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Chicago's famous Blackstone Hotel retains its rightful place in history for a new generation

Contemporary guest rooms with an artistic edge enhance this historic hotel on Michigan Avenue

This executive boardroom is certain to impress even the most discriminating Anglophile

The event pre-function space provides an ideal setting to display the Blackstone's art collection

The refined grace and ornate beauty of the Crystal Ballroom need no introduction

The always celebratory atmosphere of Mercat a la Planxa

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Blackstone Chicago Hotel

Location:

Style: Historic

A Chicago Beaux Arts landmark with a legacy of guests from the notorious to the presidential, and the site of the famous 1920 “smoke filled room."

The Blackstone Hotel has everything that we look for in an historic accommodation. It has a rich building history and the architecture to prove it. It has an illustrious list of guests over its 100 years of business — from U.S. Presidents to Hollywood icons to Al Capone. All of these guests gave the Blackstone personality — a definitive vibe. And it has one of the best addresses in Chicago’s historic Loop district.

The Blackstone was commissioned in 1908 by hoteliers Tracey and John Drake. It opened its doors to fanfare in 1910. The building was considered one of the finest turn-of-the-century examples of the Beaux Arts period in America. The hotel is named after railroad magnate Timothy Blackstone, whose mansion once stood on the site. The hotel was designed by architects Marshall and Fox, who also designed Chicago’s Drake Hotel. In 1998 the Blackstone was designated a Chicago Landmark.

A major restoration and renovation of the Blackstone Hotel was completed in 2008, and it is now a Marriott Renaissance hotel. The restoration was directed by Chicago architect Lucien LaGrange.  LaGrange masterfully restored the building’s historic architectural details to their original beauty. These features can be seen in the entrance lobby, lounges, meeting rooms, and the ballroom. The interiors have been given a fresh new look dominated by bold classic furnishings and an extensive collection of modern art.

There are 322 rooms and suites including two full concierge floors. The guest rooms are of contemporary design with classic furnishings and artistic accents. There are two historic suites, the Presidential Suite and the Vice Presidential Suite.  The Vice Presidential Suite is the former site of the famed “Smoke Filled Room”  where Republican Presidential candidate Warren G. Harding was nominated in 1920 after a lengthy meeting and several boxes of cigars. Other featured suites include the Sky Suite and the Heaven Suite. We love the Presidential Suite, designed by LeGrange, with its modern style and great height, situated under the building’s domed rooftop.

A taste of Barcelona comes to Chicago at the Blackstone’s Mercat a la Planxa restaurant. The menu, created by Chef Jose Garces, is “mod-Mediterranean” and so is the setting — colorful, energized, and festive.

There are 9 meeting and event spaces at the Blackstone, including several stunning historic rooms. Our favorite historic meeting spaces include the Mayor’s Office Board Room, Great Hall, and the Crystal Ballroom. 

The Blackstone Hotel enjoys a prestigious location on North Michigan Avenue. It is ideally placed for the best of Chicago’s shopping and for visiting museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum.

Image source: Marriott Hotels