I typically don't review hotels, but I had the most wonderful experience at the Chicago Athletic Association and needed to write about it. The hotel is so gorgeous, definitely worth exploring to see the history, architecture, and amenities. This is a hotel with character! The front desk is so lovely, especially Kyle who was SO warm and helpful during both my check in and out. He needs to get a raise! The rooms are truly gorgeous and very intentionally curated. This is also the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. The sheets are soft but still so cool. The Drawing Room and Top Golf suites are very cool as well. I was in town for work and hope to be back soon! read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Hotel key - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I booked two nights at the Chicago Athletic Association for a unique experience while traveling to Chicago for the recent March Madness men's basketball games (Sweet 16 & Elite 8). This was our first visit to this hotel though I've heard quite a bit about this location through various Hyatt publications in the past. We enjoyed the hotel's amenities, restaurants, and history along with the proximity to so much in the city. The room, however, was a bit smaller and resembled more of a residence hall dorm room though that makes sense knowing some of the history of the hotel. The room was still comfortable. While we were hoping for an upgrade included in our package through The Hotel Collection while also having Hyatt Globalist status, there was nothing available with multiple beds until halfway through our stay, so they instead provided us some complimentary cocktails and helped us make a few reservations to make the most of our stay. We also received some French macarons as a welcome amenity. While we didn't sign up a history tour of the property, we gave ourselves one and enjoyed roaming around the hotel and experiencing the history of it. They also had Top Golf available and complimentary for hotel guests, which we didn't get around to trying out. We had two tasty breakfasts on property in the Drawing Room, a dinner in the Game Room, and drinks and dessert on Cindy's Rooftop. All were delightful experiences, and I wrote separate Yelp reviews on the food and serve for each of these restaurants. We drove offsite and went to one of the many nearby restaurants for diner on our first night there. We booked The Hotel Collection offer that included early check-in and late checkout, room upgrade, daily breakfast, credit which we used for restaurants, and welcome amenity. We paired this with Hyatt Globalist benefits, which waived the approximately $30 daily destination fee, which includes welcome beverage (bubbles) upon arrival, in-room complimentary local coffee and tea, skip-the-line entry to Cindy's Rooftop, complimentary reservations to use their historic basketball court and TopGolf Swing Suite, first dibs on hotel events and programs, seasonal bike rental, priority booking at AIRE Ancient Baths, history tour, and various discounts. Other complimentary amenities include premium Wi-Fi, triple filtered water in-room, 24/7 fitness center access, a full service concierge team, printing services up to 20 pages, shoe shine services, and access to the only Shake Shack In-Room Dining service in the world. We had a delightful visit and would certainly recommend this unique experience to anyone else looking for a similar experience! read more

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The hotel is walking distance to a lot of tourist attractions and conveniently located right next to millennium park which is perfect if it's your first time in Chicago. We visited for a concert at Soldier field and it was about a 45 min walk there. The hotel front staff deserves 5 stars, they were all so warm and welcoming. We arrived early and requested for early check-in and they texted us promptly when a room was available. We had even asked for a microwave after our concert and they brought it up to our room at midnight. We loved the architecture and the decor of the hotel but wasn't impressed with the rooms. There was never cell service inside our room and the walls were so thin I could clearly hear the guest next door sneeze. I was also not a fan of the European showers and lack of drainage. Our floor was soaking wet every time we took a shower and we had to lay down and stack 4-6 large towels to keep the floor from puddling. We had a room with 3 people so it was a whole flood by the end of the night. I'm sure housekeeping knew it was a recurring issue because they left us with a bunch of towels everyday. Lastly, we were informed that as a hotel guests we could skip the line for Cindy's rooftop but when we went up, we were turned away and were told there was no availability. No option to wait, just turned away so that was disappointing. read more

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Ordered room service. Came on time. The berries were super sweet. Grilled cheese wasn't American cheese (thank god) I believe it was an aged white cheddar. The tomato bisque was a little spicy but I enjoyed everything. I was starving and this hit the spot. The fries were crispy too. Although I only had one to try but I'm not a huge fan of fries. read more

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To be honest, I've passed through CAAH just twice to make my way to Cindy's Rooftop for brunch and lunch. Having said that, there is a coffee shop in the lobby that looks very inviting. The combination of copper/gold like metals with espresso and deep brown wood-like colors give me the sophistication vibe that compliments the long fine history of this establishment. And I believe there is a cool bar on the opposite side of the lobby. I have to say that I do need to experience a cocktail or a pastry here. But from my first impression, it's definitely a winner. read more

I love this historic place. I went to the Drawing Room for breakfast this morning. Kept it simple with the traditional breakfast and a night cap cocktail. The Ivy league ambience boasts dark wooden beams, fireplaces, and comfortable seating. The service by my server and her team was excellent. Thank you for answering my questions and treating so well. I'll be back. read more

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What an amazing historical hotel. I love how everything was preserved from the 1820?. Be sure to ask for their information sheet about the hotel. You can walk around yourself or pay for a guided tour. I walked around myself w their information sheet. The drawing room for breakfast was exquisite. One of the best hotel breakfasts I've ever had with their homemade English muffins, oatmeal w fresh fruit and unlimited coffee drip. Delicious! We ate at Cindy which also served mouthwatering dishes. The view was incredible overlooking the bean with cozy fireplaces and heat lamps. I would've loved seating outside but it was only standing options. The rooms were cute but small. We are used to small being from NYC, fine for a night or 2 stay. My two qualms were be there was no place to unpack your things (the desk maybe should've been a dresser) and the lighting in the rooms are way too dark. Now it's part of the vibe of the hotel to be moody but it would've been nice to make it brighter to do my makeup. Other than that it was 5 to us. The hotel staff were all helpful and pleasant as well. I would definitely recommend staying here for the food and history. Also it's part of the hotel collection with Amex! read more

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Very pleasant experience staying at the CAA for a work related meeting. Very nice catered meals. Excellent location. Adorable boutique hotel rooms. read more

We stayed at the Chicago Athletic Association in lieu of a family wedding in August 2025. This historic hotel is exquisite with grand architecture. I love the amenities offered in their guestrooms. Although rooms lean cozy, the setup is probably due to the age of the building. Overall, the Hyatt Collection did an amazing job rehabbing the space to bring it to date while still keeping its antique charm. As a hotel and wedding guest, the service, food and amenities were top notch. Everything flowed smoothly and it just so happened on a Saturday night, we were able to view the Navy Pier firework show from the White City Ballroom. For those looking to have their wedding in downtown Chicago, the Chicago Athletic Association is a dream wedding space. read more

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I have loved going to the CAA over the years. It was a a main go-to spot pre-pandemic. It has so much in it - Shake Shack, Fairfrounds Coffee, a hotel, a 2nd floor (the drawing room for eats and drinks), and more. The architecture is stunning, and its history is readily absorbable by just entering the building. Definitely a place to check out - they also have different events and classes. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest. I did a sound bath there recently. read more

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I ate at the drawing room and my server completely forgot about me ! After being here for over 2 hours, my server never came back. I was told they left after I flagged someone down to check me out and notified them I never paid for my meal. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - latte - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stayed here from Wednesday - Friday, came in at 1am from O'hare and found it quite difficult to find the valet / entrance. We had to take multiple laps around the buildings and call the front desk since there was no stand or indicator for valet. They let us know it's just directly across from raising canes and someone would come out once we arrived. The entrance of the hotel from valet is a bit of a confusing trek. It sends you down the hall to enter an elevator to go from G to Lobby, but then you have to walk through a restaurant and then through another lounge before getting to the check in desk. They took the car, and we had a swift check in. We were upgraded to an ADA room which the bathroom was a bit open designed for safety but not bad aesthetically. The room had high ceilings and the cleanliness was nice. I also ordered the dry wings and a burger from room service. The burger was a 7.5/10 it was good, the cheddar was very sharp but a bit over cooked The wings were a 8/10 the dry rub had a good amount of flavor it was not overpowering or just tasting like spices. After checking out valet took 20 minutes to retrieve the car. I sent the text upon check out, but might want to send a bit earlier if you have upcoming plans. read more

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Enjoyed a 3 night stay at the Chicago Athletic Association. The hotel atmosphere has been beautifully maintained with plenty of space and dining to explore. The staff was attentive and welcoming, special thank you to Patrick at the lobby check-in who made our stay memorable. Given its proximity, and features when booked through Amex, I would definitely seek the opportunity to stay at this property again! read more

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Four and half but rounding up to five based on the vibe and location. Location is incredible you'd be an idiot to rent a car here... well not exactly but sort of. Public transportation is so accessible from here. Generally solid treatment for globalists including room service breakfast. Love the repositioning of the space that Geolo capital did on this space, there definitely paid attention to the smaller things and were able to retain its old money charm. Prices are reasonable, and while rooms are slightly charm I think it's par for the course in terms of the vibe it's going for. Ask for a room with a view of the bean and millenium park, you probably won't get upgraded to a suite or a founders room but trust me you'll live. Elevators can be a little slow. Love the tile and mill work in the lobby. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Saw this on Netflix show, Feed the Phil and it was a great find. Iconic spot and open to the public. Apparently, it is now part of Hyatt hotels where you can stay and convenient location to the Millenium park and Art Institute museum. It is a very busy location but convenient if you want to walk places. As recommended by Phil, we ate the famous Chicago hotdog (and beer) at the green/game room - this hotdog was good with fries ($16)- not bad and you are in a great location. We took the elevator to the rooftop (one can eat there also but so busy) and the view is marvelous - view of the Millenium park, museum, Lake Michigan and we lucked out it was a beautiful sunny day. If you are in town check this place out! read more

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I just achieved Discoverist Status with Hyatt so was very excited to see the upgrade we got with our stay three nights in October for a wedding. Our room was tucked in a corner, no closet, no dresser, no counter space in bathroom, and no cell phone service... as in my phone said "SOS." I am astonished this is a 4 star hotel and had good reviews because this is anything but a good hotel. The photos are of our view and the so-called hanging space wince there are no dressers or closets. Shortly after checkin - I walked to the front desk asking if they had actually seen the room we were staying in and without acknowledging yes or no, stated "this is our standard room." We paid nearly $600 per night. Why would anyone ever stay here over a 4.5 or 5 star hotel? This entire building needs major renovations. Location is across the street from Millenium Park but there are so many better hotels in the general vacinity. Lastly, the WI-FI was the only way we had service or streaming in our room and it was down an entire day. On our last night, the AC would not work, was 75 degrees in our room in October - they told Us they would send a fan up and we could open the windows. Finally, after we had fallen asleep - an engineer knocked on our door and was able to take the ac unit apart and fix the issue. We had high hopes but we will never stay here again. I'm growing more and more concerned with Hyatt's brand and what they're offering as a whole. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Hanging space - no closet. - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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You know, when you pay for a suite you'd expect a higher than average experience. However, imagine having a hot and humid experience from the airport and the first thing you want to do is to take a shower that feels comfortable ... and then you're met with ICE COLD MISERY. Well, okay maybe the water needs to run a little longer, except IT DOESN'T. Oh wait? Why is the floor wet? Oh no.. the glass wall isn't even sealed properly so water's all over the floor! There goes all your towels... And when you call the front desk to figure out what's going on, they just go "Oh the hot water will be back soon and we'll send someone up to check the leak!", where front desk are like "yes the shower design is just bad. Can't do anything about it until we seal it shut and it'll be 24 hours to let it dry." So you call back the front desk and they just go "well, we don't have any other suites" because the hotel is fully booked out. And no offer to make the experience better. Had to request room service the next day to replace our exhausted towel set that was used to keep the floor dry in the restroom. Ungh. read more

The Chicago Athletic Association was absolutely beautiful to visit and even better to spend a couple of nights with. We checked in late after a rough bout of flight delays and enjoyed seeing such a lively atmosphere upon our arrival - they were killing it with 2 weddings that night and 2 more that they were preparing for the next day! There was a little confusion over what was included with my AmEx travel booking and they so gracefully explained everything to me and I didn't feel like I was missing a thing (in everyone else's defense, nobody else did anything wrong, I just misunderstood something on the website). Our room was perfect and my Mom and I loved seeing the restored vintage furniture pieces in the room. These complimented the modern amenities and unique lines utilized in the pieces they selected as appointments in each room. Housekeeping was absolutely lovely to interact with in the hallways and our room was maintained very well while we were there for the weekend. My Mom enjoyed her English muffin on the second floor for breakfast and I even believe I heard her say that her scrambled eggs were the best she has ever had. My bagel and lox were exactly what they should have been - classic! To get a little sugar in before a hot, busy day on the town, I had the mixed fruit side dish. I don't know if I've ever enjoyed a fruit plate more than this loaded-down dish with huge blackberries, sweet blueberries, and ripe raspberries, with banana and thinly-sliced, crisp apples playing the perfect supporting role. Generally simple, but rarely executed right - CAA nailed it! My Mom has already booked her stay for a trip to Chicago with her husband in October 2025 and I think she's also loaded up her online cart with items from the online shop to remember how special all of the details were for us. I could write doubly this much on the history and architecture of this magnificent Chicago treasure, but I've got to get back to work. Thank you, Hyatt, for acquiring this elegant old gal and opening her up to the public for all of us to enjoy. Whether you're stopping in during an architecture tour, peeking in as you stroll down Michigan Ave. by Millennium Park, or making the best choice and checking in, the Chicago Athletic Association does NOT disappoint. Do yourself a favor and book your next trip to Chicago, even if just to stay here, today! read more

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My wife and I had a lovely stay here. Every employee was very polite and kind. I was treated so well that at times I even felt a bit out of place simply due to how kind everyone was. We ordered coffee as room service in the morning which was good and the room itself was very comfortable. Our room had a fire place in it which the staff were always willing to light and a lovely view. The bed was comfortable and breakfast in the lobby was good too. My wife and I went here because as students we would study here in the lobby and oddly enough it is sort of the place that our love story began. We stayed here because it was the second anniversary of our meeting and the experience was so good that we plan to make it an annual thing. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Fireplace - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel's lobby, known as the Drawing Room, is a masterclass in cozy ambiance. It has the rich dark wood paneling, intricate detailing, and plush seating arrangements, the space exudes a timeless charm reminiscent of a classic reading room. The warm glow from the grand fireplaces makes the room special. I could sit in there and work forever. read more

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I recently stayed at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel this week (for business). The room was dark and dreary with very little natural light from the small windows. Several amenities advertised online were also not provided -- no Sferra linens, no Bigelow bath products, and certainly no down comforter -- which made the experience feel highly misrepresented. Overall, the room quality and amenities did not match what was promised, and the stay fell well short of expectations, especially for the price. I do not recommend this hotel for any type of stay - very dated hotel. read more

We love Cindy's Rooftop. Very friendly service along with a spectacular view over the park and lake. Our lunch was also top notch with a Mediterranean salad with lamb and a chicken sandwich that were both spectacular! Cindy's is a must go next time we are in Chicago! read more

This hotel is pretty cool as it is a former athletic association. It is in an excellent spot across from Millennium Park and nice walk to many attractions. The room: we had a kind room with views of Millennium Park. The windows are not noise proof nor are the walls. There is a lot of noise from the traffic all night and you can very clearly hear your neighbors through the wall. The room is also tight. There is not anywhere to sit that is not on the bed. The bathroom is very spacious with a great shower! The air condition worked well and was quiet! The hotel is a hot spot for conferences and events/weddings. There were literally people from a conference sitting outside of our room. It was odd. With some finesse, it has potential to be a great hotel! read more

I would come to this place everyday if I could! It's got everything you need to unwind, chill, breathe, and laugh out loud! The architecture of this building alone is 10/10! I can stare at it all day! Then there is the different bars, lounge, and game area with fire place and all. My favorite was the milk room but honestly I would hang out everywhere! read more

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This place is a dumpster fire of a hotel. Worst hotel I've ever stayed in. Would never ever stay here again. The elevator didnt work so had to wait forever for one or walk up and down the stairs and I was on the 10 floor. I don't mind stairs but this hotel was hot as hell so basically had to take a shower every time I got back to my room and I never sweat. The room was also hot and the A/C wouldn't go below 75. I asked the front desk for maintenance but they never came. Also, the most frustrating of all is there is no service in this hotel and the wifi doesn't work at all. Couldn't even get my hotspot to work. This made working impossible and I had to leave and go to ANOTHER hotel to get my work done. I've never made a review on a hotel but oh.my.god. this place is not worth the price. You'd be better off at a motel 6. read more

Fancy and nice hotel right in the business district. There are two entrances on the ground floor and depending on which side you enter there's a Starbucks and cafe and a golf room as well. It's a virtual golf course basically which is great if you golf and the weather is not so nice out. The check in area is actually on the 2nd floor and it's a very nice set up. The architecture in all the common areas are amazing. There's a gym, basket court, game room which is huge and is definitely a good way to kill some time. There's a full service bar and kitchen as well. The rooms are nice and the views if you're lucky to have one was amazing. Definitely would stay here again. read more

Wasn't sure what to expect but this was a blast. I was with a group of friends and had so much fun but Cat was the best and she added to the whole experience! For sure go here for a nice time and if you get to meet Cat it's a win! read more

I went to the drawing room at the chicago athletic association to work & the vibes were immaculate. It was quiet, cozy & comfortable - the perfect spot to set up shop for the day and get a lot of work done. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had a great stay here! Comfy bed and pillows, great lobby and multiple areas of entertainment. There's chess, bocce ball, pool, skeeball, basketball, shuffleball all in one place. We love the cozy vibe. I would skip the restaurants here though, average food with less than average service. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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In town for a cousin's wedding, the accommodations were set at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. The location could not have been more perfect - directly across the street from Millennium Park. It was walking distance from everything we wanted or needed to do. The hotel itself has beautiful architecture and a very cool backstory. The rooms were clean and modernized with old touches nodding to its history. The bed was large and comfortable, and the shower had great water pressure. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to try either the rooftop restaurant and bar (Cindy's) or the other restaurant (The Cherry Room). But we did spend some time in the Game Room. All in all, a nice place to stay if you're in Chicago. read more

Stayed recently at the CAA hotel. It's an "historic" hotel right on S. Michigan Avenue across from "the bean". It's a bit odd. The lobby is on the second floor (there's a coffee place and a Shake Shack on the first floor. The lobby is moody and broody and wonderful. There are several areas within the lobby to hang out and enjoy fireplaces. There is also a small bar in the lobby. Behind the lobby is the "Game Room" bar. Very cool space but always overcrowded and LOUD with outside group reservations that basically take over the entire bar. There is also the Cherry Circle Room bar/restaurant beyond the Game Room. This space is also very moody and broody and dark. Very bougie! Now for the room description. First carpet EVERYWHERE...GROSS! At first glance when I walked in, I thought "wow, cute". Then I started really looking. There are no drawers or a closet in the room. There was a "nook" just inside the door that had a few hangers and an ironing board. The bed and desk take up virtually the entire room. There was virtually no place to put my suitcase. Thank goodness I was traveling solo; there would have been no room for a second suitcase. The bed frame looked strait out of an old timey western; the nightstands looked like they came from a local thrift store; the desk chair looked (and felt) like a chair straight out of a 1980's high school classroom. The bed was uncomfortable and the pillows might as well have been crepe paper. Again, the room is full of carpet; you can see dust and whatever else built up around the base boards and in the corners. The only bright spot to the room was the bathroom. It was beautifully done; the walk-in shower has a rain shower head. There are also multi-use toiletries which I love. I will also saw the walls are super thin. There was a very amorous couple next door to me. No matter how loud I turned the TV, other sounds were coming in clear as day! I wouldn't choose to stay here again. There is another historic boutique hotel just up the street that I much prefer. The only reason I gave this place 3 stars as opposed to lower is because the staff were so incredibly wonderful and the lobby/bars are so very cool! read more

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Very cool theme and atmosphere. I liked that the game room, rooftop, and lounge are open to the public which gives it good energy in the evenings. A couple things I wish were different: I wish our room had a microwave and I wish they had ice machines on the guest floors. They said to call the concierge if we need ice but I don't want to bother an employee at 12 AM no matter how much they say they're happy to help. Other than that, awesome! read more

Old school Chicago at its finest. Hyatt has done a wonderful job preserving the history of the building and keeping the bars/restaurants in the old club in great historical shape (but updated for today's usage). Our room #631 was AWESOME!!!! Views of Millennium Park, large quiet space with a great bathroom. We loved all the luxury little touches like the fresh bottle of water, slippers and robes and a nice closet w plenty of mirrors. Surprised at how busy the lobby bar was on a Wednesday evening, but lived the younger vibe. I appreciated the valets & the great customer service we received. Well done read more

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Stopped by this place with friends to visit the game room. While there one of the employees gave me a tour. This place has so many nooks and crannies of entertainment and theres no way I wouldn't known with the tour. I could definitely see this being one of my regular spots the next time I'm in town. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The hotel itself is iconic and really, in a great location as a tourist. Right next to Millennium Park, so it is close to many attractions. Lots of restaurants and bars in the hotel that I'd check out even if I didn't stay at the hotel. It around a good 20-30 minute walk to River North, West Loop, etc which was great for us as the weather was great the weekend we went. Love that as hotel guests, access to Cindy's Rooftop was much easier and we enjoyed the bar several times during our trip. There's also bar at the Game Room, as well as a cool speakeasy. A Fairgrounds Coffee is on the 1st floor as well as Shake Shack. Fairgrounds, while great for coffee, can have a long long line. The lobby on the second floor also had a great area for relaxing and lots of people were there getting work done. Check in went smoothly and we had a king interior view room. While a bit small, it was fine for us since we weren't in the room for that long each day. The view is really truly facing another building and we had our curtains closed all the time for some extra privacy, so if you are looking to spend more time in the room and wanting some day light, interior view room is definitely not it! Bed was a bit too soft our liking but serviceable. There's a mini fridge stocked with minibar items, and some steeped coffee that we actually did enjoy. The water provided came in refillable bottles - would've preferred sealed bottles. While our room was fine, our friend was not so lucky. The room had stained bedsheets when they checked in and had to change their sheets at 2am when they saw it when they were about to go to sleep. Their room also had a faint smoke smell that lingered and eventually they couldn't stand it and called in to switch rooms. We also got stuck in the elevator - luckily there was a housekeeping staff with us and he pressed the telecom immediately to try to resolve. Not a great experience as we were stuck there for 15 minutes until the elevator resetted. I guess with a historic building, it does happen quite often. Definitely a mixed experience overall - amazing location and history, but wish a few things were executed better. read more

Go here to feel like the main character. Order a martini at 2pm & just observe the people. I love this place & always will! The Drawing Room is a top location in Chicago & it makes me happy. read more

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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An interesting old Chicago building but terrible entry thru a Shake Shack and everything is too dark and musty. The room so small can't open suitcases. And very dismal hallways. Amazed that it costs so much since it hasn't been touched since it opened 184 years ago Nice to see not to stay read more

Amazing history as a former Athletic Club and turned into a lovely old charming hotel managed by Hyatt. My favorite place to stay in Chicago. We are off to Cindy's for dinner which has an amazing view! Yes, we will be back! read more

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This place is so sick! Hidden gem. Cool place to work remote, study, read, etc. Fun place to play some games, pool, shuffleboard, foosball , etc... Very cool vibe, & fairly uncrowded. Hope this place stays a hidden gem forever. Nervous to even write a review bc I selfishly don't want people to know how cool it is. read more

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Quickly checked the place out on my way down from Cindy's Rooftop. This place is stunning with what seems original interior Gothic design. Wish I had more time to explore for games and drinks. Great place for a mini interior tour of a 100 plus year old building. When I come back to Chicago definitely coming back for some drinks here. read more

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