s tabletop. They did so as newlyweds.
If you’re a history buff, this is a sliver of paradise.
The Show: Longman & Eagle
The Rate: $195
The Lowdown: Fine drinkers of whiskey and bourbon will appreciate the enclave. There are only six rooms here. That’s right, six. There are far more whiskeys (300) on the shelf at the esteemed bar downstairs than rooms at this establishment.
While an unusual arrangement, it’s unquestionably classy. It is bare bones, in the sense that there isn’t a lot of fluff going on, but it’s elegant due to the fact that everything fits and nurtures the hotel’s theme—rustic living.
Even if the product of fermented grain mash isn’t your thing, the distressed carpentry style of the fixtures in every room is barn-like. You’ll be dreaming of the ponies in no time.