You may have spent the night in a hotel with a theme before, but you probably haven’t been to one that takes its premise as seriously as Hotel EMC2. The Streeterville boutique bills itself as “the intersection of art and science,” incorporating laboratory gear, surrealist paintings and a room service robot named Cleo that can bring toiletries, chocolates and other small items directly to your door. You can even summon the mechanical attendant (and whatever items you need) by simply talking to your in-room Alexa. It’s not quite like R2-D2, but it’s pretty damn close.
The futuristic touches don’t stop there—in your room, you’ll find a smart television that can control the lights, a backlit mirror and a glass shower that sits between the bathroom and the bed (there’s a curtain if you want privacy). The decor is more steampunk than Star Wars, with copper piping and leather accents that will make you feel like you’re sleeping in H.G. Wells’s time machine. There’s even a small horn speaker in each room, allowing you to insert your phone and amplify tunes (an epic sci-fi movie soundtrack seems appropriate).
Though EMC2 is situated within walking distance of WoodWind, Eataly and Shake Shack, you can have a memorable meal (and a drink) without leaving the building. In-house restaurant the Albert crafts contemporary fare like homemade pastas and smoked duck, served in a two-story space that features towering bookcases and murals. After dinner, head for the second-story Archive Lounge to relax with a cocktail or a local beer. You won’t find robots mixing Negronis, but who knows what the future holds?