Pendry Chicago

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel set in one of the most beautiful buildings in Chicago: the Carbide & Carbon Building, an Art Deco tower standing on Michigan Avenue since 1929, its crown finished in dark-green tile trimmed with gold that you can spot from blocks away. The story goes it was inspired by a green champagne bottle wrapped in gold foil, and that is exactly the appeal of Pendry Chicago, a boutique hotel with 364 rooms and suites. Rooms are done in warm, contemporary tones that blend the building's Art Deco mood with modern comfort, with soft beds and big windows that pull in light and city views. Some higher floors look out at the Chicago skyline or the deep blue of Lake Michigan. Several reviews call the rooms spotless, tasteful and quieter than expected for such a lively downtown spot. Waking up in a near-century-old building and stepping out to Millennium Park within minutes is an atmosphere you simply will not get from a new chain hotel.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here starts the moment you walk into the lobby, which keeps its original Art Deco gilded fretwork, dark marble and grand high ceilings beautifully intact, like stepping back into Chicago's Jazz Age. Plenty of guests say the lobby alone makes them stop and take photos. For food there is Venteux, a French-American brasserie praised for both breakfast and dinner, with a warm, stylish room serving croissants, oysters and well-made French classics. Up top is the rooftop bar, open to the city skyline and Lake Michigan, and at sunset it is one of the most romantic spots for a cocktail in the area. There is also a 24-hour fitness center and high-speed Wi-Fi throughout. What impresses guests most is the service: many reviews agree the staff are warm, friendly and attentive, recommending nearby restaurants and sights so well that you feel looked after.

Location and getting there

Pendry's location is a dream for anyone who wants to see Chicago on foot. The hotel sits on Michigan Avenue in the heart of The Loop, the core of the city, and step out the door and you meet a handsome street lined with historic buildings. Best of all, Millennium Park with its Cloud Gate sculpture (the mirror-bright Bean) is just about a 6-minute walk away, and a little further on is the Art Institute of Chicago, a renowned art museum. The elevated 'L' train that defines Chicago, with several lines (Brown, Orange, Green, Pink, Purple), is only about a 2-minute walk away, so you can hop a train to other neighborhoods without a taxi. From here you can also stroll to the Chicago Riverwalk along the river, the Magnificent Mile shopping district, or the lakefront in no time. For anyone who wants to ditch the car and explore on foot all day, then come back to a beautiful building downtown, this location scores a perfect ten.

Things to know before booking

To be straight with you, the first thing some reviews flag is the room view. Because the tower sits in a dense downtown packed with tall buildings, some lower-floor rooms face the building across the street instead of the city or lake view many people expect, so ask for a higher floor when you book if you want an open outlook. The second thing to budget for is fees: the hotel charges valet parking and a daily urban/destination fee that run fairly expensive by big American city luxury-hotel standards, so check the details at booking to avoid surprises at checkout. If you are not driving, parking is a non-issue since the 'L' is so convenient. On top of that, Michigan Avenue gets busy with heavy big-city traffic during the day, and rooms facing the street may catch some of the city's buzz, so if you are a light sleeper ask for a higher floor or a room away from the main street.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Pendry Chicago sells its mix of icon Art Deco charm, a walkable downtown location and warm service in a way that feels genuinely distinctive. If your trip in your head looks like sleeping in a historic building with a gold-trimmed crown, waking up a few minutes from Millennium Park and the Art Institute, stopping for breakfast at Venteux, then closing the day with a rooftop cocktail over the skyline at dusk, this is an ideal base for exploring Chicago. But if you are expecting a luxury resort with a big pool and sprawling grounds, or you would rather not pay a daily city fee, it may not fully match your style. Overall we give it 9.0/10, best for couples, solo travelers and culture-minded explorers who love old buildings with a story and want to be in the heart of a city where everything is an easy walk.