Sofitel Chicago x Dîner en Blanc

Life

Sep 19

If I cannot wake up to an ocean view, I’ll take this city one instead.

The Sofitel in Chicago is well-known for its class and excellence when it comes to decor, design, and service but did you know that its atmosphere and vibes are what truly attracts me to it?

Checking into the hotel at sunset is something I need to do more often, because walking into the room and seeing this view (below) is breathtaking. Wouldn’t you agree?

I had the pleasure of staying at Sofitel in Chicago, as they have partnered up with Dîner en Blanc International this year, which is an invite-only picnic that occurs in more than 80 cities around the world. Having loved attending the last three Diner en Blanc in LA, I was excited to be experiencing this event in a different city.

Prior to Chicago, Sofitel hosted Dîner en Blanc at their other properties including Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile, Sofitel New York, Sofitel Philadelphia, Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, and Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills will be occurring on Sept 29th.

I arrived in the city a couple dates prior to Dîner en Blanc and explored around with Sofitel through various activities, such as lunch at Shore Club, which offered a great view of Lake Michigan while you dine. We spent a few hours shopping for our outfits at Bloomingdales before sailing out to watch the sunset and fireworks spectacular. It was such a magical evening and a perfect introduction to the festivities for the next day.

The best part about Dîner en Blanc is the fact that you do not have any idea where the dinner will be located, until you get to the meeting spot. There is a designated address given to you, on where to meet with everyone attending, and once you arrive you will be notified of where to go for the actual dinner. I love the mystery and fun behind it each year, as everyone tries their hardest to guess prior to the event.

Tip: If there’s one thing I have learned from attending Dîner en Blanc for the last three years, it is to wear comfortable shoes! Walking is guaranteed and most of the time, the dinner takes place on grass.

This year’s Dîner en Blanc in Chicago was held at Siegel Field behind S.R. Crown Hall at the Illnois Institute of Technology. There was an estimate of 4,000 attendees and we all got to witness a marriage! A lucky couple had chosen this special evening to solidify their love and what better way then to party it up with a few thousand strangers, all dressed in white.

The dinner started around 7PM with sparklers going off at 9PM and the after party following at 11PM, held at Sofitel. La Nuit, the after party at Sofitel, was filled with smiling faces, lots of drinks, and plenty of fun. It was the best way to cap off the night and what made it much better (for me personally) was the fact that I could just go up to my room afterwards, no worrying about Ubering or how much I had to drink (hah).

Sofitel certainly leveled up the experience of Dîner en Blanc for me this year, it was classy, gorgeous, and a head turning event that many loved (including myself). Cannot wait for the next one!