
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Best for travelers who want big historic ballrooms, a landmark pool and extensive event space in the heart of the Magnificent Mile.
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InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is a landmark 4.5-star hotel in a 1929 building for travelers who want a grand, historic base on the Magnificent Mile. The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago is a stylish 4.5-star option with Art Deco touches and a rooftop terrace for guests who prefer a boutique-luxury vibe steps from Michigan Avenue.
Updated · about 0.2 km apart

Best for travelers who want big historic ballrooms, a landmark pool and extensive event space in the heart of the Magnificent Mile.

Best for guests seeking a smaller Luxury Collection property with contemporary Art Deco style, a rooftop terrace, and two on-site restaurants.
When InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile wins: choose the InterContinental if you need large event or wedding spaces, want the building’s historic character (1929 Medinah Athletic Club), prefer a Junior Olympic-size indoor pool, or are bringing family members — it’s the larger, more traditional full-service option.
When The Gwen wins: pick The Gwen if you want a more boutique-feeling Luxury Collection stay, prefer fewer rooms and a contemporary/art-deco aesthetic, value a rooftop terrace and two on-site restaurants, and want a property that reads as stylish and modern while still being steps from Michigan Avenue.
Bottom line: both hotels sit in the same Magnificent Mile orbit and represent 4.5-star choices; InterContinental is the larger, history-forward property with bigger meeting and pool facilities, while The Gwen is the smaller, style-forward alternative with a rooftop and a Luxury Collection positioning.
| Category | InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile | The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Grand, historic 1929 landmark with classical ballrooms | Stylish, art-deco–inflected 4.5-star Luxury Collection hotel |
| Location | Direct entrance onto the Magnificent Mile at 505 N Michigan Ave, steps from Riverwalk and Tribune Tower | |
| Size (rooms) | 792 guest rooms across two towers | 311 guestrooms |
| Pool | Indoor Junior Olympic-size pool with 1920s Spanish Majolica tiles (family-friendly) | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | Several outlets including Michael Jordan's Steak House & Bar, Casa Chi (Nikkei), Center Court, and an on-site Starbucks | Two restaurants (Kostali plus others listed) and a bar/lounge; 24-hour room service available |
| Spa & wellness | InterContinental Spa with treatment rooms, couples room and Finnish saunas; 24-hour fitness center | Not published |
| Meeting & event space | Extensive — dozens of meeting rooms and large ballrooms (Grand Ballroom, Renaissance Ballroom, etc.) and up to ~45,000 sq ft of event space | Conference space ~3,388 sq ft and 14 meeting rooms |
| Known for | Historic building, large-scale weddings/events, a landmark indoor pool | Proximity to Michigan Avenue shopping, rooftop terrace, Mediterranean cuisine at Kostali |
| Accessibility & family policy | Family-friendly; minimum check-in age 21 for primary guest; pool open to children accompanied by adults | |
| Parking & EV charging | Covered valet parking (fee) and on-site EV charging | |
InterContinental sits directly on the Magnificent Mile with a dedicated entrance onto the shopping district and immediate access to the Chicago River and nearby landmarks.
Choose the InterContinental for the most central, landmark Magnificent Mile address and immediate shopping access.
The Gwen is also in the Michigan Avenue orbit (521 North Rush Street), a short walk from the Riverwalk and prime shopping.
Choose The Gwen if you want a slightly smaller hotel that keeps you within easy walking distance of the same Magnificent Mile sights.
InterContinental offers a wide range of room types across two towers, from Classic Rooms to multiple suite levels and large Executive/Grand Tower options.
Pick InterContinental for the broadest choice of room types and larger-suite options across two towers.
The Gwen lists 311 guestrooms with a mix of Superior, Deluxe, Grand rooms and suites.
Pick The Gwen if you prefer a mid-size Luxury Collection property with clearly named room types and a more intimate scale.
InterContinental has multiple on-site dining venues spanning breakfast, Nikkei dinner and an American steakhouse.
InterContinental suits guests who want several distinct in-house dining destinations and options for private dining and events.
The Gwen offers two restaurants (including Kostali) and a bar/lounge, plus 24-hour room service.
Choose The Gwen if you want a stylish, hotel-centered dining program with an on-site Mediterranean option and room service.
InterContinental’s signature water feature is its historic Junior Olympic-size indoor pool in the Executive Tower fitness complex.
InterContinental is the clear choice for travelers prioritizing a notable indoor pool experience in a historic setting.
The Gwen’s supplier listing highlights a rooftop terrace and garden but does not publish an on-site pool.
If a significant on-site pool is important, InterContinental is the safer pick; The Gwen emphasizes rooftop outdoor spaces instead.
InterContinental combines a multi-level spa and fitness complex with on-site sauna facilities.
InterContinental offers a fuller spa and wellness program plus hotel-based evening dining and bars.
The Gwen lists 24-hour fitness facilities, a rooftop terrace and at least one bar/lounge for evening drinks.
The Gwen works for travelers who want fitness access and rooftop ambience but not a published on-site spa.

InterContinental — multiple large ballrooms and up to ~45,000 sq ft of event space, plus historic ceremony locations.

The Gwen — 311 rooms, Luxury Collection styling, rooftop terrace and a compact, stylish footprint.

InterContinental — a historic Junior Olympic-size indoor pool that’s family-friendly (children allowed with adult supervision).

The Gwen — rooftop terrace, Mediterranean restaurant (Kostali) and a more intimate bar/lounge offering.
InterContinental — it has extensive meeting spaces and multiple large ballrooms (including the Grand Ballroom and Renaissance Ballroom) suited to large weddings and conferences.
The Gwen — with 311 rooms and a Luxury Collection positioning, it reads smaller and more boutique compared with the InterContinental's 792 rooms.
No — neither property is an all-inclusive resort. Meals such as full breakfast and in-room internet at The Gwen may be offered for a fee; InterContinental lists à la carte dining and optional breakfast fees.
InterContinental has a historic indoor Junior Olympic-size pool that is family-friendly; The Gwen’s supplier listing does not publish an on-site pool.
Explore how InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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