I enjoy my whole experience. The multifunctional area is beautifully inspirational.
The chef makes a beautiful and generous ham and brie sandwich with greens inside a unique and fancy old hotel. I wish for pleasant experience, good eating spot, and beautiful food photo. I enjoy having my own space to naturally and intentionally sit, eat, and take creative notes. đïž đȘ” đȘ đ· đ§ đ„Ź đ
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Sue Basko
Under new management, with a requirement to buy something. This seems better and more fair to those who work there. We went as a family group for breakfast. We got the Classic breakfast, almond croissant, and different coffees. The drip coffee was delicious and the other coffees looked pretty. The Classic breakfast is two eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, and potatoes. Perfectly cooked and beautifully served. We sat on a couple of couches with a big coffee table between us. It was a lovely, quiet location for a peaceful gathering. SADLY, they got rid of the wonderful oak library chairs and put in modern upholstered chairs at the library table. This is a great loss to the ambiance and culture of the room. I hope they bring back the beautiful chairs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dianne Blackburn
The Lounge now has The Drawing Room The food. âž
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick Schrombeck
Starting 2025/3/1, The Drawing Room no longer allows people to study for free. You must accept a menu and order something from a server. This is an unfortunate outcome as many Chicago residents that have considered The Drawing Room a 3rd place and one of the last free places to study in peace in The Loop. Like the rest of the economy, it seems that The Chicago Athletic Association can't cover their costs and must change their decades-long policy. I don't see myself patroning this establishment any longer due to this cost enforcement, when before I was glad to opt-in and order a drink or some food.
Isabella Bryant
Stopped by the Drawing Room at the Chicago Athletic Association for a chill evening. The space is gorgeousâdark wood, big fireplaces, and comfy leather chairs. I had the spinach artichoke dip and a glass of red wine; both hit the spot. Service was friendly but a bit slow, probably due to the crowd. All in, I spent about $30 before tip. Great spot to unwind downtown.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Yu Zheng
Such a good place to hang with friends. Very bougie; very classy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Irena Osovsky
Weird space, dark vibe - no thank you. We left.
Atmosphere: 2
Dylan Williams
A host here told me the drawing room is no longer open to the public and you have to stay at the hotel in order to be there. So l left. I used to like this place when I visited Chicago so if you're staying here it's probably alright.
Everyone else be warned you will be told to leave once the staff are done interrogating you and discover you didn't pay the hotel to stay there. In the friendly Midwest đ
Anastasiia Korostil
I love this place! Everyone was really nice. Mariia is the best! God bless Mariia
Rafay
The Drawing Room is a lounge within the Chicago Athletic Association complex, and they also serve cafe-style food items as well. The ambience was very cozy and rustic which I loved, the environment was very studious and perfect for getting some work done. I ordered their cookie which was also quite good, dare I say a little overpriced⊠Nonetheless, a great time and will be visiting again.
I have been going to the Drawing Room for years, but there has been a change in management that has made the place much more exclusionary. You can no longer bring Shake Shack upstairs even if you purchase drinks, which I always have. It is no longer as welcoming and friendly. I imagine it will not have as much as business now that itâs not the same. Itâs no longer a unique third space welcoming locals and tourists alike to traditional networking, socializing, studying, work from home, etc.Theyâre trying to be a bougie restaurant, which is honestly a-dime-a-dozen here. Will not be going back.
Ivan Nikovski
Hidden gem!
Postcard Narrative Family Travel
Warm, cozy, and atmospheric.
The hearth fireplaces give the whole room a lodge-like feelâperfect for relaxing after a long day walking around the city.
We had some great drinks here (prices were surprisingly reasonable), and they even whipped up âfancyâ mocktails for our kids, which made them feel special.
Nicole Marie
Had a really rude experience with the front desk attendant; will unfortunately not be visiting again. My friend and I have been going to the drawing room for the last year to occasionally get some work done in the roomâs main sitting area. We have a routine where we always get a coffee from Fairgrounds and the Beet Salad and other items from the Game Room menu (would highly recommend if they start allowing outside people to come in again). It was to my disappointment to find out that the front desk attendant was not allowing people with Fairgrounds coffee to go up to the Drawing Room. Before I could say that we were planning to consume food from the Game Room (still mourning my beet salad), he said âmaybe you should go study somewhere elseââclearly indicating that the Drawing Room was no longer welcoming students from the Chicago community. Iâve never had a more condescending experience with a hospitality employee, and it was a very disappointing encounter given the Athletic Associationâs exclusionary past.
James Pierce
The Drawing Room makes me feel like Iâve stepped straight into Hogwartsâa warm, inviting space filled with old-world charm. Itâs the kind of place where you half expect to see a professor grading enchanted scrolls in the corner or hear the clinking of butterbeer mugs over hushed conversations. The dark wood paneling, vintage furniture, and dim lighting create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and a little magical.
Itâs especially perfect in the winter, when the fireplace is roaring and the whole place takes on a cozy, almost storybook-like quality. Thereâs something about sipping a drink by the fire, watching the glow flicker across the room, that makes time slow down. Whether youâre unwinding with a classic cocktail, chatting with friends, or simply soaking in the ambiance, the Drawing Room feels like a hidden gemâa little escape from the ordinary.
Even in the warmer months, it maintains its charm. The bartenders know their craft, the drinks are expertly made, and the overall vibe is relaxed yet refined. If youâre a fan of places that feel like they belong in a different era, this is definitely a spot worth visiting.
I enjoy my whole experience. The multifunctional area is beautifully inspirational.
The chef makes a beautiful and generous ham and brie sandwich with greens inside a unique and fancy old hotel. I wish for pleasant experience, good eating spot, and beautiful food photo. I enjoy having my own space to naturally and intentionally sit, eat, and take creative notes.
đïž đȘ” đȘ đ· đ§ đ„Ź đ
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Under new management, with a requirement to buy something. This seems better and more fair to those who work there. We went as a family group for breakfast. We got the Classic breakfast, almond croissant, and different coffees. The drip coffee was delicious and the other coffees looked pretty. The Classic breakfast is two eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, and potatoes. Perfectly cooked and beautifully served. We sat on a couple of couches with a big coffee table between us. It was a lovely, quiet location for a peaceful gathering. SADLY, they got rid of the wonderful oak library chairs and put in modern upholstered chairs at the library table. This is a great loss to the ambiance and culture of the room. I hope they bring back the beautiful chairs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Lounge now has The Drawing Room The food. âž
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Starting 2025/3/1, The Drawing Room no longer allows people to study for free. You must accept a menu and order something from a server. This is an unfortunate outcome as many Chicago residents that have considered The Drawing Room a 3rd place and one of the last free places to study in peace in The Loop. Like the rest of the economy, it seems that The Chicago Athletic Association can't cover their costs and must change their decades-long policy. I don't see myself patroning this establishment any longer due to this cost enforcement, when before I was glad to opt-in and order a drink or some food.
Stopped by the Drawing Room at the Chicago Athletic Association for a chill evening. The space is gorgeousâdark wood, big fireplaces, and comfy leather chairs. I had the spinach artichoke dip and a glass of red wine; both hit the spot. Service was friendly but a bit slow, probably due to the crowd. All in, I spent about $30 before tip. Great spot to unwind downtown.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Such a good place to hang with friends. Very bougie; very classy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Weird space, dark vibe - no thank you. We left.
Atmosphere: 2
A host here told me the drawing room is no longer open to the public and you have to stay at the hotel in order to be there. So l left. I used to like this place when I visited Chicago so if you're staying here it's probably alright.
Everyone else be warned you will be told to leave once the staff are done interrogating you and discover you didn't pay the hotel to stay there. In the friendly Midwest đ
I love this place! Everyone was really nice. Mariia is the best! God bless Mariia
The Drawing Room is a lounge within the Chicago Athletic Association complex, and they also serve cafe-style food items as well. The ambience was very cozy and rustic which I loved, the environment was very studious and perfect for getting some work done. I ordered their cookie which was also quite good, dare I say a little overpriced⊠Nonetheless, a great time and will be visiting again.
Restaurantji Recommends
I have been going to the Drawing Room for years, but there has been a change in management that has made the place much more exclusionary. You can no longer bring Shake Shack upstairs even if you purchase drinks, which I always have. It is no longer as welcoming and friendly. I imagine it will not have as much as business now that itâs not the same. Itâs no longer a unique third space welcoming locals and tourists alike to traditional networking, socializing, studying, work from home, etc.Theyâre trying to be a bougie restaurant, which is honestly a-dime-a-dozen here. Will not be going back.
Hidden gem!
Warm, cozy, and atmospheric.
The hearth fireplaces give the whole room a lodge-like feelâperfect for relaxing after a long day walking around the city.
We had some great drinks here (prices were surprisingly reasonable), and they even whipped up âfancyâ mocktails for our kids, which made them feel special.
Had a really rude experience with the front desk attendant; will unfortunately not be visiting again. My friend and I have been going to the drawing room for the last year to occasionally get some work done in the roomâs main sitting area. We have a routine where we always get a coffee from Fairgrounds and the Beet Salad and other items from the Game Room menu (would highly recommend if they start allowing outside people to come in again). It was to my disappointment to find out that the front desk attendant was not allowing people with Fairgrounds coffee to go up to the Drawing Room. Before I could say that we were planning to consume food from the Game Room (still mourning my beet salad), he said âmaybe you should go study somewhere elseââclearly indicating that the Drawing Room was no longer welcoming students from the Chicago community. Iâve never had a more condescending experience with a hospitality employee, and it was a very disappointing encounter given the Athletic Associationâs exclusionary past.
The Drawing Room makes me feel like Iâve stepped straight into Hogwartsâa warm, inviting space filled with old-world charm. Itâs the kind of place where you half expect to see a professor grading enchanted scrolls in the corner or hear the clinking of butterbeer mugs over hushed conversations. The dark wood paneling, vintage furniture, and dim lighting create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and a little magical.
Itâs especially perfect in the winter, when the fireplace is roaring and the whole place takes on a cozy, almost storybook-like quality. Thereâs something about sipping a drink by the fire, watching the glow flicker across the room, that makes time slow down. Whether youâre unwinding with a classic cocktail, chatting with friends, or simply soaking in the ambiance, the Drawing Room feels like a hidden gemâa little escape from the ordinary.
Even in the warmer months, it maintains its charm. The bartenders know their craft, the drinks are expertly made, and the overall vibe is relaxed yet refined. If youâre a fan of places that feel like they belong in a different era, this is definitely a spot worth visiting.
Loading...