The Chicago Athletic Association building, a Venetian‑Gothic landmark, dates to 1893. It was a private men’s athletic club for the city’s Gilded Age elite. The building sat vacant for years, and narrowly escaped demolition. It was bought out of bankruptcy by a joint venture led by John Pritzker’s family office. When Hyatt bought Two Roads Hospitality in 2018 it inherited the operating contract, so the hotel now flies Hyatt’s Unbound Collection flag

The 241‑room hotel at Millennium Park was meticulously restored and leans into the building’s history from the white‑marble staircase, walnut‑panelled “Drawing Room,” Stagg basketball court, and club crests carved into the façade. The gothic lobby has been described as “Harry‑Potter‑esque” gothic lobby and it feels nothing like a chain hotel.

Entry Is On The Ground Floor – But The Hotel Lobby Is One Floor Up

I believe that this covered area at the top of the steps was once the pool.

And here’s looking down the steps back to the ground floor.

And there are several public spots at the hotel, from Cindy’s Rooftop with park and lake views (skip‑the‑line for hotel guests) to the Game Room with bocce, billiards, and cocktails.

Drawing Room

Drawing Room

I didn’t make it up to Cindy’s during my stay, but was there about 18 months ago:

Another unique feature is that there’s a Shake Shack on the ground floor – and you can order it via room service. There’s also a ground floor coffee shop that offers a discount to guests.

Ground Floor Shake Shack

Here’s the coffee shop:

The basketball court converts into event space.

Their Cherry Circle Room and prohibition-era bar the Milk Room are both currently closed. Here’s the Milk Room from when I visited the property a year and a half earlier:

Chicago Athletic Association Review: Booking And Check-In

I paid about $250++ on a conference rate when the member rate was $200 higher. The hotel can be an award value sweet spot at category 5 (even better when it was category 4!) given cash rates can push over $500++ at times so even 23,000 points for peak dates can be worthwhile.

One floor up is the lobby where the check-in desk can be found and beyond it (not separated) the Drawing Room.

Check-in was quick and efficient, actually one of the rare cases where it was too quick. No mention of breakfast benefits on property (I asked) and no mention of the rest fee. They call their $30 resort fee a ‘founders fee’ and it includes drink coupon, Top Golf bay, bike use and a 10% discount on coffee at the coffee shop in the lobby. None of this was ever mentioned to me. I discovered the coffee discount when I asked about room charges there (not available).

Late check‑out was pro-actively offered, though, which I declined. I wasn’t driving a car but worth noting that $71 valet parking is free for Globalists on award stays. So that’s a big consideration in the calculus of cash versus points for elites on personal stays.

On the way first from the ground floor to the first floor lobby and then up to my room I found the elevator to be a bit slow. But I didn’t have to wait long for it on subsequent trips up or down.

Chicago Athletic Association Review: 4th Floor Junior Suite

Some of the rooms can be a bit dark, though mine got plenty of light – getting a park view is key for this.

At the same time, the tradeoff can be noise. The darker rooms are going to be quieter. I had no issue with darkness or noise with my corner junior suite. And it was perfect that I was on the fourth floor because my event was as well, on the indoor sport court.

I found the bed quite comfortable. I’ve seen people compliment the showers, but I found water pressue a bit uneven – it would pulse in and out occasionally while in use.

The hotel is reportedly quite good about upgrading to Deluxe King rooms with Millennium Park view and Junior Suites. The hotel is a Suite Award Ineligible Property so suites cannot be confirmed in advance here. The best suites are frequently taken by weddings. I saw event sales staff showing the property to multiple aspirant bride and groom pairs during my two night stay.

There were glass two bottles of distilled water in the room when I arrived above the minibar.

The room didn’t have a built-in closet but there was a standalone one in the entryway.

The room had a small desk area in the corner where the television was.

I really liked the couch at the window. Here you see an ottoman in front of it, which is how the furniture was arranged when I arrived, though it actually goes with the chair on the wall opposite the one with the desk beside the fireplace.

The suite had a large bathroom with two sinks. It had an accessible shower, which was fine.

They offer an overnight shoe shine service, which I didn’t notice until too late (there’s a bag in the closet). I rarely want a rundown of anything from the hotel, but like with their $30 resort fee it would have been really nice to know – if only because getting a shoe shine has just become so much less convenient in life. I used to stop in for one at airports but those are so rarely available at airports anymore.

What I loved most about the room were the high ceilings and how the furnishings leaned into the narrative of the property from the balance beam at the foot of the bed to a boxing robe on the hook in the bathroom.

Globalist Breakfast

I didn’t go to the restaurant for breakfast. When a hotel offers Globalist breakfast via room service I almost always take advantage – it lets me just work and food shows up, I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to order my morning around getting ready, and I can get ready more slowly working between life tasks. It’s such a great indulgent convenience.

Chicago Athletic Association Overall

Ultimately, any Chicago Athletic Association review has to conclude that this is what an ‘Unbound Collection’ property should be, and indeed any chain’s unbrand – rather than ‘we have no consistency and relaxed brand standards’ this hotel leans into its unique history and creates a genuine narrative experience.

All things equal I suppose I’d rather stay at the Park Hyatt Chicago but room rates aren’t usually even close to equal, and the fact that I’d have to stop and think about that for a moment speaks volumes of the Chicago Athletic Association. My room was comfortable, the hotel was just interesting, Globalist breakfast was offered via room service (as it is as an option at the Park Hyatt) and you could order Shake Shack room service too. Room service starts at 5 a.m. which is amazing for an early morning person like me. Plus, there’s a really good coffee shop in the lobby.