Is The Gwen worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — The Gwen is a solid choice if you want a downtown Chicago base on the Magnificent Mile with Art Deco character, rooftop dining, and easy access to shopping and the Riverwalk. It’s less suitable if you need an on-site pool or full-service spa; expect additional daily destination/parking/pet fees on top of the room rate.
In this guide
Location & neighborhood — steps from the Magnificent Mile
The Gwen is at 521 North Rush Street, one block off Michigan Avenue in the River North/Streeterville area. The hotel offers direct lobby access to The Shops at North Bridge and is an easy walk to the Chicago Riverwalk, Millennium Park, and Oak Street Beach.
If you want to shop, dine, or sightsee without long commutes, this location is convenient: Water Tower Place, Tribune Tower, and the John Hancock/360 Chicago observation deck are all within walking distance or a short transit ride.
- Direct access to The Shops at North Bridge
- About an 8-minute walk to the Chicago Riverwalk
- Navy Pier roughly a 15–20 minute walk, or reachable by water taxi/bus
| Nearby | Typical walk/notes |
|---|---|
| Michigan Avenue / Magnificent Mile | Steps from the hotel |
| Millennium Park / Cloud Gate | Within about a mile |
| Oak Street Beach | Reachable on foot from Michigan Avenue |
Rooms & suites — variety and a landmark building
The Gwen occupies the historic McGraw-Hill Building and offers multiple room types and suites. Standard and upgraded options include Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Grand Room, 1 King Bed, Grand Room, 2 Queen Beds, and several suites such as Junior Suite and Superior Suite, with terrace options listed among the inventory.
Room counts and suite numbers are published: the property has 311 rooms including 34 suites. Rooms provide complimentary basic Wi‑Fi as a standard amenity, with housekeeping and in-room services available on request.
- Room types: Superior Room; Deluxe Room; Grand Room, 1 King Bed; Grand Room, 2 Queen Beds
- Suites: Junior Suite; Superior Suite, with Sofa bed; Deluxe Suite, with Sofa bed; Junior Suite, Terrace; Superior Suite, with Sofa bed, Terrace
- Complimentary basic in-room Wi‑Fi (some booking channels may add conditions or fees)
| Category | Bed examples / notes |
|---|---|
| Superior Room | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Grand Room, 1 King Bed | 1 King Bed; larger windows/views |
| Superior Suite, with Sofa bed | 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed |
Dining & rooftop — options and signature experiences
On-site dining includes Kostali (Mediterranean cuisine) on the lobby level and Upstairs at The Gwen, the rooftop restaurant and bar that serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner with skyline views and fire pits. The hotel also runs a weekend Tipsy Tea afternoon experience at Upstairs.
Reservations are recommended for Kostali and Upstairs. The rooftop hosts recurring events such as Lux Happy Hour and Wine Wednesdays with live jazz; hours differ by venue and day so check in advance for the times you plan to visit.
- Kostali — Mediterranean menu; reservation required; Smart Casual dress code
- Upstairs at The Gwen — rooftop American dining, signature cocktails, fire pits; accepts reservations
- Tipsy Tea — weekend boozy afternoon tea (Sat–Sun), DJ and themed towers
| Venue | Notes |
|---|---|
| Kostali | Lobby-level Mediterranean restaurant; reservation required |
| Upstairs at The Gwen | Rooftop dining and bar; sunrise-to-sundown hours with later weekend hours |
| Tipsy Tea | Weekend afternoon tea experience (Saturday & Sunday) |
Facilities, fitness and the things it doesn’t have
The Gwen’s wellness offering centers on a 24-hour fitness center with treadmills, a Tonal machine, two Peloton bikes, and free weights. Laundry, dry-cleaning, luggage storage, and multilingual staff are available.
The hotel does not have an on-site swimming pool or a full-service spa. Guests who prioritize poolside or full spa facilities should consider that those amenities are not available on property.
- 24-hour fitness center (strength and cardio equipment, Tonal, Peloton bikes)
- Laundry and dry-cleaning services available for a fee
- No on-site pool; no full-service spa (in-room massages can be arranged)
| Amenity | On-site? |
|---|---|
| Fitness center (Tonal, Peloton) | Yes |
| Swimming pool | No |
| Full-service on-site spa | No (in-room treatments may be arranged) |
Fees, policies and practical points
Check-in is 3:00 PM and check-out is 12:00 PM (noon). The Gwen is family-welcoming — children are allowed — but the registered guest must be at least 21 to check in. The property is smoke-free and offers accessible rooms and public spaces.
Budget for a daily destination/resort fee and separate charges such as valet parking and pet fees. The hotel’s published pet policy allows dogs up to 40 lbs (with a non-refundable cleaning fee and a per‑day pet charge), and valet parking is available for guests.
- Check-in: 3:00 PM. Check-out: 12:00 PM (noon).
- Minimum age to check in: 21 for the registered guest; children are welcome.
- Destination/resort fee applies (amount may vary by channel); valet parking and pet fees are additional.
| Policy | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pet policy (hotel FAQ) | $120 non-refundable cleaning fee + $25 per day per pet (up to 2 pets); weight limit listed as 40 lbs in hotel FAQ |
| Valet parking | Valet parking available (fee varies by channel/dates); EV charging noted as self-parking only |
| Wi‑Fi | Complimentary basic in-room Wi‑Fi standard; some booking channels may add fees or conditions |
Meetings, weddings and event spaces
The Gwen offers extensive event space across multiple rooms and terraces. Key indoor spaces include The Gallery Ballroom and the Grand Salon; the property lists roughly 15,000–16,000 sq ft of event space across its venues, with rooftop terrace options for outdoor ceremonies and receptions.
Wedding packages typically include reception space, furniture, a plated dinner, an in-house tasting for a limited number of guests, and a Terrace Suite for the newlyweds. Capacities and fees vary by room and package; planner contact is recommended for exact availability and pricing.
- The Gallery Ballroom — detailed chart lists it as 3,388 sq ft with theater capacity up to 400 and receptions up to 300
- The Gwen Lux Terrace and Gallery Terrace — rooftop/outdoor options, terrace capacities often listed around 70 for standalone terrace use
- Event planners: hotel offers private dining concept (Private Affairs) and multiple breakout rooms
| Event space | Typical capacity notes |
|---|---|
| The Gallery Ballroom | Reception up to 300; theater up to 400 (3,388 sq ft) |
| Grand Salon | Reception up to 300; theater capacities listed |
| Gallery Terrace / Lux Terrace | Outdoor terrace options (standalone around 70 guests) |
