Chicago may be a major metropolis, but it has long lacked a luxurious hideaway hotel. So on my recent trip there, I was hoping to find a hotel with fewer than 100 rooms that I felt comfortable recommending. I’m pleased to announce that I did.

The 98-room Sophy Hyde Park is perhaps not ideal for a first visit to the city because of its South Side location, some distance from downtown. But those interested in experiencing a neighborhood of great architectural beauty rich with small museums — not to mention the blockbuster Museum of Science and Industry and the neo-gothic University of Chicago — would surely enjoy staying in this cheerfully stylish and friendly hotel.

The relatively reasonable price encouraged me to reserve a spacious Dorchester Suite for us, one of the Sophy Hyde Park’s largest accommodations, and I suggest that you do the same. I very much enjoyed the sweeping views of the neighborhood from its warehouse-style windows, as well as its immense bath.