Can you help me pick between 5 hotels?

We are 2 35yo women travelling to Chicago in mid-August. We mostly want to sightsee and eat cheap great (local?) food and prefer eclectic, less corporate businesses. All the hotels we are looking at are downtownish...we%26#39;d love to be able to be able to see the water, but it%26#39;s not a requirement.

Here%26#39;s what I%26#39;ve found...any opinions would be appreciated! It seems like most of these places are in pretty upscale areas but we figure we can get anywhere pretty easily from them and they have great deals.

Dana Spa

Sutton Place

Whitehall Hotel

Millenium Knickerbocker

Hotel Felix

Thanks in advance,

Naomi

Can you help me pick between 5 hotels?

IMO - Hotel Felix. Recently opened. It%26#39;s well located from a tourist perspective. Lots of dining options nearby.

Can you help me pick between 5 hotels?

I prefer the Whitehall. Ask to stay in Elzabeth Tayor and Richard Burton room. It%26#39;s great with a huge balcony.

Not on your list but Hotel Sax had been offering a $119/night rate including free parking, which usually runs $42 or more in River North. It%26#39;s in the River North neighborhood (same as Felix) and has an upscale scene in the bar. Plus, you could ask for a high room with a view (albeit limited) of the Chicago River. The Davoodas and five other couples stayed at the Sax in September 2008 and enjoyed it very much. It%26#39;s right next to the House of Blues (in fact, it was the former HOB Hotel) and the Sunday Gospel Brunch is big fun and features a good food buffet.

For good, cheap eats, you can check Metromix.com under restaurants and sort by neighborhood, cuisine and, I believe, entree price. River North has plenty of dining diversity, but, as Dave 148 says, it%26#39;s geared mainly to tourists.

The cuisine is not uniquely Chicago, but Boston Blackie%26#39;s on Grand just east of Michigan is a solid choice for good food at very reasonable prices - just one idea.

Hope you have a nice trip!

Davooda

In order

Sutton,(fabulous location) Dana, good location trendy) Knickerbocker (greta location just renovated rooms)

Don%26#39;t care for the Whitehall at all

Felix is new, but have heard rooms are quite small

converted from an SRO hotel

Thanks, everyone, for the advice! We picked the Dana, got sucked in by the price, the floor to ceiling windows, and the modern-ness...I always lean towards the older/art deco kind of places so this seemed like it would be a fun change.

I%26#39;ll let you know how it is!

Naomi