What reviewers say about Chicago Athletic Association
What does Chicago Athletic Association do?
Chicago Athletic Association operates a historic hotel in the Chicago Loop at 12 S Michigan Ave, across from Millennium Park, and runs dining and entertainment venues including Cindy’s rooftop bar, a Game Room with bocce and billiards, and Chicago’s first Topgolf Swing Suite.
What are the most common complaints about Chicago Athletic Association?
The critical reviewers on file describe very negative experiences, with complaints centered on poor service, being told to stay elsewhere, and being poorly run overall.
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Comfortable rooms with great service. The location is also perfect!
Beautiful hotel, but I cannot recommend staying there to get into Cindy's. What a joke.
Enjoyed our stay very much. Staff was awesome, friendly, and attentive. Our room was clean and comfortable. Having Shake Shack on-site was a bonus. Will definitely stay here again.
Fantastic place to stop after work. Make sure to get there early - it gets crowded quickly.
The atmosphere of the lobby and bar was nice. Service was very helpful.
The Chicago Athletic Assoc. is a fabulous wedding venue. The accommodations exceeded our expectation and the White Room was stunning.
Lobby is very fun and inviting. It's a very Chicago feel. The building is shared between several different Resturants so it's a very intermingled group of people.
The room has a efficient layout for the space they give you. Not the largest rooms, but very clean and private. It's a different experience from the Westin, and it's close to everything you need in the city.
Make sure to go up to the top floor for some great photo opps on the roof balcony.
It's fun place to spend quality time with family and friends. It's the place to go when nothing comes to your mind what to do where to go n your r not ready think anything else blindly go to this place with 3 or more people.. you love to go again n again
Location is the best, but the size is too small and crazily crowded. Lobby is located in the 2nd floor, and the valet parking is located in the right side. must call and ask where you go.
Free WiFi, friendly servers, slightly dark for working or studying, but there are some tables by the windows which provide a bit more light.
Hotel was beautiful inside. Rooms were really nice, definitely nicer than I expected. Great views of millennial park. The rooftop restaurant/bar was great. Really enjoyed our stay. Convenient location, easy to get to from airport via blue line train
This place is amazing. They restored the original athletic association and made it into a great hotel.
Staff here is iffy. I called about booking at the hotel for an extended time. I was left on hold for 7min before someone picked up the phone. The booking agent told me that what I was looking for was the sales department and that she would transfer me. Then, put me on hold again. Spoke to the person herself, came back to me and said that they couldn't do it. I never spoke to the person who actually handles what I needed in the Sales department.
I thoroughly enjoyed the vibe and ambiance within the library setting. Looking forward to going back.
Beautiful hotel, definitely would consider for a wedding venue or special event. Went here for a bridal runway show and it was PERFECT for that - the ceilings and woodworking on the walls in the ballroom (The reception portion was here, not the actual show so I didn't get any good pics in there unfortunately) on the 8th floor were just gorgeous, the chandeliers were so beautiful, and the floor to ceiling windows lining the wall gave spectacular views of the city.
Cool, classy and warm space that I recommend anyone to come and relax at. The type of place Ryan Gosling would have a drink at. There are a number of bars and areas here that have different hours so be sure to check the website for those. I grabbed a coffee from the first floor and came up to the second floor to sit by the fire as I had time to kill before my flight and the staff was very nice and hospitable even though they knew I wasn t a guest of the hotel.
General manager behind the bar was amazing. Service was great!
Great atmosphere. Table games and bocci court on the second floor were straight out of the past. The rooftop deck has an incredible view and drinks were fast and delicious.
Gorgeous space. Plenty of space to chill and hang out. A deep sense of being part of history. Staff was helpful and accommodating.
The perfect comfy beautiful Chicago lakefront hotel.
Best location for all tourist spots and foods! Also the facility is amazingly organized and maintained.
I actually just stopped in to meet a friend. The place seemed extremely swanky.
I was there for the MLS all star weekend. It was nice.
Lots of character, great room, super service. Don't miss the view from Cindy's. Absolutely fantastic location for discovering Chicago.
The rooms were classy, although a little over the top in the athletic theme. Felt very WASPy
Very cool drinks and atmosphere at the Pop up bar The Back Room. Worth checking out while you can!
Great location to the theaters and local attractions. We enjoyed several drinks between the Game Room and the Drawing Room and had brunch at Cindy's rooftop. Over crowded outside meant waiting guest up against you as you were eating which was unpleasant. Several times I was elbowed or bumped while eating. Hotel rooms were on the smaller side but the decor and authenticity makes up for it!
Amazing, super cool building. Really fun staying here - lots to do and see. The lobby turns into a restaurant in the evening (open to the public), which is fun but noisy; I recommend spending some time in this beautiful room in the morning for a peaceful, less crowded experience. Be sure to explore all the restaurants and different floors.
So unique. Amazing location, history, offerings and experience
Fantastic service, excellent drinks, charming atmosphere.
I stayed a couple of nights here and very much enjoyed the stay. The bar area/games room gets crowded and noisy (especially on St Patrick's Day!) but make your way through and you'll be pleased by the elegance and tranquility of the rooms. Great location. Particularly liked brunch at Cindy's rooftop restaurant too. Highly recommended!
I had an awesome stay. The hotel is very fancy and has a great location near millennium Park.
We had a great stay. Just overnight but could have spent more than that just hanging out in the many amazing public areas. The employees were all friendly and very helpful. The restored architecture lent a very unique feel to this hip spot for visitors or Chicagoans looking for a place to eat or drink.
Stayed here for a quick staycation and had a blast. There is so much to do in the hotel you're tempted not to leave! The rooms were handsome and include many Chicago references that remind you of the greatness of the city you are in. From my window I could see Millennium Park and the lake! Within the hotel there is the restaurant the Cherry Circle Room and the speakeasy the Milk Room. It helps to have a reservation for both, especially the Milk Room because it only has 8 chairs. There are lots of games in the lobby (kids and adults having fun) and a Harry Potter-esque area perfect for getting work done, chatting, or soaking it all in. Had a lovely stay and appreciate the attention to detail and endless fun. Room service is also available.
Atmosphere was very cool. Felt like I stepped back in time to when people of importance would go to the club to be seen.
Fun and classy. Multiple bars with activities and great food.
The Athletic Association was great. I stopped in here for a drink and a game before meeting someone for a late lunch. Great service and Games!
Very cool concert venue that feels like a high school gym. Tons of fun and great crowds
Very cool hotel and venue for a wedding. Rooms were a little small but it was a beautiful hotel.
Brunch on the rooftop at Cindy's was an amazing experience. I highly recommend. We sat outside on a really nice day. The drawing room and game room would be really great places to relax with a group of friends. I will definitely be coming back, although, not too often because it's an expensive trip.
This is the best hotel I have ever stayed in. The staff was incredibly friendly. The rooms were comfortable and quiet. The game room is fun. The location is perfect.
Came here for a little staycation and had a nice time! The staff was extremely friendly. At check-in, they had no problem finding us a room with a bathtub. After checking in, David saw us wandering around looking a bit lost, and he was more than happy to show us where everything was and give us a bit of history about the building. The amenities are, of course, amazing. We had a really fun time playing chess in the Game Room over a couple of beers. The rooftop bar is incredible. This place is great for both locals and tourists who want a unique experience!
The only thing that wasn't absolutely amazing was the sleeping experience, which is kind of an integral part of staying at a hotel. The room itself was perfectly fine, but the windows faced out to an alley. Now, I totally don't mind not having a view, but there were loud banging noises coming from the alley all night long. It sounded like people throwing trash in a dumpster. I was waking up constantly throughout the night due to this noise. Even my husband, who is a very heavy sleeper, said that it woke him up several times. Needless to say, neither of us got much sleep. If I stay here again, I will definitely request a room that does not face the alley, and I suggest you do the same!
Visited as part of a work event. Beautiful space and a pleasant environment.
Had a great time on the second floor bar. Service was quick and the French Fries were delicious. I lived the atmosphere and the fireplace was a nice touch on a cold night.
The Cherry circle room is unreal. Such an awesome aesthetic. Very classy and vintage (in that very legit kind of way). The Benedict was incredible and their cocktail menu is top notch. It's expensive but not prohibitively so. Worth the trip and make sure you make a reservation ahead of time!
Can't get enough of this place! The lounge on the second floor. The rooftop bar. I just want to live there. It's a little expensive, but worth it. They had a really cool pop-up bar promoting Sargent's work at the Art Institute that I believe just ended (see picture). Fear not, they have other cool events listed on their website.
Great atmosphere and cocktails! Also can't beat the fact that there's a shake shack on the first floor!
Gorgeous building, marble staircases, walnut and oak throughout. Go there for no other reason than to see how buildings used to be made. Enchanting!
Great staff, very welcoming, great breakfast and kickback menu and staff, kids love the pool! Good location, Close to everything.beds are very comfortable.hotel is clean and we'll maintained.We will be back.
Went here to go to The Game Room bar for a group event and the service and drinks were phenomenal! Shuffle board was my favorite game to play. The rooftop bar also offered exceptional views.
A beautiful space with well-appointed rooms and great service.
Very cool old hotel in Chicago, with a relaxing lighting situation and atmosphere. They serve food and drinks in the Drawing Room, and it's not too expensive. Attracts trendy and good-looking crowds, even on weekend nights. Good for taking a date.
Nice old style hotel. Very conveniently located in downtown Chicago. Good onsite bar options. Recommend.
High quality unique finishes in each room, great location, very friendly staff. Rooms are a little small, but that's to be expected downtown, and except for storing baggage I can't think of why I'd need more space. Consistent theme and several cool spots for drinks and food make this place an excellent experience.
It was great. Room could have use a dresser for clothes.
Beautiful hotel. Theming is on point, reminded us of a Disney level themed resort. Staff great. Cindy's terrace was wonderful. If you can, get a Founder's room facing Michigan Ave. A great romantic retreat.
Service was fine, drinks were great. Awesome atmosphere
The Chicago Athletic Association is a very nice building with great amenities and businesses. I was visiting Cindy's for a rooftop drink while visiting Chicago. I highly recommend visiting for an amazing view and good drinks!
The rooms were cool and the space for the wedding was incredible. Guest room was a bit warm and shower lacked water pressure
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A historic landmark directly across from Millennium Park, Chicago Athletic Association has transformed 12 S Michigan Ave into a novel downtown Chicago Loop hotel and distinctive dining destination – featuring its crown jewel Cindy’s, best rooftop bar in Chicago with views of Lake Michigan, the second-floor bocce-and-billiards Game Room, and Chicago’s first Topgolf Swing Suite.
Chicago Athletic Association: A Historic Landmark Turned Hotel and Dining Destination
Located directly across from Millennium Park, the Chicago Athletic Association is a historic landmark that has been transformed into a novel downtown Chicago Loop hotel and distinctive dining destination. With its crown jewel Cindy’s, the best rooftop bar in Chicago with views of Lake Michigan, the second-floor bocce-and-billiards Game Room, and Chicago’s first Topgolf Swing Suite, this hotel offers an unparalleled experience for visitors to the Windy City.
History
Originally built in 1893 as a private men's club for athletes and sports enthusiasts, the Chicago Athletic Association was designed by renowned architect Henry Ives Cobb. The building's Gothic-style architecture features intricate stonework and ornate details that have been carefully preserved over time.
In 2015, after years of neglect and disrepair, the building was restored to its former glory by a team of architects and designers who worked tirelessly to preserve its historic character while updating it for modern use. Today, visitors can enjoy all of the amenities of a luxury hotel while experiencing the rich history of one of Chicago's most iconic buildings.
Accommodations
The rooms at the Chicago Athletic Association are designed with comfort in mind. Each room is uniquely decorated with vintage-inspired furnishings that pay homage to the building's rich history. Guests can choose from several different room types including standard rooms with city views or lake views as well as suites that offer more space and luxurious amenities like soaking tubs.
Dining
One of the highlights of staying at the Chicago Athletic Association is dining at one (or all) of its many restaurants. Cindy’s Rooftop Bar offers stunning panoramic views of Lake Michigan along with delicious cocktails and small plates inspired by global street food. The Cherry Circle Room is an elegant restaurant serving classic American cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients.
For something more casual, guests can head to Shake Shack or Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea for quick bites or coffee drinks respectively. And if you're looking for something truly unique, check out Game Room on the second floor where you can play bocce ball or billiards while enjoying craft cocktails and snacks.
Events
The Chicago Athletic Association also offers several event spaces perfect for weddings, corporate events or other special occasions. The White City Ballroom features soaring ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers while Stagg Court provides an indoor basketball court perfect for team-building activities or receptions.
Conclusion
Overall, if you're looking for a unique place to stay in downtown Chicago that combines history with modern luxury then look no further than The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel & Dining Destination! With its prime location across from Millennium Park plus top-notch amenities like Cindy’s Rooftop Bar & Game Room there really isn't anything else quite like it anywhere else in town!
- Website
- chicagoathletichotel.com
- Phone
- +18443122221