Staying at the W is less about the rooms and amenities and more about the scene. Socialites and Loop workers crowd the bar for happy hour in the neo-gothic lobby, or the “Living Room,” with long drapes at the entryways, and art projected on a wall set to music. For more hardcore partying, the group heads to Whiskey Blue, where metallic couches and big purple chairs give hot ladies and gents a base to gossip. If a night of partying wears you out, get a room and jump in the bed that rests against a wood-paneled wall and slip under your eggplant-colored comforter. The downside: if you want to visit the excellent Bliss spa, you’ll have to hoof it to the W’s Lakeshore location—one reason why some would rather visit the hotel than stay overnight.

W Chicago City Center Amenities:

• 369 rooms. Pets accepted. High-speed Internet access. Restaurant, bar. Fitness center. Business center.