Size and scale are major factors in determining which hotels are considered boutique. More than that, however, a boutique hotel has a certain level of cozy charm, eschewing grandiose lobbies and dozens of restaurant choices and amenities for the masses. So, what then is a lifestyle hotel? Merging the boutique hotel idea, where design, personalized service, and curated custom experiences are paramount, with certain elements that create an at-home feel is what shapes the lifestyle ethos.
Lifestyle Hotels are the New Boutique Hotels
Lifestyle hotels focus on hospitality that is warm and welcoming, unbuttoned, and accommodating. You can expect your stay to light up all your senses, from unique interior spaces and design to relaxing scents and music to innovative dining to rich textures throughout your room’s intentional décor.
The check-in process is speedy and your overnight will likely include an app or digital functionality for ease when requesting extra comforts or making dining reservations.
Lifestyle hotels make space for live entertainment, cultural programming, or creative themed goings-on like literature events, live DJs, or art exhibits to encourage guests to come together and connect.
The Windy City has endless options for a perfect weekend away.
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A Brand-New Hotel, Perfect for Curious Travelers
L7 Hotels by Lotte has been making waves in Korea, with four thriving properties, and now there’s one in the United States. New to the Windy City this year, L7 Chicago by Lotte promises to offer guests a newfangled stay, one that includes cultural experiences and art-filled public spaces that are prefect for repose, meeting with friends and family, or catching up on some work.
Your journey begins with your ears, accessible through a curated music playlist on Spotify. When you check in, you’ll be directed to the complimentary coffee station where you can enjoy an espresso or light snack before heading to your room.
Once you arrive to your chamber, you’ll relish in the views of Chicago’s famous architecture and the Chicago River while you sit on the cushioned window seat. Yoga mats and light exercising equipment are neatly stored nearby should you need to stretch your limbs or maintain your wellness routine while away from home.
Millennium Park is near the hotel, as are plenty of other attractions and sites.
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Curated Guest Experiences
Fun experiences may include special happenings like Healthy Happy Hour, complete with chair massages and kombucha tastings or complimentary boxes of Pepero sticks to celebrate Pepero Day, a Korean tradition where loved ones share the sweet snacks to wish love and luck.
When you’ve built up an appetite, head straight for Perilla Korean American Steakhouse, a true bright spot in the city of the big shoulders where tables are designed with individual grills for a private chef’s experience. Order a la carte at this new restaurant from the MICHELIN-recognized Perilla brand, or let the professionals handle it with a steakhouse set. Don’t miss tasting a perilla leaf, the restaurant’s namesake. This plant, part of the mint family, has a bold essence that compliments meat and fish well with its slightly bitter, star anise flavor.
Chicago Has Something for Everyone
Effortlessly located to all that Chicago has to offer, L7 Chicago by Lotte is near the House of Blues, the Chicago Riverwalk, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Chicago’s theater district, the Art Institute of Chicago, and much more. Whether you decide to explore and wander on foot, or you simply want to enjoy the soothing ambiance in your private accommodations set inside a historic building from 1912—the hotel was once the largest wholesale millinery, you’ll surely enjoy time well spent at this lifestyle hotel.