Hotel Arista - City slicker digs in Chicago 'burb worth a stay

Hotel Arista

2139 CityGate Lane (at I-88 and Rt. 59)

Naperville, Il. 60563

630-579-4100

888-504-0088

www.calamos.com/                                                                     

www.hotelarista.com/

www.sugartoad.com/

www.citygategrille.com/

By Jane Feehan

City Gate

Holding best-hotel-in-town distinction, Hotel Arista provides a modern counterpoint to nearby historic downtown Naperville, Illinois. It’s owned by Calamos, a global investment manager, located on the same campus.

The hotel, 28 miles from Chicago, attracts business travelers to the area, home base to a long list of

corporations. Rates are reasonable, amenities such as free WiFi and a fitness center abound, and a few excellent restaurants help maintain Hotel Arista’s popularity.

Several restaurants on campus draw area residents as well as business types. Upscale Sugar Toad, and Zorbas operate in the hotel. Zorba offers good food, a great bar menu and stays open until 1 a.m.  A modern tavern, Tap In, is in the same building and CityGate Grille, also a Calamos property, sits a short walk from Arista. With a lake view, and a sleek, earthy-toned interior, this eatery serves up sophisticated fare to match. Original art lines the entrance to CityGate Grille; these paintings, including Anthony Quinn's self portrait, are well worth a few minutes of study.

Hotel Arista, with its luxury decor, outstanding staff, and good food also serves as a popular venue for weddings and business events. 

Naperville, the hotel's home, offers attractions for the entire family. There’s plenty of shopping and restaurants in its historic district. Oak Center, about 10 miles away in Oak Brook, has a Macy’s and a Lord & Taylor. Mike Ditka’s restaurant lies a few blocks from the mall.  Train service runs regularly on METRA to Chicago.

Chicago area hotels, Naperville restaurants, Naperville hotel, film researcher

Marriott Chicago Naperville

Marriott Chicago Naperville

1801 Naperville Blvd.

Naperville, IL 60563

630-505-4900

www.chicagomarriottnaperville.com

By Jane Feehan

(I write mostly about Florida but my travels are also topics.)

Renovated within the last two years, the 400-room Marriott Chicago Naperville looms large in a landscape filled with corporate campuses. This is a bustling hotel filled during the week with business travel warriors and on weekends with event attendees and wedding guests.

Food is probably the reason so many weddings receptions and events are held here. It’s above average and that includes the complimentary fare presented in the concierge room – outstanding soups, theme nights of Mexican delights, sushi Tuesdays and more. The concierge lounge lays out the best food here of all the Marriott hotels I've visited.

A 24-hour fitness center with plenty of equipment and an indoor pool top off the amenities.  

Historic, quaint downtown Naperville lies less than three miles away along the DuPage River. It’s filled with small shops and top notch restaurants. Chicago is about 30 miles northeast. A weekend round trip by train is about $7.50 - a bargain (ask for weekender fare). 

Tags: Marriott Chicago area hotels, Marriott, Naperville, IL.