Built in 1893 as a private member's only club, the historic renovated Chicago Athletic Association Hotel on Michigan Avenue opens to the general public today. And with it, diners, drinkers, and gamers can check out the many food and beverage options, most notably the restored Cherry Circle Room and the Game Room, run by Land & Sea Dept. (Longman & Eagle), acclaimed beverage director Paul McGee (Three Dots and a Dash), and chef Peter Coenen (The Gage).
Back in November, when the project was first reported, Land & Sea described the space as "stunning," and the finished product doesn't disappoint. High cherry shelving backed with glass cabinets are topped with busts of Abraham Lincoln, framed coats of arms hang on wood-checkered walls, navy velvet chairs line the bar and leather booths glisten under orbs emitting dim mood lighting in the Cherry Circle Room. Scroll through the gallery above for a tour, including the Game Room and rooftop space Cindy's, and click here for photos of the hotel itself. Read the menu for the Game Room below, which features boozy floats, fried pickle pops, freeze pops, and a hot dog with corn and shishito pepper chow chow.
Excluding the ground floor Shake Shack that opens tomorrow, all of the hotel opens tonight, including the Game Room, Drawing Room (lobby) and Milk Room (microbar). Read Paul McGee's primer here and get ready to eat, drink and play inside a world of history on Michigan Avenue.
