How The St. Regis Chicago Is Taking Health And Wellness To A New Level
Forbes
October 19, 2023
Inside the new 101-story St Regis Hotel is a designated wellness floor with a fitness center, indoor
Look up and it will be hard to miss the towering, slightly undulating, 101-story St. Regis Chicago. Designed by the female architect Jeanne Gang and perched on the easternmost edge of Chicago’s Downtown Loop area, the gleaming structure, the city’s third tallest building is making a splash in the hotel world.
But what separates the new hotel, which opened in May, from other luxury Michigan Avenue accommodations is the property’s designated wellness floor. Here, you’ll find a state-of-the-art fitness center and a trio of private workout studios with rotating yoga (hatha and restorative), meditation, pilates, TRX and Barre. Looking to swim laps? There’s a generously sized heated indoor pool and a weather-permitting outdoor sundeck for drying off and admiring the city views.
Far from your ordinary hotel spa, the St. Regis has a 12,000 sq foot floor dedicated soley to wellness.
In the meantime, a creamy, neutral-toned 12,000 sq. ft spa hosts seven treatment rooms with a robust treatment menu. The Plush Full Body Polish, for instance, uses a sugar-salt combination to soften and hydrate; while a energizing massage offers a Japanese reflex-inspired foot massage followed by sweeping movements to warm muscles (add-ons include arnica and Cause + Medic CBD oil for extra tight limbs). Meanwhile, a 90-minute Profound Hydration facial taps into four types of hyaluronic acid; including a bonus Cryo-eye treatment using cooling porcelain spoons to lessen dark circles and puffiness. Short on time? A 30-minute Rest treatment mixes cranial sacral, lymphatic drainage, and acupressure to quiet the mind. Afterwards, enjoy a detoxifying sauna and steam; or simply rest by the fireplace, noshing on pastry chef Juan Gutierrez delightful handcrafted chocolates.
Begin your morning with a swim in St. Regis Chicago’s large heated pool with sweeping views of Lake
In the mood for fresh air? Just outside, you can opt for a run along the Riverwalk or head over to Lakeshore Trial for a quiet stroll and soak up the beach and city views. For those looking for concerts, ice skating (in the winter) and art galore, a few blocks, you’ll find Millennium Park and The Art Institute of Chicago.
Healthy Eating
A serene cream backdrop with leafy plants fills the Rockwell Group designed, Japanese-inspired Miru — a airy-chic restaurant whose duo of terraces offer stellar views of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and the Navy Pier. Come morning, you’ll find cold-press juices, fresh berries, coconut chia pudding and a Tokyo-inspired breakfast of grilled umami salmon, dashi tamago, rice and miso soup. (Of course, should your diet allow, don’t miss chef Gutierrez freshly-baked croissants) At dinner, Chef Hisanobu Osaka features a brightly crunchy Japanese cucumber salad with soy vinaigrette, marinated organic tofu in a ginger-garlic vinaigrette and crispy whole snapper with herb salad and ginger miso. There’s also fresh sushi and sashimi available.
The St Regis Chicago serene tones and black out curtains help weary travelers and city slickers
The Rooms
The St. Regis public spaces, designed by KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group and Gensler, also feature rooms and suites, 192 in total, leans on modern lines, understated grays, metallic hues and earth tones; while pops of blue recall the sky and Lake Michigan. Large bathrooms have walk-in rain showers and deep soaking tubs (sprinkle some of the spa’s relaxing CBD bath salts). Come night, close your floor-to-ceiling window curtains, turn on some quiet music and lay a top plush Frette linens, a perfect prescription for a restful slumber. Wake up and repeat.
