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Introduction and Booking – Park Hyatt Chicago
Park Hyatt has always represented an understated luxury to me—properties that are tastefully elegant without relying on flashy displays. Despite being a longtime Hyatt Globalist, I had never stayed at the brand’s origin property: Park Hyatt Chicago, the first-ever Park Hyatt that opened its doors in 1980.
Park Hyatt Chicago – Main Entrance
With my Globalist status set to expire this year, I wanted to close out the chapter with a stay that symbolized the journey. I booked a two-night stay at Park Hyatt Chicago using 26,000 Hyatt points per night for a Standard City View room. As a Globalist, I applied one of my Suite Upgrade Awards, and closer to check-in, I was pleased to see it had cleared into the Chicago Avenue Suite—the largest among the hotel’s four standard suites.
First Impressions and Check-in
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Park Hyatt Chicago sits directly across from the historic Water Tower and just steps from Michigan Avenue. It’s surrounded by iconic landmarks, luxury retail, and cultural institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art and Lake Michigan’s lakefront.
My ride from the airport took around 30 minutes. On arrival, the building’s façade didn’t quite match the aura of a flagship Park Hyatt—it’s simple and rather discreet, with no grand driveway, just an understated entrance along a busy pedestrian corridor.
Park Hyatt Chicago – Lobby
Upon check-in around 2:30 PM, I was informed that the suite wasn’t ready due to a 4 PM late checkout granted to the previous guest. While I expected the staff might offer an alternate suite, they instead asked me to wait or explore dining options. I was also offered access to the spa and fitness center to freshen up. I accepted, took a shower, changed, and walked around the neighbourhood.
Lobby Lounge Seating
When I returned around 5 PM, the suite was still not ready. This time, the front desk staff acknowledged the delay with a more apologetic tone, offering a pair of drink vouchers and a generous $150 food and beverage credit. After another short wait, I was finally checked into my suite around 5:30 PM.
Main elevators to rooms
Chicago Avenue Suite
Spanning 790 square feet, the Chicago Avenue Suite felt more like a stylish urban apartment than a typical hotel room. The layout features a generously sized living room with a queen sleeper sofa, dining table, work desk, and a separate king bedroom.
Chicago Avenue Suite – Park Hyatt Chicago
Living Room – Chicago Avenue Suite
Bedroom – Chicago Avenue Suite
King Bed
A cushioned window seat overlooking Chicago Avenue was a thoughtful touch that brought warmth and charm to the suite. While the design leaned modern, it didn’t scream for attention, true to the Park Hyatt style.
Chicago Avenue Suite – Window view
The bathroom setup was a standout—dual vanity, a freestanding soaking tub, a rainfall shower, and Le Labo’s signature Bergamote 22 amenities. There’s also a walk-in closet and curated art throughout the space, contributing to the residential aesthetic.
Walk-in closet
Bathroom with Le Labo amenities
Full size bath tub
The Chicago Avenue Suite also featured a Nespresso machine, artisan teas, and elevated snacks such as locally sourced popcorn and gourmet chocolate. The minibar was stocked with premium spirits and wines.
Chicago Avenue Suite – Mini Bar
Nespresso Coffee station
Dining Experience – Park Hyatt Chicago
Dining was the highlight of my stay, made even better thanks to the $150 credit I received during check-in delays. Park Hyatt Chicago’s dining operations are all housed under the NoMI umbrella, each with a distinct setting and purpose:
NoMI Kitchen – Main seating area
- NoMI Kitchen: Open for all-day dining, this restaurant faces the historic Water Tower and Lake Michigan. It offered a calm and elegant setting for breakfast and dinner.
NoMI Kitchen – Breakfast Menu
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NoMI Garden: This open-air rooftop terrace provides sweeping city views and a more relaxed vibe with its cocktail-focused menu—ideal for late afternoon lounging.
NoMI Garden
- NoMI Lounge: A comfortable, upscale lounge adjacent to the kitchen includes a sushi counter and an extended late-night menu. The service here was both attentive and personalized.
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NoMI Lounge Cocktail
NoMI Lounge – Park Hyatt Chicago
NoMI Sushi Bar
NoMI Lounge – Charred Octopus
NoMI Lounge – Late Night Pizza
Complimentary Dessert Course
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NoMI Private Dining: Tucked beside the lounge, this space is designed for tailored, high-end dining experiences—perfect for events or intimate gatherings.
Across all outlets, I experienced prompt service with a personal touch, something I’ve found increasingly rare in many city hotels.
Other Amenities – Park Hyatt Chicago
Though I didn’t get to fully explore the hotel’s facilities, Park Hyatt Chicago offers a complete suite of amenities:
- A 25-yard indoor pool
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Park Hyatt Chicago – Indoor Pool
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A fitness center and spa (which I used briefly during the check-in delay)
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More than 5,000 square feet of flexible event space, ideal for boardroom meetings and social gatherings
The hotel also provides unique touches like complimentary house car service within a two-mile radius (subject to availability) and pet-friendly accommodations.
Takeaway
Park Hyatt Chicago delivered a comfortable, well-appointed stay with polished dining and professional service. However, it didn’t fully capture the sense of refinement or personalization I’ve come to associate with the Park Hyatt brand.
While the components—the spacious suite, the convenient location, and the strong dining—were all individually solid, the overall experience didn’t rise to the level of “special.” Like my stay at Park Hyatt Washington D.C., it felt more like a well-executed upscale city hotel than a memorable Park Hyatt flagship experience.
Would I stay again? Possibly—for the suite, the dining, and the location. But I’d encourage fellow travellers, especially Globalists, to temper expectations and approach it as a high-end Hyatt in a prime city location rather than a destination-worthy Park Hyatt.
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1 comment
Awesome article and experience, Anshul! Uncle n Auntie are so jealous, as this property is on our USA PH bucket list. 😊😊😊😍 Keep the World of Hyatt ❤️, coming.