Developed by famed hotelier Ian Schrager, the PUBLIC Chicago is a very stylish hotel in the heart of the Gold Coast neighborhood. Its interiors are very on-trend and the hotel is also attached at the hip to Chicago's famous Pump Room restaurant and bar.

The Thompson is just a really cool, design-focused hotel that does not disappoint. With interiors by British designer Tara Bernerd, the hotel has won numerous awards, rave reviews and regularly receives praise from critics and visitors alike.

Before Oprah Winfrey moved her operations and her show out to Los Angeles, her guests stayed at the Drake Hotel on the north end of the Magnificent Mile. Beyond Oprah's guests, the hotel has witnessed dozens of notable visitors including Charles Lindbergh, Walt Disney, Elizabeth Taylor, President Eisenhower, Winston Churchill and many others.

In the not-so-distant past, the Freehand Hostel was the divey and dingy Tokyo Hotel, but it is now a design-driven and affordable lodging option for travelers. With interiors designed by Manhattan's Roman and Williams and an offshoot of Miami's popular Broken Shaker cocktail bar, the Freehand is budget friendly but also high on design.

The Kinzie may not be as stylish as the Thompson or PUBLIC hotels, but its commitment to providing a unique Chicago-focused experience to its guests is certainly commendable. It's become a faux pas for out of town hoteliers to come to Chicago and promise a "local" experience to its guests, but the Kinzie was one of the first of the latest wave of boutique hotels to truly center its branding, design and amenities around Chicago history and happenings.

Whether you love or hate Donald Trump, the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago designed by local star architect Adrian Smith is one of the finest contemporary towers built in the last ten years in any city. The Donald is a polarizing figure, and Trump's decision to plaster his name on the side of the tower in the form of gaudy 20-foot tall lettering earned the ire of many Chicagoans, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Located in the heart of the Loop, theWit was designed by hometown star Jackie Koo and features a striking neon green glass facade. The hotel and its rooftop lounge have a clubby vibe, but its location is pretty much unbeatable.

The Virgin Hotel in Chicago is the first in the new chain of hotels for the United States. While Richard Branson and his British-based company was renovating the Old Dearborn Bank Building, the project was kept tightly under wraps, with little to no information revealed until the lead up to the opening. Now that it's open to the public, it's no secret that the new hotel is one of the best spots in the city for travelers to crash at.

The old Chicago Motor Club was an organization that celebrated the automobile and cross-country travel. The Art Deco tower has been very recently restored and converted into a Hampton Inn hotel with a roaring '20s-themed cocktail bar and a large mural by John Warner Norton.

Designed by Chicago's Studio Gang Architects, Aqua earned prominence not only for its striking look but also for becoming the tallest tower in the world designed by a woman-led firm. The tower features apartments, condos and a Radisson Blu hotel. Jeanne Gang has become one of Chicago's most notable architects in the last decade and her studio is currently working on other major projects, including the Wanda Vista supertall tower and the landscape design for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

The Soho House is a super trendy yet casual option for travelers who are looking to get out of the Loop and explore what the city has to offer. In its previous life, the industrial brick building was once the Chicago Belting Factory. It now sports multiple restaurant offerings, a spa, a full-floor fitness center, a rooftop pool and an exclusive members lounge and cocktail bar.

The Hotel Allegro recently wrapped up a major renovation project that brought back its 1920s-era Art Deco flair. While some hotels are big on contemporary designs and technology, the Hotel Allegro is a throwback to the days when Chicago was on top of the world.

What was once an elite private men's club is now a 241-room hotel on Michigan Avenue that overlooks Millennium Park. The project was one of the most hyped hotel openings in recent years, but the final result lives up to the hype. The 122-year-old Venetian Gothic building has been beautifully restored and the hotel also boasts some serious food and beverage offerings.

The Palmer House is one of the most iconic hotels in Chicago. Interestingly enough, it's actually the third Palmer House for the location. The first was built in 1875 by the famed developer and merchant Palmer Potter as a wedding gift for his wife. Designed by Holabird & Roche and built in the early '20s, the Palmer House that stands on Monroe Street today is notable for its grandeur and old school luxury.