First Look: Pendry Chicago

Chicago’s Loop district is home to Pendry Chicago in the 1929 Carbide and Carbon Building. Originally designed by Burnham Brothers, the eye-catching 37-storey green terra cotta tower with gold accents was reportedly inspired by a champagne bottle. The art deco façade at the main entrance is black marble, black granite, and bronze.

Formerly home to the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago and the St. Jane Hotel, Pendry Chicago mixes modern design with period details. Guests arriving at the hotel’s Michigan Avenue entrance pass through the original revolving doors and into the lobby with several 1929 features, including engraved brass elevator doors and mailbox. A circular light installation by Dutch artist Arnout Meijer leads to the sleek wood reception desk.

With a black and white decor palette, the 364 light-filled guest rooms, including 81 suites, designed by parent company Montage Hotels & Resorts in-house design team, are contemporary with black accents, such as the oak headboard manufactured by Ontario’s Credible Group, expansive desks, tufted-velvet side chairs, and black and white architectural photographs. Bathrooms are classically wrapped in grey and white marble.

The Millennium suite on the 23rd floor, with separate bedroom and living areas, has both a king bed and sofa sleeper, Fili d’Oro bed linens, marble dining table for six, Vittoria espresso machine, fully stocked bar, two LED smart televisions, Bluetooth speaker, and marble bathroom with soaker tub, oversized walk-in shower with a skyline view, and MiN x Pendry bath amenities.

Select suites feature Tonal digital training equipment, and all guests can access the 24/7 fitness centre with Technogym equipment, Peloton bikes, and weights, or ask the concierge for walking or running routes to nearby Millennium Park, Riverwalk, or Navy Pier.

The hotel has three in-house sip and savour options. Bar Pendry is a classic hotel bar, low lit with a central fireplace and furniture upholstered in chocolate-brown leather or bottle-green velvet. Welcoming guests for daily happy hour cocktails or late-night drinks, Bar Pendry’s Boozy Tea is a Sunday afternoon tradition with a twist: tea-based cocktails, snacks, and live music. On warm days, make a reservation at Château Carbide on the hotel’s rooftop, where Côte d’Azur ambience meets Chicago flair, for alfresco drinks and bites, memorable people-watching, and skyline views.

The hotel’s ground-floor dining with a classic French menu is Venteux, French for “windy,” a nod to the city’s best-known moniker. Toronto’s Studio Munge designed this café/brasserie with two distinct vibes. The spacious streetside café with 40-foot glass walls has scallop-shaped floor tiles, marble-topped tables, sage-green banquette seating, and cane stools along the long marble bar below oversized floral murals. The intimate brasserie has curved bench seating in deep-bordeaux velvet, patterned rugs, and burgundy arches in a dining room panelled in dark oak and displaying an art collection curated by GZ Art Co. Make a reservation for Oyster Tuesday or for brunch any day of the week to enjoy a $25 bottomless glass of rosé or a mimosa.