Restaurants nearby: Magnificent Mile & River North picks
The Gwen's on-site dining covers a rooftop American restaurant and bar (Upstairs at The Gwen), a Mediterranean lobby-level restaurant (Kostali), and a weekend Tipsy Tea experience — all within the hotel at 521 North Rush Street. For more options, you're steps from Magnificent Mile shopping and The Shops at North Bridge with many nearby restaurants in River North and Streeterville.
In this guide
Hotel rooftop dining: Upstairs at The Gwen
Upstairs at The Gwen is the hotel's rooftop American restaurant and bar offering skyline views, signature cocktails, fire pits, and seating on a terrace. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with hours that vary by day.
The venue runs a regular Lux Happy Hour Monday–Thursday and hosts Wine Wednesdays & Live Jazz in the evening. Reservations are accepted and recommended via OpenTable.
- Typical service: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Lux Happy Hour: Monday–Thursday (late afternoon)
- Live music: Wine Wednesdays & Live Jazz (evening)
| Venue | Typical hours (reported) |
|---|---|
| Upstairs at The Gwen | Mon–Thu & Sun 7:00 AM–11:00 PM; Fri–Sat 7:00 AM–1:00 AM (overall hours reported) |
| Terrace & Bar | Bar and Terrace have specific late-night hours; check with the hotel for the day you plan to visit |
Tipsy Tea and afternoon experiences
Tipsy Tea is The Gwen's weekend afternoon tea experience held at Upstairs at The Gwen on Saturdays and Sundays, typically from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It features themed tea towers, unlimited tea, and tea-inspired cocktails plus non-alcoholic options and a DJ.
Tipsy Tea is a ticketed/packaged experience for which availability and pricing are seasonal; reservations or advance booking are recommended when it's running.
- When: Saturdays and Sundays, roughly 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Offerings: unlimited tea, themed towers, tea-inspired cocktails and alcohol-free drinks
- Atmosphere: lively, DJ-backed weekend event
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Typical hours | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Sat–Sun) |
| Booking | Recommended — event seating can sell out |
| Alcohol | Tea-inspired cocktails available; non-alcoholic options offered |
Kostali: Mediterranean dining on the lobby level
Kostali is The Gwen's lobby-level Mediterranean restaurant focusing on coastal cuisines of southern Europe and northern Africa. The hotel's dining pages list Kostali as requiring a reservation and following a Smart Casual dress code.
Reported hours vary across listings (dinner service Tuesday–Saturday with start times around early evening); check Kostali's current schedule and reserve in advance for dinner.
- Cuisine: Mediterranean (coastal Spain, Italy, France, Greece, North Africa, Eastern Mediterranean)
- Dress code: Smart Casual
- Reservation: Kostali requires reservations
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Typical dinner nights | Tuesday through Saturday (reported by the hotel's page and OpenTable) |
| Reservation policy | Reservations required |
| Parking for diners | Valet parking option reported for restaurant patrons |
Lobby bar, quick bites and nearby cafe choices
The Gwen features a lobby bar where guests can grab drinks or a light bite without going to the rooftop; the hotel also provides quick access into The Shops at North Bridge for cafes and fast casual options. The lobby bar is a convenient choice for a late-night drink near the hotel entrance and front desk areas.
If you need coffee, pastries, or a sandwich, check the shops and food vendors directly connected to the hotel via The Shops at North Bridge, or ask the concierge for nearby café recommendations.
- Lobby bar: convenient for drinks and snacks within the hotel
- The Shops at North Bridge: direct lobby access to multiple quick-dining options
- Concierge can point to local coffee shops, bakeries and quick-service lunch spots
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Lobby bar | Cocktails, casual drinks close to the lobby |
| Shops at North Bridge | Coffee, quick sandwiches, fast-casual lunches |
| Upstairs at The Gwen (terrace) | Brunch or scenic cocktails |
Special occasions and private dining
The Gwen offers private-event dining through its Private Affairs concept and multiple event spaces including The Gallery Ballroom, Grand Salon and several terraces. These spaces are used for weddings, receptions and private dinners with a range of package inclusions available by inquiry.
If you’re planning a private dinner, small celebration or a larger event, contact the hotel's events team to discuss menus, minimums and available rooms such as Gallery One/Two/Three or the rooftop terrace.
- Private Affairs: hotel’s private-event dining concept
- Event spaces: The Gallery Ballroom, Grand Salon, Gallery Terrace, rooftop terrace
- Contact events team for menus, capacities and package inclusions
| Event space | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Gallery Ballroom | Divisible into Gallery One/Two/Three; capacities and dimensions available from the hotel |
| Grand Salon | Large ballroom option; check with events for availability |
| Rooftop terrace / Gwen Lux Terrace | Outdoor terrace options for smaller ceremonies and receptions |
Where to eat nearby on the Magnificent Mile & River North
The Gwen sits half a block from Michigan Avenue with direct lobby access to The Shops at North Bridge, so many dining choices — from quick casual to sit-down restaurants — are within easy walking distance. River North and Streeterville both host a dense concentration of restaurants and bars.
For a walkable list of options, ask the concierge for current nearby recommendations and reservations; they can advise on cuisine, walk times and whether a short taxi or CTA ride would save time during peak hours.
- Direct access to The Shops at North Bridge for mall dining choices
- River North: many restaurants and nightlife options within a short walk
- Concierge can help with reservations, directions and preferred local picks
| Type | Where to find it nearby |
|---|---|
| Quick bites / coffee | The Shops at North Bridge and nearby cafés |
| Casual dining / late night | River North streets within a few blocks of the hotel |
| Upscale or celebratory dining | Nearby Magnificent Mile restaurants and in-hotel Kostali or Upstairs at The Gwen |
