Dining at The Gwen: Kostali, Upstairs and Tipsy Tea
Kostali is the lobby-level Mediterranean restaurant (reservation required, Smart Casual). Upstairs at The Gwen is the rooftop American restaurant and bar serving breakfast through late-night service with skyline views. Tipsy Tea is a weekend, DJ-driven boozy afternoon tea served at Upstairs on Saturdays and Sundays.
In this guide
Kostali — Mediterranean on the lobby level
Kostali sits on the lobby level of The Gwen and focuses on Mediterranean coastal cuisines from Spain, Italy, France, Greece and parts of North Africa. The restaurant operates by reservation and follows a Smart Casual dress code.
Kostali is a partnership with chefs Carrie and Michael Nahabedian; it is intended for dinner service on scheduled nights rather than casual walk-in lunches. If you want an evening meal there, booking ahead is the most reliable way to secure a table.
- Cuisine: Mediterranean / coastal European and North African influences
- Reservation: required (hotel and Marriott dining info list reservations as necessary)
- Dress code: Smart Casual
- Typical dinner hours listed Tuesday–Saturday (see sources for published times)
| Good to know | Practical note |
|---|---|
| Valet parking for diners | Some listings note a valet fee for Kostali diners |
| Family-friendly | Dining venues at The Gwen accommodate guests of all ages |
| Menu style | Dinner-focused; check current menu for vegetarian and vegan options |
Upstairs at The Gwen — rooftop dining and bar
Upstairs at The Gwen is the hotel’s Art Deco–inspired rooftop restaurant and bar offering American cuisine, signature cocktails, fire pits and skyline views. It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night service on weekends.
Reservations are accepted (OpenTable and the hotel's dining pages list reservation options). Dress is Casual at Upstairs, though some guests choose to dress up for special occasions.
- Cuisine: American with cocktails and small plates
- Atmosphere: rooftop terrace, fire pits, skyline views
- Dress code: Casual
- Reservations: accepted via OpenTable
| Service | Typical hours (official site listings) |
|---|---|
| Breakfast & Brunch | Morning through mid-day (official site lists 7:00 AM start) |
| Lunch | Late morning–afternoon service |
| Dinner & Late Night | Dinner nightly; later hours on Fri–Sat per official listings |
Tipsy Tea — weekend boozy afternoon tea
Tipsy Tea is a themed afternoon tea experience hosted at Upstairs on Saturdays and Sundays. The offering includes unlimited tea, themed tower presentations and tea-inspired cocktails or alcohol-free alternatives, often with a DJ during service.
Tipsy Tea is designed as a celebratory, ticketed-style experience; availability is seasonal and some packages have been published as prepaid reservations through OpenTable for specific dates or promotional periods.
- When: Saturdays and Sundays, typically 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
- What: unlimited tea, themed tea towers, cocktails or non-alcoholic options
- Atmosphere: lively, music/DJ during service; good for groups and special occasions
| Feature | Typical detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Hosted at Upstairs on the rooftop |
| Hours | Weekend afternoon (Sat–Sun midday–afternoon) |
| Booking | Prepaid or reserved experiences have been offered on OpenTable |
Lobby bar and casual drinks
In addition to the rooftop bar, The Gwen maintains a lobby-level bar where guests can grab a drink without going upstairs. The hotel lobby also connects directly into The Shops at North Bridge for easy access to nearby food and drink options.
Lobby seating areas around the bar are styled in the hotel’s Art Deco design; these spaces are suitable for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail and for more casual gatherings than the rooftop venues.
- Good for quick drinks, informal meetups and hotel guests who prefer to stay on the lobby level
- Lobby provides direct access to The Shops at North Bridge for additional dining choices
- Lobby bar hours and offerings can vary; check with the hotel on arrival
| Tip | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Ask at check-in about daily specials | Lobby bartenders or concierge can confirm happy hour or seasonal menus |
| Use lobby seating for families | Less noisy than weekend Tipsy Tea or rooftop late-night service |
| Combine with shopping | Direct access to the Shops at North Bridge from the lobby |
Practical dining tips — reservations, dress code, accessibility
Reservations are recommended for Kostali and accepted/encouraged for Upstairs; Tipsy Tea often sells out weekend slots and can be prepaid. If you have a specific time or seating preference, book in advance through the hotel or OpenTable.
Dress codes are listed per venue: Kostali is Smart Casual and Upstairs is Casual. The hotel’s dining venues are family-welcoming and provide vegetarian and vegan options; the hotel itself is not adults-only.
- Reservations: recommended for Kostali and Tipsy Tea; Upstairs accepts OpenTable bookings
- Dietary needs: vegetarian and vegan options are available across venues—ask servers for details
- Accessibility: The Gwen offers accessible public areas and accessible rooms; confirm any accessibility needs with the hotel when booking
| Policy | Note |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to check in | Booking guest must be at least 21 (children are welcome to stay) |
| Parking | Valet parking is available (fee applies); inquire about current rates |
| Destination fee | The hotel charges a daily destination/resort fee that covers on-site amenities; check your reservation for specifics |
Where to fit dining into your Chicago day
The Gwen sits half a block from Michigan Avenue and offers easy routes to the Chicago Riverwalk, Millennium Park and Magnificent Mile shopping. Plan a rooftop breakfast or brunch at Upstairs before a morning of sightseeing, or return for Tipsy Tea on a weekend midday break.
Because the hotel has no on-site pool or full-service spa, many guests use dining and the rooftop terrace as their main on-site leisure activities. If you want an evening out, the hotel’s location places you within walking distance of many downtown restaurants, theaters and nightlife.
- Breakfast/brunch at Upstairs is a convenient start before shopping the Magnificent Mile
- Weekend Tipsy Tea works well as a celebratory midday pause between museum or shopping visits
- For late nights, Upstairs keeps later weekend hours—check current times before you go
| Nearby attraction | Suggested dining pairing |
|---|---|
| Magnificent Mile / Shops at North Bridge | Lobby bar or quick bite before/after shopping |
| Chicago Riverwalk / architecture cruises | Dinner at Upstairs with skyline views |
| Millennium Park / Cloud Gate | Brunch at Upstairs on weekend mornings |
