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Hotel Allegro Royal Sonesta in the 1926 former Bismarck Hotel on Randolph Street

The Allegro

Jazz-Age glamour attached to the Cadillac Palace —
a 1920s Art Deco hotel made for theater nights.

Bismarck Hotel1926Rapp & RappArt Deco 171 W. Randolph Street, in the Loop Theatre District

The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop. Bismarck Hotel, 1926, Rapp & Rapp, 171 W. Randolph Street. Photo courtesy of The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop.

The grand staircase
The hotel's grand Art Deco staircase. Photo courtesy of The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop.
An Art Deco lounge
An Art Deco lounge. Photo courtesy of The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop.
The Legato lounge
The Legato lounge bar. Photo courtesy of The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop.
The Hotel Allegro at night
The Hotel Allegro in the theater district at night. Photo courtesy of The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop.
A guest room
A guest room at the Hotel Allegro. Photo courtesy of The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop.

Why this building matters

The hotel occupies the “New” Bismarck Hotel, opened in 1926 by the Eitel brothers as the centerpiece of their “Eitel Block” alongside the 2,500-seat Palace Theatre (today the Cadillac Palace). It was designed by Rapp & Rapp, the great Chicago theater architects, and its spacious lobby and grand marble staircase recall the era of vaudeville and big bands. Fittingly, the Bismarck poured Chicago’s first legal glass of beer at 12:01 a.m. when Prohibition eased in 1933. Reborn as Hotel Allegro in 1998, it carries that showmanship forward.

Read more about the building's history (Bismarck Hotel) → (booking directly with the hotel doesn't generate a referral fee that supports our preservation work — the button at right does)

What guests are saying

What guests love

  • Direct connection to the Cadillac Palace Theatre — you can step from your room to a Broadway show.
  • Bold, playful Art Deco–inspired design with a genuine sense of theater and history.
  • A central Loop location steps from the Cadillac Palace Theatre, in the Theatre District, and the L.

What to keep in mind

  • A grand vintage hotel — room sizes and layouts vary
  • Busy theater-district block, especially on show nights

Best for Theater-goers and travelers who want personality, history, and a connected-to-Broadway location in the heart of the Loop.

Summary of guest reviews. Sources: The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Preservation Chicago. Photography courtesy of The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop, used with permission. Details may change over time.