SLEEPER HITS

NO ROOM KEY? NO PROBLEM. THESE HOTEL RESTAURANTS ARE WORTH THE TRIP—EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT SPENDING THE NIGHT.

- WRITER LAUREN SIEBEN

Idol Wolf's signature seafood paella is perfect for sharing.

ST. LOUIS

IDOL WOLF A former YMCA now houses the übercool 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis: part art museum, part hotel, and home to a Spain-meets-Midwest fusion of flavors at Idol Wolf. Order tapas like garlic-doused Argentinian red shrimp or carved strip steak with Manchego potatoes and sherry demi. Perk up with one of Idol Wolf's playful takes on the gin and tonic—a favorite drink in Spain. Try a savory cucumber and cherry tomato G&T or a raspberry-rhubarb version of the classic. And keep an eye out for the 4-foot-tall orange penguins; a signature of 21c Museum Hotels (in a different color at each location). These works of modern art are known to waddle their way from the hotel to the restaurant.

PEEK AROUND The 21c Museum Hotel is home to a contemporary art museum that’s open to the public 24/7. Walk through the exhibits on your own, or check the website for the next free guided tour.

CHICAGO SHANGHAI TERRACE

The fourth-floor terrace of The Peninsula Chicago offers quiet elegance, unbeatable city views, and some of the best Chinese food in the city. Chef Elmo Han serves up modern takes on traditional Chinese cuisine, including Cantonese and Sichuan dishes. Order steamed dim sum favorites like barbecue pork buns and seafood dumplings, or opt for the slow-roasted Peking duck—cooked to crispy-outside, tender-inside perfection.

INSIDE JOB The outdoor terrace is only open when the weather is favorable, but the interior is gorgeous, too, with Chinese silkscreen paintings and sophisticated woodwork.

CLEVELAND IL VENETIAN