If you're visiting Chicago and looking to relax, forget staying downtown at the trendiest hotel, where you'll be distracted by hordes of people at the lobby bar. And skip booking a room at one of the commercial chain hotels, where you'll inevitably have a hard time figuring out how to run the bath. Instead try the Old Town Bed and Breakfast—a stone's throw away from the Gold Coast and Michigan Avenue. Although you'll have to give up the incredible views of the skyline that hotel high rises offer, nothing beats getting down to the basics.

All the essentials are here: four bedrooms, living and dining rooms with two marble fireplaces, a library stocking more than 800 books, a movie collection, laundry facilities, a workout space and baby grand piano. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and a full pantry with snacks and drinks, and the outdoor patio area has a rooftop garden.

Each guestroom comes with a queen-size bed, private bathroom, seating area and walk-in closet. Burgundy carpeting and floor-to-ceiling draperies accent the black furnishings and beige-hued rooms. Other basics include a TV, private telephone lines and answering machines, alarm clock and premium cable. The master suite, at about 400 square-feet, offers a steeping tub with whirlpool and a day bed in addition to the queen-size one. Single room rates start at $185 and can reach $275 per night, depending on room size. The whole house can be rented out as well, which costs $740 to $1,100.

Centerstage Reviewer: Janis Mabalay