I’m in a car on the way to the Chicago branch of the St. Regis Hotel. It’s summertime, which means the city has defrosted, and that unique Chicago spirit is in the air. American vitality and history. Urban tumult and midwestern hospitality. There’s nothing quite like it.

As I pull up, I’m greeted by a sleek display of modern elegance that impresses well beyond its elevation, being the world’s tallest building designed by a woman architect, Jeanne Gang. Three interconnected glass towers are built from alternating shapes and appear to ripple high above the city’s famous skyline. Suddenly the perfectly fine skyscrapers all around here look like cookie-cutter fare.

Open after much anticipation, the St. Regis Chicago is situated upon the city so that guests can enjoy boat tours through the Chicago River (departing just outside the hotel’s doors), and is in close proximity to cultural phenoms like the Art Institute of Chicago, Millenium Park, and Magnificent Mile.

Upon entrance of the lobby, I’m treated to a beautiful champagne sabrage ritual–honoring the history and founders of the luxury brand–on the deck overlooking Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. In the subsequent perusing of the property, a twinge of excitement hits. It’s a tough thing, to find yourself perfectly centered in a matter of moments, but what quickly becomes apparent is that the St. Regis Chicago bestows a sense of tranquillity within its urban setting that can transform states of being. A minimalistic palette of wood and stone elements continues throughout the hotel’s interior, sitting in contrast to the metropolitan backdrop and Lakeshore East neighborhood. Of course, that minimalism doesn’t proscribe bold flourishes.  

The decor of the hotel’s public spaces features beautifully curated, large metallic textiles of copper and rust, with striking designs that pay homage to the Great Chicago Fire and the city’s profusion of waterways. Featuring 159 guestrooms and 33 luxury suites, the 11 floors of the St. Regis Chicago offer all the opportunity to find their respite from the citywide excitement. Guests are able to enjoy renowned butler service (inclusive of ironing and packing services) from the comfort of their rooms, which are meticulously crafted to offer views of the skyline, the Navy Pier, and those aforementioned waterways.

Nowhere within the property is the commitment to luxury and relaxation better achieved than in the St. Regis Spa, the only Forbes 5-star spa in all of Chicago. It’s obvious that behind those glass-plated doors hides something special. When I’m fortunate enough to enter through them myself, it doesn’t take long for those instincts to be proven correct. I am greeted with a glass of champagne (a joyously common occurrence at the hotel) and quickly find myself unwinding beside a fireplace in a peaceful bespoke gathering area. This all acts as merely a prologue to the main event: a massage from one of the hotel’s highly accomplished masseurs, where all from scent to pressure and oil variety are personalized to my own convenience. I finish with a small stay in the sauna and a solo dip in their indoor pool (Imagine Bill Murray in Lost in Translation but relocated to Chicago).

No 5-star hotel is complete without housing equally palatial restaurant options. The residentially minded Miru is located on the top floor of the hotel and offers all-day Japanese dining options with a focus on small plates, as well as sushi and sashimi options. I sample a traditional Tokyo breakfast consisting of grilled king salmon, rice, dashi tamago, and miso soup, all enjoyed in an open outdoor seating area offering as pristine a view as one could hope for.

The aesthetics of the indoor dining area, designed with Chicago Modernism in mind, offer a lighter palette of creamy whites and beige tones in comparison to the hotel’s other notable dining options. For a perfectly cozy end to the day there is The Drawing Room and the Library lounge, where guests are offered afternoon tea and, yes, more champagne!

Tre Dita is famed chef Evan Funke’s homage to Tuscan cuisine in the heart of the Midwest, inclusive of Bar Tre Dita, which offers signature St. Regis cocktails such as their famed 1871 Bloody Mary. The dining area is encircled by sweeping views of the city thanks to 40-foot windows that surround the modern interior, with dark-stained timber flooring and Tuscan marble abound. I’m still admiring this Italian-style arrangement when the table begins sampling just a few of the more than 700 wines available, hand-selected by the in-house sommelier. And of course, the food: small plates and antipasti, an incredible array of traditional, handmade Tuscan pastas (the very same we saw the kitchen preparing as we entered the restaurant), whole grilled branzino, as well as a delectable steak and myriad of desserts–all perfectly curated for sharing.

Chicago has long been known for its American cuisine and cultural impact, dubbed the Windy City and admired for architectural significance. The St. Regis makes sense here, offering it’s visitors and locals alike a sense of magnificence, a sense of home, and unparalleled sense of hospitality.