The Hoxton, Chicago review – The Points Guy

What is The Hoxton, Chicago?

How to book The Hoxton, Chicago

The location

With the Morgan L (elevated train) stop just outside the Hoxton, you can hop on the Green Line or Pink Line to go south or walk just under a mile to the western part of River North.

Also, the hotel is located near the entrance of Fulton Market, the eight-block dining district in the West Loop, home to Randolph Restaurant Row. Here, you’ll find enough restaurants and bars to eat, drink and party your way through Chicago without ever having to leave the neighborhood. Options include longtime favorite casual joints like J.P. Graziano Grocery, an old-school Italian deli and market that’s been in the West Loop since 1937, and French-Mediterranean hot spot La Serre, which opened in March under the same owners as Bar Siena, an Italian spot around four minutes south.

The area dates back to the early 1990s when it became trendy due to (now long-gone) fine dining establishments Marche and Red Light. Girl & the Goat, the distinguished flagship of “Top Chef” winner Stephanie Izard and a Michelin Bib Gourmand establishment, remains among the most coveted reservations in Chicago 14 years after it opened to rave reviews.

Though Restaurant Row has changed, some of its first favorites, such as Au Cheval, Lana Brava and Duck Duck Goat, remain. But if you are looking for the most buzzed-about new restaurant in Chicago, there’s a good chance it’s in this area and an even better chance that the photo opportunities are better than the food.

The rooms

All 182 bedrooms reflect the property’s industrial origins as a former meatpacking factory.

In each room, there are paneled leather headboards, midcentury furniture, concrete ceilings and bedding by Chicago artist Cody Hudson, with art curated by local gallery Johalla Projects.

When checking in, I opted for a quieter room away from the train without a city view, per the staff’s advice. Even so, I heard the train sometimes, but the hotel was generally quiet despite its bustling West Loop location.

I observed a few odd quirks about the room, including in the bathroom, where the door automatically closed upon opening it, and there was no way to keep it open, if that was someone’s preference. The sink had a very high drain, meaning anything you drop (such as my vitamin!) is immediately gone. There’s also one level of light in the bathroom that is sensor-controlled, which, between that and the closing door, does not permit light control in the bathroom. Last, the bathroom has no exhaust fan, which is common in Chicago.

The dining/drinking outlets

Cabra

The property is perhaps best known for Cabra, its rooftop Peruvian restaurant specializing in shared plates, helmed by Izard, a Chicagoland native and the first woman to win “Top Chef.” When I checked in on a Tuesday, the front desk staff told me I could likely get in without a reservation for Wednesday. Even so, my friend and I got one of the last tables, so I recommend making a reservation.

Upon informing our waiter of my gluten- and dairy-free diet, he provided two separate menus reflecting both modifications and further described which dishes could be modified to suit both. At the staff’s advice, my friend ordered a Pisco Sour (pisco, lime, egg white, $17), and we started with a variety of tapas, specifically the classic ceviche ($18), quinoa tuna salad ($19) and hot chorizo queso dip. For our main, we had the pollo a la brasa with an extra side of yuca fries ($30).

As someone who loves yuca, I thought the yuca fries were the star of the show, and I enjoyed the golden raisins and sweet potatoes in the ceviche. For those without dietary restrictions, the waiter recommended the lomo saltado ($34) and the empanadas, such as the goat empanadas with huacatay mayo ($17). Though I couldn’t eat any dessert, my friend raved about the mandarin sorbet with vanilla soft serve, pickled mango and mandarin crunch ($12).

Ingredients are locally sourced from an ethical farm in Wisconsin, aligning with chef Izard’s ethos.

With outdoor heated dining next to the pool, Cabra is a lively and vibrant spot for a date night or dinner. Reservations must be made directly with the restaurant.

Cira

If I had to choose, I would skip Cabra in favor of Cira, the hotel’s first-floor American Mediterranean restaurant and bar. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and brunch on the weekends.

Cira’s breakfast is my favorite meal, specifically its overnight oats ($8) because they’re naturally sweetened with date syrup and coconut whip. They are the best overnight oats I’ve found thus far in Chicago. I also recommend ordering crispy bacon ($6) and a side of over-medium eggs ($3 per egg). As for dinner, Cira’s brown butter hummus ($11), which can be modified to be dairy-free and gluten-free, with crudites, is among my top three hummuses in the city.

With an extensive cocktail menu, Cira should be considered beyond the food as a place to network and socialize, attracting groups of men and women for after-work drinks, meetings and remote work. Most tables are first-come, first-served (reservations only in the back), and the bar is full on the weekends. If you order room service, it’ll be the same menu from Cira. The lunch and dinner offerings are similar, with slightly more mains and sides available. Both feature a variety of meze ($8-$18) and pasta, sandwiches, salads and bowls ($14-$19). Dinner entrees include walleye, market fish, piri piri chicken (average $30) and a 16-ounce rib-eye ($67).

Lazy Bird

If live music is your thing, head downstairs to Lazy Bird, which opens nightly at 5 p.m., for craft cocktails served speak-easy style. Reservations are first come, first served, and there’s often a line to get in on the weekends.

Cafe Cira

A separate coffee bar, Cafe Cira, is connected to the lobby. It offers all-day coffee, espresso, tea and fresh pastries from $4 to $6. Plenty of upscale coffee shops, including La Colombe and Sawada Coffee, are also within walking distance.

The fitness center and co-working space

Next to Lazy Bird is a one-room, fairly bare-bones gym set up as a yoga studio with 12 yoga mats and blocks. Though you may find the space limiting, you can do your own workout with two Peloton bikes and free weights. This space is open 24/7, and I was the only one there when I went.

Though not run by the hotel, Working From operates an on-site, membership-based co-working space. Guests can access it via a daily pass from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $25 ($35 for non-hotel guests). Member pricing starts at $125, and members can use the hotel’s pool and gym. In addition to shared and private workspace, members can access discounted pastries, coffee from Cira, and complimentary snacks and soft drinks. There’s a WeWork right next door.

A second co-working space that is available on 1M is called the Apartment, and it’s available to reserve as an event space, with five meeting rooms and six catering event spaces. A host is on-site to assist groups in what was described as a “mellow hosting environment.”

Complimentary bikes are available for guests in the lobby.

The pool

The rooftop pool is attached to Cabra but is only accessible to guests and Working From members from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, weather permitting, though nonguests can access the Cabra terrace. Sun loungers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a bartender Sundays through Thursdays during the season, starting at 11 a.m. Pool users can order food from Cira and eat poolside.

Accessibility

All of the hotel’s public spaces are wheelchair accessible. Bedrooms, which are located on floors 2-11, are also accessible to the hearing- and sight-impaired via elevators outfitted with directional signage.

Wheelchair-accessible rooms can be booked online, and availability is noted in real time at the time of booking for Cosy Up, Cosy Twin and Roomy room types.

The hotel pool has a chair lift.

Alternatives to The Hoxton, Chicago

As mentioned, Hoxton is near both Soho House and the Nobu Hotel, which are among TPG’s top Chicago hotels. A third contender, the Emily Hotel, is a boutique property around the corner.

If you are looking for a vibe most similar to the Hoxton, consider Soho House, where nonmember rates start at $565 for a king room in mid-June.

Rates are slightly cheaper at Nobu, where you can book a similar-sized room for $455 per night.

Checking out

Based on my experience at The Hoxton, Chicago thus far, it draws an average 30-something and above crowd, which is an automatic plus for me and means I will be back often. It feels more like a neighborhood spot and less like a cool hotel where rates in high season can reach $500-$700 per night.

The vibe is friendly, and dogs are welcome. Cira acts as an expanded lobby, where the service is quick and there is no pressure to order immediately or leave your table, at least during the day.

If you come here to work, you’ll find people doing business over coffee, individuals working with headphones on, and people in meetings, both on Zoom and with groups. If it weren’t for the lack of tables in Cira with chargers, I would have stayed all day.

The Hoxton, Chicago is ideal for foodies, remote workers and guests who enjoy walking around the city. With various fast-casual spots and acclaimed restaurants, boutique workout studios and Whole Foods nearby, the Hoxton is an extension of the neighborhood. After checking out, I returned to Cira three days later for a first date, per my date’s suggestion.

Related reading: