Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago completed a renovation. The project included the transformation of its 191 guest rooms and 22 suites and an enhanced living-room lobby will debut later this spring. The elevated redesign takes inspiration from Lake Michigan and the development along the Chicago Riverwalk.
“We’re excited to share the Monaco Chicago’s next chapter with the city and our guests, whose spirit energizes us every day,” said Adam Gurgiolo, general manager of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago. “We’re fortunate to have a front-row seat to the renaissance on the waterfront and throughout the Loop, and we welcome our loyal guests as well as new generations of travelers to experience it with us,”
The “Lake Effect”-themed design reflects the physical attributes and atmospheric effects of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The enhancements also allude to the city’s history as a 19th-century shipping hub and to the century-old building’s colorful past as headquarters of the D.B. Fisk & Co. hat company.
The 191 newly renovated guest rooms have high ceilings and large bay windows, a Monaco Chicago signature. Redesigned bathrooms include tiled walk-in showers with marble accents, rain showerheads, detachable hand faucets and lighted mirrors framing a custom vanity.
Twenty-two suites offer generous spaces for working and relaxing, with oversized bathrooms and a separate sitting area in each.
The lobby features a custom-built wine table, to be unveiled in late spring with the other lobby enhancements, will be a focal point for the hotel’s nightly wine hour and a new nightcap service. Curated by Fisk & Co., the nightcap hour is for guests and visitors, with cocktails and paired bites served tableside, plus live music on select nights.
Across the lobby, Fisk & Co. serves a seafood-centric menu that includes classic and modern renditions of mussels and fries. All-day offerings from executive chef Ashlee Aubin include salads, sandwiches, freshly shucked oysters and other raw-bar items. The convivial vibe extends to an outdoor patio in the warmer months.
Three meeting rooms offer a combined 4,100 square feet of space. The 2,700-square-foot Paris Room, which accommodates up to 190, features an interior by award-winning designer Susan Caruso. The Athens Room can host up to 70, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Chicago River. At 487 square feet, the Tokyo Room is for the most intimate gatherings of up to 30 people.
Fisk & Co. caters all events with both set and customized menus that highlight seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
Guests can partake in unique programs and perks that highlight the hotel’s community partnerships:
• Library cart curated by Chicago’s esteemed Newberry Library: Guests are welcome to “check out” books on Chicago art, culture and history. When they visit the Newberry’s bookstore, they’ll receive a complimentary pen, pin and 10 percent discount on purchases.
• Vintage-inspired hats for purchase in the lobby and suites: Take home the handiwork of millinery 10th Street Hats.
• Monaco-inspired tea service by Chicago’s Rare Tea Cellars: The rare-ingredient purveyor is developing a custom blend available only at the Monaco Chicago.
• Wearable art by Columbia College fashion students: Student-designed hats and accessories—coursework from the school’s newly created millinery class—will be displayed and worn by hotel staff. The Monaco also will feature 1920s-era items on loan from Columbia’s Fashion Study Collection.
Information is based off a news release from Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago.
