Historic architecture & the hotel's Medinah Club past — a visitor's guide
The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile occupies the 1929 Medinah Athletic Club building, so much of the hotel’s public spaces — from the double-height lobby and carved wood rooms to the Grand Ballroom and the tiled Junior Olympic–size pool — keep that original 1920s character. A visitor’s tour should point out the Spanish Majolica pool tiles, King Arthur Court and the 7th-floor Grand Ballroom, then pair those stops with nearby Chicago River architecture cruises on the Magnificent Mile.
In this guide
- A short history: Medinah Athletic Club → hotel
- Architectural highlights to look for in the hotel
- Where to see the best historic details (self-guided stops)
- Rooms and suites for architecture-minded guests
- Dining and event rooms tied to the building’s past
- Pool, spa and event viewing — practical notes
- Nearby architecture and tours to pair with your stay
A short history: Medinah Athletic Club → hotel
The building opened in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club and was later converted to hotel use in 1944; it became the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile in March 1990. The property is listed with Historic Hotels of America, reflecting its original athletic-club architecture and decorative program.
Because the hotel preserves original club spaces, many prime public rooms you’ll see were created for the 1929 club rather than for modern hotel design. That history is visible in carved woodwork, murals and large multi-level public spaces.
- Built: 1929 as Medinah Athletic Club
- Hotel conversion: 1944; InterContinental name from March 1990
- Historic Hotels of America member
| Notable fact | Source |
|---|---|
| Original building date: 1929 | IHG |
| Converted to hotel: 1944 | IHG |
| Historic Hotels of America member | Historic Hotels |
Architectural highlights to look for in the hotel
Start in the double-height lobby and look for dramatic staircases, carved wood detailing and painted friezes that reflect the building’s 1920s origins. The Grand Ballroom and King Arthur Court retain elaborate ornament and original character.
The indoor Junior Olympic–size pool includes 1920s Spanish Majolica tiles and sits within the hotel’s multi-level fitness and spa complex — a rare period pool inside a downtown building.
- Double-height lobby with staircase and chandeliers
- Grand Ballroom: elliptical shape, hand-painted frescoes and large Baccarat chandelier
- King Arthur Court: carved timbering, stained glass and medieval-themed murals
- Historic Junior Olympic–size pool with Spanish Majolica tiles
| Feature | What to notice |
|---|---|
| Grand Ballroom | Elliptical layout, frescoes, large crystal chandelier |
| King Arthur Court | Wood carving, stained glass, medieval motifs |
| Pool | 1920s Spanish Majolica tiles, historic footprint |
Where to see the best historic details (self-guided stops)
Plan a short walking route through public spaces: start at the main lobby, move to the second-floor Center Court and Spanish Court foyers, then ask to see King Arthur Court and the 7th-floor Grand Ballroom if you have an event or tour. Many of those areas are visible without a ticket, though some ballrooms are reserved for events.
If you’re attending a wedding, conference or dining in-house you’ll likely pass through or into these historic rooms. Ask the front desk or concierge for permission to view particular areas when they aren’t in use.
- Main lobby — check the staircases and ceiling frieze
- Center Court and Spanish Court foyer — daytime light and architectural decoration
- King Arthur Court (3rd floor) — carved timbering and stained glass
- Grand Ballroom (7th floor) — elliptical plan and balcony
| Room | Floor | Typical access |
|---|---|---|
| King Arthur Court | 3rd | Accessible when not reserved for private events; ask concierge |
| Grand Ballroom | 7th | Usually event-only; viewing possible during open events or by arrangement |
| Center Court | 2nd | Open — restaurant seating during breakfast hours |
Rooms and suites for architecture-minded guests
You won’t see the exterior shell from every room, but choosing higher floors and corner rooms gives wider city and river sightlines that complement the hotel’s historic interiors. The property’s two-tower layout is often referenced as the Historic Tower and the Executive/Grand Tower.
Room types include options that the hotel lists precisely as Executive Room, City View, Tower; Classic Room; Premium Room; Junior Suite, City View, Tower; Executive Suite, 1 Bedroom, Tower; Suite, 1 Bedroom (Grand Tower); and Premier Suite, 1 Bedroom, City View (Grand Tower). Pick rooms with ‘City View’ or tower designations if you want more skyline exposure.
- Classic Room — basic city-facing options
- Executive Room, City View, Tower — larger footprint with city views
- Junior Suite, City View, Tower — 400 sq. ft. listed for some tower suites
- Premier Suite, 1 Bedroom, City View (Grand Tower) — largest listed suite type
| Room name (exact) | Note |
|---|---|
| Executive Room, City View, Tower | Listed as a city-view tower option; fits families up to 4 guests in some configurations |
| Junior Suite, City View, Tower | Listed as 400 sq. ft. in tower with city views |
| Premier Suite, 1 Bedroom, City View (Grand Tower) | Larger suite option with city views |
Dining and event rooms tied to the building’s past
The hotel’s public dining options sit within or beside historic spaces. Center Court serves breakfast daily; Michael Jordan’s Steak House & Bar and Casa Chi operate at street level and accept reservations through OpenTable. Michael Jordan’s Steak House & Bar is the hotel’s steakhouse with specified dinner hours and bar service.
If you’re visiting for a wedding or meeting, the hotel has multiple named ballrooms and historic meeting rooms. The 7th-floor Grand Ballroom and several smaller historic rooms (King Arthur Court, Renaissance Ballroom, Camelot Room) are used for weddings and events and often show the building’s original decorative work.
- Center Court — breakfast (Mon–Fri 7:00am–11:00am; Sat–Sun until noon)
- Michael Jordan's Steak House & Bar — dinner (Sun–Mon 5:00pm–9:30pm; Tue–Sat 5:00pm–10:00pm) plus bar hours; reservations recommended
- Casa Chi — Nikkei dinner service and cocktails (hours vary; restaurant open seven days per IHG listings)
| Venue | Typical service |
|---|---|
| Center Court | Breakfast; family-friendly |
| Michael Jordan's Steak House & Bar | Steakhouse — dinner and bar; reservations accepted |
| Casa Chi | Dinner-focused Nikkei concept with cocktails and tastings |
Pool, spa and event viewing — practical notes
The hotel’s historic indoor Junior Olympic–size pool, with 1920s Spanish Majolica tiles, is located within the Executive Tower fitness and spa complex (listed on sources as the 14th-floor fitness facility). The pool hours are published as 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM on the property page; some third-party listings show slightly different guest-access hours, so check current hours with the hotel.
The pool operates without a lifeguard on duty and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The InterContinental Spa includes treatment rooms, a couples room and saunas; spa hours vary across published sources, so confirm when you book treatments.
- Pool: Junior Olympic–size, 1920s Spanish Majolica tile, no lifeguard on duty
- Pool hours on IHG listing: 5:00 AM–10:00 PM (confirm locally)
- Spa: InterContinental Spa with treatment rooms, couples room and Finnish saunas; book in advance
| Facility | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pool | Historic Junior Olympic–size; no lifeguard; family access |
| Spa | Treatment rooms, couples room, saunas; variable hours listed |
| Fitness center | Part of three-level complex; 24-hour access listed |
Nearby architecture and tours to pair with your stay
The hotel sits on North Michigan Avenue at the Magnificent Mile and is steps from the Chicago River, Tribune Tower and the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Architecture boat tours along the river depart nearby and are a common way to connect the hotel’s own architectural story to the city’s skyline.
Other nearby attractions within easy walking distance include the Shops at Northbridge, the Wrigley Building, the Chicago Riverwalk and the John Hancock/360 Chicago Observation Deck. Use the concierge to arrange river cruises, walking tours, or timed-entry tickets.
- Tribune Tower — about a 1-minute walk
- Chicago Riverwalk — about a 5-minute walk
- Shops at Northbridge and Magnificent Mile shopping — immediate access from the hotel
- 360 Chicago Observation Deck — roughly a 10-minute walk
| Attraction | Approx. walk time from hotel |
|---|---|
| Tribune Tower | 1 minute |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 5 minutes |
| 360 Chicago (John Hancock) | 10 minutes |
