Dana Hotel and Spa

Class: First

Style: Stylish alternative

Rooms: 216

There was a Dana Hotel here before, on this very spot, but a very different one — traditional, old-fashioned, maybe even classic, depending on who you ask. But that’s in the past now: the original Dana has been pulled down, replaced by a brand-new tower of modern metal and glass, home to the new incarnation of the Dana Hotel and Spa.

With over two hundred rooms it’s not small, but the look and the atmosphere are pure boutique, from the exclusivity of the nightspots to the forward-looking design in the guest rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the bedrooms feel enormous, and the minimalist décor, including hand-hewn hardwood floors and bare concrete columns and ceilings, wisely doesn’t distract from the views. Best yet, a new building means no compromises when it comes to modern conveniences — not just high technology like LCD televisions and iPod docking stereos, but such concrete luxuries as fully enclosed shower rooms with overhead rain spouts.

The ground floor is given over to a full-service spa and fitness center, surely a big draw. But the Dana’s main attraction is Vertigo, the open-air rooftop lounge. When the weather permits, Chicagoans go mad for a chance to socialize outdoors, so you can expect a very full house.