The Kimpton Gray Hotel

Chicago’s Home Insurance Building, a 10-story marvel constructed in 1885—where additional floors were added later to bring it to a total of 14—once housed the Chicago branch of the New York Life Insurance Company. The Kimpton saved the building from certain destruction, and now the historically recognized landmark in Chicago serves as the Kimpton Gray Hotel. Blending something old with a whole lotta something new, it’s a stay which pleases with Art Deco touches and 293 rooms fit for modern-day executives. 

What are the rooms like at the Kimpton Gray Hotel?

Remnants of the hotel’s buttoned-up past are still alive and well. Enter on LaSalle Street, and you’ll be greeted with a cavernous ground floor, replete with Georgia Gray marble and two grand staircases. That is, if the entryway is open. The doors were closed on my visit, leading to a more standard and less exciting welcome on Monroe Street. But wandering around to see it is always welcome. 

The second floor houses further historical features, as eight gilded elevators stretch the length of the hallway, once made to shuttle suited-up types to their respective floors. Now tourists and those who look to get away can enjoy the same efficiency, as I never waited more than a few seconds before an elevator slid open, ready to carry me to my room. 

Much of the grandness is reserved for the bottom floors, as the one-bedroom suite living area that I stayed in functioned more minimalist and modern, with a long gray sectional, black and blue carpeting and a glass-top table for work. The bedroom held all the usuals: a comfortable king-size bed and a flat-screen TV. The most eye-catching detail went to the dome-sized light structure that suspended over the nightstand, which I could dim at will. Behind the sliding door was a handsome bathroom with black marble countertops, his-and-her sinks and a separate area for the toilet that hung a single art piece, reminding me to “Keep Calm and Carry On” while I was inside. 

What are the facilities like at Kimpton Gray Hotel? 

The hotel gym is 24-hour, and has a standard mix of treadmills and ellipticals, free weights and a Peloton bike. Speaking of, you can check out cruiser bikes from the front desk to explore the city further. The hotel is also a great find if you plan on bringing a dog, as pets can stay at no extra charge. That and right by the lobby you can find a treat station, plus food and drink bowls will be brought to the room.  

If you don’t want to work from your room, the lobby doubles as a living space with low-slung velvet chairs and a long table for working, with the additional perk of complimentary coffee and tea. By the early evening, the same lobby hosts a social hour from 5pm to 6pm.

What is the food and drink like at the Kimpton Gray Hotel? 

The hotel’s ground floor belongs to La Bella Trattoria. This charming Italian restaurant goes all day, with yogurt semifreddo and eggs florentine in the morning and cycles through pizza, pastas and chicken Parmesan at night.

The title of one of the city’s finest cocktail bars goes to Vol. 39, found right off the lobby on the second floor. The lounge takes a page out of ‘Mad Men’ with tan leather couches and bookshelves lined with leather-bound law encyclopedias that were discovered during the renovation. It is fitting that this bar looks like a library, given the study of old fashioneds, Manhattans and Negronis (of which there are six each) and an extensive list of spirits.

On the 15th floor sits Boleo, a rooftop restaurant and bar that reads tropical and cool thanks to string lights and a retractable glass ceiling that flexes depending on the weather. The menu keeps things just as breezy, dancing around Pan-Latin cuisine with Peruvian and Ecuadorian ceviches and Mexican chicharron and moles. 

What’s the area like around the Kimpton Gray Hotel? 

The hotel is located in the heart of the Loop (a.k.a. the financial district), making it easy for the comings and goings of business types. But to see the sights, you can journey west to find the Chicago Riverwalk and the West Loop neighborhood. To the east are some of Chicago’s finest attractions and parks: the 24.5-acre Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago and, of course, Lake Michigan.

DETAILS

Address: 122 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Price per night: Prices start at $164 per night 

Closest transport link: From the airport, you can take the blue line on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to the Forest Park stop and the hotel will be a five-minute walk away. 

Book now: Booking.com

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