Opened in April 2006, The James marries a residential vibe to a hotel setting. To evoke an apartment style, all of the 297 contemporary rooms have a separate dining area with plasma screen TV's; some include a separate living area with oversize couches, coffee tables, and Eames chairs. Art is also an essential part of the property—the lobby features a rotating gallery from the Museum of Contemporary Art; David Burke's Primehouse restaurant showcases painter Todd White; and the Jbar displays video art on plasma screen TV's.

Insider Tip: To compensate for the rooms (lofts and studios) that lack city views, the hotel projects artwork on inner courtyard walls during the evening.

Room to Book: Reserve one of the 26 lofts, which have separate dining areas, plus media rooms complete with king-size bed, Bose stereo system, front-screen projection TV, and DVD player.

• 1. James Chicago
  55 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611; 877-526-3755 41.893283-87.626197 More Info