Hyatt Place Chicago Medical/University District Review

I had the opportunity to finally visit Chicago again. It was a business trip but I took in as much as I could for my short stay. Chicago is a regular travel hub for me, flying into and out of O'Hare Airport but the last time I explored the city was in 2019.

Tik Tok Video: Hyatt Place Chicago Medical/University District

I stayed at the Hyatt Place Chicago in the Medical/University District, which opened in 2020. The building served as the old Cook County Hospital and sat empty for years until the redevelopment. The property is massive and the historical architecture is beautiful. One thing that surprised me is the building sat abandoned for so long in such a busy area. A quick search online you will find photos of the walls covered in graffiti and an eerie feeling of what once was the hospital. Now, it looks very polished and grand on the outside.

Entering the hotel lobby it had a very modern interior design, neutral colors with gold accents. The check-in process was easy and during my stay I spotted many frontline medical workers because the hotel also serves as an extended stay location. After getting off the elevator to my floor, you notice the very wide halls and you instantly can tell it was a former hospital.

The room is spacious and matches the photos presented on the website. I stayed in the one bed king size room with a couch, the bed was comfy and the bathroom was nice. Cleanliness is extremely important and my room was clean! I did bring my own disinfectant wipes and spray to use, but I do that with all the hotels I stay in.

After a night's sleep, I woke up in search of food (of course). The hotel has a food hall, with different food stations including Indian and a taqueria, you can purchase from and it also has a bar. When I went, only the breakfast station was open and it was just me dining that weekday morning. Looking at the menu I spotted a dish that instantly caught my eye. A fried chicken biscuit with egg topped with country sausage gravy.

I wanted a dish that was fulfilling and delicious. This one checked all the boxes. The biscuit was dense and buttery, while the chicken had a perfect hard fry on the outside, while still juicy on the inside. The sausage gravy just added a southern feel of flavor located right in Chicago. For my drink, I purchased a bottle of water and an iced mocha latte. This latte was fresh and smooth with every sip with the right amount of mocha to balance the coffee flavor.

I love when old historic buildings are repurposed and brought back to life, it helps each city maintain its original unique feel visually. The Hyatt Place Chicago Medical/University District is a place I would stay again.