Gold Coast Chicago, Illinois
Renovated
2011
Price
$$
Rated for
Heritage Social ClassicOutside the door
Storied Gold Coast holdout
A 1920s Gold Coast landmark where historic supper-club glamour meets wood-paneled lobby cocktails and weekend DJ sets.
What it’s good at
Notable
A 1926 Gold Coast landmark housing the historic Pump Room dining space and legendary celebrity Booth One.
Listed
The Library Bar serves daytime coffee and evening cocktails, alongside weekend DJ sets in The Ambassador Room.
Listed
A Gold Coast presence since 1926, home to decades of Chicago society dinners and celebrations.
What they say
Also in Wallpaper*.
The hotel design pays close attention to art deco-inspired details, from the original crown mouldings to the ornate wrought iron-work and glass doorknobs.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Stroll along leafy North State Parkway past historic brownstones, just a short walk from Oak Street Beach and Lake Michigan.
The rooms
Neutral palettes and minimalist furnishings offer a straightforward, calm retreat above the Gold Coast's tree-lined avenues.
The gym
- Gym
- 24-hour fitness center equipped with cardio equipment, Peloton bikes, and free weights.
Dogs stay too.
The Library Bar
Guests settle into leather chesterfields for morning espresso, returning in the evening for cocktails beside the fireplace.
Restaurant
The Ambassador Room
Globe pendants light the historic supper-club dining room, where American classics are served along large street-facing windows.
At the table
On the seventeenth floor, Terrace at Seventeen sets out drinks and fire tables against views of the downtown skyline.
How it began
Built in 1926 by Robert S. DeGolyer, the hotel sits atop the vaulted subterranean beer-aging tunnels of a former brewery.
Good to know
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Ambassador Gold Coast
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Chicago
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.