February 2019 Hideaway Report

FROM THE EDITOR: For this issue, we traveled to the scenic and unspoiled province of Transylvania, in central Romania, where we found charming guesthouses, good food and gracious hosts. In Chicago, our editor had high hopes of finding a new hideaway, but after staying in three hotels, only one was recommendable.

Articles

Where the Magic Happens in Chicago

The Chicago Magic Lounge, a launderette turned stylish cocktail bar and theater, is a worthy stop in the Andersonville neighborhood.

In Chicago, Food Trucks Are Out, Food Halls Are In

City regulations have mostly prohibited food trucks in Chicago. The city has responded by opening numerous indoor food halls. Here are three new ones downtown.

6 Excellent Taprooms in America's Beer Capital

Chicago currently has more breweries than any other city in the U.S., with some 167 in the metro area. Here are six near Ravenswood Avenue that are excellent.

Australia’s Capella Lodge Gets an Upgrade

One of the world's most exotic hideaways, the nine-suite Capella Lodge on Australia's Lord Howe Island, has reopened after a major refurbishment.

Romania Bookshelf: Travelogues by Patrick Leigh Fermor

Two of the best travelogues ever penned, "A Time of Gifts" and "Between the Woods and the Water," make a perfect read before, during or after a trip to Romania.

Video: Sophy Hyde Park, a Chicago Hideaway

On a recent trip to Chicago, our editor hoped to find a hideaway that we could recommend. Here is video of the hotel he recommends there: the Sophy Hyde Park.

Romanian Food and Wine

Romanian food is as regionally distinctive as that found in France or Italy. Here is a selection of favorite restaurants from our editor's recent trip.

Where Royalty Sleeps: Prince Charles’ Transylvanian Guesthouse

In the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Prince Charles owns a guesthouse. When he is not in Transylvania himself, visitors can rent a room or a cottage.

Seeking the Real Count Dracula in Transylvania

For travelers fascinated by Dracula, there are a variety of locations that can be visited in Transylvania besides the most popular, Bran Castle.

Indelible Memory: Cookies and New Friends in Mălâncrav

Our editor visited Malancrav to see the 14th-century fortified church and its famous Gothic murals. What he found instead was much more special.

Gladden Private Island: The Ultimate Refuge, in Belize

A 30-minute helicopter ride from Belize City is the newly opened Gladden Private Island, a 3,000-square-foot refuge offering 100 percent privacy for one couple.

A Perfect Day In... Chicago's Hyde Park

This daylong itinerary in Chicago's Hyde Park is a fun alternative to downtown, with recommendations of important South Side attractions.

Three Favorite Small Museums in Chicago's Hyde Park

On this visit to Hyde Park, on Chicago's South Side, we skipped over the Museum of Science and Industry and visited three lesser-known gems.

Chicago’s New Hideaway Hotels

Chicago has long lacked a luxurious hideaway hotel. But a number of boutique properties have opened since our last stay, so we returned with high hopes.

Chicago's Best New Restaurants

A few excellent restaurants in Chicago may have closed, but the vacuum is quickly being filled. Here are 8 new additions to the Windy City dining scene.

A Newly Recommended Hotel in Chicago

Determined to find a hideaway in Chicago, our editor booked a trip there. After a few stays in various hotels, only one made the grade: the Sophy Hyde Park.

Letter From the Editor: February 2019

This month we feature two contrasting locations: Transylvania in the heart of Romania, and Chicago, in the heart of the Midwest.

Exploring Unspoiled Transylvania

Culturally rich, peaceful and hospitable, Transylvania deserves to join the ranks of major European destinations. For now, it remains unspoiled.

Bucharest's Stirring Revival

With its Belle Epoque buildings and excellent restaurants, Bucharest is living up to its pre-World War II sobriquet, the “Little Paris of the East.”

Newly Recommended Hotels in Transylvania

For the February 2019 issue, our editors discovered two hideaways in Transylvania, a scenic and unspoiled region of central Romania.