Found on the city’s famed Magnificent Mile, The Gwen Hotel Michigan Avenue Chicago gets their name and design inspirations from Chicago-born sculptor Gwen Lux. The Art Deco and gold-accented retreat is a special fusion of old-fashioned glamour and chic modernity with boldly-appointed rooms and popular eateries are filled with frequent travelers and locals.
Check out our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
Read below for more information on how this is one of the best luxury hotels in Chicago.
Featured Travel Credit Card
 The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM • 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries • 2x on all other travel purchases • 1x on all other purchases • $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase TravelSM This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
Style
Housed in a landmark Art Deco tower, the Gwen offers an old-fashioned, luxurious vibe that’s not the least it stuffy. It’s dark and elegant, with brass fixtures, flush furniture, dramatic lighting, and amazing art. This property has a dramatic sensibility, shrouded in feminine mystique.
Rooms
The 311 rooms and suited at the Gwen continues the Art Deco theme, with more brassy fixtures, jewel tones, geometric shapes, and a sophisticated, industrial flair. The King Grand Deluxe Room is made in a crisp palette of black, white, and charcoal with pops of emerald, peach, and rose. The roomy bath boasted marble-topped vanities, granite floors, oversized walk-in showers, separate deep soaking tub and Molton Brown amenities.
Facilities
Amenities at the Gwen include complimentary shoe shine service, Gwne Bicycles with road maps, tote bags for shopping or beach activities. Plus, it comes with basic WiFi and a 24-hour business center. There’s also a 2,000 square-foot fitness center, open 24 hours, with the latest cardio equipment that enables you to stream Hulu, Netflix, and Pandora. But, there aren’t any spas or pools here.
Food & Drink
Upstairs at the Gwen, a lobby-level, indoor-outdoor space. It offers craft cocktails, small bites, and big views. Beverages are expectional here, with a focus on locally-made booze and local craft beers.
Kostali by James Beard Award-winning chef Carrie Nahabedian, takes diners on a journey to the coasts of Southern Europe and Northern Africa. Some popular items are the loup de mer, garganelli with clams, prawns and feta cheese butter, hummus with lamb, radishes and walnuts.
Service
At check-in, you’ll be greeted with a sincere welcome and warm smile. The receptionist is also nice enough to point our that the included amenities which is a nice touch. Other than the nice and friendly staff, the Gwen offers some special services. There’s the custom-designed curling rink, the “urban glamping” option and the personal favorite the “Call Me Old Fashioned” room amenity. This is where a premixed Old Fashioned comes to your room, complete with candied bacon and an orange peel for garnish.
Location
A few steps from the Magnificent Mile and connected via indoor bridge to the Shops at North Bridge, The Gwen Chicago is in a prime location for some serious retail therapy. For people that are more interested in Chicago attractions, The Loop and Millennium Park are a 10-minute walk away, and the Museum of Contemporary Art takes around 15 minutes. Lake Michigan and Navy Pier are a little further, about 20 minutes on foot.
Address: 521 North Rush Street, Chicago.
Earn Free Nights with Marriott Bonvoy
The Gwen is part of the Luxury Collection by Marriott. Sign up with Marriott Bonvoy to earn free award nights at the Gwen Chicago. The best way to build up on Marriott Bonvoy points is by getting a Marriott co-branded credit card and eligible for their welcome bonus.
Chase offers two personal credit cards that earn Marriott points, while American Express (Amex) offers one personal and one business card. If you’re looking to apply for a Marriott credit card, remember:
- The Chase 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened 5 or more new credit cards in the past 24 months (from any bank), you won’t be approved for a new credit card from Chase.
- The Amex once-in-a-lifetime welcome bonus rule. You can only be eligible for the welcome offer on each Amex personal and business card once in your lifetime.
 The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. With this card, you'll earn: • 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. • 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. • 2X points on all other eligible purchases. • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide. A Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at participating hotels for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member. Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck. $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card. Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees. This card comes with a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Furthermore, enjoy unlimited airport lounge visits when you enroll in Priority Pass Select membership. Terms Apply. |
 The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers 3 Free Night Awards up to a 150,000 Total Point Value (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy • 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. • 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchase • 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. You gain an automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. You'll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year & an additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. This card does carry a $95 fee; there are no foreign transaction fees. |
 The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card offers 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 14X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy • 2X points for all other travel purchases • 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases This card comes with no annual fees or foreign transaction fees and you'll get 15 elite night credits each calendar year! |
 The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate. You can enjoy a complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. You'll earn: • 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. • 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. • 2x points on all other eligible purchases. You'll receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees. This card does carry a $125 annual fee. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
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Conclusion
The Gwen is found just a block from the Magnificent Mile, and offers a boutique vibe with elegant guestrooms. There’s destination-worthy dining options and an ample fitness center as well. To top everything off, they have a warm and attentive service that tends to your needs. The Gwen is one of the best luxury hotels in the Windy City of Chicago.
