The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile has the perfect location fronting Michigan Avenue and is located in the storied 1929 building of the former Medinah Athletic Club. While the hotel is large with almost 800 rooms across two towers, the architecture and swimming pool in the original tower alone make it a great place to stay in Chicago.
You can see how well the InterContinental (middle) blends in with some of the great architecture in Chicago like the Wrigley Building (left) and Tribune Tower (right).
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InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile Review
Arriving in the mid-afternoon after a great flight on a Delta A220 via the Blue Line train from Chicago O’Hare, my IHG One Diamond Ambassador status was acknowledged and advised my room was ready.
I had emailed the hotel a few days prior to the stay to request a room with a view of Tribune Tower, formerly the incredible Gothic-inspired offices of the Chicago Tribune and now apartments, and upon following up at check in my allocated room was updated to a corner room on the 34th floor.
A letter with elite benefits was provided along with the complimentary breakfast coupons selected as a welcome amenity.
InterContinental Chicago Premium Premier City View Room
My corner king room on the 34th floor was large, bright and most importantly had front row seats to Chicago’s wonderful architecture and activity on the river.
In addition to Tribune Tower (centre) and the Wrigley Building (right), the view also encompassed Sears Tower (far right) which was the tallest building in the world when I was growing up.
The bed was large and comfortable with great views out to the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower.
Bonus to be able to check the time without getting out of bed, courtesy of the Wrigley Building.
A spacious wardrobe with safe (behind the bathrobe) made it easy to unpack and settle in for the four night stay.
And the bathroom was spacious with seperate shower and bath, along with plenty of counter space. Amenities were provided in pump packs and branded Balmain, though would be fairly generic.
InterContinental Chicago Swimming Pool & Gym Review
The InterContinental Chicago has a three level fitness centre with a solid gym, but the swimming pool is undoubtedly the star attraction.
Ascending the stairs past the gym, you’re greeted by this view of the Junior-Olympic sized pool. Located on the 14th floor of the original Medinah Athletic Club, this part of the hotel was left unchanged during the various upgrades and is arguably the best hotel pool in Chicago.
There are plenty of lanes and length for satisfying lap swimming, though the pool did get crowded in the evening with families. Water temperature was perfect being neither cold nor as warm as you typically get in Europe.
Loungers line one side of the pool, with a tiered terrace with additional seating on the other, so there was always a place to sit.
Open until 10PM, the swimming pool at the InterContinental Chicago is a winner and one of the key reasons to choose the hotel.
InterContinental Chicago Breakfast Review
Complimentary hot breakfast is an elite benefit for IHG One Diamond elites and provided at Centre Court, located one floor above the lobby.
The buffet is extensive with a generous selection of hot items including scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and a sweet item that seemed to change daily.
The continental side of the buffet had a good selection of fruit, yoghurt, cereals and bakery items including some nice pastries.
Servers were ever present to ensure coffee was topped up and I appreciated the selection of fresh fruit.
Pastries were also consistently good and the correct (small) size for texture.
One of the sweet items in the hot buffet was Texas French Toast, which went well with the large strawberries and generous pour of maple syrup.
And another day served up pancakes, which went well with bacon and more maple syrup (an uniquely American combination)
Overall, breakfast at the InterContinental Chicago was good quality and with a nice variety. Service was warm and efficient, which is a great way to start the day.
Medinah Athletic Club
The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is somewhat unique in that it’s both a chain hotel (being part of the IHG Group) and a member of Historic Hotels of America. As previously mentioned, the hotel is located in the former Medinah Athletic Club which was built in an Art Deco style in 1929 and its in these original spaces the hotel really shines.
It’s hard to imagine hotels investing in the level of fit and finish below for a new build today.
There is also a wall with photos of how the building was when the club was in operation, along with a small cabinet with memorabilia from that time.
Perhaps the most interesting room from the old club is King Arthur Court with beautiful wood finishes, chandeliers and stained glass windows with scenes from those tales. There did appear to be a lack of round tables in the conference configuration below, though.
The video below goes into a bit more of the history of the building and is worth the four and a half minute watch.
Summary
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile combines a perfect location on Michigan Avenue, sublime architecture from its former life as the Medinah Athletic Club and one of the best swimming pools in town. With the right room, the views of the Chicago’s architectural icons can also be spectacular.
