We had our wedding at the Exchange and can't say enough good things about it! From our first contact with the venue they really stood out to us as people who cared and were invested in making our wedding dreams come true. The Events Director, Alyssa, is top notch! She is very responsive, a true professional when it comes to event planning, and is well connected with vendors to work with. After talking with other venues in the city, it was a no brainer to choose the Exchange who were so accommodating throughout the process and easy for us (plus family members and vendors) to work with.
The venue itself is beautiful. The flexibility of the bars, coffee window, and atrium space really allow for a unique, special, and memorable event. The food was great, service was exceptional, and the whole staff at the venue was engaged, friendly and responsive to requests. All of which was validated by the many raving reviews from our guests. The Exchange is a true gem in Chicago!
Lindsay Martinez
Future Chicago Brides look no further! My sister's wedding took place at The Exchange last weekend, and I cannot say enough positive things about our experience.
Alyssa, the Director of Sales and Venue Coordinator, is A+ at what she does. Her hospitality mindset means that she is always striving to get to a 'yes' for the client. She has a keen eye and attention to detail. You know you're in good hands while she oversees your big day. It's also a huge plus that she's kind and just a joy to work with.
Chris is a Director on the restaurant side of the business and is phenomenal as well. He went above and beyond to ensure our guests felt welcomed and comfortable, and that philosophy carries over throughout the entire service and staff team.
The two are part of memories from the day that our families will cherish forever.
As for the venue itself:
- It's GORGEOUS. Upon entry, you're greeted at the Listening Room. This is a quaint bar and restaurant that serves as a gathering space for early ceremony arrivals and as a cocktail hour spot for guests during the room flip. This is where our couple featured Mariachi entertainment during cocktail hour, and was perfect for this use too.
The main atrium will simply take your breath away. The soaring glass ceiling allows in soft, natural light that makes for perfect photos on your big day. The marble clad venue offers a neutral palette that is suitable for any decor and design of your liking. While the overall decor aesthetic is modern and minimal, they have tastefully preserved historic features such as ornate lighting fixtures that adorn either side of the signature grand staircase.
Theo's is a bar on the other side of the venue that offered an area for guests to order their drinks with ample space and enjoy conversations on the thoughtfully arranged furniture when they weren't on the dance floor.
- Not only is it a beautiful venue, it's rich in Chicago history. Originally built in 1904 and previously the Chicago Railway Exchange, this building was designed by Daniel Burnham, one of the most prominent names in Chicago architecture.
- The food was great. Chicken vesuvio and mushroom rigatoni were on the menu and both were equally excellent. The caesar salad was a great starter, and don't miss out on the bread and extra fluffy butter spread.
- The drinks were also excellent! I would highly recommend the strawberry gimlet served as a signature drink. The team was great at preparing some in advance of cocktail hour to minimize the initial wait at the bar.
- You can't beat the location. Odds are that you will have out of town guests visiting for your Chicago wedding. What better location to show them than this prime spot on Michigan Avenue, directly across from the Art Institute. The location also serves a perfect opportunity to take advantage of garden photos at the Art Institute while minimizing travel and logistics.
Overall, I would gladly recommend The Exchange, Alyssa, Chris and team to any bride in search of their perfect venue. Thank you for a wonderful experience from start to finish.
David Rosales (The Cycle Mechanic)
My wife and I were invited to a wedding here. This catered reception was very well organized, the servers were on point. This is a very professional establishment đđđđđ
Larry Sullivan
The Exchange is a solid spot in the Loop. I had the Asian Chopped Saladâfresh and flavorful. Also tried the Margarita Flatbread; the crust was crispy, and the toppings were on point. The Strawberry Basil Gimlet was a refreshing drink choice. Spent around $45, and it was worth it. The ambiance is classy without being stuffy, and the service was attentive.
Adriana Franco
Three Stars for the Sprouts, One Star for the Vibes
I want to like this placeâI really do. But my first visit felt like accidentally crashing a vampire book club.
We walked in hoping for a lovely time in the atrium, but alas, it was closed for a private party. Fine. I get it. People like exclusivity. So we were ushered indoors to what I can only describe as the âGothic Mustiness Lounge.â It was dark. It was damp. It felt like the setting of a moody indie film where someone gets emotionally betrayed over a charcuterie board.
Undeterred (okay, mildly deterred), we ordered light: roasted Brussels sprouts, a salad, and some tea. The sprouts came in hot, metaphorically and literallyâcrispy little flavor bombs. The salad? It was fine. It existed. The tea? It was⊠there. Letâs just say, no one in our party was inspired to start a cocktail-fueled Yelp poetry slam.
We ate fast and fled faster, possibly to escape a ghost. But heyâsprouts were good. So I might go back⊠with garlic, just in case.
Okay I exaggerate a little!!
El Abstract
Causal laid back experience, great service
Marina Ibrahim
Highly recommend!! It is a very aesthetically pleasing and beautiful place. We had our engagement dinner there, and Alyssa and Chris were the best! Validation parking is also provided, which is a plus for the location.
Tarso Veloso
Lovely! Especially before heading to the Symphony Orchestra.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
danielle
Beautiful space for a date night. Especially before a show at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The food and drinks were amazing, and the portions were great. The pork chop was one of the best weâve had, and the apple cheese cake was đ€đ»
Only downside was that the person who served us took our table from the server who greeted us when we first sat down. Unfortunately, after taking our first drink order/apps she took a long time to check on us to keep the flow of our dinner going. I had to wave her down to get our check so we could leave to get to our show on time, despite letting her know at the start of our meal that we would be going to the symphony. We wish we wouldâve had our initial server the entire time as he seemed to be more on top of things.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Sabah Kettab
This place is just exceptional, with some friend we just stoped by, and we are positively surprised. The barman Rasi is an extraordinary person, he clearly love his job, he helped us having best drink even for me a non alcoholic whiskey. He showed such a professionalism and patience. The food was as well extraordinary, while my friend and I where a bit special with our allergies and so, the staff where really open mind going further and asking for details if they donât have the answer. The atmosphere is great as well, looking on street while itâs windy and been inside enjoying great food and drink with high quality music. I highly recommend
As a wedding planner, I can't recommend having your wedding at The Exchange enough. Not only is it a beautiful space, but the team is so easy to work with. Alyssa was professional, kind, and so organized. You are in excellent hands if you are having your wedding at The Exchange!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Meagan Radloff
Okay Brides, Grooms, & anyone else planning an event, look no further⊠THIS IS IT!
Venue - iconic and historic just like your event will be.
Venue staff, specifically the event director, Alyssa - the best! We sent her approximately a million questions over the last year and she answered every one of them in a timely manner and in great detail. Even when she was in the depths of an event heavy weekend or going out of town, she at least let us know she received our email and would get back to us ASAP. The communication was unmatched, especially after our experience reaching out to other venues and never hearing back!
On the day of our wedding, we also had the pleasure of meeting Christian, who was SO helpful with a lot of our last minute questions and requests!
The food - great! We had multiple of our pickiest/most particular friends and family call us to rave about the food after. We did the filet, chicken, & salmon for reference.
Experience - 10/10! All around, we felt so comfortable to reach out when we had a question which sounds so small but was actually huge. We visited the venue multiple times to help us envision the layout and show people the space without feeling like we were a nuisance - another win. Also, the way the staff matched and exceeded our expectations was so refreshing after all the work we put into planning. We requested a layout they hadnât done before and they made it happen no problem.
In summary, the aesthetics, communication, flexibility, and overall professionalism made wedding planning seem easy and we had the best day. We can't recommend The Exchange enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erwan Roux
Amazing place !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paulina Niebrugge
We had our wedding at the Exchange this past July 2024, and could not have more wonderful things to say about the venue, the staff, the food and most importantly the events manager, Alyssa Abudayyeh. Alyssa helped us with so many small details leading up to the wedding and gave us her opinions on set up. She has amazing taste which made it easy to put our vision in her hands on the big day and days leading up to the wedding. The Exchange seamlessly put together and worked with our vendors to create our picture perfect day. Not only does this venue have a complete wow factor when walking into the atrium, but the food and drinks, especially the bread, were things that our guests still rave about. We asked the bartenders to do specialty cocktails with our signature logo and each one was executed perfectly. If you're debating to celebrate your big day here, we would 10/10 recommend. Thank you to Alyssa and the rest of the Exchange team for a perfect wedding reception and easy communication leading up to the big day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ceebo
What a gem! Excellent excellent excellent. We went for lunch 2 days in a row. Healthy options. Lovely space with multiple rooms to choose from. Just beautiful! *the hostess could be friendlier and smile, but I can ignore that. It would help the atmosphere and set the entry tone better! Personality matters in service. But still⊠come here folks! Reasonable prices and you wonât be disappointed. The servers are great.
We had our wedding at the Exchange and can't say enough good things about it! From our first contact with the venue they really stood out to us as people who cared and were invested in making our wedding dreams come true. The Events Director, Alyssa, is top notch! She is very responsive, a true professional when it comes to event planning, and is well connected with vendors to work with. After talking with other venues in the city, it was a no brainer to choose the Exchange who were so accommodating throughout the process and easy for us (plus family members and vendors) to work with.
The venue itself is beautiful. The flexibility of the bars, coffee window, and atrium space really allow for a unique, special, and memorable event. The food was great, service was exceptional, and the whole staff at the venue was engaged, friendly and responsive to requests. All of which was validated by the many raving reviews from our guests. The Exchange is a true gem in Chicago!
Future Chicago Brides look no further! My sister's wedding took place at The Exchange last weekend, and I cannot say enough positive things about our experience.
Alyssa, the Director of Sales and Venue Coordinator, is A+ at what she does. Her hospitality mindset means that she is always striving to get to a 'yes' for the client. She has a keen eye and attention to detail. You know you're in good hands while she oversees your big day. It's also a huge plus that she's kind and just a joy to work with.
Chris is a Director on the restaurant side of the business and is phenomenal as well. He went above and beyond to ensure our guests felt welcomed and comfortable, and that philosophy carries over throughout the entire service and staff team.
The two are part of memories from the day that our families will cherish forever.
As for the venue itself:
- It's GORGEOUS. Upon entry, you're greeted at the Listening Room. This is a quaint bar and restaurant that serves as a gathering space for early ceremony arrivals and as a cocktail hour spot for guests during the room flip. This is where our couple featured Mariachi entertainment during cocktail hour, and was perfect for this use too.
The main atrium will simply take your breath away. The soaring glass ceiling allows in soft, natural light that makes for perfect photos on your big day. The marble clad venue offers a neutral palette that is suitable for any decor and design of your liking. While the overall decor aesthetic is modern and minimal, they have tastefully preserved historic features such as ornate lighting fixtures that adorn either side of the signature grand staircase.
Theo's is a bar on the other side of the venue that offered an area for guests to order their drinks with ample space and enjoy conversations on the thoughtfully arranged furniture when they weren't on the dance floor.
- Not only is it a beautiful venue, it's rich in Chicago history. Originally built in 1904 and previously the Chicago Railway Exchange, this building was designed by Daniel Burnham, one of the most prominent names in Chicago architecture.
- The food was great. Chicken vesuvio and mushroom rigatoni were on the menu and both were equally excellent. The caesar salad was a great starter, and don't miss out on the bread and extra fluffy butter spread.
- The drinks were also excellent! I would highly recommend the strawberry gimlet served as a signature drink. The team was great at preparing some in advance of cocktail hour to minimize the initial wait at the bar.
- You can't beat the location. Odds are that you will have out of town guests visiting for your Chicago wedding. What better location to show them than this prime spot on Michigan Avenue, directly across from the Art Institute. The location also serves a perfect opportunity to take advantage of garden photos at the Art Institute while minimizing travel and logistics.
Overall, I would gladly recommend The Exchange, Alyssa, Chris and team to any bride in search of their perfect venue. Thank you for a wonderful experience from start to finish.
My wife and I were invited to a wedding here. This catered reception was very well organized, the servers were on point. This is a very professional establishment đđđđđ
The Exchange is a solid spot in the Loop. I had the Asian Chopped Saladâfresh and flavorful. Also tried the Margarita Flatbread; the crust was crispy, and the toppings were on point. The Strawberry Basil Gimlet was a refreshing drink choice. Spent around $45, and it was worth it. The ambiance is classy without being stuffy, and the service was attentive.
Three Stars for the Sprouts, One Star for the Vibes
I want to like this placeâI really do. But my first visit felt like accidentally crashing a vampire book club.
We walked in hoping for a lovely time in the atrium, but alas, it was closed for a private party. Fine. I get it. People like exclusivity. So we were ushered indoors to what I can only describe as the âGothic Mustiness Lounge.â It was dark. It was damp. It felt like the setting of a moody indie film where someone gets emotionally betrayed over a charcuterie board.
Undeterred (okay, mildly deterred), we ordered light: roasted Brussels sprouts, a salad, and some tea. The sprouts came in hot, metaphorically and literallyâcrispy little flavor bombs. The salad? It was fine. It existed. The tea? It was⊠there. Letâs just say, no one in our party was inspired to start a cocktail-fueled Yelp poetry slam.
We ate fast and fled faster, possibly to escape a ghost. But heyâsprouts were good. So I might go back⊠with garlic, just in case.
Okay I exaggerate a little!!
Causal laid back experience, great service
Highly recommend!! It is a very aesthetically pleasing and beautiful place. We had our engagement dinner there, and Alyssa and Chris were the best! Validation parking is also provided, which is a plus for the location.
Lovely! Especially before heading to the Symphony Orchestra.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful space for a date night. Especially before a show at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The food and drinks were amazing, and the portions were great. The pork chop was one of the best weâve had, and the apple cheese cake was đ€đ»
Only downside was that the person who served us took our table from the server who greeted us when we first sat down. Unfortunately, after taking our first drink order/apps she took a long time to check on us to keep the flow of our dinner going. I had to wave her down to get our check so we could leave to get to our show on time, despite letting her know at the start of our meal that we would be going to the symphony. We wish we wouldâve had our initial server the entire time as he seemed to be more on top of things.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
This place is just exceptional, with some friend we just stoped by, and we are positively surprised.
The barman Rasi is an extraordinary person, he clearly love his job, he helped us having best drink even for me a non alcoholic whiskey.
He showed such a professionalism and patience.
The food was as well extraordinary, while my friend and I where a bit special with our allergies and so, the staff where really open mind going further and asking for details if they donât have the answer.
The atmosphere is great as well, looking on street while itâs windy and been inside enjoying great food and drink with high quality music.
I highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
As a wedding planner, I can't recommend having your wedding at The Exchange enough. Not only is it a beautiful space, but the team is so easy to work with. Alyssa was professional, kind, and so organized. You are in excellent hands if you are having your wedding at The Exchange!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Okay Brides, Grooms, & anyone else planning an event, look no further⊠THIS IS IT!
Venue - iconic and historic just like your event will be.
Venue staff, specifically the event director, Alyssa - the best! We sent her approximately a million questions over the last year and she answered every one of them in a timely manner and in great detail. Even when she was in the depths of an event heavy weekend or going out of town, she at least let us know she received our email and would get back to us ASAP. The communication was unmatched, especially after our experience reaching out to other venues and never hearing back!
On the day of our wedding, we also had the pleasure of meeting Christian, who was SO helpful with a lot of our last minute questions and requests!
The food - great! We had multiple of our pickiest/most particular friends and family call us to rave about the food after. We did the filet, chicken, & salmon for reference.
Experience - 10/10! All around, we felt so comfortable to reach out when we had a question which sounds so small but was actually huge. We visited the venue multiple times to help us envision the layout and show people the space without feeling like we were a nuisance - another win. Also, the way the staff matched and exceeded our expectations was so refreshing after all the work we put into planning. We requested a layout they hadnât done before and they made it happen no problem.
In summary, the aesthetics, communication, flexibility, and overall professionalism made wedding planning seem easy and we had the best day. We can't recommend The Exchange enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing place !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had our wedding at the Exchange this past July 2024, and could not have more wonderful things to say about the venue, the staff, the food and most importantly the events manager, Alyssa Abudayyeh. Alyssa helped us with so many small details leading up to the wedding and gave us her opinions on set up. She has amazing taste which made it easy to put our vision in her hands on the big day and days leading up to the wedding. The Exchange seamlessly put together and worked with our vendors to create our picture perfect day. Not only does this venue have a complete wow factor when walking into the atrium, but the food and drinks, especially the bread, were things that our guests still rave about. We asked the bartenders to do specialty cocktails with our signature logo and each one was executed perfectly. If you're debating to celebrate your big day here, we would 10/10 recommend. Thank you to Alyssa and the rest of the Exchange team for a perfect wedding reception and easy communication leading up to the big day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a gem! Excellent excellent excellent. We went for lunch 2 days in a row. Healthy options. Lovely space with multiple rooms to choose from. Just beautiful! *the hostess could be friendlier and smile, but I can ignore that. It would help the atmosphere and set the entry tone better! Personality matters in service. But still⊠come here folks! Reasonable prices and you wonât be disappointed. The servers are great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: White Bean Hummus
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