Chicago Illinois ~ Historic Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago ~ Dining Room
Image by Bill Badzo
Even before the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago was known as the Playboy Towers (Hugh Hefner owned the hotel in the 1970s), the rumor was that when prohibition reigned, Al Capone’s brother operated a casino and speak-easy on the Penthouse (14th) Floor of this 1927 Chicago landmark. Today, the hotel—a member of the Historic Hotels of America and part of the worldwide Millennium Hotel and Resorts group–seems fairly quiet and perhaps even a little tired compared to those undoubtedly crazy and frantic days.
Then again, there’s also no need to go to its 14th floor for alcohol anymore either. A beautiful horseshoe-shaped Martini Bar (50 variations of the cocktail) is one of the focal points when you step inside the classic old hotel lobby here—along with a gorgeous piano (there’s music on certain nights).
