Oxford Hotels & Resorts and Curio – A Collection by Hilton have now opened LondonHouse Chicago at the corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive. Originally opened as the London Guarantee Building in 1923, LondonHouse Chicago pays tribute to its past while also incorporating visually striking modern elements. The luxury lifestyle hotel brings 452 chic rooms and suites, as well as tech-forward amenities catering to leisure and business travelers alike.
“Our entire development and operational team has worked hard over the last several years to transform this elegant and historic building into a beautiful luxury lifestyle hotel,” said John W. Rutledge, founder, president and CEO of Oxford Capital Group, LLC and its wholly owned management affiliate Oxford Hotels & Resorts. “We are thrilled to finally be opening our doors to the public.”
“Thanks in part to distinct details, such as subtle jazz themes and custom artwork incorporated into its design, LondonHouse Chicago is a true reflection of The Windy City’s history dating back to the Roaring Twenties,” said Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton. “We’re honored to welcome this new icon in Chicago hospitality to our growing global collection, where our guests can not only enjoy that uniquely local Chicago experience just steps from the hotel, but throughout the property as well.”
Design
Inspired by the London Guarantee & Accident Building, the nearly 100-year old structure in which the hotel is located, LondonHouse Chicago uses its design to memorialize the era in which the 23-floor tower was originally built. Oxford also worked closely with architecture firm Goettsch Partners to develop a new 22-story modernist glass tower designed to synchronize seamlessly with the 360 North Michigan Avenues building’s timeless Art Deco architecture. Simeone Deary Design Group, the hotel’s interior design firm, also incorporated its jazz themes subtly with stylish interior architectural materials blending classic and modern designs. Some materials and furniture were secured by the Getty’s Group procurement division.
“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work closely with Oxford’s development team to concept and design the interiors for LondonHouse Chicago,” said Lisa Simeone, owner of Simeone Deary Design Group. “The Landmark nature of this gorgeous and iconic building, its 1920s original inception and its location at the historic site of Fort Dearborn provided a wealth of inspiration for our narrative and design. From flappers’ beaded dresses to industrial automobile interiors to generals’ uniforms and beyond, our modern-take on these design elements allowed us to be inspired by the past but ground ourselves in the present.”
London House’s elegant design aesthetic is further elevated through a custom art collection and unique prints curated by Indiewalls to visualize the property’s glamour while telling a story of opulence, intrigue, and history.
Guest amenities
LondonHouse Chicago features LH, a tri-level rooftop, a lobby bar, a full-service destination spa offering customizable treatments, a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary internet access via Wi-Fi; two floors of upscale retail, The Shops at LondonHouse. The guestrooms are equipped with 55-inch high-def televisions using SoniCast, an innovative media streaming program powered by Google Chromecast and designed to cast a guest’s favorite movies, TV shows, music, photos and more from an iOS or Android mobile device.
The guest rooms and suites will also be equipped with Bluetooth-friendly Tivoli clock radios, mini refrigerators, luxury linen bedding and towels and signature Frette LondonHouse robes. Other amenities for today’s savvy traveler include convenient task desks and marble-clad bathrooms with high-end Malin + Goetz products.
For an especially opulent experience, LondonHouse introduces The Presidential Suite, designed with a living area, private dining space, a double-sided fireplace, a separate butler’s kitchen, and expansive views of the Chicago River and skyline. Also available is LH Cupola, an intimate and open-air exclusive space available for private events and engagements.
Dining
Led by Executive Chef and Beverage Director Riley Huddleston, the hotel’s culinary program pays homage to the building’s history via re-imagined American cuisine and chef-crafted cocktails. The featured dining establishments are Bridges Lobby Bar and LH, Chicago’s first tri-level rooftop venue located on floors 21 – 23. Huddleston’s innovative culinary style blends classic French training with modern cooking techniques. He draws on his eclectic mix of experiences to build creative menus that focus on the best produce and ingredients available from around the world.
In LH, Huddleston brings diners to new heights with gourmet fare, retro chef-crafted cocktails on tap and stunning vistas of downtown Chicago, complemented by magnificent views of the Chicago River. For guests who need to unwind any day of the week, LH also offers shared plates alongside a full bar with hand-crafted specialty cocktails and a variety of domestic wines. LH on 21 opens at 5 p.m. daily, LH on 22 is available to guests after 2 p.m. each day, and LH Cupola is an exclusive event space on the 23rd floor, available only for private reservations. Some featured menu items include: Blue Fin Toro with fresh Wasabi grated on Sharkskin; Beef Tartare with Quail Egg, Cornichons, forest smoke and hazelnut and focaccia crackers; Tomahawk steak with roasted potato cream, shiro dashi broth and a selection of salts.
Meanwhile, the stylish but casual Bridges Lobby Bar on the 2nd floor boasts broad views of the Chicago River and its bridges, as well as areas outfitted with plush, jewel-toned furniture and an antique mirror behind the bar to reflect the subtle curves of the river. Open for light breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu features artisan pastries, sandwiches and shareable bites, organic juices, local micro-roast coffee and chef-driven cocktails.
Meetings and events
From ballrooms exuding sophistication and style to meeting spaces ideal for small corporate gatherings or private dinners, LondonHouse Chicago houses 25,000 square feet of modern and flexible function venues to meet all needs. The Juliette and Whistler ballrooms feature high ceilings, a column free open layout and design details inspired by the heavily beaded couture dresses worn in the 1920s. The hotel also offers traditional executive options, with a total of 10 meeting spaces and breakout rooms, as well as one boardroom, situated throughout the property. Located on the 22nd floor, atop the hotel, are four stylish private dining spaces of all sizes, including Etoile, which boasts a patio that can accommodate 80 for an outdoor reception. Each private dining room offers an airy atmosphere and majestic river views. No matter the occasion, Executive Chef Riley Huddleston and his team personally cater to each host’s preferences to create a memorable menu.
