Chicago Loop Chicago, Illinois
Renovated
2019
Price
$$
Rated for
Heritage Design SocialOutside the door
The house
MarriottMid-century parkside address
Mid-century lines meet Michigan Avenue energy, where the ground-floor Hub lounge looks directly out toward the greenery of Grant Park.
What it’s good at
Notable
A designated 1961 Chicago Landmark tower designed in mid-century International Style by A. Epstein and Sons.
Listed
Airy mid-century modern interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of Grant Park and Lake Michigan.
Listed
The Hub lounge and Grant Park Bistro offer counter seating, evening cocktails, and street-level patio tables.
What they say
US Readers' Choice Awards
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
From its airy midcentury modern design to the unbeatable views of Chicago’s skyline and Lake Michigan, Le Méridien Essex Chicago fits all the cosmopolitan chic.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set along the South Loop Cultural Mile, Buckingham Fountain and the Art Institute of Chicago are an easy walk across the park.
The rooms
Floor-to-ceiling glass frames direct vistas of Lake Michigan and Grant Park, alongside hidden mirror speakers and custom Frette bathrobes.
The gym
Cardio machines and Peloton bikes sit beside street-facing windows, stocked with TRX mounts, weights, and chilled lavender towels.
Dogs stay too.
Restaurant
Grant Park Bistro
French-American bistro fare is served across a mural-backed marble bar and a sidewalk patio along Michigan Avenue.
How it began
Opened in 1961 as the International Style Essex Inn by the Gecht family, the tower is now a designated Chicago Landmark.
Good to know
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Le Méridien Essex Chicago
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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.