The Robey

The Robey is a boutique hotel in Wicker Park, housed in the Northwest Tower, an Art Deco building completed in 1929 at the corner of North Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue. The tower was designed by Perkins, Chatten and Hammond, and it was converted into a hotel between 2015 and 2017, with Antunovich Associates as architect of record, Nicolas Schuybroek Architects responsible for the design and Marc Merckx Interiors for the interiors.

The hotel offers boutique rooms and suites, details of which are on its website, along with a rooftop space and a food and drink offering for guests and visitors. Check the website for current opening times of the bars and restaurant before you arrive, as they change with the season.

Staying in Wicker Park gives a very different experience from a downtown hotel, with neighbourhood life on the doorstep. The Violet Hour cocktail bar on North Damen Avenue is a natural evening stop, and The 606 elevated trail is good for a morning walk or run. Downtown is reached by the "L" or a short taxi ride.

The Robey suits couples, solo travellers and creative or design-minded visitors who want to stay among locals rather than in the tourist core. It is less suited to travellers who want to walk to the Loop's museums every day, though the journey is easy. Prices are in the mid-range for Chicago, depending on the season and room type.

Practical tips: the hotel sits at a major intersection, so mention it when booking if you are a light sleeper. Book directly through the website, and check the rooftop's current hours if a drink there is part of your plan. Because the neighbourhood is the point of staying here, plan to spend at least one evening locally rather than heading downtown, and use the "L" for daytime sightseeing in the Loop. Ask the front desk for local recommendations and for what is on in the area during your stay.

For enquiries, call +1 872-315-3050 or email [email protected]. Dark Matter Coffee's Star Lounge, on West Chicago Avenue, and the bakery-café Kasama, on North Winchester Avenue, are both a short ride away and make good breakfast options.