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The green terra-cotta and gold-leaf Art Deco Carbide and Carbon Building, now Pendry Chicago

Pendry Chicago (Carbide & Carbon Building)

The dazzling green-and-gold Carbide & Carbon Building — a 1929
Art Deco icon turned refined luxury, with a rooftop to match.

Carbide and Carbon Building1929Art Deco 230 N. Michigan Avenue, on the Cultural Mile by the river

Pendry Chicago. Carbide & Carbon Building, 1929, Burnham Brothers, 230 N. Michigan Avenue. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.

The restored marble lobby with circular light installations
The restored marble lobby with circular light installations. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.
The gold-leaf Art Deco crown of the Carbide and Carbon Building
The gold-leaf Art Deco crown of the Carbide and Carbon Building. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.
Venteux, the Parisian brasserie with a greenhouse-style room
Venteux, the Parisian brasserie with a greenhouse-style room. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.
The Chateau Carbide rooftop lounge with skyline views
The Chateau Carbide rooftop lounge with skyline views. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.
River view toward Marina City from the hotel
River view toward Marina City from the hotel. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.
Interior detail at Pendry Chicago
Interior detail at Pendry Chicago. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.
Street-level Pendry signage on the Carbide and Carbon Building
Street-level Pendry signage on the Carbide and Carbon Building. Photo courtesy of Pendry Chicago.

Why this building matters

Designed by the Burnham Brothers in 1929, the Carbide & Carbon Building is one of Chicago's defining Art Deco landmarks — a dark-green terra-cotta tower crowned in 24-karat gold leaf, said to evoke a champagne bottle. After decades as offices, a meticulous restoration reopened it as Pendry Chicago, preserving the dazzling lobby, bronze detailing, and gilded crown while bringing the interiors to contemporary luxury.

Read more on Pendry Chicago'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

  • The building is a visual masterpiece, and guests feel it from arrival — the restored marble-and-bronze lobby, the Art Deco detailing, and welcoming touches like a glass of champagne or fresh oysters that set a celebratory tone.
  • The dining and drinking are a highlight in their own right: Venteux, a Parisian-style brasserie and oyster bar with a sunny greenhouse room; the lobby's Bar Pendry; and Château Carbide, the rooftop lounge with live music and sweeping views over the river and Marina City. Many guests come for these alone.
  • Rooms are spacious, polished, and quiet, with elevated linens, marble baths, and in-room espresso machines, and the service earns consistent praise as attentive and gracious. The Michigan Avenue location — on the Cultural Mile, steps from the river, a block from Millennium Park, and the Loop — puts the best of the city within an easy walk.

What to keep in mind

  • Street noise on lower floors — request higher
  • Premium-priced; valet parking runs high

Best for Ideal for design-minded and luxury travelers who want a refined, special-occasion stay inside a genuine architectural landmark — couples, discerning business travelers, and anyone drawn to great rooms and a standout rooftop. Request a higher floor if you're sensitive to street noise, and plan an evening around the rooftop's hours.

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