Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Chicago
Gilded Age Grandeur, Reimagined for Today
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A magnificent 1893 Venetian Gothic landmark transformed into one of America’s finest examples of adaptive hotel reuse.
● Roman and Williams’ masterful interiors preserve the building’s club-like grandeur while creating a vibrant contemporary hotel.
● More than a place to stay—its celebrated restaurants, rooftop, bars, and Game Room make it one of Chicago’s most social destinations.
From Gentlemen’s Club to Design Icon
Long before Chicago became synonymous with modern architecture, the Chicago Athletic Association stood proudly along Michigan Avenue. Completed in 1893 by architect Henry Ives Cobb, the Venetian Gothic landmark served for more than a century as one of the city’s most exclusive private athletic clubs, where Chicago’s industrialists, politicians, and sporting elite gathered beneath stained glass ceilings and carved oak paneling. Today, following an extraordinary restoration by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and an inspired redesign by Roman and Williams, the building begins an entirely new chapter. Not as a museum. But as one of America’s most remarkable design hotels.
A Building That Never Forgot Its Story
Few hotel conversions retain so much architectural integrity. The richly ornamented façade remains one of Michigan Avenue’s great landmarks, while inside, marble staircases, mosaic floors, stained-glass windows, decorative fireplaces, and elaborate timber detailing continue to define the experience. Roman and Williams wisely resisted the temptation to modernise everything. Instead, they allowed history to lead the design. Custom furniture, contemporary lighting, rich textiles, and carefully selected vintage pieces complement the building’s original craftsmanship, creating interiors that feel timeless rather than nostalgic. The result is elegant without feeling precious. Historic without ever becoming static.
Rooms with Clubhouse Character
The guestrooms continue that conversation between old and new. Dark woods, warm leather, textured fabrics, and bespoke furnishings create spaces that feel more like private club chambers than conventional hotel rooms. Original architectural proportions bring generosity and character, while modern comforts are integrated with remarkable subtlety. Every room feels rooted in Chicago. Not in hotel trends.
The City’s Living Room
The greatest success of the Chicago Athletic Association isn’t simply the restoration. It’s the atmosphere. Like the private club that once occupied the building, the hotel remains a gathering place. Locals and visitors move effortlessly between coffee meetings, afternoon cocktails, rooftop drinks, late-night games, and memorable dinners. The building never feels reserved exclusively for hotel guests—it feels woven into the daily rhythm of the city. Exactly as great hotels should.
A Playground for Food, Drink & Conversation
The hotel’s collection of restaurants and bars is among Chicago’s finest. Cindy’s Rooftop remains one of the city’s iconic destinations, pairing panoramic views over Millennium Park with seasonal cuisine and outstanding cocktails. Cherry Circle Room revives the elegance of classic American dining with refined, contemporary cooking in a beautifully restored historic setting. The intimate Milk Room transforms cocktail making into an art form, serving rare spirits and meticulously crafted drinks in one of Chicago’s smallest—and most celebrated—bars. Meanwhile, the Game Room gives new life to the building’s original billiards room, combining cocktails with shuffleboard, billiards, skeeball, chess, and other games that encourage guests to linger long after dinner. It’s playful. Sophisticated. Entirely Chicago.
A Front-Row Seat to the City
The location could hardly be better. Directly opposite Millennium Park, with the Art Institute, Chicago Riverwalk, the Loop, and the Magnificent Mile all within walking distance, the hotel places guests at the crossroads of the city’s architecture, culture, and dining scene. Yet many visitors never feel the urge to leave. The building itself becomes the destination.
Why It Matters
Adaptive reuse often means preserving beautiful architecture. The Chicago Athletic Association goes much further. It preserves a way of life. The building continues to bring people together, just as it did more than a century ago, only now with a broader, more welcoming spirit. History remains visible in every carved staircase, stained-glass window, and stone fireplace. But the atmosphere belongs entirely to today.
Why It Matters
The Chicago Athletic Association proves that great heritage hotels aren’t frozen in time. They’re living buildings. Places where architecture, hospitality, food, design, and community continue writing new chapters every single day. Grand without intimidation. Historic without nostalgia. One of Chicago’s true modern classics.
