The Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park is located just one block north of Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, and such Chicago landmarks as the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion and the Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”). This stylish hotel has recently been renovated, and is home to nearly 700 different rooms and suites. The Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park also houses a significant number of on-site amenities, including three distinct restaurants/lounges, a spa, health club, fitness studio, and tens of thousands of square feet of meeting space. Every single room here also comes with an extensive array of in-room amenities.
Fairmont Chicago Ambiance
Guests to the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park are likely to be struck immediately by the two large bronze and aluminum sculptures that loom on the front walls just outside the main entrance of the hotel. These striking murals are set in the 1920s, and depict Chicago’s innovative, industrial past—namely the 1920s construction of an early skyscraper, and the iconic form of the nearby Wrigley Building. Moving beyond these memorable artworks, guests enter the hotel into an inviting space that at once feels both historic and modern. Soft orange backlighting casts a glow over gray marble pillars and dark carpets. Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park is a large hotel, but even its hallways are thoughtfully decorated with vibrant carpets and the occasional upholstered chair. The nerve center of the entire operation is the sizable front desk—which is staffed 24 hours a day and always available to attend to any needs that might arise throughout your stay at the hotel.
Fairmont Chicago Rooms
Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park has 687 rooms and suites available in a variety of styles and arrangements. Individual guestrooms come in several different formats. A typical “Fairmont Room” is usually about 420 square feet in size, and comes with one king bed or two double beds; these rooms typically face north or west—thus offering either views of the Chicago River or downtown skyline. A “Deluxe Guestroom” is available, too; it is similarly sized and also features either one king bed or two double beds, but offers views south toward Grant Park or east toward Lake Michigan. The “Fairmont Signature Room” option offers guests all of the same in-room arrangements described in the previous two formats, except they are found on some of the hotel’s highest floors (namely floors 31 through 37), thereby ensuring that your views from your room will be quite remarkable.
Individual guestrooms falling into the categories described above come standard with a mixture of amenities. These in-room features include a 50-inch high-definition television, sizable closets, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, kitchenette space that comes complete with a coffeemaker, and a modern shower space that is separate from your bathroom. High-speed Internet services are also available in-room, but at a fairly significant daily rate.
Rooms here emphasize natural light and bright colors: wide windows let in a great deal of natural light, while the room’s décor highlights a number of yellows and soft grays; in-room art is often a mixture of black-and-white cityscapes alongside colorful paintings of flowers. Most guestrooms have a small desk suitable to various office-type tasks, and an additional comfortable chair (or two) with accompanying coffee/side table(s). Guestroom bathrooms are modern and comfortable. The bathroom décor is typically a mix of soft gray and brown; the shower fixtures are up-to-date, and the toilet area is separate from the rest of the bathroom, making the space suitable for families.
There are also a significant number of luxurious suites available at Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park. Fairmont’s signature suites are typically twice the size of a regular guestroom, usually located on a higher floor of the hotel, and feature 65-inch televisions, walk-in closets, luxury bedding products, marble bathrooms, and original wall artworks.
Fairmont Chicago Amenities
Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park has an extensive assortment of hotel-wide amenities available for its guests. There are multiple on-site dining options. Each day between the hours of 6:00am and 10:30pm you can order room service and receive any number of full meals, snacks, and/or drinks served to directly to your room. Every morning a hearty breakfast is available in the Millennium Room; there, from 6:00am to 10:30am, you can partake in a classic breakfast and/or enjoy a full-breakfast buffet. Reservations are recommended, though walk-in seating is accepted (contingent upon availability).
If you are interested in a traditional sit-down restaurant experience, that is even accessible on-site at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park’s house restaurant, Columbus Tap. Columbus Tap is open every day from 11:30am to Midnight, and serves up classic Midwestern fare in a charming setting. The vibe here is contemporary gastropub: replicas of old whiskey barrels line one wall, dark wood sets the mood everywhere else. Their menu is extensive and varied, offering separate selections for everything from brunch, lunch, and dinner to even happy hour. The drinks lists here is long, and there are frequently specials on tap.
If you want a quick drink in a cozy setting, or a small plate in an intimate space, then The Bar is for you. This “contemporary lounge”—think plush leather chairs, dark-wood seating nooks, and occasional live music—is situated right in the hotel’s main lobby; open each day from 5:00pm to 11:30pm, it has a specially designed menu that emphasizes handcrafted cocktails, high-end wines, and unique small plates.
One of Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park’s most acclaimed amenities is its spa/health club/fitness studio complex. The general Fitness Studio is typically open Monday through Thursday from 5:00am to 10:00pm, Fridays from 5:00am to 9:00pm, and weekends from 7:00am to 6:00pm; this cutting-edge facility is nearly 110,000 square feet large, and houses all your standard fitness equipment as well as a small pool and rock-climbing wall. Nearly 100 different fitness classes are also hosted here each week; check the hotel’s website for specifics.
Meanwhile, found nearby is MySpa: this elaborate spa space is perfect for those visitors who still want to pamper themselves while traveling. It features a remarkable array of amenities, including 8 different spa-treatment rooms, a massage space, a nail salon, a spa boutique, and its own elaborate fitness center that is accessible 24 hours a day. It is recommended that you call ahead of your visit in order to make arrangements at MySpa.
Several other amenities are available upon advance request. These options include cribs, rollaway beds, microwaves, and refrigerators—as well as rooms that are ADA-compliant and rooms that connect with one another. (Keep in mind that there are sizable upcharges for the microwave and fridge.) Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park is also home to almost 70,000 square feet of meeting space; it offers many different options for hosting your wedding, meeting, convention, and/or banquet. Valet parking is available on-site, too.
Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park Neighborhood
Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park is located in a prime spot: it is situated on Columbus Drive—itself a notable street running through downtown Chicago—just some two blocks east of the tremendous dining and shopping options found along Michigan Avenue (also known as the Magnificent Mile), and a single block north of lovely Millennium Park. Nearby attractions include the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier, Grant Park, the Chicago Theater District, and Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower. Additional local accommodations found a short distance away include Loews Chicago Hotel, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Chicago, Park Hyatt Chicago, JW Marriott Chicago, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, Sheraton Grand Chicago, Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, Virgin Hotels Chicago, and Swissôtel Chicago, among many, many others.
How is it Ecofriendly?
As part of the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts family of accommodations, Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park has a long history of striving to protect and preserve our world and its precious, diverse environments. For decades now, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has been committed to enacting a thoughtful philosophy of corporate social responsibility that actively considers the environmental repercussions of their facilities and services. Guests of Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park can witness this commitment in action each day through examples of sustainable actions such as active recycling practices, careful use of water resources, and creative means of carbon-footprint reduction like planting their own “urban herb garden.” They also operate an Energy and Carbon Management program that allows them to track their environmental impact. More specifically, Fairmont has installed low-flow showerheads, low-flush toilets, and tap aerators in every guestroom. Likewise, Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park conserves water resources by promoting sheet and towel exchange programs. For travelers who might arrive at the Fairmont for business purposes, they also operate an “Eco-meeting” policy—which involves “disposable-free” food and beverage services, seasonal and organic foods wherever possible, and optional paperless services.