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The Ambassador Gold Coast at night, its lit entrance marquee aglow

The Ambassador (Gold Coast)

A storied 1926 hotel and former home of the legendary Pump
Room — classic character on a quiet Gold Coast street.

Ambassador East1926 1301 N. State Parkway, in the Gold Coast

The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast. 1926, 1301 N. State Parkway. Photo courtesy of The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast.

The Ambassador's canopied entrance on State Parkway by day
The Ambassador's canopied entrance on State Parkway by day. Photo courtesy of The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast.
An arched, columned lounge inside the hotel
An arched, columned lounge inside the hotel. Photo courtesy of The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast.
The hotel's dark, intimate cocktail bar
The hotel's dark, intimate cocktail bar. Photo courtesy of The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast.
A modern guest room with city views
A modern guest room with city views. Photo courtesy of The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast.
The rooftop terrace overlooking the skyline and lake
The rooftop terrace overlooking the skyline and lake. Photo courtesy of The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast.

Why this building matters

Opened in 1926, the Ambassador East became the height of Chicago glamour in 1938 when impresario Ernie Byfield unveiled the Pump Room — a supper club whose celebrated “Booth One” hosted Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, and Queen Elizabeth II. Hitchcock even filmed scenes for North by Northwest here. After years of uncertainty, the hotel was rescued and added to the locally run Chicago Hotel Collection, reopening as the Ambassador Gold Coast.

Read more on the Ambassador's own history page → (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

  • Nearly a century of genuine Chicago glamour, from Booth One to the silver screen.
  • A quiet, mansion-lined Gold Coast setting steps from the 3 Arts Club, a 7-minute walk to the Rush Street District, and a 10-minute walk to Oak Street Beach.
  • Classic touches like the wood-paneled bar and grand staircases, freshly revitalized.

What to keep in mind

  • A historic hotel under renewed ownership — some areas still evolving
  • A residential Gold Coast setting, a few blocks off the Mag Mile

Best for Travelers drawn to old-Hollywood glamour and a quiet, elegant Gold Coast address.

Summary of guest reviews. Sources: The Chicago Hotel Collection - Ambassador Gold Coast, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Preservation Chicago. Photography courtesy of The Chicago Hotel Collection Ambassador Gold Coast, used with permission. Details may change over time.