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The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, a 1927 Gothic-inspired landmark off the Magnificent Mile

Millennium Knickerbocker (Davis Hotel)

A 1927 classic just off the Mag Mile — a Capone-era
speakeasy past, a Crystal Ballroom, and old-Chicago charm.

Davis Hotel1927Rissman & HirschfieldGothic 163 E. Walton Place, off the Magnificent Mile

Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago. Davis Hotel, 1927, Rissman & Hirschfield, 163 E. Walton Place. Photo courtesy of Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago.

The Crystal Ballroom
The gilded, historic Crystal Ballroom. Photo courtesy of Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago.
The Knickerbocker facade
The 1927 Gold Coast facade. Photo courtesy of Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago.
The lobby
The historic lobby. Photo courtesy of Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago.
The lobby bar
The lobby bar. Photo courtesy of Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago.
A guest room
A guest room at the Knickerbocker. Photo courtesy of Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago.

Why this building matters

Opened in 1927 as the Davis Hotel and designed by Rissman & Hirschfield, the 14-story, Gothic-inspired Knickerbocker has lived many lives: a rumored Capone-era penthouse speakeasy, Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Towers in the 1970s, and today a classic independent hotel. Its showpiece is the Georgian-style Crystal Ballroom, crowned by an original gilded dome and a once-illuminated glass dance floor.

Read more on Millennium Hotels' 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

  • Real jazz-age atmosphere — the Crystal Ballroom’s gilded dome is a genuine 1920s showpiece.
  • A prime Gold Coast location, half a block from the Mag Mile and walkable to Oak Street Beach.
  • A colorful history (Playboy Towers, a Prohibition speakeasy legend) at a sensible rate.

What to keep in mind

  • A grand old hotel — rooms vary, some feel their age
  • A busy stretch just off Michigan Avenue

Best for Travelers who want vintage Chicago character and a Gold Coast address steps from the Magnificent Mile.

Summary of guest reviews. Sources: Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Preservation Chicago. Photography courtesy of Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago, used with permission. Details may change over time.