10 New Venues in Chicago for Fall 2022 Meetings and Events

The Waldorf Astoria Chicago lives up to its reputation for oozing opulence with the October debut of a property-wide overhaul. Along with enhancements to its spa and 215 guestrooms, design and architecture firm KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group redesigned the coveted 2,400-square-foot Presidential Suite located on the hotel’s 26th floor. The luxury property also introduced a lobby-level lounge, Peacock Alley, plus boasts 10,500 square feet of event space across its meeting rooms and ballroom. Looking for a sumptuous setting for up to 70 seated or 80 standing guests? Consider the 835-square-foot Gallery Salon private dining room (pictured). For a more intimate to-do of up to 30 seated or 50 standing guests, look to the 312-square-foot Walton private dining room. Pricing starts at $5,000 for food and beverage in the Gallery Salon, which is characteristic for its coffered ceiling, patterned carpet, and red-leather seats. Meanwhile, the Walton room will run event hosts a minimum of $4,000 in a space that’s minimalist yet memorable for its floor-to-ceiling windows.

Brass Tack opens on Oct. 14, 2022, simultaneously with the unveiling of the Waldorf Astoria’s Chicago’s renovation. The 1,200-square-foot eatery sets a sexy mood with dark woods and leather seating that’s offset by white-marbled tables, gold-flecked mirrors as wall decor, and amber lighting. Looking at the menu, the brasserie concept is heavily influenced by Brass Tack’s Midwest location. Executive chef Nicholas Marino works closely with Slagel Family Farms, located in Central Illinois, to source livestock for the menu, where highlights include wood-fired oysters with prosciutto butter, chicken confit with beet gastrique, and whole-roasted walleye. Brass Tack can host up to 140 guests.

August 2022 brought the relaunch of Hotel Saint Clair as the newest boutique hotel in the heart of the Windy City. The property’s building dates back to the 1920s, but the interior is anything but antiquated with a lobby that boasts an eclectic art collection and signature restaurant Curfew. The kitchen—which is helmed by celebrity chef and hospitality developer Fabio Viviani—serves up dishes that fuse American, Spanish, and Italian cuisine in a space that’s also reflective of the amalgamation with arched windows, a mix of tiled and herringbone wood floors, and accents of live greenery. Curfew spans 1,200 square feet and can accommodate up to 46 for a seated meal or 60 for a cocktail reception, plus an additional 30 seated or 40 standing in its outdoor space. The menu is notable for its farm salads that celebrate local produce and elevated classics, such as mac and cheese with smoked chicken and steak burger with red wine onions and truffle mustard. Buyouts are also available; inquire within for pricing.

Chicago’s Financial District welcomed The LaSalle Hotel back in June, and it’s perched 21 stories above street level. The newest addition to Marriott’s Autograph Collection boasts 7,648 square feet of meeting and event space across eight rooms. The largest space—the LaSalle Ballroom (pictured)—offers 2,155 square feet worth of blank canvas for planners hosting receptions of up to 150. It’s located on the 22nd floor with sweeping views of the city and is opulent for its 14.5-foot ceilings, black marble wall accents, and crystal chandeliers. There’s also a 786-square-foot pre-function space for receptions for 75, a 426-square-foot library for 25, and a 950-square-foot solarium that can accommodate 65. For more traditional meetings, the hotel boasts the Wells Room, the Lincoln Room, and the Adams Room, which range from 827-847 square feet and can accommodate up to 50 in a theater-style seating arrangement. And private dining affairs for 18 hungry guests can be held in the 376-square-foot private dining room. Meeting packages start at $850 per day, and F&B rates begin at $1,000 for up to 15 guests and increase to $15,000 for 100-plus guests.

West Loop welcomed Bambola in early September. Helmed by Bonhomme Hospitality—the team behind Michelin-starred Porto and popular West Town watering hole Beatnik—Bambola was inspired by China’s Silk Road, a 4,000-mile-long trade route connecting Asia to Europe. It’s present on the menu, which has sections labeled “The Journey Begins” and “Pastures + Courtyards” and where guests can expect to see a fusion of culinary influences. Take the wagyu and caviar, for example, which is served with Chinese bread, as well as the caper leaf-wrapped crispy shrimp, turmeric carrots with crispy garbanzos, and mushroom pad thai. Bambola’s design incorporates antiques alongside warm woods and modern seating in a 10,000-square-foot space with capacity for 350-plus for a cocktail party or 150 for a seated affair. Meanwhile, The Wine Room at East House and The Eva at West House can accommodate up to 22 and 36 seated or 35 and 55 standing guests, respectively. Consider the patio for an intimate dining experience for 16 or the lounge for a cocktail party for 25. Minimum spend for events start at $5,000; inquire within for full buyouts.

Chicago Winery is set to open in November in River North and marries a private event venue, chef-driven eatery, and working winery. The 6,675 square feet of event space is modern yet warm, and incorporates nods to River North’s vibrant art scene with herringbone-patterned floors, arched entryways, floor-to-ceiling windows that give eventgoers a view of the winery and barrel room, and a 10-foot skylight that exudes a soft amber glow. The main indoor event space (pictured) spans 3,500 square feet with room for 215 seated or 300 standing guests, while a 2,200-square-foot outdoor terrace can accommodate up to 215 for a standing soiree. For a more intimate affair, a 975-square-foot private dining room is available for up to 45 guests to enjoy a bespoke menu courtesy of executive chef Andrew Graves. Inquire within for pricing.

Putt putt with your colleagues or friends for team building and celebratory events alike at Puttery Chicago, which is opening in the Fulton Market District in November. The 23,000-square-foot venue puts a modern spin on mini golf, combining a classic winter lodge-inspired course with in-game tech that auto-scores at each hole and a dedicated catering service, not to mention craft cocktails playfully named Tasty Green, Mean Machine, and BBQ on a Saturday Night. Event spaces span three floors and include an intimate lounge area for up to 12, a den for up to 40, a parlor dining room for up to 70, as well as the Arctic dining room, Aspen Lounge, or the Sky Terrace for a maximum of 100, 50, and 70, respectively. For even larger groups of competitive mini golfers, consider a second- or third-floor buyout for 200. Each event room can also be divided into smaller spaces, and full buyouts are available for groups of 400.

Study Hotels, a lifestyle concept that was born in 2009 and was designed to accommodate the needs of university students with high-quality, full-service lodging, continued its expansion with the debut of The Study at University of Chicago in May (there’s already Study properties adjacent to Yale, UPenn, and Johns Hopkins). Aside from a Living Room with writing desks, 24-hour fitness facility, and laundry and dry cleaning services, the 167-key property boasts 6,850 square feet of gathering space. The sun-drenched Winter Garden is a 2,200-square-foot indoor/outdoor designated event space featuring an arboretum-inspired mural, elaborate light fixtures, and an enclosed terrace. The Winter Garden can accommodate 225 for a reception, 200 theater style, 150 classroom style, 160 for a banquet, or 55 for a conference. Drafting 1 (pictured) is a 750-square-foot meeting space for up to 80 and is located on The Study’s second floor. It offers sweeping views of the University of Chicago’s campus, as well as access to the 1,000-square-foot Rooftop Terrace, which can also hold up to 80. Drafting Rooms 2 and 3 both span 500 square feet—enough space for 40 for a reception or theater style, 30 classroom style, 38 for a banquet, or 20 for a conference. There’s also a 500-square-foot studio with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Rockefeller Chapel and north campus as well as a 1,400-square-foot pre-function space. Pricing starts at $500 for a half-day and $1,000-$1,500 for a full-day rental, depending on the space.

On Oct. 3, voco Chicago Downtown opened its half of a dual-branded property with Holiday Inn Chicago Dwtn - Wolf Point (which debuted in August) overlooking the Chicago River. The opening marks yet another venture a part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ expansive portfolio. Located at the intersection of River North, Fulton Market, and the Loop, the 293-key voco hotel is in the action. It boasts 25,000 square feet of meeting space across 15 rooms, including the 7,560-square-foot Sauganash Ballroom that’s column-less space has capacity for up to 45 trade show exhibit booths and 800 attendees. For an event with 100 guests, consider the Western Stage House—the largest of the 11 function rooms on the perimeter of the Sauganash Ballroom—or the Merchants, Steamboat, and Shakespeare Hotel rooms. Another highlight? The 15th-floor, floor-to-ceiling windowed Wolf Point Ballroom where up to 400 eventgoers can celebrate with the Windy City’s skyline in the background.

Across state lines and three hours southeast of Chicago is The Westin Indianapolis, which unveiled a property-wide renovation in August. The multimillion-dollar revamp transformed the hotel’s 574 guestrooms and common areas, including its staggering 42,500 square feet of meeting space and lobby, which now boasts a geometric wall design filled with lush greenery. Located in the heart of downtown Indy, the hotel has direct skyway access to the Indiana Convention Center. In house, the largest of 23 designated event rooms is the 16,430-square foot Grand Ballroom that can accommodate as many as 2,400. Other spaces, such as the Congress, Council, and House rooms, span 1,092, 952, and 429 square feet, respectively, and can host as few as 18 guests in a conference-style seating arrangement to as many as 70 theater style. The Westin Indianapolis also offers unique networking experiences for corporate teams: The Rec Room, with built-in gaming options (think: arcade games and pool, air hockey, and shuffleboard tables) and The Capitol Overlook, a second-floor space with unrivaled 360-degree views of the Indiana State House and Hudhut Commons Park that’s reserved for upscale social gatherings of up to 150.