Palm Court at The Drake Hotel

The Drake Hotel is the epitome of old Chicago glamour, and having afternoon tea there is like being a cast member of the Real Housewives of Gold Coast. While the Palm Court (where tea is served) is a beautiful space, it feels dated versus opulent. Yes, there’s a massive water feature in the middle of the room, and stone statues and pillars—along with hundreds of flowers—but all that decor feels like a distraction from uninspired food. The savories are like the type of mini-sandwiches you get from in-house catering at corporate events. And the sweets alternate between dry or greasy, with misshapen scones, generic chocolate madeleines, and little effort given to presentation. But it’s easy to overlook the flaws of the experience because of this spot’s history, great tea selection, and excellent service.