Whether you’re looking to escape the bustle of Chicago or are seeking a cozy retreat on the shores of Lake Michigan for a domestic weekend getaway, the English-inspired Deer Path Inn provides a welcoming refuge for couples, families, and business travelers from near and far. Located about an hour north of Chicago by car (depending on traffic) in the quaint and manicured suburb of Lake Forest, the Deer Path Inn is a longstanding community centerpoint.
Any day of the week, you’ll find tweens navigating a pastel-colored tower of high tea treats celebrating a birthday, friends clinking ornate cocktails on the back patio, and golfers settling in for burgers and beers in the tavern after 18 holes.
Upon arrival at the Deer Path Inn, at least during my visit in early June, guests are treated to a charming English-style setting, complete with flowered trellises and neat shrubs shaved just-so. Step over the threshold and into what feels like the rustic but refined hunting retreat of a moneyed family. Dark wood paneling, rich leather couches, and a platter of homemade chocolate chip cookies stand as a welcoming committee to put any weary traveler at ease. Let the enthusiastically friendly staff show you to your room, which is guaranteed to match the charm of the lobby, and settle in for a comfortable stay far from any urban hustle and bustle.
The current Deer Path Inn was built in 1929 and the interior was fully renovated in 2016. The renovators took care to retain the hotel’s original English countryside aesthetic. Tudor-style beams thread from the exterior inside. Diamond lattice windows and doors and hanging iron candelabras complete the hotel’s immersive English treatment.
Visit the hotel’s lower level for the full pub experience. Nearly every surface of the restaurant is made of gleaming dark wood or buttery leather and the creative bar staff, lead by Chief Spirits Officer Jorge Centeno, whip up stunning cocktails using seasonal ingredients and sometimes inventive glassware. The menu focuses on hearty, warming feasts like chicken pot pie, wild mushroom risotto, and a pork chop schnitzel. Surprisingly, guests can also enjoy a range of fresh and light sushi options alongside their cottage pie or roasted bone marrow.
The central restaurant, The English Room, offers a more refined menu and airier atmosphere. The afternoon tea is a special treat with sweet and savory bites and an extensive selection of teas. The hotel also offers a select menu for room service for every meal.
Guests can borrow bikes for an afternoon ride around the cute college town that was once a retreat for Chicago’s Gilded Age elite. Lake Forest is dotted with stately historic manors, so be sure to pick up a guide to the oldest pieces of real estate from the town’s history center. Or pass the afternoon window shopping in downtown Lake Forest. The suburban college town offers an array of boutiques, including sporting stores, independent clothing shops, and specialty food markets. The nearby commuter rail will take you to Chicago in about 40 minutes.
Despite what you might think about December in Illinois, the holidays are the busiest time of year at the resort. For many families, within the Lake Forest community and from afar, gathering for a meal in The English Room or around the fireplace in The Hearth Room (a guest lounge) is a cherished holiday tradition. The homey ambiance offers the right cozy spot to take refuge from the midwestern winter outside. The property is also near the Home Alone house, which always draws a photo-opting crowd throughout December.
Whatever time of year you choose to visit, the Deer Path Inn will welcome you with its signature small-town English charm, ample plates of comforting food, and a long-standing staff eager to make your stay memorable.
Top Takeaways
Location: Lake Forest, Illinois
Address: 255 E Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Rating: Four-star
The vibe: A charming country stay that feels closer to the Cotswolds than Chicago, complete with an elegant high-tea service, a garden, and a pub brimming with regulars.
Food + Drink: The heavy furniture and taxidermy in the hotel’s main restaurant, The English Room, doesn’t do justice to the kitchen’s fresh flavors. Several menu items lean more modern, including a lovely fluke carpaccio and a soft shell crab BLT at brunch, but the majority of dishes are familiar country classics done well, including an exceptionally cheesy French onion soup, a crispy sliced pork belly starter, and prime ribeye with English peas. The Bar and White Heart Pub offer classic English pub fare, salads, sandwiches, and an array of puddings for dessert.
Our Favorite Part of the Hotel: Each room on the property offers a cozy refuge all its own. Many are equipped with gas fireplaces (sometimes more than one!), an ample sitting room, and a beckoning bathtub. The guest lounge off the lobby, The Hearth Room, is a homey and relaxed place for an afternoon cocktail, and the decadent afternoon tea in The English Room is not to be missed.
Amenities: Free Wifi; 24/7 Fitness Center, Complimentary Valet Parking, Evening Milk & Cookies, Bicycles for Borrowing, In-Room Dining, Meet & Event Space, Private Dining
What’s nearby? Lake Michigan, downtown Lake Forest shopping and restaurants, Chicago
Any personal neighborhood recs? Lake Forest has a small but bustling downtown district with several clothing boutiques, a great bookstore (Lake Forest Bookstore), and a popular independent coffee shop, Hometown Coffee & Juice. Borrow bikes from the hotel to take a peek at beautiful historic lakefront mansions scattered throughout the town.
Rooms: 57
Pricing: Rates start at $348 per night.
Closest Airport: Chicago O’hare International Airport
