Hotel Indigo Chicago Gold Coast

A conversation with Hotel Indigo:

So what are you all about?

Hotel Indigo: As the second Hotel Indigo to open, there were a lot of eyes on this new hotel. After success in Atlanta, the brand selected the Windy City to build the next Hotel Indigo and start to build a brand. Just north of Chicago’s thriving business district, on a residential, tree-lined street of the affluent Gold Coast, there is the kind of shopping that puts most other cities’ idea of ‘premium options’ to shame. Not to mention restaurants to suit every taste, the world famous Lincoln Park Zoo and the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.

The Hotel Indigo Chicago Downtown Gold Coast makes its home in the former Claridge Hotel surrounded by style, history, prestige and well preserved historic mansions. Much like these homes though, whose residents chose to invite the public to explore the narrow stone paths that open up to exquisite gardens, the hotel made a key decision to embrace the are and the people who live in and around the Gold Coast Area in a way that helped to begin to set a tone for Hotel Indigos that have opened since – it became and open door and welcoming part of the neighborhood to all.

The hotel’s permanent art collection features neo-impressionist and former neighborhood resident Bill Olendorf’s original paintings and serigraphs, and the décor in the front lobby changes seasonally to match the mood of the Windy City.



Your website uses a lot of phrases like “warm, “cozy”, and “nestled.” Accurate or no?

Hotel Indigo: Don’t let the adjectives fool you. Our hotel is chic in design and décor. The amenities we offer and luxurious and the location is, well…the Gold Coast. But we believe that there is nothing more luxurious than feeling comfortable and casual. Whether it’s the plush rooms, the “fresh from the local farmers’ market” taste of our restaurant, or the wine bar serving the finest selection of international wines by the glass, it’s truly a retreat from the busier sides of Chicago.



I would like to live here!

Hotel Indigo: That’s not surprising. Our goal is for our guests to leave feeling completely refreshed and recharged. That might mean a tour of the beautiful urban gardens around the neighborhood, a night on the Magnificent Mile, a day at the spa and some of the best shopping in the world, or it could be a short walk to the Chicago History Museum. You could have a very full life here.



I hear there used to be an ice skating rink on the roof?

Hotel Indigo: Yes, this used to be the Claridge Hotel, which was a very luxurious place to stay in its day. We were one of Olendor’f favorite places in Chicago. He sort of turned the Claridge into his own little gallery. As the story goes, he was often spotted incognito wandering around with a glass of wine, listening to guests comment about his work. It’s a fascinating piece of history in a neighborhood that is very protective of its own heritage. We wanted to embrace that and the more we did, the more involved our own staff started to become in this community.



How so?

Hotel Indigo: Every year we have a charity we like to support, whether it’s sending care packages to our servicemen and women or supporting a local animal shelter. We’ve delivered cupcakes to the local fire station to thank them for the job they do. We are constantly having a food drive, clothing drive, or dollar drive which we donate to local charities.



That seems like a trait that is hard to find these days.

Hotel Indigo: We think it is important. We have very little team turnover and lots of returning guests, so we’ve developed relationships with the, over time. We care about them personally, and keep up with their lives – their children, grandchildren, what’s going on at work, and of course the regulars, both guest and neighbors, who bring along their pets.



Between warm and cozy, which one would you choose?

Hotel Indigo: Have you been to Chicago in the winter? ;)