You’ve definitely seen it. If you’ve ever walked down North Michigan Avenue and craned your neck toward the skyline, those glowing red letters are hard to miss. Tip Top Tap. It’s perched on the shoulder of the Warwick Allerton Hotel like a neon badge of honor. Honestly, most people just assume it’s a bar they can walk into tonight for a martini and a view of the Water Tower.
But here’s the thing: it hasn't been a regular public bar for over sixty years.
The Allerton Hotel Tip Top Tap is one of those weird Chicago paradoxes. It’s a landmark everyone recognizes but very few people actually understand. It’s a "tap" where you can’t get a beer on a Tuesday night. It’s a lounge that isn't really a lounge anymore. Yet, it remains one of the most storied patches of real estate on the Magnificent Mile.
The Bachelor Pad Era
When the Allerton House opened in 1924, it wasn't even a hotel in the way we think of them today. It was a "club hotel." Basically, it was a high-end dorm for ambitious young professionals. If you were a guy starting a career in the Loop, you lived here.
There were 1,000 rooms. They were tiny. I mean, really tiny. But you didn't stay in your room; you hung out in the communal lounges, the gymnasium, or the library. Eventually, the building started letting women in—roughly 14 floors for men and six for women—with separate elevators because, well, it was the 1920s.
The 23rd floor, however, was the crown jewel.
What Really Happened at the Tip Top Tap?
The lounge officially became the Tip Top Tap in the 1940s. For a solid two decades, it was the epicenter of Chicago nightlife. If you were a celebrity passing through the Midwest, you were seen here.
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We’re talking about a room that hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Imagine the 1950s: the air is thick with cigarette smoke, the jazz is live, and the views of Lake Michigan are completely unobstructed because the surrounding skyscrapers hadn't been built yet.
The Radio Revolution
The real claim to fame wasn't just the booze; it was the "Breakfast Club."
Don McNeill’s Breakfast Club was a massive radio hit that ran for 35 years. For a long stretch, it broadcasted right from the Allerton. McNeill would interview stars like Lucille Ball, Jerry Lewis, and Jimmy Stewart while Chicagoans ate their eggs and bacon. The "Cloud Room" (as it was sometimes called) became a household name across the country.
- 1924: Allerton opens as a residential club.
- 1940s: Tip Top Tap lounge officially takes over the 23rd floor.
- 1950s: Don McNeill brings national radio fame to the room.
- 1961: The lounge officially closes to the public.
The Ghost of a Bar
So, why is the sign still there?
The lounge shut its doors in 1961. Since then, the space has mostly lived a quiet life as a ballroom for weddings and corporate meetings. It’s sort of heartbreaking for tourists who see the sign, ride the elevator up, and realize there’s no bartender waiting for them.
The hotel, now the Warwick Allerton, has spent millions on renovations. They kept the sign because it’s a protected landmark. In 1998, the city basically said, "You can change the inside, but that neon stays." It’s a good thing they did. Without that sign, the Allerton would just be another pretty Italian Renaissance building. With it, it’s a piece of the city's soul.
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Can You Actually Get Inside?
This is the part most travel blogs get wrong. They’ll tell you it’s closed, period.
Not exactly.
While you can’t just belly up to the bar on a random Thursday, the 23rd floor is very much alive. It’s now the Tip Top Tap Ballroom. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a wedding there, you’ll see the original arched windows and those famous panoramic views.
Lately, the hotel has started leaning back into the history. They’ve been hosting "Tea Time at the Tip Top Tap" on select Sundays. It’s a curated experience with finger sandwiches and fancy teas. Is it a smoky jazz club? No. But it’s the only way for a regular person to get past the "Private Event" signs and see the space for themselves.
Why the Architecture Still Matters
The building itself was designed by Murgatroyd & Ogden. They used a Northern Italian Renaissance style that was pretty rare for Chicago at the time. Look at the dark red brick and the way the building has those dramatic setbacks.
The Allerton was actually the first high-rise in the city to use those setbacks, which were a response to 1923 zoning laws meant to keep sunlight hitting the streets. It influenced the design of much bigger icons, like the Chicago Board of Trade.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you want to experience the Allerton Hotel Tip Top Tap vibe without the disappointment, here is the move:
1. Check the Tea Calendar: Before you go, look at the Warwick Allerton’s official site for "Tea Time" bookings. These usually run in the winter months (January through March) and require reservations.
2. Look for the "Allerton" Sign Too: Most people obsess over the Tap sign, but the "Allerton Hotel" neon on the other side is just as old. It was installed around 1929.
3. Stay on the 2nd Floor: If the 23rd floor is locked down for a wedding, the M Avenue restaurant on the second floor has a "Tip Top Tap" cocktail on the menu. It’s a small nod to the history you can actually drink.
4. Photographers, Go to the West: To get the best shot of the neon sign at night, head a block west toward Rush Street. The angle from the ground directly in front of the hotel is too steep to get the whole logo in frame.
The Allerton isn't the tallest building on the block anymore. It’s dwarfed by glass towers. But those red letters still cut through the Chicago fog. It reminds us that once upon a time, the most important thing you could do on a Saturday night was get a drink at the very top of the world.
To experience the legacy yourself, book a table for the seasonal afternoon tea or check the hotel's event calendar for public open-house dates often held during Open House Chicago in October. For the best views of the iconic neon sign itself, head to the intersection of Michigan and Huron at dusk when the glow is most vibrant against the city skyline.