Opened September 2011
Hip hotelier Ian Schrager has again struck gold -- Gold Coast, specifically -- with Chicago's Public, his wildly chic but decidedly democratic makeover of the former Ambassador East Hotel. Schrager has said that Public -- the Chicago location is the first in a planned chain -- represents "a paradigm shift" away from sky-high rates and pricey minibars and toward exceptional value, design, and service -- a concept that makes sense in the current economy. The airy rooms are signature Schrager ("soothing, 'no color' color palette" and all); the hotel's Pump Room restaurant has a revamped menu by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; and perks like Trek bikes for touring the Windy City and Public Express -- healthy, reasonably priced brown-bag meals delivered to your room -- strike the right budget-friendly note.
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