Hotel Felix, Chicago

Chicago is a great city to visit both for work and for pleasure, with an array of things to see and do – the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, Lake Shore Drive, the Loop, Millennium Park with the centerpiece band shell designed by Frank Gehry and of course, shopping on the Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue.  When all the walking and exploring is over you’ll want a place to hang your hat that provides a great location and comfortable surroundings along with a cheerful and helpful staff. This is what Hotel Felix offers.

Hotel Felix opened in 2009 after an extensive redevelopment of a 1926 building incorporating organic materials and renewable resources. This made it Chicago’s first hotel to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certified.  This hasn’t gone unnoticed as TripAdvisor chose the hotel as a Green Leader for its environmental efforts.  Hotel Felix had to pass a series of requirements which included:   a towel and linen re-using program, using energy efficient bulbs, recycling, tracking energy usage and educating staff and guests in green practices.

Each of the 225 rooms is designed with a modern sensibility but also with comfort in mind.  The large king rooms include Captain’s beds that have built-in drawers for easy unpacking and storing.  Bathrooms are big and offer top amenities.  There’s a ground floor French restaurant called LM Bistro serving casual French cuisine (and holds the attitude). There’s a super-sized gym on the second floor which makes it easy to stay in shape while away without tracking down the nearest Equinox Gym.   There’s also the Asha spa which will help you to relax and unwind using Aveda products.

Besides implementing eco-friendly practices in the guest rooms and common areas, Hotel Felix goes one step further and makes sure that the entire hotel aesthetic follows the same principles including the artwork decorating the premises. On Earth Day 2010, the hotel welcomed a 7 foot tall sculpture created by artist Allen Christian entitled “Loren the Doorman” which was made out of recycled pipes, an umbrella stand and a drill bit then topped with a milk bucket head. “Loren” was crafted completely from found and reclaimed materials.  Then on Earth Day in 2011 and 2012, the hotel welcomed “Madeline” and “Scrappy” respectively, just to keep “Loren” company. The family of sustainable artwork reflects the whimsical and fun spirit of the hotel and together they welcome guests at the front door when arriving.

Besides unveiling eco-friendly sculptures each Earth Day for the past three years, Hotel Felix also offers special packages regularly for Earth Month in April.  This year the package included complimentary Pop-up Yoga and a donation to a “green” charity, Support Friends of the Chicago River, plus they also created a program to honor employees called “Environmental Captains,” honoring two employees that showed a strong commitment to helping with the hotel’s sustainable practices.

Chicago is a city that is packed with exciting things to see and do.  When staying at Hotel Felix you can unwind at the lobby bar with a cocktail after a long day and nibble on appetizers from LM Bistro.  The lobby bar has a great vibe where guests gather to relax and share their experiences – a perfect way to end your day in the Windy City.