Ideally positioned in Chicago’s enticing River North district within a beautifully restored 1920’s Art Deco structure, Freehand Chicago is surrounded by shops, museums, galleries and restaurants. The holiday season is the perfect time to visit — snowy cityscapes and glittering lights set the scene for shopping along the Magnificent Mile and State Street. Leisure time offers the opportunity to bask in the brisk winter air while ice skating in Millennium Park at McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. Complimentary ice-skating lessons are offered each weekend and on some winter season public holidays.

© Freehand Chicago

Accommodations include 217 guestrooms designed by Roman and Williams, with private and shared options. Spaces include the penthouse suite, a two-story guestroom with two bedrooms, two baths and a living room. Features range from floor-to-ceiling windows to Argan bath products, a Bluetooth sound system to a generous workspace, a fridge and high-def television.

© Freehand Chicago

For dining and libations, guests can enjoy award-winning Broken Shaker, which offers casual breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. In the morning, choices include seasonal French toast with kiwi-strawberry syrup, fresh fruit and powdered sugar; for lunch, there’s barbacoa tacos with avocado, poblano salsa, pickled red onions and cotija; and for dinner, a Cuban sandwich with roasted pork, Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and a mayo-mustard fusion. Don’t miss the clever Café Cocktails, which include My Bad Advice, made with Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, Cointreau, strawberry orgeat, coconut and lime.