THE PALMER HOUSE
CHICAGO, IL
Despite its devastation in The Great Chicago Fire that wiped out the hotel just 13 days after its grand opening in 1871, The Palmer House still claims the superlative as the longest continually operating hotel in the country after its two-year rebuild in 1873. For sweet kudos, credit The Palmer House for the invention of the brownie, a signature recipe that the hotel still bakes in-house to this day.
The entrance instantly draws gasps, where a bustling lobby that saw the likes of Liberace, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland welcomes honored guests today. The Lockwood Bar demands a visit during mingling hours, to sit and gaze upward at the 21 individual Greek Mythos paintings and 24-karat gold-dipped chandeliers. Or, for a more private experience, ascend into Potter’ s Bar for a traditional cocktail.
While each hotel welcomes its fair share of politicians, The Palmer House has hosted presidential hopefuls on the campaign trail including Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. However, the true celebrity is Bertha Honoré Palmer. The on-site socialite decorated The Palmer House upon inspirations from her friend Claude Monet, and her bequest to the Art Institute of Chicago seeded one of the largest Impressionist collections outside France.
THE PLAZA HOTEL
NEW YORK, NY
If this hotel looks familiar, rewatch“ Home Alone 2” or the inaugural Victoria’ s Secret Fashion Show from 1995 to jog your memory. Or check out where The Beatles stayed for almost a week in 1964. The Plaza Hotel has set the stage for iconic guests and collaborators in New York City, where it started making history upon its 1907 opening.
Rooms and suites dazzle with glittering gold furnishings and a crisp color palette. Indoor-outdoor spaces define penthouse lodging, while the Legacy Suites create rich, calming atmospheres with generous closets, luxury wet bars and glorious New York views.
CREDIT: COURTESY PHOTOS