A historic building rescued from being demolished after its closure in 2007 as the Chicago Athletic Association, a private men's club, the structure remains one of Chicago's best preservation projects. With names like architect Henry Ives Cobb, Marshall Fields, and Wrigley as ghosts of its legacy, Hyatt operates this gem of a hotel on Michigan Ave just across the street from Millennium Park. The rooms exhibit decor in keeping with the space's previous iteration as an athletic club. Tiled baths, Pommel horse appointments, and deep cozy seating in the suite invite you to kick back from an outing to rest up for your next. The common areas are welcoming with hotel check-in desk located on the second floor. But before heading up those steps after entering from the Michigan Ave entrance, there is the concierge's desk where if I make only one suggestion it is this: ask about taking the guided tour of the building. You'll be bowled over on your walking tour with talk of the stables for the horses for carriages of the 1890s, the separate entrance and amenities for the ladies to wait for their husbands, the white ballroom, an homage to the former pool facility [this hotel does not have a pool] on the second floor that now serves as an event space, and the Andy Warhol work of Cindy Pritzker that adorns her namesake rooftop dining/cocktail domain. Dining is special here. While there is welcome space for all day dining in the Drawing room around the check-in area and in a game room with big screens, bocce courts (I'm told they'd set it up for you), billiards, a photo booth, even skee ball, three spaces deserve special mention. Cindy's rooftop is a reservations must (I believe the table time is for 90 minute aliquots). great cocktails, comfortable seating, make new friends with the next table mates (a little close, a little noisy, but a large glassed in space) and good bites. We made our dinner a surf and turf by ordering the skirt steak rare and the branzino. Delicious, flavorful beef, deboned crispy skinned fish, flavorful frits with a mayo based dipping sauce. perfect in every way. Plus go out onto the balcony outside to look upon Millenium Park. Midosuji, named for Michigan Avenue's sister street in Osaka, Chicago's sister city, is a repurposed intimate space behind the check-in desk that was once a speakeasy where to order your spirits, you asked that your "milk" be served. Earlier opened as an omakase experience, it is now a hand-rolled bar with brilliant offerings of texture, flavor combinations, and a changing menu. The mido mushroom, Okonomiyaki tots, and cucumber umeboshi were standouts. Accompaniments, we found the cocktails had a lighter touch for a lighter flare. Served by Chef Manish the evening of our dining experience this was a personal favorite. The Ives (you get to it through the second-floor game room past the elevators to the room floors on Madison) features cozy booth seats. If you cannot manage to get reservations for a table, bar seating is available for full dining service as well. Not a loss. Watching the magic happen at the bar is free. The cocktails available were a more full bodied set. Our Midosuji chef had recommended we have the roasted half chicken and the ives potato. We were not steered wrong. Flavorful, perfect in every way. With our Port cask old fashioned and an Ives Paloma and splitting a crisp house caesar, we had another great meal here and headed out to a night at the theater. Location, location, location. With the magnificent mile at your doorstep and the park across the street, the symphony two blocks away, and the Art Institute likewise nearby, this is a great place to base your stay in the Second City.
Zukhra Talmanova, Owner at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Richard, thank you so much for such a thoughtful and detailed review! We’re honored by your appreciation for the history and architecture, and we’re so happy that you enjoyed discovering the stories that make Chicago Athletic Association such a unique destination! All of your kind words truly mean a great deal to us. We’re also thrilled that you were able to experience so many of our dining venues! It’s wonderful to hear that the food, cocktails, and hospitality made such a lasting impression. And of course, we couldn’t agree more about our location. Being steps from Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and so many of Chicago’s iconic attractions is really hard to beat. Thank you for choosing to stay with us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable visit!
Absolutely stunning hotel! Love the character, ambience, and cozy vibe. Very clean and comfortable. Beautiful details and interior decoration! Staff so accommodating.
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the unique character, warm ambiance, and cozy atmosphere that make the Chicago Athletic Association so special. It's especially rewarding to know that you found the hotel clean, comfortable, and beautifully designed. Most importantly, we're thrilled that our team helped make your stay memorable with their attentive service. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
The property is first rate! Great location, great food and drink options, and a fantastic vibe! Cindy's Rooftop is the best!
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed our prime location, dining and beverage offerings, and the unique atmosphere of the Chicago Athletic Association. We're especially glad Cindy's Rooftop was a highlight of your stay. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
No veg food options, even though 5 restaurants. Just fries and bread toast. No heat control inside the room as single pipe across the hotel. Not enough blankets or good pillows for a good sleep, very old hotel attractive but total dinghy like, should be demolished and refurbished in my opinion. Lift is terribly slow. Stairs everywhere. Lobby is inside a bar !! Wow - just avoid:
Zukhra Talmanova, Owner at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for your honest feedback, we always appreciate the opinion that can help us improve. Chicago Athletic Association is an old building with a lot of amenities and history to explore, and it can offer different things to different tastes of travelers. We always have a variety of pillows and blankets to meet our guest needs, and while there are things that come with historical building, like elevators or one pipe system that does not allow heat and cool air at the same time, we put in resources into making our guests comfortable, and we are terribly sorry we missed the opportunity to deliver a good stay. We are sincerely hoping that you will give us another chance in the future and get to explore the beauty of the Chicago Athletic Association, and we will do everything possible to deliver the best stay ever.
The hotel is in a great location and has a really cool vibe, but the rooms themselves are basic and overpriced for what you get. We were disappointed not to receive an upgrade through Chase's The Edit, despite the hotel clearly not being sold out as claimed. Furthermore, the Game Room was reserved for private events every night of our stay, and Cindy's was completely booked, leaving guests unable to experience key amenities. Additionally the bathroom shower was a real nightmare and leaked everywhere flooding the floor. We were given a bag of towels when we called down about it... Overall, we enjoyed our trip, but given the price and service gaps, we likely wouldn't stay here again.
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed our location and the unique atmosphere of the Chicago Athletic Association, but we're truly sorry that several aspects of your stay did not meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing it must have been to be unable to enjoy experiences such as the Game Room and Cindy's during your visit. While private events and high demand can occasionally limit availability, we recognize how this impacted your experience and appreciate you bringing it to our attention. We also sincerely apologize for the issues you encountered with the shower. A leaking shower and flooded bathroom are certainly not the experience we want for our guests, and we regret that the resolution provided did not adequately address the inconvenience. Additionally, we understand your frustration regarding the upgrade experience and perceived value of the room. Your comments have been shared with our leadership team as we continually work to improve both our accommodations and guest experience. While we're glad to hear you enjoyed your trip to Chicago overall, we're disappointed that we did not leave you with a stronger impression. Thank you again for your honest feedback. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from your experience and hope to have the chance to provide a more seamless stay in the future. Warm regards, Dom
This is a lovely hotel. We had some issues with check in where our daughter who is in a wheelchair was mistaken for a dog and given a doggie treat. The person did apologize when realizing his mistake. Also we were misdirected to our floor via an elevator that required us to maneuver stairs with the wheelchair to get to our room. That aside, the hotel service is good and food the wedding we attended in the hotel was very good! I would also recommend that those arriving by car be aware that they need to drop off their car on the side street with the valet (not at the Michigan Ave. entrance). We were not aware of this prior to arrival and it made unloading our daughter's wheelchair a bit awkward. Rooms are charming and the restaurants and bar areas are great. Can't beat the location across from Millenial Park.
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. While we're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the wedding, our dining and bar venues, the charm of the guestrooms, and our location across from Millennium Park, I am truly sorry for the frustrations you encountered upon arrival. Please accept our sincere apologies for the misunderstanding involving your daughter and for the accessibility challenges you experienced when being directed to your room. We understand how disappointing and uncomfortable those moments must have been, and while we're glad our team member apologized, we recognize that the situation should not have occurred. Your feedback is invaluable and will be shared with our team as we continue to improve both our guest service and accessibility guidance. We also appreciate your comments regarding valet arrival procedures. We understand how the lack of clear information can make arrival more difficult, especially when traveling with mobility equipment, and we'll take your feedback into account as we look for opportunities to better communicate this process to future guests. Thank you again for your thoughtful review and for recognizing the many aspects of your stay that you enjoyed. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you and your family back and provide a smoother, more seamless experience from arrival to departure. Warm regards, Dom
A great location and a lovely surprise ! We usually stay at Marriot. We highly recommend this hotel for the location, the view at Cindys and the staff were amazing !
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our prime location, the beautiful views at Cindy's, and, most importantly, the service provided by our team. It means so much to know that we were able to make such a positive impression, especially as guests who typically stay with another brand. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back to the Chicago Athletic Association for another memorable stay.
Awesome Founders Room and great location!! Staff is friendly everywhere you go and the hotel has great history (Ask at front desk about speakeasy it used to run)
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Founders Room and our prime location in the heart of downtown Chicago. It's especially rewarding to know that our team's hospitality stood out during your stay. We take great pride in providing friendly, attentive service, and we'll be sure to share your kind words with our staff. We're also delighted that you enjoyed learning a bit of the building's rich history. The Chicago Athletic Association has so many fascinating stories to tell, and we're always happy to help guests discover more about the property's unique past. Thank you for your recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable stay soon! Warm regards, Dom
Excellent location on the Mile! Friendly and attentive staff providing solid service. Cindy's bar was great to see the sunset with a cocktail in hand. Highly recommend.
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our unbeatable location along Michigan Avenue and that our team helped make your stay a memorable one. We're especially glad you had the opportunity to visit Cindy's and take in one of Chicago's beautiful sunsets with a cocktail in hand. There's truly nothing quite like that view overlooking Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to the Chicago Athletic Association the next time your travels bring you to the city! Warm regards, Dom
This is my favorite hotel in Chicago—and probably one of my favorite hotels anywhere. There really is nothing else quite like it. I had not stayed here in a couple years, and I was genuinely excited to come back. Unfortunately, there is now one major issue that really changes the experience: the lobby and common areas have become crowded with students from local colleges who are not hotel guests. They set up with laptops, books, backpacks, and chargers and use these beautiful spaces as essentially a study hall or remote-work area. I completely understand wanting the hotel to feel welcoming to the community, but there has to be a balance. These spaces are one of the main reasons guests choose this hotel. When paying hotel guests have to navigate around groups of non-guests occupying tables and seating areas for hours, the lobby loses much of the atmosphere that made this hotel so special in the first place. It now feels crowded, hectic, and more like a university library or coffee shop. This is significant enough that it will affect whether I stay here again. Before booking my next trip to Chicago, I will call the hotel and ask whether this is still the policy. If non-guests are still being allowed to use the lobby this way, unfortunately I will stay somewhere else. I say this reluctantly because I truly love this hotel. It remains one of the most unique and beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in. But management needs to recognize that paying guests has to come first.
Daniel Emanuel, Guest Services / Front Office at Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback and for your continued loyalty to the Chicago Athletic Association. It means a great deal to hear that we remain one of your favorite hotels, and we truly appreciate your kind words about the character and uniqueness of the property. We are sorry to learn that your recent experience did not live up to the expectations set by your previous stays. We understand your concerns regarding the use of our public spaces and how the atmosphere may have felt different from the experience you remembered and looked forward to returning to. As both a hotel and a gathering place within the city, we strive to create a welcoming environment for our guests while also maintaining the vibrant energy that has long been part of the Chicago Athletic Association experience. That said, we recognize the importance of ensuring our hotel guests feel comfortable, valued, and able to enjoy the spaces that make our property special. Your feedback has been shared with our leadership team as we continuously evaluate how our public spaces are utilized and how we can best balance the needs of our hotel guests with those of our broader community. We genuinely appreciate your perspective and the honesty with which you shared it. We hope you will consider staying with us again in the future. Your feedback is invaluable, and we would welcome the opportunity to provide the experience you've come to expect and enjoy. Warm regards, Dom
Showing 10 reviews since September 5, 2026.