The Thompson Chicago review – The Points Guy

Your resident Chicagoan is back for another local hotel review.

For this review, I went east toward Lake Michigan and north toward Lincoln Park for a two-night stay at the Thompson Chicago, a Category 5 Hyatt property.

The Thompson sits on the corner of Rush Street and East Bellevue Place in Gold Coast, one of the city’s oldest, most historical and affluent neighborhoods.

As a local who frequents the city’s hotels, I recommend the Thompson to anyone seeking a phenomenal location. Its prime position in the heart of this charming area makes it ideal for dining out and shopping.

Read on for more details about what it’s like to stay at the Thompson Chicago.

What is the Thompson Chicago?

The Thompson Chicago is a midsize hotel in Gold Coast, a sceney, old-school neighborhood known for its designer stores and expensive restaurants. This location is one of 23 Thompson properties globally, 15 of which reside in the U.S.

During my two-day stay, I saw a mix of guests, including families, couples, groups of 20- to 30-something-year-old women and working professionals. The guest profile fits with the overall aesthetic of the neighborhood, which is a hot spot for people who want to be able to walk out their hotel door to a wide assortment of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.

Related: The long-awaited Thompson Palm Springs is now open

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The biggest perk of this property, as is often the case with Thompson hotels, is its central location. A bonus of the Thompson Chicago is that it’s perched on a side street in a residential neighborhood, making it quiet yet accessible.

How to book the Thompson Chicago

The Thompson Chicago is best booked via Hyatt, as you’ll find the best rates by booking directly.

Average cash prices over the fall range from $144 to $350 per night. World of Hyatt points rates start at 17,000 for off-peak dates and go up to 23,000 points per night.

For my stay, a standard room with a king-size bed cost $273 per night. To book the same room with points, I would have needed to redeem 23,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, World of Hyatt points are worth 1.7 cents apiece, making this property a better cash deal. Knowing this, I chose to book directly with cash, earning 2,770 points (worth $47 based on current TPG valuations) for the stay.

Keep in mind that Chase cardholders can also book the property through Chase Travel℠. However, the same room cost more on my travel dates, coming in at $759 or 58,036 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (plus $34 in taxes and fees).

When booking the Thompson Chicago, remember to use a credit card that earns the most points for Hyatt stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits, including:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, and receive automatic Discoverist status and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, and receive automatic Discoverist status and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier for every $10,000 spent each calendar year.

The location is the property’s main draw

With popular restaurants like Luxbar, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse and Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House within easy reach, the Thompson offers a phenomenal location in one of Chicago’s oldest and most affluent neighborhoods. It’s just a few blocks north of Michigan Avenue and around the corner from Oak Street, where you’ll find many of the city’s high-end shops.

I have fond memories of Gold Coast, where the Thompson resides, as it’s where I celebrated my 21st birthday on Rush Street several years ago. I toasted to 21 with a martini at Carmine’s, and I hope to return to the old-school Italian joint when it reopens following a $4 million renovation.

Head one block east, and you’ll reach Lake Shore Drive, which connects you to the Lakefront Trail and Oak Street Beach. The nearest L station (Chicago on the Red Line) is also conveniently situated just a few blocks south, making it easy to get to the city center, surrounding areas and both Chicago airports.

Expect a 30- to 40-minute drive, which can cost between $30-45 if you’re using a ride-hailing service — or about an hour via the L — to get between the hotel and O’Hare International Airport (ORD) or Midway International Airport (MDW).

If you drive, valet parking is available on-site for $75 per day, while nearby self-parking starts at $50 per day.

Rooms are spacious but lack adequate lighting

The property’s 247 hotel rooms and suites feature 400-thread-count Sferra linens, rainfall showers and midcentury modern furnishings.

I was impressed with how large my standard 320-square-foot room felt, especially in the bathroom. In addition to having space for a king-size bed (which featured a comforter with an elegant duvet cover and no top sheet) and a desk, the room fit a navy blue L-shaped sofa with a coffee table, plus a coffee and tea station beneath a flat-screen TV. In the bathroom, a spacious walk-in shower sat opposite a large vanity.

Overall, I appreciated the thoughtful layout of the room. Beyond its size, though, I found its aesthetics and offerings to be average. Perhaps due to facing north, the lighting was particularly dim, even with all the window shades open (note that the window does not open).

One final quirk about the room was that the minifridge provided was not actually a fridge in that it did not get cold. The front desk offered to bring me a proper minifridge, without charge, for use overnight when I realized this, but it required reaching out versus already having what I needed.

A long-awaited on-site dining option is back

In 2022, one of Gold Coast’s most notable restaurants, Tavern on Rush, closed after 24 years. Nearly a year and a half later, its original owners announced a revamped Tavern on Rush, this time around the corner inside the Thompson, replacing the former Nico Osteria. With this change in address (1015 N. Rush St.) comes a new version of its old self, focusing more on brunch while providing room service for hotel guests.

The hotel initially said the restaurant would reopen in July and then mid-September. However, at the time of my stay, the restaurant was still closed, which was by far the biggest pain point of my visit.

In lieu of eating at the restaurant during my stay, guests could order room service every day from 7 to 11 a.m. or purchase snack items from the grab-and-go venue in the lobby. But eating breakfast in my room from takeout boxes with plastic cutlery spoiled the room service vibe for me.

Breakfast for two from the above menu cost $55. This breakfast, of course, would be free to Hyatt Globalist status holders, in which case, save your money to cover your breakfast at the hotel. Otherwise, if you don’t have breakfast included with your stay and you aren’t looking to spend over 50 dollars on a turkey club sandwich and some eggs with potatoes at the hotel, my advice is to head across the street to either Original Pancake House (family-owned, no-frills pancake joint) or enjoy The Bellevue Chicago, a more upscale spot for brunch where you’ll still spend that 50 bucks but you’ll enjoy a boozy brunch vibe outside.

For a meal later in the day, aim to take advantage of the 10% discount for Luxbar that guests receive. The eatery sits across the street from the Thompson, making it a convenient option for American fare.

Following my stay, I returned to the hotel in November to eat dinner at Tavern on Rush. The vibe was an upscale modern steakhouse.

The service was intentional, with small yet memorable details, including the waiter immediately asking for any dietary restrictions, staff clearing the silverware and plates between courses and a branded steak knife.

They served a taste of Prosecco before dinner to celebrate the opening weekend, which my dining companion described as “light and crispy” and “not too dry.”

For dinner, we started with thick house bacon, which our waiter highly recommended. After eating it, I also highly recommend it. This braised smoked pork belly with bourbon, mustard and a brown sugar glaze was a 10/10. It’s also one of the more affordable items on the menu at $18.

For entrees, we split the Faroe Island Salmon (butternut squash purée, brown buttercream, crispy sage, wilted kale and chive oil) but switched the side due to my dietary restrictions, so it was served with a side of peppers instead.

We also had the petit filet. Both the salmon and the filet tasted good on their own but neither came with sides, so we ordered a little gem salad (with more smokehouse slab bacon, tomato, gorgonzola, scallion and gorgonzola buttermilk dressing, though I substituted the cheese dressing), truffle fries and pork belly fried rice (garlic, ginger, scallion, egg, carrot, peas and sesame). Besides the bacon, the salad was my second favorite dish, as the lettuce tasted very crisp and cold. It was the ideal combination of salt, fat, heat and acid, with the fat/salt coming from the bacon.

If you come to Tavern on Rush, be prepared to spend money. Appetizers range from $18 to $26, while entrees, including the more expensive steaks, range from $34 to $175. Alcoholic beverages start at $13 up to a whopping $800 for The Macallan M Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2 ounces).

Overall, I personally found the menu to be overpriced compared to other restaurants in the city.

The fitness center provides all the essentials for a good workout

On the third floor, there is a fitness center with a small free weight and cardio area, including two Pelotons.

Like the rooms, the fitness center was bigger than expected and well-equipped to get your workout done, get out and get back to enjoying the city.

Accessibility

The hotel offers accessibility features throughout the property.

More specifically, all guest rooms, dining areas and public restrooms, as well as the lobby, public entrance, valet parking area and business and fitness centers, are wheelchair accessible.

Guests can also request accessible transportation with advance notice.

Rooms have mobility features for guests, including 32-inch doorways.

Additional accessibility features include lowered thermostats, light switches and door latches, as well as roll-in showers and closed-captioning for TVs.

Alternatives to the Thompson Chicago

The Thompson Chicago is a solid choice for travelers who want to fully experience the Gold Coast for a reasonable number of World of Hyatt points.

But if you’re looking for a different option, there are several boutique hotels nearby. For example, The Talbott Hotel (part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection), The Whitehall Hotel (part of Best Western’s BW Premier Collection) and Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile (part of Accor) are all three blocks south of the Thompson Chicago.

Further east toward Michigan Avenue, you’ll find some of the city’s oldest hotels, such as The Drake (part of Hilton), plus luxurious hotels like the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and The Peninsula Chicago.

Travelers who are interested in being closer to Chicago tourism mainstays may prefer one of the above alternatives, as they’re each on a main thoroughfare lined with shops, restaurants and historic landmarks like the Chicago Water Tower and the John Hancock Center. Otherwise, the Thompson’s location in Gold Coast is hard to beat.

Checking out

As they say in real estate, “location, location, location.” If where you’re based is your top priority, this property is about as close to perfect as you can get when staying in Gold Coast.

If you are like me and prefer spaces with lots of light and fresh air or want a hotel that has a lot of personality (think the Chicago Athletic Association), this might not be your ideal hotel.

If you are seeking a solid and somewhat upscale option in a great location, then the Thompson Chicago may check the right boxes for you.

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