The latest addition to the MGallery Hotel Collection opened on February 4 in downtown Chicago. The 297-room boutique hotel, which is combined with a renowned multi-venue art museum, brings a jolt of contemporary culture to Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  

“We are thrilled to see the doors of this hotel open in such an established arts community as Chicago,” says Craig Greenberg, President & CEO of 21c Museum Hotels. “The hotel is ideally located just blocks from renowned arts institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Design Museum of Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, and is anticipated to serve as a connector between locals, visitors and the city’s vibrant art community, while also bringing the 21c and MGallery experience to new audiences.” 

The 21c hotel brand was founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson with the vision of bringing contemporary art to the public through innovative exhibitions and programming that integrates art into daily life. Following parent company Accor’s acquisition of an ownership stake in 21c in 2018, 21c Museum Hotels joined the MGallery Hotel Collection, blending its pioneering vision, pushing the boundaries of both the museum and hotel worlds, with the signature boutique style and story-telling touches of MGallery to create a new kind of travel experience. This union of bespoke, creative hospitality, thoughtful design and immersive experiences is evidenced with the new Chicago hotel and two more 21c properties under development in St. Louis and Des Moines. 

“21c has helped introduce MGallery to the United States with an exciting new mode of hospitality, bringing cultural and culinary experiences together, connecting guests with global and contemporary culture, while delving into the roots of each local community,” said Yohan Amiot, Vice President Brand Management, MGallery. “The new Chicago hotel is a shining example of what we can accomplish together and marks the continued expansion of our lifestyle ‘boutique’ footprint. We look forward to bringing many more 21c-MGallery projects to life in the near future.”  

Guest Rooms

Guest rooms at the new 21c Museum Hotel Chicago – MGallery Hotel Collection are bright and airy, with a soothing color palette inspired by the sky and nearby Lake Michigan. The atmosphere creates a welcoming sanctuary from the busy city and energetic exhibition spaces below. Beds are accented by leather and velvet covered headboards, which extend across the full height of wall, and rooms feature original artwork, Malin + Goetz bath amenities and luxurious bedding. Of the 297 spacious rooms, 106 are suites, with the two signature 21c Suites featuring sweeping views of downtown Chicago, an open concept floorplan with a sectional couch, dining table for six, bathroom with large soaking tub and an abundance of natural light. The property will also feature a full-service spa, 24-hour fitness center, business center and valet parking.  

Meetings & Events

The property’s 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space can accommodate a wide variety of events from board retreats and intimate cocktail parties to reception-style weddings and events for up to 300.  Unique to 21c, the meeting and event space will be curated with contemporary art and open to the public as museum space when not reserved. 

Art at 21c

As the newest addition to North America’s only multi-venue museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting the art of the 21st century, 21c Museum Hotel Chicago – MGallery Hotel Collection offers more than 10,000 square feet of exhibition space which will feature rotating solo and group exhibitions, site-specific installations and a full roster of cultural programming curated by Museum Director and Chief Curator Alice Gray Stites. 21c Chicago will present a captivating new, never-before-seen exhibition, This We Believe , which explores the power and evolution of belief systems—religious, political, economic—and how allegiance to ideology has influenced our current global culture of divisiveness and polarization. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and free of charge to the public, 21c Chicago will offer complimentary docent-led tours of current exhibitions and other cultural programming, creating a dynamic destination for locals and visitors alike.  

Architecture & Design

The design team, led by New York-based Design Architect Deborah Berke Partners and GREC Architects of Chicago, sought to create both a destination for contemporary culture and a serene refuge for guests. Capitalizing fully on the building’s open, natural light-filled spaces, visitors enter the hotel into a new double-height lobby, featuring a signature staircase leading to exhibition and event spaces above. Contemporary art is integrated throughout the public areas, in keeping with 21c and MGallery’s perspective that culture and hospitality enhance each other, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer passersby a view into the art experience inside the hotel.  

Originally the Croydon Hotel, a gathering spot for vaudeville actors and other colorful characters, and later The James Hotel, Deborah Berke Partners spent several months reimagining the hotel as a 21c Museum Hotels – MGallery Hotel Collection property. This is Berke’s ninth project with the brand, since designing its first property, which opened in Louisville in 2006. 

21cMuseumHotels.com/Chicago