The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop

An Art Deco hotel in the heart of the Chicago Loop

The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop is an accommodation located in downtown Chicago, in the Loop area, within walking distance of the Theater District, Millennium Park, Grant Park, and the River Walk. The hotel presents itself as a combination of Art Deco charm and modern comfort, and its location provides walking access to business, art, and entertainment venues.

Rooms and suites

The property offers classically styled rooms and suites, with views of Randolph Street. Room amenities include selected comforts, although the material does not detail which ones. The hotel also features luxury suites, according to the amenities section of the website.

Legato Lounge: restaurant and bar

The hotel houses Legato Lounge, a space with a retro atmosphere that operates from morning coffee to evening cocktails. The website publishes specific hours for the restaurant and bar:

• Breakfast: Tuesday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Lunch: Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Dinner: Monday to Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Bar: Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Sunday and Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

The menu includes dishes and sharing options, according to the website information.

Events, meetings, and weddings

The hotel has 14,000 square feet of flexible event space. Among the rooms mentioned are the Walnut Ballroom and the Savoy Room, intended for receptions and meetings. The property promotes itself as a venue for Chicago weddings and corporate events, including medical meetings and the RSNA convention. The website indicates that a dedicated team handles event coordination.

Facilities and services

The hotel features a renovated fitness center with strength training equipment, a Peloton bike, cardio machines, and yoga mats. It also offers parking, a pet policy, and accessibility, according to the hotel details sections. Check-in is at 4:00 p.m. and check-out is at 11:00 a.m. A destination fee applies, and a government rate is available.

Building history

The hotel site has a history dating back to 1894, when Emil and Karl Eitel founded the Bismarck Hotel. The Eitel brothers, German immigrants who arrived in Chicago in the early 1890s, first opened the Fair Hotel in 1893 and acquired the Germania Hotel in 1894-1895, which they renamed The Bismarck. In 1914-1919, during World War I, the hotel was renamed the Randolph Hotel and regained its original name after the Armistice. In 1924, the Eitels bought the entire south block of Randolph between La Salle and Wells, known as the "Eitel Block," and demolished the existing building to construct a 19-story hotel with 600 rooms and a marble staircase in the lobby, designed by the firm Rapp and Rapp. The new Bismarck opened in 1926. During the Prohibition era, the nearby Palace Theater was a must-stop on the vaudeville circuit, with performers such as Mae West, Jimmy Durante, Lillian Russell, Bob Hope, and others staying at the hotel. On December 5, 1933, after the end of Prohibition, the first legal keg was tapped in the Bismarck's Walnut Room, an event the hotel highlights as the first place to legally sell alcohol after the repeal. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Palace Theater hosted Broadway shows and became the city's largest movie theater. In 1956, the Eitels sold the hotel to Arthur Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks. Between the 1960s and 1980s, the Bismarck was the unofficial meeting spot of the Cook County Democratic Party, and Mayor J. Richard Daley had his own table in the Walnut Room with a private phone. In 1994, for the centennial, the Green Orchid Room was created.

Awards and offers

The hotel was voted one of the best in Chicago by Condé Nast Traveler readers and received the 2024 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award. The website shows offers such as "100 Years of The Allegro," with a $100 credit for Legato Lounge; "License To Stay," with up to 12% off the stay and overnight parking; and "Park & Stay," with parking included using code PARK. These terms correspond to the information published at the time of the analysis.

Surroundings and mascot

The hotel is located near the Chicago Theatre District, Millennium Park, Grant Park, Navy Pier, and the River Walk. The property's mascot is The Sovereign of Chicago, a lion inspired by the bronze lions by Edward Kemeys that have flanked the entrance of the Art Institute of Chicago since 1893.

Location and contact

171 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601 · Phone: 312.236.0123