There are many wonderful places to stay when you're in the City By The Lake, but by next year, Chicago will have two more that tower over the rest (one of them quite literally).

The first up is the Mandarin Oriental Tower in Chicago's New East Side neighborhood. This modern and sleek tower will put you within mere minutes of the financial district, Millennium Park, and the Art Institute. Of course, if you're looking for one of the best spas in Chicago, you won’t even need to leave the building. And with 74 stories, there will be plenty of breathtaking views. The Mandarin Oriental Tower will be open by Spring of next year.

Then there is the Ritz-Carlton on the Magnificent Mile. Featuring a wine cellar, billiard room, board room and more, this is elegance. And not just because of the long list of amenities, the private terraces, and the fact they seem to offer nearly every service you can think of. When you see what the building will look like from a distance, you realize that it will most certainly take its place among the Wrigley Building and Old Water Tower in terms of gorgeous architecture.

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6/2/08