REVIEW AUTHOR

Brandon Berkson

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Those who want to avoid busy Michigan Avenue should look toward Chicago’s West Loop and Fulton Market District. Former industrial warehouses now hold lively restaurants, bars, and independent shops, alongside one of the neighborhood’s strongest boutique stays, The Emily Hotel.

The 159-room hotel pairs semi-minimalist interiors in browns and grays with a lobby coffee shop, the restaurant Fora, and art spread throughout the property through its Artist in Residence program.

In winter, the fifth-floor terrace hosts four curling courts surrounded by heated firepits and food-and-drink service. In spring, the space becomes a Rooftop Cinema Club with weekly films on an LED screen and wireless headphones.

Rooms are modern and comfortable, with organic-cotton sheets, flat-screen televisions, stocked minibars, and custom Bluetooth radios. Suites add kitchenettes and private terraces.

Fora serves a globally inspired menu, including a fried chicken sandwich layered with roasted-chili barbecue sauce, pickled jalapeños, cabbage, and fries.

On the seventh floor, Selva pairs handcrafted cocktails with Chicago skyline views. The Mexican-inspired menu includes the Naked & Afraid, made with mezcal, green Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime.

Fast Facts

Location: Chicago, Illinois, in the Fulton Market District

Rating: Four-star

The Vibe: An effortlessly contemporary bolthole in a trendy, tourist-light corner of Chicago.

Food + Drink: A ground-floor coffee shop, globally inspired restaurant Fora, and Mexican-inspired rooftop bar Selva.

Neighborhood Recs: Time Out Market Chicago, Emporium arcade bar, and the restaurants and shops of Fulton Market.

Our Favorite Thing: Spacious suites with expansive windows, work-friendly desks, and skyline views.

Nearby: Time Out Market Chicago, Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan Avenue, and the Chicago River.

Amenities: Fitness center, coffee shop, restaurant, rooftop bar, parking, pet-friendly rooms, and breakfast.

Rooms: 159

Pricing: Rooms historically started around $135 per night.

Closest Airports: Chicago Midway International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport