University Club of Chicago
University Club of Chicago — top-tier food in Loop. Contemporary look with thoughtful details, and works for larger parties. Kye McCauley: "Everything has subtle touches of history and luxury, and the Christmas dinner was incredible"
What 710 diners keep saying
What 710 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Excellent place for staying in, dining, studying, and any type of private events.”

“I have visited as a guest several times for their very nice Christmas brunch - a lovely and delicious experience!”

“As a wedding and event planner, University Club has been one of our favorite venues in the city since the earliest days of our business 16 years ago! We like to refer to it as our home away from home. The event spaces are beautiful and so classic Chicago. The food is out of this world. The banquet/events team's attention to detail and clear communication make planning smooth, and their staff keeps everything on track on the day of the event. It’s always a pleasure collaborating with them, and we look forward to working together again and again!”

“As a wedding and proposal photographer based in Chicago, I recently had the absolute pleasure of capturing a surprise proposal at the University Club of Chicago, and the experience was nothing short of magical. From the moment I arrived, the staff was incredibly accommodating and professional. I had been clearly informed ahead of time that I was only permitted to photograph within the specific area that was reserved and booked by my client, which I greatly appreciated for clarity and planning. My client, understandably nervous, had handled all of the reservations himself — but the team at the University Club took it from there and made the moment feel seamless and special. They had a beautifully set table ready upon arrival, complete with a chilled bottle of champagne and two glasses, perfectly staged for post-proposal celebration. Their attention to detail made it incredibly easy to capture meaningful, elegant moments. The venue itself is absolutely stunning. With cathedral-style architecture, grand stained glass windows, and a breathtaking view of the lake, the space is full of timeless character. It’s a dream location for proposals, weddings, and romantic celebrations of any kind. Every corner of this venue photographs like a work of art. If you're looking for a historic, elegant, and well-managed location for your engagement, wedding, or private event — I highly recommend the University Club of Chicago. It’s a place where unforgettable moments come to life, and as a photographer, it's a dream to document them here.”

“Absolutely gorgeous building with some beautiful views of Chicago. Attended a dinner here and the staff were incredibly efficient and helpful.”

“Nice place, but it does not offer much, in my opinion, but a gym and different places to sit down, and enjoy some great views, that's pretty much it. Everything else will cost you additional funds. I was there with my nephew who is a member and we ate at the restaurant located inside. The food was good, but agian you gotta PAY, nothing is free but the views and the air. There were several weddings happening on my visit. I would guesstimate the average wedding here is easily starting at $50,000 and upwards. This is a place for people who have ancestral money. I can think of better things to do with my hard earned cash. By the way you need to 3 letters of recommendation from current owners. Naw, I'm good... Enjoy nephew”

“I recently played a wedding in the 12th floor gallery, and had a fantastic experience. The building itself is stunning, but it's really the staff that makes the club exceptional. Everyone was so friendly and helpful, and they really wanted to get things right for the wedding. It was a real joy to be a part of their team for the day!”

“As a Live wedding painter, it was a pleasure to do a Live wedding painting at this venue. Elegant, classy and luxurious.”

“This place is absolutely beautiful. The architecture is stunning. I felt like I was sitting in the dining hall of a Harry Potter movie. The views were spectacular, service was top notch and all the food was delicious (except the melon wrapped prosciutto, I could have done without that just not my taste). Went for a wedding would love to go back.”

“I visited this place for a Christmas dinner and was truly impressed. Everything has subtle touches of history and luxury, and the Christmas dinner was incredible. The hotel also has a very nice workout/squash area with 8 squash courts and a large variety of workout machines. The library offers a large variety of historical and interesting volumes of many subjects, such as religion and government. The living room offers a relaxing and comfortable area to relax and drink and get appetizers before or after dinner. Overall, this hotel offers phenomenal hospitality and comfort in a luxurious way. Everything has a bit of history, art, and complexity. Everything has been thought of and feels very well.”

“We waited in line a long time to check in and there was only one person working at desk. There were only two guests ahead of us. Once we did get to the front of the line, it took a long time to check us in. When we checked out, we were shocked to find out that we had about 45 line item charges on our account that belonged to many other guests at the club. This added up to an additional $5000. It took at least 5 hours to get this sorted out. This was very distressing. The facility is very clean. The venues are unique and interesting. The housekeeping staff is friendly. The front desk personnel did not seem to know what they were doing. The other guests seem a little privileged and snobbish. If you like being around other uppity people who like to boast about who they know, how much they own, and where they’ve been, then this is the place for you.”
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