
The Gwen, Michigan Avenue Chicago
Best for shoppers and families who want immediate Magnificent Mile access and an Art Deco, skyline-rooftop experience.
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The Gwen, Michigan Avenue Chicago is an Art Deco Luxury Collection hotel steps from the Magnificent Mile, for travelers who want bright rooms and direct shopping access. Pendry Chicago is a design-led luxury lifestyle hotel in a landmark Loop tower, for style-conscious guests who want a moodier, downtown stay near the Riverwalk.
Updated · about 0.2 km apart

Best for shoppers and families who want immediate Magnificent Mile access and an Art Deco, skyline-rooftop experience.

Best for travelers after a moody, design-forward stay with strong meeting/event facilities and close access to the Chicago Riverwalk.
When The Gwen wins: pick The Gwen if you want direct access to The Shops at North Bridge and Magnificent Mile shopping, Art Deco character, rooftop dining (Upstairs at The Gwen) and a family-friendly hotel with clear policies supporting kids and pets.
When Pendry wins: choose Pendry Chicago if you prefer a contemporary, design-forward renovation inside a landmark Loop tower, larger conference capacity and a hotel that places you steps from the Riverwalk and central Loop attractions.
Bottom line: both rework historic Chicago architecture into upscale, lifestyle-minded hotels; choose The Gwen for shopping, a brighter Art Deco feel and rooftop dining, choose Pendry for a darker, design-led Loop address and strong meetings/event space.
| Category | The Gwen, Michigan Avenue Chicago | Pendry Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Art Deco, bright, retail-focused luxury | Design-led, moodier luxury lifestyle in a landmark tower |
| Location | Half a block off Michigan Avenue / direct access to The Shops at North Bridge | 230 North Michigan Avenue — in the Loop, steps from Michigan Avenue and Chicago Riverwalk |
| Size (rooms) | 311 rooms, 34 suites | 364 guestrooms (supplier listing) |
| Ages / policy | All ages welcome; booking guest must be 21+ to check in | All ages welcome (children 12 and under free on some policies); check-in min age 18 per listing |
| Pools | No on-site pool | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | Kostali (Mediterranean), Upstairs at The Gwen (rooftop), Tipsy Tea and a lobby bar | Venteux (French) plus 24-hour room service and 1 bar/lounge; rooftop terrace noted |
| Spa / wellness | No full-service on-site spa; 24-hour fitness center and in-room massages available | Not published |
| Fitness | 24-hour fitness center with Tonal and Peloton bikes | 24-hour fitness facilities |
| Event & meeting space | Extensive event space including The Gallery Ballroom and multiple terraces (over 15,000 sq ft cited) | Conference center with 8 meeting rooms and ~11,001 sq ft of event space |
| Known for | Magnificent Mile shopping access, Art Deco architecture and rooftop dining | Design-forward rooms inside an Art Deco/landmark Loop tower and Riverwalk proximity |
The Gwen sits a block off Michigan Avenue with direct lobby access into The Shops at North Bridge.
Best for travelers who want to be based by Chicago’s premier shopping strip and use the hotel as a retail-forward hub.
Pendry Chicago occupies a landmark Loop tower on North Michigan Avenue steps from the Riverwalk.
Better suited for guests who want a Loop address with immediate Riverwalk access while staying near Michigan Avenue.
The Gwen offers Art Deco–inspired rooms and a selection of suites and terrace suites inside the historic McGraw-Hill building.
Choose The Gwen for classic Art Deco character, terrace suites and direct Magnificent Mile proximity.
Pendry Chicago’s room mix is broad and design-driven, with tower and river-view options and multiple suite categories.
Pendry works for travelers who want modern, design-forward rooms with river- and tower-view suite choices.
The Gwen centers dining around Upstairs at The Gwen (rooftop), Kostali (Mediterranean) and the Tipsy Tea experience.
The Gwen offers varied, family-friendly dining plus a signature rooftop venue ideal for daytime and sunset meals.
Pendry Chicago lists Venteux as its French restaurant and offers 24-hour room service plus at least one bar/lounge.
Pendry emphasizes a single, high-profile restaurant and in-room dining for a quieter, design-led culinary profile.
The Gwen does not have an on-site swimming pool but features rooftop dining and terraces.
If you prioritize a pool, The Gwen is not a match; it focuses on rooftop terraces and dining instead.
Pendry has a rooftop terrace and city/river views noted in supplier materials, but details about a pool are not published.
Pendry offers rooftop terrace space and river views; whether it has a pool is not published.
The Gwen provides a 24-hour fitness center and active evening programming at its rooftop bar.
The Gwen is a fit choice for guests who want a robust gym and rooftop nightlife without an on-site spa or pool.
Pendry lists 24-hour fitness facilities and evening entertainment; full spa details are not published in the supplier listing.
Pendry supports fitness and evening social programming; spa details are not published in the available supplier facts.

Steps from The Shops at North Bridge and positioned for immediate retail access.

Located in a landmark Loop tower, Pendry is steps from the Chicago Riverwalk and central Loop attractions.

Upstairs at The Gwen offers rooftop dining, fire pits and scheduled live music and events.

Pendry lists a conference center and 8 meeting rooms totaling around 11,001 sq ft, tailored for events and groups.
The Gwen is directly connected to The Shops at North Bridge and sits a block off Michigan Avenue for the easiest shopping access.
The Gwen does not have an on-site pool or a full-service spa (fitness center and in-room massages available). For Pendry Chicago, the supplier listing notes a rooftop terrace and fitness facilities but does not publish confirmation of a pool or full-service spa.
The Gwen is explicitly family-welcoming with kid-friendly programming and clear children/pet policies; Pendry’s listing allows children but is positioned as a luxury lifestyle hotel for style-conscious travelers.
Both have substantial event capacity: The Gwen lists more than 15,000 sq ft of event space across many rooms and rooftop terraces; Pendry lists about 11,001 sq ft with 8 meeting rooms—Pendry leans toward conference-center layout while The Gwen emphasizes multiple ballrooms and terraces.
Explore how The Gwen, Michigan Avenue Chicago stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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