Walk into the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and you’ll immediately feel the weight of nearly a century of ego, architecture, and luxury. It’s heavy. It’s gold. Honestly, it’s a lot to take in if you’re just looking for a place to drop your bags and find a decent steak. But that’s the thing about this place—it isn't just another skyscraper in a city full of them. It’s a survivor.
Built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, the building was a playground for the Shriners. Then the Great Depression hit. Hard. The club went belly up only five years after opening, and the building went through a bit of an identity crisis before eventually becoming the anchor of the Magnificent Mile we know today.
Most people walk past the limestone facade and the golden dome without realizing they are looking at one of the few buildings in Chicago that survived the transition from the Roaring Twenties to the modern era with its soul mostly intact. You’ve got two distinct towers here: the Historic Tower (the original 1929 club) and the Executive Tower (the modern addition). They’re like siblings who share a last name but have completely different personalities. If you want the "Chicago" experience, you stay in the Historic Tower. If you want a desk that actually has enough outlets for your laptop, you go to the Executive side.
The Pool That Everyone Talks About (For Good Reason)
You cannot talk about the InterContinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago without talking about the junior Olympic-sized swimming pool on the 14th floor. It’s famous. Like, "featured in every architecture tour" famous.
It’s an indoor pool, but it feels like a cathedral for water. The walls are covered in hand-painted Spanish tiles, and there’s a massive marble fountain of Neptune that looks like it’s judging your backstroke. When it was built, it was a feat of engineering—hanging a massive tank of water halfway up a skyscraper wasn't exactly standard practice in the late twenties.
Johnny Weissmuller, the Olympic swimmer who played Tarzan, used to train here. Think about that next time you’re doing laps. The space feels frozen in time. While most modern hotel pools are sterile, lukewarm boxes with a couple of plastic lounge chairs, this one is pure drama. It’s moody. It’s quiet. It’s probably the most "Instagrammable" spot in the building, though the lighting is so dim and atmospheric that your phone might struggle to capture the scale of it.
The Room Situation: Historic vs. Modern
Choosing a room here is where people usually get confused. If you book a "Classic" room, you might end up in the Historic Tower. These rooms have high ceilings and a certain je ne sais quoi, but they can also be a bit... cozy. Let’s be real: people were smaller in 1929. The bathrooms are beautiful, often featuring original-style marble, but you aren't going to be practicing yoga in there.
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The Executive Tower is the 1961 addition. It’s where the business travelers usually land. The rooms are larger, the windows are wider, and the vibe is much more "Global Corporate Citizen." You get better views of the city skyline and Michigan Avenue from the higher floors here.
What to look for when booking:
- The View: Ask for a room facing East if you want to see the lake, or North if you want the classic "canyon" view of Michigan Avenue.
- The Bedding: Regardless of the tower, the InterContinental brand usually nails the mattress game. It’s that heavy, high-thread-count feel.
- The Elevators: Just a heads-up, the elevators in the Historic Tower are original-spec shells. They’re fast, but they have that old-school mechanical "thump" that lets you know you're in a vintage building.
Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse and the Art of the "Mag Mile" Meal
A lot of hotel restaurants are an afterthought. They exist because the hotel has to provide food. But the InterContinental hosts Michael Jordan’s Steak House, and surprisingly, it isn't a cheesy tourist trap.
Is it expensive? Yes. It’s Michigan Avenue.
Is the garlic bread with blue cheese fondue worth the calories? Absolutely.
The dining room overlooks the lobby, creating this weirdly energetic atmosphere where you can watch the chaos of the Magnificent Mile through the windows while tucking into a dry-aged ribeye. It’s a "power lunch" kind of place. You’ll see guys in $3,000 suits sitting next to families in matching Chicago Bulls jerseys. It’s the quintessential Chicago mix.
Directly across the hall is the Continental, which handles the breakfast crowd. It’s more laid back, but if you want the real Chicago experience, you grab a coffee and head outside. You are steps away from the Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building, and the river.
The Weird History You Won't Find in the Brochure
The top of the building—the golden "onion" dome—was actually designed as a docking station for dirigibles (blimps). The Shriners thought blimps were the future of travel. They imagined wealthy guests floating in from New York or Europe and stepping right onto the roof.
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It never happened. The wind off Lake Michigan made it impossible to dock a giant balloon safely, and then the Hindenburg happened, which pretty much killed the "luxury blimp" dream for everyone. Now, the dome is just a very expensive, very beautiful piece of roof art that glows at night.
Inside, the hotel is a maze of ballrooms. The Grand Ballroom is an elliptical shape with a massive Baccarat crystal chandelier that costs more than most houses. There’s also the King Arthur Court, which features wood carvings that look like they were ripped out of a medieval castle. It’s eccentric. It reflects a time when Chicago had chip-on-the-shoulder energy and wanted to prove it could be as sophisticated as London or Paris.
Why This Location Actually Matters
Look, you can stay at the Westin, the Marriott, or the Hyatt further north. They’re fine. They’re predictable. But the InterContinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago sits at the exact pivot point where the Chicago River meets the shopping district.
You can walk south and be at Millennium Park and the Art Institute in ten minutes. You walk north and you’re at Water Tower Place and Oak Street Beach. You’re basically at the 50-yard line of the city.
The downside? Traffic.
If you are trying to take an Uber from here at 5:00 PM on a Friday, just forget it. You’re better off walking. The noise can also be an issue if you’re on a lower floor. Chicago is a loud city—sirens, bus brakes, and the general hum of thousands of people. The windows in the Executive Tower are pretty thick, but the Historic Tower lets a little more of that "city music" in.
Is it Worth the Price?
Honestly, it depends on what you value.
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If you want a sleek, minimalist, white-walls-and-glass hotel, you will probably hate this place. It’s ornate. It’s got patterned carpets and heavy drapes. It’s "grand" in a way that feels a little bit old-fashioned.
But if you like history—if you want to swim in the same pool as Tarzan and walk through the same doors as some of the most powerful people of the 20th century—then it’s one of the best stays in the country. The service is typically InterContinental level: professional, slightly formal, but generally helpful.
One thing to watch out for is the "Amenity Fee." Like most high-end hotels in Chicago, they tack on a daily charge that covers things like the fitness center and Wi-Fi. It’s annoying, but it’s the industry standard now. Just factor that into your budget so you aren't surprised when you check out.
Actionable Tips for Your Stay:
- Check the Event Calendar: If there’s a massive convention at McCormick Place, this hotel will be packed. Try to time your visit for a "shoulder" season like late April or October.
- The Secret Museum: Ask the concierge if you can do a self-guided tour. They used to have audio headsets that explained the history of the different ballrooms and the Shriners' influence. It’s worth thirty minutes of your time.
- Gym Access: The fitness center is actually one of the better ones in the city. It’s spread across three floors and isn't just a treadmill in a basement.
- Dining Hack: If Michael Jordan's is too crowded, walk two blocks over to the Billy Goat Tavern under Michigan Avenue for a "cheezborger." It’s the total opposite of the hotel’s luxury, but it’s a Chicago rite of passage.
The InterContinental remains a cornerstone of the city. It isn't trying to be the "newest" or the "hippest." It’s leaning into being the grand dame of the street. In a world of cookie-cutter hotel rooms, there’s something genuinely cool about staying in a place that has a blimp dock it never used and a pool that looks like a movie set. It’s Chicago in a nutshell: ambitious, slightly over-the-top, and incredibly solid.
If you’re planning a trip, book the Historic Tower for the vibe, but bring your own charging hub for your tech. Pack a swimsuit even if you think you won't use it—missing that pool is a genuine travel sin. Finally, take the stairs between the lobby and the second floor at least once just to see the woodwork. You don't see craftsmanship like that anymore, and you certainly won't find it in a budget hotel out by O'Hare.