The Renaissance Blackstone Hotel Chicago in Brief:
The Renaissance Blackstone Hotel is about as close as you're going to get to Grant Park -- it's right across the street. An official Chicago Landmark, the Blackstone underwent an extensive $128 million renovation in 2008, restoring the hotel to its former glory.
Room Rates:
From $259
Hotel Size:
328 guest rooms, 4 suites
Phone Number:
1-312-447-0955
Toll free: 1-800-468-3571
Toll free: 1-800-468-3571
Address:
636 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago, IL 60605
Parking at the Blackstone:
Daily valet parking
Short-term self parking available in surrounding area paid lots
Short-term self parking available in surrounding area paid lots
About the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel Chicago:
Within easy walking distance of Grant and Millennium Parks, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum Campus, and Chicago's downtown business and theater districts, the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel is a great choice based on location alone.
But location isn't the only thing the Blackstone has to offer. Its rich history dates back to 1910, and the hotel has hosted a number of United States presidents over the years. The Blackstone's French Beaux-Arts architecture has made it an official city landmark that is an important part of this particular stretch of Michigan Avenue.
Unfortunately the hotel suffered from years of neglect and disrepair, and was closed in 2000. The Blackstone almost became a condo conversion, but a lack of interested buyers quashed that deal, and instead Marriott International and Sage Hospitality began an extensive multi-year $128 million renovation of the hotel to restore much of its historic charms while updating the rooms with modern amenities.
Rooms are tastefully decorated, with gold accents to play off of the gold colors in the hotel lobby. The Blackstone's proximity on Michigan Avenue and the open space of Grant Park to the east affords many rooms with excellent views of the park and Lake Michigan -- although the view doesn't come free, lake view rooms do have an approximately 10-15% higher room rate.
The Blackstone includes most of the amenities you would expect from a higher end hotel, including in-room high speed internet (for an additional fee), cable TV, a coffee maker, small refrigerator with bottled water, an iron and ironing board, bathrobes, a hair dryer and down comforters. For business travelers, the hotel features a full service business center. For the fitness minded, the hotel has a small health club that is available to guests 24 hours a day.
For dining and snacks, the Blackstone features a Starbucks Coffee store and the excellent Mercat a la Planxa which offers a tasty array of tapas, steaks, seafood, carcuteria (cured meats) and cheeses.
But location isn't the only thing the Blackstone has to offer. Its rich history dates back to 1910, and the hotel has hosted a number of United States presidents over the years. The Blackstone's French Beaux-Arts architecture has made it an official city landmark that is an important part of this particular stretch of Michigan Avenue.
Unfortunately the hotel suffered from years of neglect and disrepair, and was closed in 2000. The Blackstone almost became a condo conversion, but a lack of interested buyers quashed that deal, and instead Marriott International and Sage Hospitality began an extensive multi-year $128 million renovation of the hotel to restore much of its historic charms while updating the rooms with modern amenities.
Rooms are tastefully decorated, with gold accents to play off of the gold colors in the hotel lobby. The Blackstone's proximity on Michigan Avenue and the open space of Grant Park to the east affords many rooms with excellent views of the park and Lake Michigan -- although the view doesn't come free, lake view rooms do have an approximately 10-15% higher room rate.
The Blackstone includes most of the amenities you would expect from a higher end hotel, including in-room high speed internet (for an additional fee), cable TV, a coffee maker, small refrigerator with bottled water, an iron and ironing board, bathrobes, a hair dryer and down comforters. For business travelers, the hotel features a full service business center. For the fitness minded, the hotel has a small health club that is available to guests 24 hours a day.
For dining and snacks, the Blackstone features a Starbucks Coffee store and the excellent Mercat a la Planxa which offers a tasty array of tapas, steaks, seafood, carcuteria (cured meats) and cheeses.